I pretended to swoon. "Oh, if I wasn't already getting fucked by two princes with the skills of sex gods, then I'd be all over you with that compliment."
The darkness that he'd probably never fully purge from his soul flashed in his eyes, and I instantly bit my tongue. Yes, he deserved to hear that and my temper was all kinds of frayed being around him, but this was so incrediblynotthe right path to get him on our side.
I needed to shift gears, fast, before my anger and resentment toward my ex-boyfriend ruined everything.
"Look, Alex, you wanted me to issue you the invitation," I said, changing the subject. "I'm not sure why you wanted that, but here I am..."
As I trailed off, I looked at Mattie for help, but she shrugged, clearly having no idea what to say.
"I owe you an apology," Alex bit out, and I almost fell off my chair. "Despite my many flaws, hurting women who don't like it is not one of them.” The memory of Claudette’s moans in the corridor when I discovered their secret echoed through my mind and I internally gagged. “I know I betrayed you. I caused you pain, Violet, and while an apology is not really worth shit, it's all I can offer right now."
My brain malfunctioned, and by the time I’d gotten that shit circuiting right again, Mattie was in full flow. "...don't deserve to have even touched Violet. If you want to give her something more than your scrawny dick and half-assed apology, you'll show up at the fucking vote and do the right thing."
Alex lurched forward in his chair, and I didn't even have to wonder this time what had offended him. Scrawny dick was a little harsh, but when you had something to compare it to...
"Please, Alex," I said, cutting him off before he could go into full-shithead mode. "I know your parents were assholes. I know they put a ton of pressure on you to be evil like them. But you don't have to do that anymore."
He didn't look convinced.
"Be on the right side of history," I said softly.
I had to convince him. If anything good could come from the ballot and all the bullshit, let it be this.
Chapter 27
The wait was going to kill me, but I forced myself not to squirm or react. Alex remained as he was, lips pursed, and then, with a long exhale, he nodded. "I will be at the vote," he told me. "I will listen to the plans, and I will vote without considering what my father might have pushed for. That's the most I can offer you."
I'd take it. "Thank you."
As he stood, I did the same. Our gazes held as he tried to convey a lot through that expression. It didn't really matter to me, though; I was basically done with caring about him in any way except for what we needed from him.
"Good luck with your monarchy," I said, grabbing Mattie's hand as we prepared to leave. "Try and care about your people as well. It's important."
He just watched me with those glittering eyes all the way until we were out the door and back down the stairs.
"Pretty sure he's not over you, Vi," Mattie said, sounding concerned. "He had that obsessed look about him."
I shrugged. "As long as he votes the right way on Tuesday, I don't give a fuck if he jerks off to a photo of me every single night."
Mattie coughed before screwing her face up into a horrified expression. "I just... why you gotta put those images in my head? It's not natural."
"Says the girl who has a drawer full of sex toys and can't choose a favorite."
Mattie dramatically slammed her hand against her chest. "That'd be like choosing a favorite child, girl. It's wrong."
My best friend had no shame. "Children and vibrators should not be mentioned in the same sentence."
She did look a little grossed out then, but thankfully no more discussion was required because we were back in the main academy halls, which were packed as people interacted before the dinner tonight.
I picked up my pace, instinct telling me that it was probably already too late, but to save myself from their anger, I had to get back to the princes. My relieved breath when the lockers came into view was a little dramatic, but honestly, they were going to be pissed as fuck.
I'd tell them, of course, and hopefully with me safe and sound in front of them, the fallout would be less dramatic. If I'd not been there at all...
Yeah, best I didn't think about that.
"Not out yet," Mattie said, sounding triumphant. "Did you get any messages?"
I'd switched my palm reader to silent when I went into the meeting with Dean Morgan, not wanting any interruptions, and had completely forgotten to switch it back again.
