Playboy Princes (Royals of Arbon Academy, #2)(54)

Groan.

"Well, Violet's rampant sex life aside, we should discuss the new transfer students. Or student." Nolan gave a small grimace, and I suddenly recalled that Zachary Fuckface was transferring here. Shit, how could I have forgotten? Looked like I’d be right under the resistance’s nose after all.

How many others here were secretly part of it as well?

Before we got around to discussing the transfer student, a hand rested on my shoulder, caressing the side of my neck, and my unconscious reaction was to lean into the touch—thinking it was Jordan. But the sour expressions on Nolan’s and Mattie's faces told me otherwise.

"What's this about our sex life, darling?" Alex purred from behind me, his grip tightening with a silent threat. "Have you been sharing all our dirty little secrets with your friends?"

"Oh fuck off, Alex," Mattie snarled, slamming her coffee down hard enough to slosh brown liquid into the saucer. "You're not welcome here."

"Ah, that's a shame. I always thought the Guays had such hospitable people too. Certainly your mother is always available for a nice chat whenever I call her." His voice held that unhinged, don’t-fuck-with-me tone that turned my stomach. This bullshit was between the two of us, and he needed to leave Mattie and Nolan alone.

"Stop it," I snapped, giving my shoulder a shake to try and dislodge his grip. "And take your hand off me before I break it."

Alex laughed a hollow, humorless sound but didn't remove his hand. "Ah, my love. Such violence. Come on; I need my loving girlfriend to help me with something."

I was so, so tempted to tell him to go fuck himself with a cactus, but I couldn't forget the look on Mattie's face the other day in the library after Alex played dirty and started some bullshit with her mom.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed back from the table, and this time Alex let me shrug his hand from my shoulder... only to wrap it around my waist when I stood. Fucker.

"Catch you later, friends," he said to Mattie and Nolan, giving them a smug grin.

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, just to hold the fury inside. Alex’s sudden appearance reminded me to check in with Jordan to see where he was up to on his virus plan. Seeing Alex hauled away in restraints—no matter how briefly he stayed locked up—would really put a smile on my face.

His hand stayed on my waist as we exited the dining room, and my skin fucking crawled. I hated that I needed to maintain the appearance of a happy couple with him. I hated that he held so much power that I had no idea how to combat. I hated... him. He'd totally fooled me with his nice-guy act. He'd made me fall in love, and the what-ifs would forever stick with me.

What if I hadn't overheard his conversation with Claudette?

What if he’d managed to get me pregnant?

What if I’d ended up trapped in Australasia with him and for the rest of my life I’d been forced into whatever arrangement he wanted because I had nowhere else to go?

I shuddered, and he pulled me closer.

"Game face on, my lovely Violet," he murmured in my ear. "Would hate for anyone to think the newest ballot winner wasn't getting her happily ever after."

"Fuck you, Alex," I whispered, with a fake smile pasted on my face. "You make me sick."

He laughed softly. "Not what you were saying when I was tongue fucking your tight cunt, darling."

I stiffened, revolted at the reminder, but he just laughed again and steered me out of the dining room and right toward—fuck my life—Rafe and Jordan. The two gorgeous princes were in the middle of what looked to be a very heated discussion, and I silently prayed for the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

"Violet," Jordan said, seeing me first. His gaze shot to Alex, and his brow dropped in a scowl. "Are you okay?"

"Of course she is, Jordy," Alex answered for me, and I seethed. Men who spoke for their partner always gave me the icks.

Jordan cast a quick, disgusted sneer over Alex, then turned his gaze back to me, his eyes softening. "Violet, I was asking you."

The implication was clear, and based on the way Rafe folded his strong arms, he was backing Jordan up. If I gave them the word, they'd rescue me from whatever Alex was up to, no matter what the cost.

"I'm fine," I replied with a sigh, "just looking forward to disinfecting my skin later. Hey, how are you going on that project?"

Jordan's brows lifted slightly, and the corner of his mouth curled in a knowing smile. "Really good, actually. I'm hoping to get it finished this afternoon."

Hope flared, and I bit my cheek to hold back my gleeful grin. "That's great! Hopefully it won't take long to get the results."

"As fun as it is to make idle chitchat with people I despise, we have somewhere to be. Come on, babe." Alex gave my waist a firm tug, and I reluctantly let him lead me away.

Neither of us spoke for a few minutes, me because I didn't care to make conversation with him. Ever. About anything. It was a waste of breath.

"Since when did you and Jordan work on projects together?" Alex demanded when we reached the male dorm wing. "You're not even in the same year."

I rolled my eyes. "So? I'm not in the same year as you, yet suddenly I'm taking 300 level courses."

He narrowed his eyes at me, suspicious. We were out of sight of the dining room and most of the students, but still, he kept a possessive hand on my waist. I didn't even bother trying to peel him off me because he'd probably pull some bullshit excuse out.