Their aura was menacing.
The way they were lookin at me was as if they were starving and had just found a five-course meal.
“You definitely don’t look like any Kingdom bitch we’ve ever seen,” one of them commented, dropping his heated gaze to where my nipples were easily seen through the white fabric of my slip.
My stomach knotted in a million different directions, and a dull ache resonated through my entire body. I felt like one of the raccoons Dad used to catch in tiny metal traps. I had no way of escaping; I was stuck with danger staring me straight in the face.
“Why are they here?” I asked Noah directly, ignoring the quad.
He opened his mouth to answer but the man who smiled at me held up a hand, shutting him up.
“Arlen, my name’s Vance. This is my brother Rex, and these are our boys, Hawke and Vitus.”
He aimed a thumb at each of them without taking his eyes off me. Him knowing my name wasn’t the least bit surprising.
Anyone who paid enough attention to any form of press knew I was the Regent—or, as he liked to call himself lately, Mayor—of Centriole’s daughter.
“What do you want with me?”
“Well, I asked Noah here to show me he could make good on his word.”
At my blank stare, he chuckled amusedly and partially turned to clamp the man he’d called Vitus on the shoulder and pull him forward.
“It’s my boy’s twenty-fifth birthday, and Noah promised some exclusive one-on-one time between you two during a round of cards the other night.”
“I’m not his to promise.” I glared at Vitus. If he was really twenty-five, that sat him only six years older than me, but I could tell just by looking at him that whatever happened in his daily life had matured and hardened him beyond his age.
He had dark curly hair and a solid build. He stared me down with odd bluish-green eyes, one side of his mouth lifting into a grin when I scowled.
“Alright, everybody get out.” His gruff demand was met wit
h laughs from everyone but Noah, who had the audacity to look slightly concerned.
Nonetheless, he wordlessly trailed after the others as they filed out of the room, leaving me alone to fend for myself.
“You know, you’re a lot prettier in person,” he said , inching closer to the bed.
I edged away, wanting him nowhere near me.
My voice may have remained steady, and I could bravely look these men in the eye without crumbling to pieces, but that was only because my mouth seemed to move without approval from my brain half the time.
That ridiculous thing called pride wouldn’t allow me to beg for mercy.
In all actuality, I was absolutely terrified. Natural fight or flight instinct had my entire body tensing in apprehension of what was to come. “There are plenty of pretty girls you could go and play with. Why pick me?”
“None of those girls are you, Arlen.”
I scrambled off the bed, keeping as much space between us as I could. Fightin him wasn’t the brightest option. That would do nothing but wear me out or get me hurt.
Vitus shook his head and held both his hands up like he was surrendering. He was quick to hold a finger to his lips when I opened my gob to ask what the hell he was doing.
He continued moving towards me in the same pose, giving a slight shake of his head when I side eyed the bathroom, easily understanding my intent. I took two steps back but didn’t have room to go further because of the wall.
“Listen, forcing women to spread their legs isn’t my forte, and I don’t want to today, but my pops won’t be very happy if I walk outta here without getting what we came all this way for,” he whispered lowly, stopping an arm’s reach away from me.
“How’s that my problem? That seems more like a personal issue.”
“It’s actually just an issue for you. I’m trying to do the right thing. They’re outside that door, listening, so you can get on that bed and willingly lie on your back for me, or I can do things the hard way for both of us.”