Playboy Princes (Royals of Arbon Academy, #2)(83)

King Felipe’s face was like a stone, and I was finally catching a glimpse of the core of steel that allowed him to lead the most powerful monarchy in the world. “Thank you for the delightful conversation,” I said to him, nodding my head respectfully.

“The pleasure was all mine, Violet dear,” he replied. “I will find you again soon, and we can continue.”

Gah, I loved Rafe’s dad just a little bit in that second as he made it clear to Steve, the jerkwad, that he would notice if I disappeared.

“Looking forward to it.”

Before anything else could be said, King Steve wrapped a firm hand around mine, pulling me forward. Once I started to walk, he placed his hand on the small of my back, and I legit wondered if I might not throw up on him.

The entire family made my stomach churn like I’d eaten really bad food. If these were the genetics I was matched up too, I was starting to wonder if I might not be a little fucked up too. Because they were all horrific.

“So,” he said when we reached the main floor. “Want to tell me why you’ve been avoiding my son all evening?” Gone was the false politeness as he jerked me closer, his hand biting into my waist as he used the other to grip my hand. “I don’t appreciate being kept waiting, and I especially don’t appreciate you making my family look like fools.”

We moved, both of his hands bruising me, but I kept my face calm like I couldn’t even feel it. It would take more than a strong grip to break me.

“I’ve just been trying to meet everyone,” I said, forcing a smile and an air of casualness into my words. “It’s important to form alliances, don’t you think?”

He examined my face, and in turn I did the same to him. He looked a lot like his son, but his eyes were smaller and mean. With Alex it was hard to tell he was an evil bastard, at least at first, but his father wore it clearly on his face. His blond hair had no mark of age in it, not a single gray that I could see, but the blond was also a little unnatural, as was his smooth forehead. Something told me that this king was vain and, unlike Felipe, was not aging into a handsome and distinguished older gentleman. Nope. He was fighting every line and mark.

And it hadn’t done him any favors.

“What would you say to returning to Australasia with us when we leave here?”

I almost faltered then as my brain tried to figure out if he’d just said that. “Oh, as wonderful as that sounds”—lies, all fucking lies—“unfortunately I cannot leave school again. I need to catch up on the classes I missed.”

His smile—smirk actually—sent chills across my skin. “Sweet child, you really don’t need Arbon any longer. Your one goal was to secure a future, and yours is set. You’ll carry the future heir of the Australasias. There’s really no loftier position you could reach.”

He didn’t say I would be queen, just that I would carry the heir. I wondered if he intended for me to actually marry his son or just be locked up in their dungeon, raped, and forced to give birth.

What a delightful man.

“My education is important to me,” I said to him, still trying to appear unfazed by what an absolute monster of a human this fuck was. “I’d like to finish it before I have any children. If I decide to have children at all, of course.”

I couldn’t help myself with that last line, even knowing it was going to cause me all kinds of trouble.

His brow bunched, shadows crossing his face. “You really have no choice. The king must produce an heir, and Alex is to be king.”

There was a command in his voice.

“Maybe I’m not the right partner for Alex, then” I suggested.

More darkness, and his grip was actually super painful now. I was going to have bruises worse than from my last fight.

“You have no choice, you gutter trash,” he muttered. “You’ll shut your mouth, do as you're told, and maybe you won’t end up like Jasmine.”

I swallowed roughly. “Jasmine fell.”

We all knew that wasn’t true, but I wanted to hear what he’d say.

“She did,” he confirmed, that fucking smirk back. “After she decided to get pregnant by someone who was not her betrothed. It was a terrible tragedy.”

“So she was pregnant?” I pushed. “By whom?”

A smug look crossed his face. “She chose to try and elevate herself to queen earlier than she should have. The father over the son. She forgot her place.”

What in the…? Was he saying what I thought he was saying? Before I could ponder the idea that Jasmine might have been pregnant with King Steve’s baby and he’d killed her for it, I was jerked against him so hard my body was plastered to his.

I could feel the slight bulge in his pants pressing my stomach, and I fought down the scream that was rising in my throat. I was about five seconds from losing my shit and beating the fuck out of this king, but if I did that, I would sign my own death warrant. And I had too much to fucking live for.

There was still hope that I would figure out a way to get out of this. I had powerful friends and allies. I was not alone and I would not let this king scare me.

Moving as fast as my hands and body could, I managed to twist out of his hold, putting a few feet of distance between us. He blinked at me like he was trying to figure out what had just happened.

“Thank you for the dance,” I said. “It’s been truly enlightening.”