Playboy Princes (Royals of Arbon Academy, #2)(35)

She looked closer. “What aren’t you telling me?”

I returned that stare. “What aren’t you telling me? What really happened with your family yesterday? What was the incident?”

Rafe wouldn’t give me more details outside of the “international incident” thing, and Mattie had done the same, refusing to tell me anything specific, just saying that it was handled and that next time Alex wouldn’t find it so easy to get rid of her.

She wrinkled her nose at me. “I told you it’s nothing to worry about. Let’s get some food.”

When we entered the dining room, she led the way to our table, and I tried to be blasé, even though Jordan and Rafe were both there sitting side by side and distracting me about a million percent.

There was no one else at the table for once, and I was surprised at how comfortable I felt with the three royals.

Noles sprinted in a minute later, rounding out our five.

“Hey, love,” he said, slapping a kiss on my cheek. “And sister.” He did the same with Mattie.

I almost saw my spine with how hard I rolled my eyes. “Love?”

He shrugged. “You’re family now, girl. And I love my family.”

Jordan and Rafe were suddenly very interested in Nolan, and I blinked at the rumble that came from the New American prince. “Family better be all you’re feeling when it comes to Violet,” he said.

Nolan’s smile was wicked as fuck, and I waited with bated breath for whatever was about to come out of his mouth.

“I knew you fuckers were gonna lay your claims.” his eyes flicked between Jordan and Rafe. “And what do you know? You haven’t killed each other in a bloody fight for her puss—uh—attention. Oh, very interesting indeed. Maybe you two aren’t too alpha male to share.” He crossed his arms, super satisfied. “This is exactly what I prayed for.”

Mattie jerked her head at that. “You pray?”

Nolan’s broad shoulders shook with laughter. “Yeah, not so much, but to get a little threesome action between our besties, I’d make an exception.”

So, like, wow. This was exceptionally awkward, and I wanted to punch Nolan but also not make a big deal about it. Because in this moment, all I could think about was being between those two princes. I might be the one praying to God tonight.

Subject change.

“Next fight,” I said, lowering my voice so I wasn't projecting this to anyone outside of our table. “You guys worked it so I can participate, right?”

Both Nolan and Jordan shot a look at Rafe, who just gave me a smug, slightly wicked grin.

“Did you agree to the terms, Cinderella?”

My teeth ground together so hard it was audible, and Mattie shuddered. “I told you,” I growled at the prickish Swiss heir, “I don’t deal in favors.”

Those messages I hadn’t read on my palm reader during the study session had been from Rafe. His proposed trade for getting me into the next fight? An undisclosed favor to be used any time in the future. Yeah, it was that open-ended and vague. Hell no.

Rafe just shrugged, kicking back in his seat and folding his arms over his broad chest. Damn him straight to hell, he’d rolled his shirtsleeves up again. The tattoos on his forearms only seemed to highlight how strong his muscles were and made me want to—

“Come on, man,” Jordan muttered, shooting his best friend a dark look and, thankfully, cutting off my train of thought before it really hit the gutter.

Rafe shot Jordan a look back, then sighed dramatically. “Fine,” he said, turning that intense gaze back to me. “I’ll give the deal some limitations, if that makes you feel better?”

I pursed my lips, but gave a small, tight nod. It didn’t mean I was agreeing to his deal, but I was willing to listen.

“One favor, to be used before you graduate, and I won’t ask you to kill anyone.” He gestured like a benevolent ruler. “That’s the best I can do.”

My eyes narrowed, and I shook my head. “One favor to be used before the end of this academic year.” I paused to think about what I was agreeing to. “No killing, maiming, nudity, or sexual situations. And nothing that could land me in prison.”

Rafe’s lips twitched with a smile, and Jordan looked furious.

“That’s a fair amendment,” the New American prince commented, prodding Rafe in the shoulder. “Accept her offer and quit being a fucking asshole.”

Rafe’s gaze hadn’t left me for even a second, though. Had he blinked? I didn’t think he had. Creeper. “Fine, Cinderella. One favor of my choosing, to be used by the end of this academic year, with no killing, maiming, or anything that could land you in prison. Deal.”

He held his hand out for me to shake, and damn if I didn’t move like I was under a spell, clasping his hand with mine and shaking once before my brain computed the words he’d left out.

Mother fucker.

“Bastard,” I growled under my breath. “So, you’ll sort it out? When is it?”

Rafe’s lazy grin was all predator, and it made my nipples harden. “Unconfirmed yet, but it’s looking like it might be late next Thursday night. But yes, you’ll be on the cards. A deal’s a deal, Cinderella.”

I still scowled, kicking myself for letting him get by without all my conditions. “And Brandon?”