Jordan's parents had wanted to talk to him about new marriage prospects. But he assured me that they'd let the subject drop when he told them he was already in love and had no intention of fucking it up with a political betrothal.
How I’d gotten lucky enough to be loved by Jordan and Rafe was beyond me, but I was never going to complain about my blessings.
Both of my princes had to attend multiple meetings with their parents regarding the vote and what it would mean for their monarchies after the fact. No one called on me, though, so by the time the vote came around, I was wondering why I’d been invited at all.
Not that I was complaining. Far from it. I was actually relieved that Wainwright hadn't come to me with any grand propositions to make metheirfigurehead, like Uriel had planned.
But even without being hands-on involved, I was still a bundle of nervous energy as we made our way to the conference hall for the meeting.
"Hey." Jordan tugged on my hand, bringing us to a stop in front of a jaw-dropping floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the corridor. "Just take a breath, beautiful. This is going to be fine."
"He's right," Rafe added, folding his arms and nodding at the stunning scenery past the window. The property had its own private beach—that we hadn't been allowed to visit due to security concerns—but the crisp, white sand and aqua-blue water were calling to us something wicked. "As soon as this vote goes through—and it will—we can fuck off and have our own private vacation. Just us."
I drew a deep breath, then let it out in a long sigh. "Okay. Yeah, you're right. Once this vote is done, then we're free. Right?"
Neither of the boys answered me, and I knew why. Because that wasn't true. Even if the vote went through with a landslide "yes," we still had the threat of Uriel lurking somewhere out there. Rafe and Jordan were both still the crown heirs to their kingdoms’ thrones, and I was still just Violet Rose Spencer. Orphan. Commoner. Certainlynotfit material to become queen of two of the most powerful kingdoms in the world.
Then there was the fact that, come the end of the school year, the guys would graduate and I would have another three years at Arbon Academy. I wasn't one totally prone to pessimism, but the future looked bleak for the three of us.
Happily ever after had never seemed so fucking far away.
Still, I could have died that night in the tunnels or any of the other many times I’d cheated death, so I’d just take my wins where I could. Right now I had two princes, I loved them both and they loved me, and we might actually be on the right side of history.
Continuing through the large estate, we ended up in a corridor that was filled with a bunch of other royals. You could always pick them out. With their designer clothing, perfectly styled hair, and reticent attitudes, the royals were a cast all of their own.
I’d grown so used to being with my friends that I mostly forgot their royal titles, focusing instead on how amazing they all were, but now, it was slapping me in the face that I’d stepped into these sacred, upper echelons of humanity. At least in status and money.
Rafe and Jordan were greeted constantly as we strolled through. Curious glances were thrown my way, but no one really gave a fuck who I was.
“Stop trying to introduce me,” I hissed at Jordan. “No one cares about the nobody.”
He shot me a dark glare. “Say that again, and I’ll have Rafe punish you tonight.”
I scoffed. “I like having my ass spanked, so you all can stop threatening me with that—”
My words choked off when I realized that Felipe and Jax were standing there before us, the queen of the Switzerlands smirking in my direction while I turned all shades of fucking red.
“Are you all ready for the vote?” Felipe asked, taking pity on me and not bringing up the last thing I’d said.
“I’m worried,” Rafe said, looking around the hall. “The monarchs aren’t known for their brains or altruism. What makes us think this is going to go our way?”
Felipe held both hands out, looking calm and relaxed. “Don’t worry. We’ll sweeten it with some excellent trade and tax incentives. After all, there’s a reason I’ve been buying up shares in the world bank, son. Nothing like a bit of debt forgiveness for a country to suddenly see things my way.”
Rafe shook his head while I opened and closed my mouth like a fucking fish. Was he legit?
The world bank was what kept the world functioning by controlling ninety percent of the world’s wealth. If Felipe was a majority shareholder in that…
“Fucking hell. I knew you were stupid rich but this is like… you’re more than just a fucking billionaire,” I muttered to Rafe. “What’s the next level up even called?”
“Trillionaire, I think,” Jordan added, joining in on my whispered conversation.
My stomach lurched and I swallowed hard. Coming from the impoverished upbringing I’d had, that level of wealth was mind blowing. Rafe just laughed—probably at my stunned face—and it was the sort of open, light-hearted sound that I’d never heard from him before. In fact, judging by the way everyone turned toward us, no one had ever heard the prince laugh like that.
“Come on,” he said, shaking his head. “Let’s find our seats.”
As he turned to walk away, Felipe reached out and squeezed my hand. When I turned to him, he mouthedthank youat me, and then released me into the care of his son. My heart was pounding so hard I felt like everyone could hear it.
Was this what true happiness felt like? Fucking addictive.
