Violette POV
âCome on. Letâs take Snowball and go home.â He pulled away from my lips and grabbed my hand. I tried to pull away but he held onto me tightly.
He pulled me to Snowball and helped me climb onto him, and I held out my arm to help him. He grabbed it with a soft smile and hopped on.
âIâm sorry, Snowball. I know you have a name.â Viktor said as he scratched Snowballâs belly.
âYou should be. Heâs a good boy.â I said. He grabbed my h**s quickly as Snowball began to move.
âPlease, donât make him run.â He said. He leaned his chin on my shoulder and took a deep breath.
âItâll be dark before we get home then,â I said.
âIâm okay with that.â He whispered. Chills ran down my spine when he did. And I think he felt my shiver..
âCold?â He asked.
âNo,â I said. I turned us around and made Snowball go just a bit faster, but not run.
âI really am sorry, Violette.â He said softly.
âI hope so.. because I donât think I can deal with that again. Iâd rather die than feel that way,â I said.
âDont ever say that. Not after everything.â He growled.
âI wonât let you do it to me again. I refuse to let you hurt me anymore.â I cried softly.
âI wonât.â He replied. I wanted so badly to believe him.. but there was a little part of me that didnât. I havenât forgiven him, either.. that will surely take time. But how much more damage could it do to give him another chance? It would just be his last one. Could I really do that?
âWhen we get back, will you let Beatrice look over you? Please?â He asked. I let out a sigh.
âShe lied to me. She told me nothing was wrong and then left me. And Lillian and Sylvia? They lied to me too.. everyone lied. I was the only one telling the truth.â I said. My eyes began to fill with tears again and it annoyed me. I hate being so moody. Iâm never like this.
âThey.. they didnât know what to believe.â He said.
âThey couldâve just believed me. Iâve never lied to anyone besides my Father. And I did hold back and not tell you that my pains were killing me. I donât even know how much time I have left.. especially since last time.. I barely even remember.â I said.
âYou almost died.â He said sadly. My eyes widened and a wave of fear rolled through me. I donât think Iâll survive another time..
âI didnât realize,â I said.
âJust donât worry about it.. okay? Iâve got you.â He said. I let out a sarcastic laugh.
âI donât think you can prevent my mate from being unfaithful, Viktor. Whoever he is.. heâs been the worst mate possible.â I said. He ran his hands across my belly where they rested.
âHe has, Violette. He really is the worst mate, and Iâm so sorry for that. Just.. donât worry, okay? â He said.
âCan I ask you something?â He asked after a few silent moments.
âYes.â
âItâs about when I escaped from your Fatherâs.. dungeon..â he said. I tensed as he brought it up. He definitely noticed that.
âOkay..â I began.
âI always felt like.. it was too easy for me to get away. That two of your Fathers guards just had a change of heart and freed me. Did.. did you have something to do with that?â He asked. I took a deep breath and let it out. I would be a hypocrite if I lied.
âI.. I sent them.â I said truthfully.
âWhy?â He asked.
âI couldnât bear the thought of my Father torturing someone.. even if I did hear that this person wronged my family. I never asked Father what you did.. I didnât even know it was you. Not until I saw you.â I said.
âWhat did you think when you saw me?â He asked.
âI knew if my Father found out he would lose his mind. That maybe heâd even kill me. I made my guards swear to secrecy.. and if they didnât, I would have them banished.. but I trusted them. I felt.. responsible for you being there.. it wouldnât have happened if I hadnât lost my Mother.â I said.
âThank you.â He said softly.
âDonât. What my Father was doing to you was awful. No one deserves that. Iâve seen your scars. I know what pain came with them because I have some of my own.â I said.
âYou didnât deserve it either, Violette.â He said.
âDidnât I? I smelled your scent on my papers.. my thoughts. I know you read them. I know.. that you know what I did.â I said as I swallowed back my pain.
âYou were a child. He shouldnât have left you alone to watch her. Itâs not your fault. Itâs his. And he will pay for everything heâs done.â He said. I wiped away my stray tear and sucked in a shaky breath.
âI was happy when I saw you run. I knew I had saved your life.. and I envied you. I wish I had run away too. Truth be told.. I almost chased after you to have you take me with you. I wanted to. I felt the need.. the urge to go with you.â I said.
âI didnât know that..â he said.
âHow could you?â I asked. He didnât respond.
We sat silently as we rode home.. Iâd just told him my only secret. A secret I didnât want to tell him from the beginning.. Because one, I donât like to gloat. And two.. because I didnât think heâd believe me. Who would? His enemyâs daughter freed him. My familyâs enemy..
When we got home he helped me off of Snowball and we walked him to the stables. As we got closer to the castle, even in the dark I could feel the eyes watching our every move.. but I tried my best not to let it bother me. By now.. the entire castle.. even the entire kingdom knows Iâm alive. And soon, my Father will too.
âYou never did answer me about having Beatrice look you over.â He said. I didnât look at him as I spoke.
âI will allow it. Tomorrow. But Iâm not ready to forgive anyone just yet.â I said.
âI donât expect you to. But just know they love you, dearly.â He said. I didnât respond because I donât think I believe it. How could they lie to my face? Keep me in the dark about everything? People who love you donât do that.
âWill you eat?â He asked.
âNow, youâre just asking too much.â I said with a straight face.
âItâs been days. You need to.â He said.
âI canât stand the smell of any of it,â I said. I even gagged at the thought of food and he looked at me concerned.
âCan you not think of anything that sounds even close to appetizing?â He asked.
âBacon sounds.. alright,â I said softly.
âBacon it is, then.â
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