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“Fair enough.” She looked up at Maximilian, who looked rather dashing in a suit and tie. “We’re off, but if you need anything I’m just a call away.”

“You look handsome,” Scarlett muttered, immediately regretting her words when she saw the cocky grin on her brother’s face.

“I always look handsome,” he retorted with a wink.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “I’m only keeping quiet because I know it’s a big night for you.”

“How very sweet my little sister is.” He bent down and kissed her hair again. “Promise to go upstairs and rest soon?”

She sighed and pushed herself to stand. “How about you walk me to the elevators?”

“The day you won’t let me escort you anymore will be a very sad one.”

Little did he know that the day would come far sooner than expected. She waved at the three men in their beds. “I’ll come check on you tomorrow.”

“She does know that we’re aware that she only cares to see you, right?” Paul laughed. “We just happen to exist in the same room.”

She rolled her eyes at him and carefully closed the door, turning to Maximilian. “I don’t want them off my detail. It wasn’t their fault.”

“No one said it was.”

“But you blame them for me being hurt.” Maximilian’s silence told her everything she needed to know.

“You wouldn’t have been able to do anything more than they did.

Kurt was bleeding out, and both Paul and Daniel were unconscious from the collision.

No one saw it coming. There was no one else on the street and before you say it, no they weren’t distracted either. ”

Maximilian sighed and avoided looking at her. “You were hurt. The feeling of not knowing if you would make it had me losing my mind. It made me understand why he keeps you so protected. How could I look into the mirror again if we hadn’t been able to get you back?”

“Do you know why I think they went after me?” Her brother looked at her, his brows crooked, so she mustered all her courage and continued.

“Because you and Dad are public figures. On top of that not being able to be touched because you’re alphas.

My death would be no headline, and still it would break you. ”

His face hardened. “So, you blame us for keeping you safe?”

She shrugged and stepped into the elevator. “It’s probably just my frustration speaking.”

Before Maximilian could answer, the doors slid shut and Scarlett pressed the button for the penthouse. It was the only floor that needed a key to access, since the elevator stopped directly in the apartment. As she stepped into her empty home, she looked around and felt awfully alone.

She stood there until the clock in the living room scared her by chiming at nine o’clock.

It would have been acceptable for her to go to bed.

Instead, she recalled the elevator, took it down to the fifth floor, and snuck down to the fire exit.

She waited by the propped open door until they emerged from the shadows.

“There’s our little princess.” The way he said “ our ” sent a chill down her spine—a good one.

She took a deep breath and looked down at her feet unable to meet their gazes. “Hi, I’m Scarlett,” she said with a shaky voice.

The gentle one smiled, and it was him who spoke first. “It’s nice to meet you, Scarlett. I’m Mateo.”

Mateo. She repeated his name to herself. It was fitting to her soft and sweet mate.

“You have a beautiful name, Scarlett,” the quiet one complimented. “I’m Vince.”

Vince. A strong name that felt like an anchor in a surging storm.

“Scarlett, sweet innocent Scarlett,” her third mate purred. He stepped closer and this time, she let him circle her as his finger brushed over her shoulders. “I’m Ezra.”

Ezra . Just as mysterious and scary as he was.

“How are you feeling?” Mateo asked, taking another step himself and pushing a stray lock of her hair out of her face.

So, they did know. Of course they did, even if they hadn’t been involved—a fact she didn’t want to know—they would’ve heard from their hunter friends. “Better.”

“Your family left you behind tonight,” Ezra observed.

She looked up at him, taking her time to admire the scars and tattoos that covered his arms. “Maximilian is hosting the official launch of the East Side View property.”

“He’s slowly taking over your father’s businesses,” Mateo stated.

She nodded, the information being nothing private. It was obvious to everyone around that her father was slowly taking a step back, but the public didn’t know that Maximilian would soon take over as alpha as well.

“How do you feel about that?” Mateo asked.

She shrugged, her attention transfixed by a half skull etched into Ezra’s skin. It took her a moment to realise that if he covered his face, he’d appear to be wearing a mask. “I don’t know.”

Although her brother had originally said he’d let her study, she had a sinking feeling that recent events would have him backtracking on his promise.

“But you get along well?” Mateo pushed further.

“We do.”

She shivered, Ezra’s fingers dancing over her arm, though she couldn’t decide if she liked it or not.

When he reached her wrist, he lifted her hand and pushed her sleeve back to reveal the charm bracelet he’d been so jealous about previously.

“I made something for you.” He opened his other hand, tipping it palm up.

A small star shimmered in the dim light.

She carefully picked it up, inspecting the pendant. The star glowed unnaturally as if it had absorbed the sunlight. “You made it?”

“Tell her what you made it out of,” Vince dared, a hint of darkness to his voice.

“Vampire bone,” Ezra told her proudly.

Staring at it, she couldn’t decide whether she should be disgusted or not. But maybe this was his way of being sweet.

“I have one too,” he said, pulling at a golden necklace and revealing a second larger pendant.

“I hexed them, so if I let it oscillate over a map, it will show me where to find you.” Her eyes met his and for the first time she saw something akin to pride in his features.

“You would have to wear it for it to work, though.”

“So, you’re a warlock?” Ezra nodded, and Scarlett’s gaze returned to the pendant. “Why vampire bone?”

“The magic within gives the spell structure. The material itself is very hard to break. So, if something were to happen to you, it’s less likely it will destroy the pendant and in turn, the spell.”

“Something” like a car crash and hunters kidnapping her. She offered him the charm and before he could react, she turned her wrist up for him. Once it was fastened, she let the bracelet jingle and looked at her other two mates.

“You don’t need to be here all the time,” she told them. “I’m sure you have other things to do.”

Mateo’s cinnamon-tinted eyes beamed down at her, his lips curled in one of his saccharine smiles. “You are our highest priority. We needed to be sure you were okay.”

“I am.”

“We’re happy to know as much. Why don’t you call us when you know you’ll be able to come out again? I’m sure we won’t be able to stay away for long anyway.”

Scarlett considered it, toying with the new pendant dangling from her wrist. “I can do that.”

Vince briefly cupped her jaw and ran a gentle thumb over her cheek while Ezra leaned down and let his lips brush over her ear, his words a hushed threat. “We’ll be back.”

Mateo chuckled and Scarlett watched as they disappeared into the darkness.