When we disembarked from our overnight flight, the sun was already high and I felt like a bag of warmed-up death.
"We have a couple of days before the vote," Jordan said as we all piled into a stretch limousine. "I think it's best, for everyone's sake, if we all lay low."
The look he shot toward the twins told me who that warning was aimed at.
Mattie snorted a laugh. "Fine by me. Besides, our parents are due to arrive tomorrow. They'll want ourattention, no doubt." She rolled her eyes a bit as she said that, and a pang of worry hit my gut.
"Mattie, are your parents going to vote against the Society's pitch?" I asked, nervous to hear her answer.
I shouldn't have worried, though. The twins exchanged an evil smirk, and it was Nolan who replied. "Nope, they'll vote in favor," he assured us. "Because if they don't, I'll abdicate my position as crown heir, and my lovely sisterMatisseis next in line for the throne." They both chortled a laugh, and I doubted I'd ever seen them act more like twins.
"Mother would rather bow down and lick Felipe's shoes than suffer me as the crown heir," Mattie informed me with a wide grin. Whatever her issues were with her parents, they didn't bother her too deeply.
I released a breath and sagged back in my seat. "That's good. We need this vote to work. Not just for the people's resistance, but to stop this barbaric breeding program that some kingdoms are involved in." I shuddered hard, remembering the way Nurse Reller had tried to fuck with my reproductive system. No woman should be forced to carry a pregnancy she didn't want.
"It will work," Rafe said, his voice hard with determination. "Or I'll personally deal with any monarch who opposes."
The twins snorted a laugh at his bloodthirsty promise, but Jordan and I eyed him more carefully.
"Don't do anything stupid, asshole," Jordy muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Rafe and I to hear.
Rafe flashed his teeth in a mockery of a smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The property we were taken to was surrounded by a staggering amount of security, but that was to be expected, given how many important leaders would be flying in over the next few days. Especially considering the carnage at the Spring Ball.
Smartly uniformed staff met us as our car rolled to a stop and we all piled out. Mattie gave me a wave as one of the women offered to escort her and Nolan to their rooms, and Jordan grabbed my hand.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath. "I thought they weren't arriving until Monday."
I looked around for who he was talking about and spotted a vaguely familiar man exiting the main entrance with a beautiful woman by his side.
"Is that..." I squeaked, recognition flooding through me and a seed of panic taking root.
"Jordan's parents?" Rafe finished for me. "Yup, sure is."
There was no time to escape, but I quickly tried to pull my hand free of Jordan's grip. He wasn't letting go, though.
"Jordy!" I hissed, pulling my hand harder as his parents approached, but he held tight. Then it was too late. His parents were already exchanging pleasantries with Rafe, who'd taken a couple of steps forward to meet them.
"Son," King Munroe,the king of New America, said in greeting to one of my boyfriends as he stared hard at Jordan’s hand clutching mine.
If I could wish for the ground to open up and swallow me whole, this would be the perfect fucking time.
"Father," Jordan replied,finallyreleasing my hand. I let out a small sigh of relief far too soon, though. He’d only let go of my hand so he could snake his arm around my waist and pull me close. "I don't think you've met Violet yet."
King Munroe frowned slightly at our more-than-friends body language, then let out a sigh. "No, I suppose I haven't. Not in person, anyway. Violet, it's nice to meet you." He held out a hand for me to shake, and I managed to do so without having a heart attack.
But, like... this was the king of New America.Myking.
Meeting Rafe's parents had been intense, and Alex's had been scary as fuck, but King Munroe and Queen Diane were the monarchs I'd grown up with. They were the faces on our currency, on our news channels, oneverything. Suddenly my whole thing with Jordan blew up to intimidating proportions inside my head, and I started sweating.
"My wife, Diane," King Munroe continued, introducing his queen, and she also shook my hand with a vague smile. They seemed kind, but I got the feeling they were irritated with the way Jordan was laying claim to me in front of them. I mean, fair enough. Just a few months ago he'd been all lined up to marry a princess and secure a political alliance for them. Now... well. Now he was with me. The Princess Ballot winner.
"Jordan, your mother and I would like a word with you," King Monroe said, flicking a glance at me. "If you don't mind, Miss Spencer?"
My eyes bugged out, and I tried to peel Jordan's hand from my waist. "Of course. Don't worry about me. It was nice to meet you both." I bobbed my head to the king and queen of New America, then shot Jordan a warning glare when he still didn't let me go.
He flashed a quick smile at his parents. "Sure, just give us a second?"
