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"Eleven," said one of them. He was bald and wearing a beanie, with several facial piercings and heavily tattooed arms and torso. Even his face and head were inked. Blue eyes flicked back and forth on his tablet.

"Fourteen," said another. His arms were adorned in intricate tattoos, and some peaked out from under the collar of his zipped-up hoodie. Also a brunette. His hat shifted to fit his head loosely after he rubbed his hand across his face. His blue eyes looked tense. A moment of silence, and Az breathed out a sigh.

"Five? Ten?" He said, sounding pained.

"Six," said the one who hit the table a moment ago.

"Ten," remarked the last. His voice sounded amused despite having one of the lower numbers, and his brown eyes looked intrigued. He looked to be the youngest here and had short-cut brown hair that was slightly messy. Heavily tattooed, like the others in the room. He and the bald one were probably the most heavily tattooed of them all.

Too bad they're all likely plotting to hurt you, and your father is an idiot to walk you into the trap.I thought to myself, taking in the group. They were each attractive in different ways, all tinged with that edgy bad-boy vibe.

"Well, shit rolls, guys," Az said, still pointedly ignoring me as he placed a large green dragon figure with the smaller figures on the map.

"The dice gods giveth, and they taketh away." The younger one said, grinning.

"Shut up, you're just happy to be here," said the older one. I wasn't going to admit to myself that my gaze lingered involuntarily. His gaze flicked to me, and our eyes met briefly before he, too, dismissed me. That couldn't have been directed at me.

"You're right. I am."

"Well, Uldre is at the top of the round. Leighton, you're on deck. As the dragon locks eyes with each of you, you can feel the prickling of a chill run down your spine, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Your heart races as the creature moves forward, and the ground beneath your feet trembles. Uldre lets out a deafening and terrifying roar. I need each of you to make a Will save." Az laid on the theatrics as he described the scene, and more dice clattered on the table.

"Oh my god, my kidnappers are all a bunch of fucking nerds. Nerds with guns."

CHAPTER FOUR

Az

I watched Victoria from the corner of my eye. It was clear from how she hovered just over the threshold that she was struggling with herself. Her eyes flitted between the five of us as if she wanted to let her gaze linger but refused to allow herself to do so.

"Sit, Princess." I ordered, breaking out of my theatrics from seconds before. "Join the game. You might learn something."

"No, thanks. Not my scene." She grimaced.

"I wasn't giving you an option. Sit. Now." I said between gritted teeth. I motioned toward one of the chairs. She glared at me, a stubborn glint in her pretty brown eyes that would have gone straight through my core if it had been anyone else. "I'm not going to tell you again."

"Ms. Bristol?" A voice said, coming from behind her as a man stepped out from behind the wall. "Are you going to be okay here?"

"She's gonna be fine, chief. She's in good hands now, so you can go." Craig said, turning around and eyeing her escort. There was a sneer in his voice as he spoke.

The man ignored him, touching Victoria's elbow. The all-too-familiar gesture made me want to shoot him where he stood.

"I'm fine." She spoke, giving the man her full attention. "If they try to harm me now, my father will know it's them and makethem pay. I'm sure they know what's good for them and intend to behave."

She said it with such confidence. The boys and I exchanged glances before we burst into collective laughter. Her cheeks flushed a gorgeous red that caused my cock to twitch. My laughter died with the reaction, but I painted on a smirk to cover the irritation I felt about it. After a couple of seconds, while I was still fighting to keep the look on my face, Rich leaned back and gave her escort a pointed glare.

"Clear out. It'll be the last chance you get before it becomes a problem. The Princess is fine." He crossed his arms over his chest and stared a challenge at the peon in the foyer.

The man gave Victoria's arm a squeeze and mumbled something as he moved to walk away. She nodded before turning back to us.

"Damn right…" Leighton said. His meaning was evident as he gave her a once-over. "Les choses que je ferais, petit démone…" I slapped him on the back of the head, earning a snicker from him. "Come on, girlie. We can roll you up a character…" He gave her another obvious once over. "You strike me as the type to play ahouri."

His tone dripped with innuendo, and my hand twitched to slap him again, but I didn't. I slid my gaze back to her and allowed myself to truly take her in for the first time. She stood in the foyer with her head high, that defiant glint in her eye that made me want to grab her by the hair. The reasons why were at war in my mind. Of all the people on earth, it had to be her...

Her long, curly brown hair was piled atop her head in an updo, but tendrils of curls escaped and caressed her neck and shoulders. Her form-fitting wine-red dress hugged her curves in all the right places, and the ruching on the sides accentuated her full figure. Ties on the sides exposed the creamy skin of her thighs, tickling them whenever she moved, and knee-high bootsin a soft-looking suede completed the look. I had to tear my eyes off her and hated myself for it. I was going to burn that outfit. I schooled my features and gave her a mean smile when I was back in control.

"I think I'd agree with you, L. She definitely looks like a houri, but I'm not sure we needthatin the party."

"I may not speak nerd, but I know an insult when I hear it." She scowled. "I don't feel like playing your little game and being insulted while I do it. I'd much rather turn in for the night." Anger radiated from her as she turned on her heel and stormed toward the master suite.