“Damn it, Arion, I’m already her mate. If she’s claiming someone—” Violet’s eyes cut hopefully to Emit, almost as though she’s been dreading his reaction the worst, for whatever reason. Emit’s words die, and his lips move, as though he intended to say more, but didn’t ever actually mean to start speaking aloud in the first place. Violet’s lips turn up in a subtle grin, and she looks away. Her smile falls when she seems to remember she’s still holding the head of the queen.
