Rushing to keep up, Lucas led us through the house. The paneled walls were an ugly brown, and the stained furniture looked like someone literally stole it from the dump. An overwhelming odor of cigarette smoke and mildew hung heavy in the air.

I shivered in disgust as we passed the kitchen. Dirty dishes overflowed from the sink, filling the counter tops. Cockroaches of all kinds ran freely over them like it was their own personal utopia.

"Gross." I couldn't help but say something. I hadn't seen anyone yet, so I figured we were still alone.

"Just ignore it. It's a glamor." Lucas said as he stopped in front of a door and glanced down at me. "What's behind this door is only permitted for Guardians. Remember no talking, okay?"

With the rest of the guys behind us, I nodded obediently and silently reprimanded myself for speaking.

Lucas opened the door, revealing a flight of wooden stairs leading to a basement.

Keeping close to Lucas, I followed him step for step as I tried to prepare myself for what waited ahead. Maybe it was a dungeon or some horrible torture chamber. The nasty odor of cigarettes and mildew instantly morphed into a much better aroma of sweet cigars as Lucas opened the door at the bottom of the stairs.

I sucked in a sharp gasp as I surveyed the dark scene. What the flying fuck? How in the hell could this place exist below such filth?

Ruelle's "Up in Flames" echoed throughout the enormous club as artificial fog wafted through the air. A thick cloud of smoke covered the stage, which was lit by neon spotlights, setting the dark mood. Over a dozen flawlessly gorgeous women dressed in black corsets and high heels danced to the music seductively. Their thongs were nearly non-existent, leaving nothing to the imagination. A dozen more alluring women danced inside huge hourglasses around the room, but their corsets and shoes were white.

Some men drank from glasses while watching the stage with solemn faces, but most of the patrons were deeply involved in another activity. Gambling.

Countless tables upholstered with red fabric riddled the room. Men of all ages sat around the tables. They were dressed to impress in tuxedos and business suits. Some sent bored glances toward the dancers, while others studied their opponents or stared at their cards. Multiple stacks of gold chips sat in front of each person as they inhaled long drags from thin brown cigarettes.

Cocktail waitresses dressed in black string bikinis and heels served drinks in gold-rimmed glasses. Some men had dancers hanging off their arms as they frivolously threw gold coins into the center of the table. From what I could tell, different games were being played around the room, but I could only see poker and blackjack from my vantage point.

Mason's eyes scoured the club, searching for one person in particular. No one looked our way or paid us any mind as we walked further into the room, keeping close to the back wall.

After a long moment, a loud argument broke out somewhere, jolting me out of my daze. I couldn't get past the fact that this place was located in a rundown neighborhood. There had to be over three hundred people here. There was no way they'd come through the same entrance. The parking alone, for an establishment like this, had to be massive.

"I ain't no cheater. Open your fuckin' eyes, you blind old bastard! Five of a kind beats your three pair any day of the Gods damned century." A guy with a southern accent hollered, and it echoed across the room. "Y'all are cheatin' me. Y'all don't know how to play ten card. Fuckin' old fools!"

The room barely responded to the escalating argument. Those who did react only glanced toward the disagreement with slight disdain.

Mason took off, rushing toward the voice. I tried to follow him, but Lucas held me back with one shake of his head.

Look around, Shortie. This room is full of elders and leaders. Tyler spoke in my head. They're distracted, and we need it to stay that way.

Tyler was right. The last thing we needed was their attention. I shrank into Lucas's side, trying to make myself invisible. One man's skeevy demeanor caught my attention as I tried to figure out how I knew him. The two women by his side stroked his back and shoulders as he tossed a handful of coins into the pot.

Hey, isn't that your uncle? I poked Tyler.

Tyler analyzed more faces until he found his uncle and nodded. Yeah. How the fuck did he get in here? My dad had him banished years ago.

I guess the banishment was lifted. Lucas interjected our thoughts.

He gives me the creeps. I said through our connection. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled meeting Tyler's uncle for the first time. I thought he was going to kill me that day, Ty.

Both Lucas and Justin threw furious glares at Tyler before Justin spoke in our minds. You said you had him under control.

I do. Tyler snapped with irritation in our heads. He won't lay a fucking finger on her. He smelled her mating call and wouldn't stop nagging me about her. You know how he gets. He's a sick fuck who loves young virgins. I nearly killed him when I caught him trying to sneak into her room that night. I told him I'd rip him to pieces if he so much as looked in your direction again, Shortie.

His uncle tried to sneak into my room? My stomach churned at the image of that nasty perv taking me against my will.

If he ever tries anything again, I'll rip out his spine, cut off his head, and burn his fucking black heart to ashes. Justin said in our heads, and I could feel his rage in every word.

My gaze shot to Justin as my hand landed on his and squeezed. I sent him calming energy to slow his racing heart. Thanks, but that's more time than he deserves. Just shoot him or something.

Justin's lips lifted at the corners, entertained. Killing a Guardian isn't that easy.

I chewed on those words. Mason had said something similar in the car on the way here. Before I could ask another question, more yelling from the southern guy resounded through the room.

"I said I'm fuckin' coming! I'll be back, old man. You ain't won this one. I'm coming back to take your cheatin' ass down." That's when the owner of voice stumbled into view, or I should say he was dragged into view.

Mason fought to keep hold of the guy's tight black tee shirt as he yanked him forward. The guy wore cowboy boots, jeans, and a backward baseball hat. Every one of his defined muscles were on perfect display under that shirt. Why wasn't he dressed to impress like everyone else?

He looked to be about Mason's age. Somewhere between nineteen and twenty-one. Light brown stubble shaded his jaw and upper lip, accentuating his sharp jaw and pouty lips. Four women in black string bikinis and high heels followed him closely. Were they all with him?

"We need to talk. Alone." Mason's nostrils flared angrily as the cowboy started struggling harder against him. "Calm down, dude. You're drunk."

"Get your fuckin' hands off me, Mase." Cowboy threw a wild punch at Mason. "You got no right interruptin' my night, you fuckin' asshole."

Mason easily dodged his fist and opened a door, revealing a private room.

"I said, I ain't talkin' to your bitch ass. Fuck off." Cowboy took another swing and missed again.

Mason gave him one swift punch to the jaw and tossed the guy inside the room before gesturing for us to join them. I stiffened as we watched the four women walk inside as well.

Glancing around, I made sure no one noticed me as Lucas led us forward. I guess this little episode was an everyday occurrence because no one so much as looked our way.

Once inside the private room, I took in our surroundings. There was a large wraparound couch, a large coffee table, a huge flat-screen television, and a fully stocked bar. Mason and his friend occupied one side of the sofa and they were surrounded by the women.

I waited just inside the closed door until Justin tugged me away from Lucas and led me to the empty side of the couch, pulling me onto his lap.

I held back a grateful smile. Justin always knew exactly what I needed to feel comfortable. The anxious thumping in my chest softened as I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned my head on his shoulder. He encircled my middle and legs, cradling me close.

"Well, look at you, big man. You got me in here. Now tell me what the fuck you want." Cowboy rested his head back on the cushion with his eyes closed while two of the women sucked on his neck.

Mason grimaced before he sent an apologetic look my way. "Ladies, can we get some privacy, please?"

The women glanced around, finally realizing the rest of the couch was taken. In the dimly lit room, one girl's eyes locked on Tyler and widened before noticing Lucas and Justin. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she nudged another girl and whispered something. In mere seconds, all female eyes were on us.

No, not us. Justin.

"Prince Castor?" One brunette used her sultry voice as she moved in our direction, caressing her hips.

The absolute desire on her face said it all. This woman wanted to have Justin's babies. In fact, from what I read on their expressions, they all did, which made me want to stab their eyes out. I wanted to tell them to get the fuck out before I beat those looks off their pretty little heads, but instead, I bit my tongue. I'd promised to keep my mouth shut, and I needed to keep my promise.

Justin lifted my hand and kissed it, silently thanking me for staying calm. I grinned at him as tingles cascaded over my body.

"Leave us," Justin announced as he made eye contact with every female. "All of you."

"But... my prince, let us make your first visit one that you'll always remember." One woman protested. "We must discover what you enjoy, so we can learn how to please you in the future."

This bitch. Did they not see me sitting in his lap?

"I said, leave!" Justin shouted as his hold tightened around me. "Now!"

All four women squealed and jumped to attention. They shuffled out of the room, shutting the door.

"Well done, Castor. You just ruined my girls. Now I'll have to find new ones. I had 'em trained real good too, but now they'll only see you when they look at me. Can't have that, can I?" Cowboy rubbed his tired eyes. "Fuckin' figures. I need a stiff drink."

"Ember," Mason pointed at the guy seated beside him. "This is Caleb, my bestfriend."

"Is this what you dragged me in here for? I got no interest in doing a threesome with your new little girl toy." Caleb didn't even look in my direction as he coughed out a laugh. He stood to pour himself a double-shot at the bar and downed it in one gulp. "And what's up with this 'bestfriend' shit? We haven't talked in months. If I could pick a word to describe us, I'd say 'enemies' is more like it."

Mason ignored his drunken rant and continued speaking. "So, like I was saying, Caleb's the future leader of the Air Clan. His family used to be close to yours. Your father, Malik, was good friends with Caleb's dad. I know it's a long shot, but I thought you might remember each other. When we were little, Caleb used to tell me stories about Malik's daughter, and I always thought he was full of shit since everyone told me Malik never had a child."

I squeezed my eyes shut in confusion before my gaze fell to study the ornate rug. Mason's little piece of info made me scrub my brain for anything I could remember from childhood. The earliest memory I could pull up was when I'd been chained to that stone wall while everything burned around me. There had been other kids chained up nearby. One of them, an older boy, kept telling us we would be okay and that he would save us.

Brown leather cowboy boots stepped into view as a woodsy scent invaded my senses. I tried to recall more, but it was hopeless. The edges of my childhood were too blurry, and trying to remember more made my head pound. Why were my early recollections so spotty?

"Freckles?" Caleb's southern twang pulled me out of my stupor.

Glancing up, I met the burning glow of glacier blue eyes. Everyone in the room sucked in a breath, most likely seeing my eyes light up the dim room. I stared at Caleb, wondering if I actually knew him.

When I said nothing, Caleb knelt in front of me as all the blood drained from his face. "My Gods. I see it now. You were so damn adorable back then. And look at you now. I can't believe you're all grown up, and shit, you're a fuckin' knockout. But how're you here? You died."

Fuck me. Another fated mate. No. There was no way. How many mates could one girl have? Did I know those eyes? Not that I could remember, but I had no clue. Fuck my life. This was all too much.

I shook my head in frustration. "I think you have me confused with someone else."

When Caleb reached to take my hand, I moved it out of reach and curled further into Justin. Caleb's glassy eyes widened at my rejection.

"She doesn't like being touched, man," Lucas said from my left.

"That's right." Caleb nodded knowingly as he cocked his head to the side. "You're a Crossling like your dad, right?"

How? How could he know that? There was no way he could know that about me. I didn't even know that until the other day. Suddenly feeling vulnerable, I broke off eye contact. The walls closed in on me as I squirmed in discomfort. Burning anger rushed through my veins as I realized, once again, everyone knew essential things about me. Everyone except me and that pissed me the fuck off.

Needing to escape, I bolted off Justin's lap. Their shocked stares burned into me as I stalked straight to the bar and grabbed the first bottle I saw. Keeping my eyes glued to the wall, I unscrewed the lid and took a huge swig of the most disgusting liquor I'd ever tasted. My face twisted in repulsion while my mouth opened to exhale a fiery breath.

With my throat on fire, I read the label. Brandy? I slammed the bottle down and decided that I would never drink that awful shit again. I grabbed a bottle containing a clear liquid. Top shelf vodka. I knew vodka well. We'd been good friends once. I unscrewed the lid and chugged a few gulps. It went down like warm water. Better.

"Whoa there." Caleb towered over me, snatching the bottle.

"Hey! I was drinking that. There's plenty. Get your own." I grabbed at the bottle.

Caleb easily dodged me. One side of his mouth quirked up into a cute half-grin as he pulled out two glasses and filled them. "Take it easy. I never let a pretty girl drink alone."

Pleased with his heavy-handed pouring, I snatched the glass and chugged it. "More."

Everyone except Caleb groaned and asked me to slow down.

Ignoring them, I slammed the glass on the counter. "More."

Caleb chuckled and shook his head. "I think you need to let that one sink in first, Freckles. Don't want you drunk as a skunk in a shitty place like this."

"Why?" I demanded. "I have no freedom anyway. I'm just being manipulated by the Gods while they decided who I spend my life with. I might as well drown myself in alcohol. Everyone out there wants me dead anyway, so I might as well get trashed before I die."

Caleb's eyes squinted in concern before he glanced at the guys sitting on the couch. "Y'all wanna fill me in? I'm lost as fuck."

"Not here." Mason's voice came out as a growl.

"And you." I pointed at Mason and rounded the counter to get in his face. "You make me sick. You're the most selfish person I've ever met. How could I ever want someone like you? You don't care about anyone except yourself. You had your fun, and I met your drunk friend. Now gimme my coins."

"Well damn, Sexy. Tell me how you really feel." Mason's eyes lit to their green glow as he chuckled.

Caleb laughed. "She's got you pegged, brother. You are a selfish motherfucker."

"Give them." I stuck out my hand and glared at Mason, but he just smiled at me like I was joking. "Now!"

"Shh." Everyone quieted me.

"If you don't give me the necklace, I'm gonna scream," I whispered. "And then all those tough, high, and mighty Guardians are gonna drag me away and torture me. Is that what you want?"

Mason's face went serious as his eyelids dropped to half-mast, trying to figure out if I was lying.

"I mean it. I'm gonna scream." I opened my mouth to scream.

"Just give her the fucking coins, man," Tyler said.

"You stole them from her, Mase," Lucas said. "This shit will only make her hate you more. Believe us. We know."

"Hand them over." Justin demanded. "Or I'll make you."

Mason's eyes shot to Justin, and he scowled in frustration.

"What so important about some fuckin' coins?" Caleb stood so close behind me I could feel the heat from his body. He was the one emanating the woodsy aroma.

I didn't take my angry gaze off Mason as I watched him search his pocket.

When he pulled my necklace out, I sighed in relief.

Mason smirked at me as he twirled the chain on his finger. "This what you want?"

I didn't take the bait. Instead, I gestured angrily for him to hand them over.

"Here." Mason held them out.

I took a step forward to grab them. "Thank—

Suddenly, Mason grabbed my bare hand and pulled me into him.

The jarring vertigo hit me hard as I fell into his chest. My reaction to him combined with the liquor made everything spin a million miles a second.

"What the fuck?" Someone exclaimed, but I couldn't pinpoint the voice. I was too far lost.

My eyes slammed shut as the whoosh of green stars whirled into a gigantic tornado in the darkness. Cold green eyes stared into me from the middle of the spinning particles. I wanted them to come closer and tell me the truth. That's when it finally happened.

Mason let me into his thoughts, and I tumbled inside his energy. Instantly, I knew that Mason didn't just want me, he needed to protect me. I was his entire purpose in life, and he'd been searching for me as long as he could remember, nearly giving up multiple times.

Firm lips suddenly crashed down on mine. I couldn't help but fall into his kiss. Hard, thick arms encompassed me protectively as his tongue daringly swept into my mouth, and I welcomed it. There was nothing soft or sweet about Mason. He knew what he wanted, and he went for it, and with the way he kissed me, there was no question he craved me. His emotions were contagious. I couldn't stop myself from kissing him back just as eagerly.

"Let her go." Someone yanked me away from Mason.

"No one fucking takes advantage of my girl. Ever!" Tyler jerked Mason up by his collar and punched him so hard in the face that Mason flew sideways, hitting the bar counter and falling to the floor.

Mason crawled to his feet and held up his hands in defeat. "I know. I'm sorry. I had to do it. She needed to know."