"Son, we cannot allow you to take her." The King commanded. "And you will not be leaving."

Change of plan. We leave on my word. Be ready. We're gonna have to get the fuck out of here before he calls the guards. Let me try to talk to him. I don't want anyone to die. Do you hear me, Tyler? Justin's golden eyes dimmed to their light brown as he turned toward his father.

I won't kill anyone unless Shortie's life is in danger. Tyler's hand tightened around my shoulder.

I shifted uneasily as I let their conversation sink in. We're talking about who you killed later, Tyler.

The corner of Tyler's lips lifted into a tiny smirk. I look forward to it.

Dude, shut up. Don't worry, Gorgeous. No one's gonna die. Lucas squeezed my waist, pulling me back into the present.

"And why can't I take her, Father?" Justin's voice was calm while I was freaking out inside.

The King grinned at Justin's new tone, telling me he didn't understand emotional energy. Justin's rage felt like a lightning storm, and the Timeweaver, with all her supposed psychic expertise, was examining her hand like it held all the answers in the universe.

The King cleared his throat. "We've already made an agreement with the Claw and Fang Clans. They have hundreds of eligible shifters that are very interested in bonding with the girl. It would be beneficial for all of us if she found her place with them."

Motherfucker! Lucas yelled in our heads. Griffin has to be part of this.

How do you know? I asked.

Griffin and Greg are with the Fang Clan. Lucas answered.

My heart seized in my chest. Greg was skeezy, but Griffin scared the shit out of me.

Don't scare her. We're never gonna let that happen, Angel. Justin said to us before he spoke out loud. "How would that benefit us? The fifth realm has never been easy to handle. If we offer them a female with a potentially strong Guardian lineage, not only would it make them more powerful, but it'll bring the Angels down on us when they find we've mixed the bloodlines."

"The prophecy clearly states that 'discord will transpire across the realms.'" The Timeweaver threw in her two cents like she was telling an inside joke.

Justin glanced at the Timeweaver. I couldn't see the look on his face, but her gaze dropped from the conversation and drifted to the other side of the room.

"Son, please understand, we know you better than anyone, and this, whoever or whatever she is, is not your mate. You are smart enough to know this is a game planned by the Angels to disrupt our peaceful existence and to turn you against us." Dresella pleaded. "Please, my child, end this silliness. The Water Guardian Clan has invited us to join them tomorrow for a grand gathering of food and entertainment. You will not be disappointed when you see River again. She's quite taken with you. Do you remember her? She was the lovely blond I introduced to you at the Intertribal celebration last year. Such an exquisite girl."

A hot ball of fire ignited in my stomach like it had earlier today with Griffin. Knowing I was about to become engulfed in flames, I shut off their conversation as I bit down on my lip so hard it started bleeding.

Justin was mine. I didn't care if this was his mom. This bitch had no right signing Justin up to spend the rest of his life with some girl he didn't even want. He wanted me, and I wanted him. I was his future.

Justin, she's losing it, Bro. Lucas's hand slowly moved under the hem of my shirt as he pressed his warm palm against my skin. Comforting tingles spread over me. Calm down, Gorgeous.

Well, now we know which one of us she wants most. Tyler's arm moved up to rest on my shoulder and softly tugged my head close to his chest. He caught my chin with his knuckle and tilted it up, encouraging me to look at him. When my gaze met with his, he gently ran his knuckles down my cheek. Goosebumps streamed down my back. Do you want me too, Shortie?

My gaze followed his tongue as it dragged over his bottom lip. The raging fireball inside me began to cool as I looked back into his smoldering blue gaze. Yes.

Tyler's eyes burned brighter as his lips tipped up at the corners. I knew it. You've been attracted to me this whole time, haven't you?

I fought back a smile as Tyler ran his thumb over the bite on my lip. Stop freaking out. We're gonna be okay. I'll never let anything happen to you.

I blinked in response as the fireball disappeared entirely.

"You're right. I have been making drastic decisions lately. As long as I know she'll be safe, I'll release her to the clans." Justin's acting job was so amazing that if I didn't know any different, I would've believed every word he was saying.

Dresella's beautiful face perked up with a smile of relief as she wiped away a tear. "Thank you for listening to reason, my child."

"Shall I speak with the girl before she leaves?" The Timeweaver's gaze was on mine, demanding that I ask for her to stay, but I ignored her.

I didn't like her one bit, and I didn't care what she had to say. Something about her was bugging the shit out of me. Her motives were off, which to me, meant she was up to something.

"No need, Timeweaver. She's no longer my concern. Let the clans of the fifth teach her what she needs to know." Justin commanded before pointedly facing his parents. "Give me a moment to say goodbye."

"Very well. You have five minutes." The King waltzed out of the room just as quickly as he came in.

"It was very nice to meet you, my dear." Dresella stopped in the doorway. "I apologize that we did not have more time to get to know one another. Perhaps another time."

Yeah, whatever. Over my dead body, bitch.

I gave her a soft smile, hiding my hatred toward her. "So nice to meet you too. Thank you so much for your hospitality."

"Of course." Dresella's eyes filled with tears as she left.

Why was she crying? She wasn't the one being sent off to strange shifter clans that had sleazeballs like Griffin and Greg running around.

The Timeweaver stopped in front of Justin after his parents were gone. "You beckoned me, remember?"

"Yes, and I apologize for disrupting your night. Please keep my payment as a form of my gratitude. Apparently, my father has other plans. I see his reasoning and I agree with his decision." Justin's voice was full of authority.

"Very well, however, I must remind you, the Guardian King cannot control destiny, Prince. He never has and he never will. It sorrows me to say his time runs short." The Timeweaver's dark eyes swept over us before she glanced around the room. "What a dream you Guardians have carved out for yourselves, and a dream it all is. Be sure when you awaken, you are not within a nightmare."

Now the old witch sounded like she knew what she was talking about, even if I couldn't seem to comprehend her meaning.

"I understand." Justin backed into me. Loving our closeness, I ran my fingers down his back, clutching the hem of his sweatshirt. His back shuddered in response.

"You made good on your trade, Prince. Therefore, I am in your debt. I believe this will suffice." The Timeweaver opened one layer of her robe, revealing a leather satchel bulging at the seams. The tip of a scroll was poking out the drawstring top. She handed the satchel to Justin before her dark eyes landed on mine. She held out her other hand. "And this is for you, girl."

I stuck out my hand, palm up. Her elongated fingers opened, and a golden necklace attached to three strange coins tumbled from her fist. When the coins hit my palm, they were heavy and warm. "What's this?"

"When you need assistance, flip a coin to beckon our services. Let it be known, when you seek answers, there is always a high price." Her hardened gaze drilled a hole through me until she clasped her hands together and bowed her head. Then she was gone, leaving only air in her place.

"What the fuck? Did she just disappear into nothing?" I whispered as I closed my hand around the coins. A wave of new anger came to the surface when I thought about what she said. "Did you actually pay her, Justin? She did nothing but talk shit about me and scare your sister."

Justin spun to face us. "I had to. I didn't know how she'd react to you. She obviously believes you're the Bringer because Timeweavers never give coins unless they're instructed to by the Ancients."

Hearing that important fact brought all sorts of questions to mind, but I didn't ask them since we didn't have time for a teaching session.

"Will you put this on for me? I don't wanna lose it." I handed the necklace to Lucas, and he nodded before he looped the chain around my neck, connecting the latch. My gaze landed on Justin as I waited. "What did you pay her?"

Justin glanced at Tyler before he grimaced and silently locked his door. "Don't worry about it. I can live without it. I need to grab some stuff. My parents have lost their fucking minds. They've been discussing this exact situation for years, and they've always made me believe they would assist the Bringer. I'm sorry, Angel. They're not as bad as you think. They're just scared of losing power, but I never thought they'd be so stupid."

I had a lot of shitty things to say about his parents, but I knew he loved them, so I didn't respond.

"Lucas, gimme a hand." Tyler moved to one end of a couch.

After Lucas hid my necklace under my shirt, he smoothed a hand down my back and rushed to help Tyler move the couch against the door.

"Wait, how're we getting out of here?" Glancing around the room, there was only one window, and it was made of stained glass. It wasn't exactly a good option. I hated the thought that its beauty would have to be broken to make our getaway.

"There's a hidden passage in my closet. It'll take us down to the lower level, and we'll be able to escape from there." Justin whispered as he moved around the room, grabbing clothes and personal items. He stuffed them into a large duffle bag on his bed.

As I watched Justin packing up his life, Tyler and Lucas moved more furniture to block the door.

Guilt took over as I packed my boots and I stood there, helpless. "You guys, I'm so sorry. I never meant for you to turn your lives upside down for me. I mean, I'm totally messing up your awesome lives."

"You're not messing anything up, Angel. I'm actually glad I can leave this prison with a clear conscience." Justin zipped up his bag and looped the strap over his shoulder as he opened his massive closet door.

Lucas unzipped my bag. He removed my hoodie and added a few books and some blankets. "Don't blame yourself. This was gonna happen no matter what. Everyone has to pick a side now, and we'll always pick yours."

"Thanks." I gave him a sad smile. "I just wish there was another way."

"Listen," Tyler turned me to face him before he removed his hat and stuck it in the pocket of his hoodie. I couldn't help but smile at his messy hair. "There's no easy way to put this, so I'm just gonna say it. You're the Bringer, and I know you don't know what that means yet, but it makes you the biggest target in history. You have no idea what you're capable of, and you have no idea what we're destined to do together. Anyone and everyone in the lower realms are gonna be fighting to bond with you, but what they'll never understand is that you have always been ours from the start. And fuck, you literally landed right in our laps and started screaming about what horny assholes we were."

I barked out a laugh, covering my mouth.

"She never screamed at me," Justin smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's because we're impatient assholes and you're the smart one." Lucas lifted his hood before he pulled my sweatshirt over my head. He carefully raised my hood and tugged it low over my eyes before sweeping a loose tendril of hair off my face. "Keep this low and cover as much of your face as possible. These hoodies have powerful protection spells that'll help keep your body safe. Kinda like a bulletproof vest."

"So, that's why you guys wanted me to wear it so bad." I grinned and took delight in wearing the hoodie now.

Lucas nodded. His eyes flared bright green as he sent me a sexy grin. His fingers intertwined with mine, and I slid my palm into his, squeezing.

"Plus, wearing the hoodie shows others that you've chosen us. So, if anyone wants you bad enough to do something about it, they're gonna have to kill us first." Tyler raised his hood before he reached for me.

A shudder of fear slithered down my spine at the idea of them dying for me. Could it really get that bad? The thought of anyone fighting to the death just to bond with me was a solid dose of reality.

"Let's go." Justin waved us into his closet as he pulled up his hood as well.

With Lucas behind me, I wrapped my other hand around Tyler's and let him lead me forward.

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