Page 25 of The Unravelings

He snorts. “I survived an assassination by my power-hungry uncle. I think I can survive Jonathan and his wrath.”

I swallow hard at the mention of Jordy’s dark past. It’s something he doesn’t bring up in conversation much. Only when he’s feeling at his lowest.

“Exactly. You did that.” I gently squeeze his shoulder. “You, too, can face anything.”

“You think he’s fairly running my kingdom right now?” Jordy hums.

You’d never guess by looking at him that he was once in line for a throne and crown. A prince in waiting. Well, until his uncle, desperate for the throne, killed his entire family—including the king—and took it all for himself.

Except Jordy. He survived. Somehow. He got out, and Jonathan found him and brought him into Veritas. Not without trauma, though. It turned him into the man he is. Relationship-intolerant. Laughing to hide his pain.

“You haven’t googled it yet?” I quip, earning a chuckle.

“I separated myself from that title ages ago, Liv. I’m not a prince or a future king. I’m not responsible for the people who betrayed my family to put a shitty ruler into the castle. Let them eat their cake full of poison. I don’t care.”

Yeah, I don’t believe that one bit. Jordy can say he doesn’t care, but I hear it in his voice. His kingdom meant everything to him, and then it was taken unfairly with the swish of a sword and an army full of men.

“Want to watch something?”

“If you suggest Buffy for the millionth time, I might throw you to the wolves myself.” Jordy raises a nonsense brow, emphasizing his issue with Buffy. “Paging Huxley, JJ, and Mack, come get your girl.” He side-eyes me with a twinkle blooming in his eyes.

“Not their girl. They killed me, remember?” I huff, tossing a pillow at his face and hoping he suffocates.

He grunts and stops when a ringtone spills from my phone on the desk.

“That’s probably for you,” I say, eliminating the humor between us.

Jordy doesn’t comment when he climbs from beneath my comforter and answers the phone like he’s not worried about a damn thing.

Jordy frowns after a five-minute conversation and settles in the spot next to me again with the loudest sigh I’ve ever heard. Every inch of his muscles tightens and contracts.

“Exciting news, Liv. The Wonder Twins are on their way to receive me. Apparently, they’re heading this investigation now, and I’m their funny sidekick. I’m fucking Robin, and they’re Batman.” He groans, squeezing his eyes shut.

“He sent them to get you? Already?”

“My computer pinged two hours away from here. Thank God. It hasn’t been infiltrated or disabled. Yet. They’re working on wiping it remotely so she can’t get her grubby hands on my evidence. Which isn’t much. I still have no idea who she is, how she knew I was there for her. Fuck. I didn’t even know she was a she until…” He gestures wildly again. “I’m nailing that thief the next time I get my hands on her.”

“You already did that,” I quip, earning a glare.

“That’s our little secret, Liv. No one can know I ate bacon this morning after fucking my mark all night long. Ughhh.” He rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands, groaning. “I’m so stupid.”

“You’re not stupid. You’re horny,” I shoot back, earning another groan from him.

“I’m going celibate, I swear. No more boobs, dicks, or other parts. I’m swearing off everyone.” He waves his hands and sighs. “Will you take the walk of shame with me? Escort me to my fucking death sentence? They’ll be here in twenty fucking minutes.”

“You mean meeting with Remi and Colt?” I raise a brow when Jordy nods.

“My executioners await. They’ll be so damn happy to take my head off.”

He isn’t kidding. There’s bad blood between the three of them for some odd reason, and they’ve never gotten along. Maybe it’s Jordy’s dramatic superiority complex he has going on. And them? Well, they came from humble beginnings, never having set foot in a palace like Jordy. Three people from completely different worlds. Now, they’re about to combine.

“So damn dramatic,” I quip, getting out of bed and dragging him with me. “Just chill for a minute, and we’ll meet them. I need to get back into disguise.” As much as I don’t want to, I need to embrace Oliver again. Bind my chest. Wear my glasses that record everything.

The quicker I get into character, the quicker I can get my armor on and prepare myself for the inevitable facing them.

7

Malic