The silence that followed was awkward at best.
At first, Violet had wanted nothing more than to talk to him and clear the air between them, but now that her wish had been granted, Violet had no idea what to say.
"Iām sorry."
"Iām sorry."
They both said it at once, their eyes locking in surprise.
"Let me go first," Asher said.
"No," Violet shook her head. "Let me go first."
She drew in a steadying breath. "Iām sorry for lashing out at you. I was angry, but I should have given you the chance to explain before jumping to conclusions. So yeah, Iām really sorry."
"You donāt need to apologize, Violet. It was all my fault. If I hadnāt gone behind your back to investigate your parentage, we wouldnāt have fought at all." He paused, looking her right in the eyes. "I donāt like us fighting."
Immediately, Violet was reminded of the little boy she had seen in his memory, the one who stayed in bed at night, wishing for a different kind of miracle. Her heart clenched. She hadnāt meant to bring back that kind of pain for him.
There was no guarantee Asher wouldnāt push her buttons again, but Violet made up her mind right then. She would control her temper better from now on.
Asher looked at her, eyes dark and sincere. "Iām sorry for what I did. Would you find a place in your heart to forgive me, Violet Purple?"
There was a moment of silence as Violet studied him, right before a smile crossed her lips. It was not the teasing type, but a gentle one that was full of kindness.
"Apologies accepted, Asher Nightshade. "Although..." Her eyes shone with that sharp curiosity he had come to know too well. "Iām very much interested in knowing what you found out about me."
"Very well, then." Asher agreed immediately. "Letās begin."
Violet swallowed, her breath catching slightly as curiosity and anticipation prickled at her skin. She had longed for the truth for so long, yet now that it stood before her, her heart thrummed with a strange kind of dread. What if it changed everything?
"I believe strongly that your biological father is alive."
"What?" Violet gasped, her eyes snapping wide open as the revelation hit her like a slap.
Lila had never spoken much about her father,only that he was the reason she had been separated from her birth mother. And that he was dangerous and was someone to be avoided at all cost.
Asher didnāt stop there.
"Thatās not all. He very much knows where you are considering heās been keeping track of you."
Violet gulped, her heart pounding louder.
Cold sweat broke out along her spine, her breath shaky, while her mind spun.
He knew where she was?
Living in the desolate district one, her entire life had practically been a secret. If the man had eyes on her all this time, why hadnāt he come for her? If he meant to kill her, wouldnāt he have done so already?
It just didnāt make sense. Unless there was something she was missing. Or maybe Asher was mistaken?
She tried to anchor herself in reason. "How are you so sure itās my biological father and not my mother?"
"Because of the contents of the letters he sent over the years." Asherās brows furrowed. "They donāt read like something a woman would write. Thereās too much pride. Too much plans." He paused. "I donāt like it."
He raised his head slowly, locking eyes with her.
"And it seems youāve met your biological mother already. Who is she?"
Oh.
So this was what it was. A transaction of information. She shouldāve known that nothing came without a cost when it involved Asher Nightshade.
Violet ignored his question entirely, asking instead. "Where are the letters?"
Asher didnāt budge. "Who is she, Violet?"
He rephrased, " What are you?"
Violetās lips tightened. "Iām sorry, Asher, but I canāt tell you that. Itās for your own safety."
Asher scoffed, the sarcasm dripping from his next words. "Do I look scared to you?"
She sighed, exasperated. "Itās not about fear, Asher. This isnāt some schoolyard dare. Itās dangerous, truly dangerous. And Iād never forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me. This is my burden to carry. My battle."
Without a word, Asher stood up and crossed the space between them.
Violet tensed as he knelt before her, the movement unexpected. Then, gently, he took her hand in his and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles.
"You can trust me, my purple queen," he murmured against her skin. "I would never hurt you. I would never use your secret against you if thatās what youāre worried about. I swear it."
His eyes flicked up, holding hers with intensity. "If anything, Iād lay down my life for you, love. That is what I promise."
Violet swallowed, stunned silent by the softness in his tone, and the way his words wrapped around her like armor and warmth all at once.
"Moreover," he added quickly, a shadow of cunning passing through his gaze now, "look how much information you got from me in just one seating. Imagine what we could accomplish together. If we worked as one, we might even discover the full truth and the identity of your father. We could solve this puzzle together, princess."
Asher kissed her hand again, this time deliberately slow. It was a move meant to shatter her resistance and it was working.
Violet was honestly tempted to tell Asher the truth. She trusted him. But then, Lilaās warning kept ringing loudly in her ears.
She sighed. "I need time. Time to think about this."
"Take all the time you want, my purple queen, but not too long. If someone intends to harm you, I want to be prepared for it. You donāt know how much you mean to me, Violet Purple." His voice was reverent as he kissed her fingers, one by one, the gesture stirring the same heat Alaric and Roman had summoned earlier.
Violet had been craving Asher for a while now, even though he claimed she wasnāt ready. But this was Griffinās room... surely he wouldnāt mind if they made good use of it.
Just as Violet began to relax, ready to turn up the flame, Asher took the cue and announced, "Also, your mother is mated."
"What?!" Violet shouted, every ounce of lust vanishing from her body at once.