Poison Throne: A Dark College Romance(45)

A sad chuckle escaped me. “Liar. You adore your siblings.”

I must have closed my eyes again, and I barely felt the kiss Rafe pressed to my lips. “I love you, princess. Sleep now; I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I was conscious long enough for Jordan to kiss me as well, and then they both settled in beside me, refusing to move an inch. Through my grief, I felt protected and secure, and some of the ache in my chest eased.

Jordan’s voice penetrated the encroaching darkness. “Where the fuck did you go, man?”

Rafe grumbled. “To rip that fucking doctor a new asshole. He should have told us first so we could break it to her gently. Violet is my family—our family—and I won’t stand for that shit.”

Jordan sighed. “That’s not really how it works, bro. But I hear you. We’re family, no matter what our blood says.”

Darkness stole me away then, but I would never forget the word they’d both said. Family.

Maybe losing the ability to have children wasn’t the end of my chance at a real family. Maybe this was only the beginning.





Epilogue





FOUR YEARS LATER





“Are you fucking serious?” Mattie stared me down as I emerged from the room dressed in jeans, flats, and a plain back shirt.

“What?” I said, looking down at my outfit. “It’s just dinner, right?”

Her hands went to her hips. “Bitch, I will murder your ass, hide the body in the trunk of my car, and then help the police search for you, I swear to god.”

A snort of laughter escaped me. “Come on, Mattie. I really don’t want to get all dressed up and make a big deal about it. Birthdays don’t mean shit to me.”

Her perfect nose wrinkled, and with that look in her eyes coming out to play, I was sort of wondering if she’d meant that thing about hiding my body. “Yeah, okay.” I threw my hands up. “I’m sure you’ll drag me off to a nightclub anyway.”

A satisfied smile lit up her face. “That’s more like it. Now get that sexy ass back in the room and change into something appropriate for your station in life.”

My station in life. I was a slave to the man, but I fucking loved it. Still, I had no idea what she was talking about.

I’d graduated six months earlier and joined Mattie in the hallowed ranks of the people’s representatives. My original dream might have been to be a sports therapist, but not too far into my schooling at Arbon, after surviving getting stabbed and all the rest, I’d decided that what I truly wanted was to make a difference.

And we were. Today had been amazing, wrapping up a new global initiative that would allow orphans a chance to better themselves through monarch-funded higher education. We were in New America for the signing today, and since Mattie and I only answered to Mr. Wainwright, it meant that we had more freedom and flexibility than most people who worked for the People’s Court.

“Wainwright said we have to head to Australasia next month,” Mattie shouted through the door while I changed into a tight-fitting, short black dress. “Alex has requested you stop in and have lunch with him.”

I snorted, zipping myself up, then pulling on sky-high black heels. “No can do. I’m going to be sick that day.”

My ex was a playboy of the worst kind, but he appeared to be running his country much better than his parents had. And better still, he was working closely with the Australasian People’s Court and giving in more than I’d expected.

Each monarchy had a permanent court attached to them now, plus there were the global liaisons like Mattie and me who traveled between them all and kept everything running smoothly. We’d been obvious choices because of our royal contacts and connections. They helped more than I’d expected.

“Ta-da,” I said, strutting out the door in my high heels like a pro. Thanks to Mattie forcing designer stilettos into my everyday work wardrobe, I could now do just about anything in shoes like these.

Mattie shook her head before wrapping her fingers, with their long red nails, around my forearm to drag me over to the mirror. We lived in hotel rooms now, with four suitcases between us, and it was my idea of a fucking amazing life. Mattie was the sister of my heart and soul, and almost everything in my world was perfect.

Except for one small detail.

“Have you heard from them?” she asked as I sat and she touched up my makeup, darkening my eyes and lips.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah, they’re both stuck in their castles, doing all the princely duties. But it’s okay. We have a modern relationship, and it just makes it all that sweeter when I do have them to myself.”

Rafe and Jordan had stayed at Arbon with me for two extra years, teaching in their spare time, and the three of us had lived in a relationship that had everyone talking. None of us had given a shit though. Everything had changed in my last year when Jordan’s father had had a heart attack and he’d had to go home to sort everything out and help until King Munroe got back on his feet.

Rafe had also had duties he could no longer ignore, and thus our modern relationship had morphed into something different. More time apart.

“I fucking miss them,” I sighed. “Why did no one tell me that love hurts?”

Mattie blinked at me, her reflection in the mirror stunned. “Dude, there has literally been a thousand songs written about how shit love is.”

My eyes narrowed. “Speaking of… How are things going with Zach, anyway?”

She scowled at me. “It’s complicated, and I don’t want to talk about that asshole tonight. He’ll only spoil my good mood.”

I grinned, but let it go. I’d thought my relationship with Rafe and Jordan had been complicated in those early days? We had nothing on the train wreck of Mattie and Zach. I was still pretty sure she would end up killing him and feeding the body to sharks.

Mattie finished my makeup off with some dramatic false lashes, then stood back to admire her work.

“Come on, my gorgeous friend. Let’s head out and drink until we vomit.” She beamed at me, all too excited by that idea.

I shuddered at the mere thought, but it would be nice to have a night out and relax. Mattie’s driver was waiting out front for us, and when he opened the door, I squealed at the familiar face inside. “Nolan!”

Leaping out, he wrapped his arms around me, hauling me off the ground as he twirled me. “I missed your gorgeous-as-fuck face,” he shouted loudly enough that every single person staying in the swanky Swiss Hotel would have heard us.

Nolan had gone on to play soccer for a New American team, sticking it to the royal traditions of crown heirs. Personally, I loved his life choice because my base was between New America and Switzerland, so we saw him all the time. “I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight,” I said as he dragged me into the car.

He scoffed. “You wound me. I would never miss one of my sister’s birthdays. Not for a fucking billion dollars.”

Mattie snorted out a dark laugh. “Remember when we were sixteen and you missed my birthday because you were off fucking around with that hot yoga instructor.”

Nolan blinked at her. “Look, I just forgot. It happens. And… he was really flexible.”

Mattie glared at him. “We were born on the same fucking day! How could you forget?”

I settled back, my joy at hearing them bicker suddenly the best thing to happen on my birthday. Only seeing my princes would make this day any better, but since that wasn’t happening, I’d just have to think of the video sex I’d had with both of them this morning—separately of course—when they’d each called to wish me happy birthday.

“We’re here,” Mattie squealed, interrupting my thoughts. When we emerged, cameras flashed as the media took photos of us. All of us ended up online way more than I enjoyed, but there was a certain notoriety that came with being best friends with royals and dating two of them, not that the world had quite figured it out yet.

A lot of people knew, but nothing had been confirmed, and so far we’d skated under the radar—something I hoped continued for a long time.

The long line out the front of Fantasy, the hottest nightclub to grace New York, was bypassed by my best friend as she dragged me right up to the security at the front. We were waved inside without a second glance, and Nolan was already moving to the heavy beat that encased us as we entered.

“Drinks first,” Mattie shouted, and we made our way to the VIP area. There was no point in staying in the main throng of people—we’d end up getting mobbed and the night would be no fun at all as the security around us dealt with them.

The life of a royal. A life I was growing used to.

Once we’d made it past the barrier, ascending to the platform above the main floor, I started to relax and look forward to my first drink. My heels weren’t even hurting, and I took that as a good sign that I was going to enjoy my birthday dancing the night away.

Mattie led us to a private booth; nearby, waiters stood around with alcohol-filled trays ready for us. “Come on, Vi,” my friend said, hurrying forward.

I laughed, but the sound was cut off as two figures stepped into view, side by side, decked out in suits.

Fuck.

My knees buckled, and if Nolan hadn’t caught me, I’d have ended up on the floor.