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Six seemed like a large number. My mother only had four. I loved the way they doted on her and their arrangement was the reason I went with this plan, but…six was a lot. Six was insane, right? Or not. Six men all there to love me, to protect me. I wanted what my mother had, and I wouldn’t settle for anything less. If I didn’t think these guys were here for the right reasons, no matter how handsome they were, I wasn’t going to invite them to mate with me. This was all about trust. Especially when my vision came true, I would need us all.

I needed the best of the best, but I wasn’t going to sacrifice love for that. I couldn’t sacrifice my heart. If there was anything I learned from my parents, it was that.

Voices echoed below, and I turned over. I’d been too caught up in thinking I hadn’t realized another vehicle had drove up. This one was a sleek sports car. I knew who it was before he even emerged from the driver’s seat and the face matched the picture in his file. Rafe Stuart. He had blond hair and blue eyes and was essentially Californian in all aspects. He was from the Stuart Clan of the West Coast. It was a newer clan but had gained a large following in recent years.

I waited for someone else to come out of the car, but no one else did. He’d come alone, and here was Papa Stephan coming out to greet him. I watched the meeting with a locked jaw. Papa Stephan was the most humble and caring person alive. Rafe greeted him with a nod and a short handshake. It bristled my spine when he walked ahead of him toward the door after such a short introduction.

Papa Stephan looked up, right at me. I couldn’t move. This time I knew I’d been caught from the beginning. He lifted one shoulder and my heart clenched.I love you,I mouthed to him, and he mouthed it right back.

Papa Stephan turned as another large, tank-like vehicle approached right behind the sports car. The first SUV and the sleek black car were gone now, leaving just the two in front of the main building. Papa waited as the car pulled to a stop. A driver got out of the front seat of the enormous SUV and walked to the back. A man followed quickly by a woman stepped out of the vehicle. Stephan moved forward and greeted them. Then, they all stepped out of the way.

I saw his light brown hair and stiff shoulders first. He emerged from the backseat like a robot and awkwardly shook Papa Stephan’s hand. When they turned toward the main door, I watched him walk behind his parents. He was Theo Nolan of the Nolan Clan from Canada. He kept his eyes straight ahead as if he were walking a death march. Nothing about his face or appearance said he wanted to be here. His parents were mostly the same too. Their lips were grim, and they didn’t look around like the others had. For the first time, I felt as if I’d made them agree to something they didn’t want to. I’d have to make a point to tell all of them they certainly did not have to be here. I didn’t want them here if they didn’t want to be. This was about helping the clans, but it was also very personal to me, too. If Theo wanted nothing to do with me, I wasn’t going to make him. I wanted the kind of love my parents had. Not a poor substitution, or only doing so out of honor and respect.

Two men were still to arrive. I checked my phone to see what time it was. I hoped they hurried. If Mother didn’t already know I was here, she would soon enough when she woke up and I wasn’t in my room. It was possible Papa Christian wouldn’t have told her already. He wouldn’t want my mom all riled up today. He’d save it for when this was over to rat me out. But, if I spoke to him first, I could convince him not to…

Another black sedan approached the gate and turned my thoughts. The guards seemed stiffer than normal and my stomach twisted. It was difficult to forget things that happened in the past. I hadn’t wanted to send an invitation to this clan, but my parents disagreed. Time had passed. Things could’ve changed because they had a new leader. But the Dumont Clan would always leave a sick taste in my mouth.

As I thought this, the face to match the picture I’d been given stepped out of the back of the car when it came to a stop. Felix Dumont. He had brown, curly hair. He looked up at the buildings in distaste, an almost sneer. He was handsome though. I’d give him that. Almost too handsome.

Papa Nic approached him and I bit back a gasp. Out of all my fathers, I wouldn’t have guessed they would want to send Papa Nicolai out, but I didn’t have to guess he insisted he’d be the one to welcome the Dumont Clan. They shook hands, and the tightness in my father’s jaw said it all. Muscles rippled out from his forearm, and for a few moments, I didn’t think either one of them was going to relent.

I pushed up onto my knees and prepared to jump down. The movement caught Felix’s attention. He stopped, his gaze rising to meet mine. I stood on top of the roof’s edge and looked down on him. He let go of my father’s hand and gave me a wink which did nothing but anger me further. How dare he disrespect my father like that?

I stood there fuming, imagining all the different ways I could jump from the building and tear him down. I could fight him. I could demand he leave. I could make him respect my father.

While I debated, they walked toward the entrance. Just before they disappeared, Felix lifted his hand to wave. I sneered, which only made him laugh, and laugh hard.

We would see about that. Part of how this weekend was going down was that I would get to train with all the possible matesandspar with them. We would see who was laughing in the end. This was about having a stronger, united clan, and Felix Dumont had no idea who he was up against with me. If he didn’t respect, I would make him.

My phone pinged again. I brought it out from my pocket and saw another text from Papa Christian.Your mother just called asking where you were. You better get home.

But there was one more yet to arrive… I closed my eyes and listened to my surroundings. I couldn’t hear the approach of another car, and the sun was starting to get hotter and brighter. Resigned, I jumped from the building and landed in a graceful crouch before standing again. The stone of the drive crunched beneath my feet.

The door to the main entrance opened. My body locked. I was trapped. Not enough time to climb back onto the roof and I wouldn’t make it to the wall in time to stay hidden.

“Princess Isabelle.”

The accent was what sent a shiver up my spine. Australian in nature, I knew who it was who’d spotted me before I even turned around. Felix Dumont.

I turned, inclining my chin.

“You’ve come out of hiding, I see.”

I pushed my shoulders back. “Someone who stands on rooftops is not intent on hiding.”

He shrugged. “I guess I must have missed you when I drove in then.”

“Apparently,” I said, though I knew I was wrong. What was illogical was trying to save face with this pompous ass, but there was something about him already that made me stoop to his level. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go now.”

He chuckled. The sound of it raised my hackles, but I turned anyway and walked slowly across the quad. So much for not wanting to be seen, but I wasn’t going to run away from Felix Dumont. I waited until I heard the door shut, then I took off, using my vampire speed to push my muscles to their limit once more. I launched myself over the wall, just barely grazing the top of it with my toes to propel me that much further outward. I ran flat out, hugging the tree line once more until my own house came into view. The world blurred as I used the stone wall as a vault to launch me over it. From there, it was a quick shimmy up a nearby tree and then a leap into the open window to make it back into the safety of my room, and back out of the hateful stare of Felix Dumont.

Politics or not, he shouldn’t even be here. It would take a lot to change my mind, and I wasn’t sure he had the brain cells to accomplish such a thing.

Chapter Three

“Princess Izzy?” a mocking voice came from the other side of the door.

I straightened in front of the vanity and smirked. Well, if that wasn’t perfect timing. I narrowed my gaze and schooled my features. “I swear to God Alexei Rajyvik, I’m going to stake you.”