The moment Violet saw Elijah standing beside the sleek black limousine at the entrance, she knew their plan had just gone to hell.
"Ahh, just the couples I was looking for," Elijah’s eyes lit up, assessing them. "Come, we’re riding together to the airport."
Violet, Roman, and Griffin exchanged a glance. This wasn’t just bad news, it was a nightmare.
"Your Majesty, that is so kind of you," Violet said, forcing a flattering smile through clenched teeth. "However, my mates and I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you. We already—"
"Are you refusing a king’s order, Violet?" Elijah’s voice dropped, cold and dangerous, his gaze pinning her at the spot.
"Of course not," Violet said quickly, her tongue burning with all the curses she wanted to hurl at him. Instead, she bit down hard on her lip.
This man was a grade A asshole, and she wanted nothing more than to claw that smug expression off his face.
"Just give me the word and I’ll do it for you," Thalia growled in her mind, her hackles up. Somehow, with Violet’s emotions running high, the wolf had burst past the mental barrier she had locked her in.
"Back down, Thalia," Violet hissed silently.
"Ugh, you’re no fun,"
"Loser or not, he holds our lives in his hands. You so much as breathe wrong at him, and we both lose our pretty head," Violet snapped.
A low reluctant growl rumbled through her mind. "Fine. I’ll claw out his eyes another time."
Before Violet could reply, Thalia slipped back into slumber, leaving Violet rattled.
"Are you even listening to me?" Elijah’s sharp voice yanked her back to reality. His brow was furrowed. "What’s with you and your lack of focus?"
Before Violet could dig herself deeper, Griffin smoothly stepped between them. "Forgive her, Your Majesty. Having two bonds pulls at her human body. She’s often overwhelmed." He slid his arm protectively around Violet’s waist. "Of course, we’d love to ride with you."
Elijah’s nose wrinkled in open disdain. "This is why humans should never be bound by a matebond, let alone two. I wonder what the goddess was thinking."
"That fucking son of a—" Violet seethed internally, Thalia snarling faintly in agreement.
And to think his wife was human. Violet couldn’t help but feel for Luna Beatrice, who had no choice but to put up with this werewolf garbage for a husband. Women really did go through a lot.
With a dramatic turn, Elijah climbed into the limousine, his power filling the air — or maybe it was just his rotten attitude choking the space.
Violet had no choice but to follow, her jaw tight, knowing their escape had just gone from difficult to nearly impossible.
Inside, the cool air smelled of citrus polish and rich leather. Roman and Griffin took their usual positions beside her, instinctively forming a protective wall, like two shields guarding her on both sides.
The limousine’s interior was pure luxury with plush pale lavender leather seats stretching along the sides in a wave-like pattern.
A mini-bar ran along one side, glowing with soft purple and blue lights. Rows of crystal glasses sat neatly arranged, and a silver bucket filled with ice held bottles of champagne, the cold mist rising gently around them.
The ceiling shone, lined with mirrors and tiny lights that made it look like a sky full of stars.
Across from them, Elijah sat alone on a separate seat, perfectly positioned like a king on his throne, his eyes watching them carefully.
Without a word, he reached into the bucket, uncorked the champagne with a loud pop, and poured himself a drink.
"Would you care for a glass?" he offered, the corners of his mouth twisting in a way that made the tension worse. Right now, they were like sheep before a wolf.
Griffin didn’t hesitate. "No, thank you. It’s too early for a drink," he turned it down, his deep voice edged with caution.
Elijah merely shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Your loss," he replied, raising the glass in a mock toast before sipping leisurely.
Then, with a snap of his fingers, he ordered music to play. A smooth melody filled the limousine as it rolled forward, signaling the start of their journey to the airport.
The ride was awkward and boring as hell.
Griffin was typing furiously on his phone, probably updating his mother that they were riding with the Alpha King. Roman, for once, was quiet, his thumbs moving over his own screen. That left Violet alone with her thoughts.
"Make yourself comfortable, Violet," Elijah said suddenly.
"Huh?" Violet blinked.
"You just look so tense..." He dragged the words out on purpose, clearly enjoying himself.
Why wouldn’t I be tense when I’m trapped in a box with a bastard like you? Violet thought bitterly.
Instead, she gave him her brightest, fakest smile. "It’s just my first time riding with the Alpha King. It feels surreal."
"I know," Elijah replied without a hint of shame. "I’m the king, after all."
Violet swore she was smiling so hard the corners of her mouth might split. Keep it together, Violet.
"And that’s why," Elijah continued, "I’m curious about you."
At once, both Griffin and Roman froze mid-typing, their full attention snapping to her.
Violet kept her face carefully neutral. "What are you curious about, Your Majesty?"
"It came to my attention that you’re an orphan," Elijah said, watching her closely.
"You’re right, Your Majesty. My foster mother, Nancy, raised me."
"Aren’t you curious about your birth parents?"
Violet calmly shook her head. "To be honest, I won’t lie and say I don’t wonder about them. But they left me, and Nancy, well, she raised me to the best of her ability. I’d rather leave that hornet’s nest unpoked."
She hoped that would be enough to pacify him.
It wasn’t.
"What nonsense!" Elijah objected. "You’re mated to two of my heirs. That makes you a potential Luna if either of them becomes Alpha King. My people cannot have a Luna with unknown origins."
Violet’s polite smile was starting to hurt.
"That’s why, once we return from the burial, I intend to have a DNA test done on you. We will trace your ancestry. For all we know, you might even have werewolf blood with that hair and those eyes."
Violet’s fingers dug into her dress beneath the folds of fabric. "If you say so, Your Majesty," she said lightly, her voice calm even though inside her wolf was ready to rip his throat out.