* * *
Our seats were hiddenin the crowd of supporting diplomats, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized we wouldn't be required to actually contribute. My guys may be the crown heirs to their kingdoms, but the ruling monarchs were the only ones invited to speak or vote.
As all the kings and queens filed in and took their places, my eyes widened at the impressive display they cut. Each of them wore their crowns like an extension of their body. Even the young monarchs, newly coronated in the aftermath of the Spring Ball earthquake, looked like they’d been born to wear those crowns.
I guess they had been.
Alex searched the room with his gaze, and when he found me, he gave a small nod. Whether that nod meantwe're all good, I'll vote yesorI'm holding a grudge and about to make you pay... I had no idea. I could only cross my fingers and hope for the best.
The actual meeting itself went on for hours, with Felipe outlining his proposal for granting the resistance a seat at the big kids’ table and what the ramifications would be for the existing monarchies. Wainwright spoke on behalf of the Society but was then dismissed from the meeting room while the kingdoms discussed his pitch in depth.
Surprisingly, several kingdoms—including The Guays—were vehemently opposed to giving the common people a representative. Maybe Mattie being their ruler wasn’t as big a deterrent as the twins had thought.
When it finally came time to cast votes, my heart was in my throat and I'd bitten all my nails to the quick.
"All in favor?" Felipe asked, and a rush of hands were raised. Too fast for me to count.
"All opposed?" Hands went down, others went up. Fewer. Fewer hands went up, I thought, and not Alex’s. He must have voted yes. Mattie and Nolan’s father, too.
Felipe banged a little wooden hammer and nodded his head. "Motion passed. The Society has gained permission to form a People's Court."
Whatever else he said faded into a rush of voices as people all started talking at once. Whether they were pleased or angry about the outcome, they all wanted to voice an opinion. Me, though? I was in shock.
That’d been so quick. So easy. It was almost unbelievable. Of course, I knew this was only the beginning and that it would take a long time for everything to truly come to fruition, but this was the first step. One in the right direction.
Alex met my eyes across the room and gave a sad smile, then turned away to chat with the young queen of the Britains beside him. I vaguely recognized her as Claudette's younger sister and a friend of Alex's. Maybe there could be something there?
"Fuck yeah!" Nolan whooped as we all made our way out of the conference hall and the twins ran over to meet us. "Told you they'd vote in favor." He smirked as he threw his arm around my neck, and I laughed.
"Gave us a scare for a minute there," I muttered, sharing a smile with Mattie. For the most part, everyone around us was all smiles. I hadn't known just how many of the kingdoms’ elite had wanted a change like this. The common people needed a voice, and it was heartening to see that progressive leaders like Felipe and Jacinta weren't the only ones who agreed.
"So what happens now?" I asked my princes as we wandered back through the estate. "Another fancy dinner or ball or something?"
Rafe gave me a half-smile. "Actually, not this time. Security concerns are high enough with all the monarchs gathered that it was deemed safer to disperse as quickly as possible. By this time tomorrow, there won't be a single monarch left in the Cayman Islands and this estate will have become the new base of operations for the People's Court."
I sighed, gazing longingly out the window to the pristine white sand and crystal clear waters. "Lucky them. I'd kill for an office view like that."
Rafe pulled me out of Nolan's hold and closed me tight in his big arms. "I'll buy you an island, babe. Say the word and I’ll make it happen." He murmured the words in my ear, and I jolted back in shock.
He just laughed, the prick, and let me go to keep walking.
I shot Jordan a panicked look and shook my head. "He's joking, right?"
Jordan grinned. "Doubtful. Never can tell with him, though." He linked our hands together, and we followed our friends out into the sunshine.
"Violet," someone called out from behind us, and I spun to find Felipe and Jacinta emerging from the main building.
I smiled at my boyfriend's parents—easily the best parents I'd ever known. "Congratulations, Felipe," I replied. "You must be relieved that went so seamlessly."
He nodded. "We are, absolutely. Jax and I wanted to personally update you on the other matter under discussion today." His brow dipped somewhat, and my stomach clenched.
Theothermatter. The Princess Ballot and genetic matching for arranged marriages. Not that I had a problem with people finding their genetic matches, not at all. But both parties needed to be fully aware and consenting.
"We were able to use the data dump that Jordan set up prior to the Spring Ball," Jax told me with a reassuring smile. "It allowed us to identify which kingdoms were the worst offenders. We've arranged private discussions with each of those leaders later this afternoon, and we're confident we can garner an acceptable result."
I arched a brow, the cynic in me creeping out. "An acceptable result?"
"Transparency and informed consent," Jax clarified. "After my initial chat with Queen Tatiana, of Siberia, I have complete confidence that all the breeding programs in her kingdom will be shut down. She was most revolted by the whole thing."
