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“Kiam,” he introduced himself. He eyed me up and down but didn’t offer his hand.

“Cassia,” I replied, staring at him. His eyes changed color, though I’d never heard of contact lenses with this type of capability. They went from blue to brown while I stared. I cleared my throat. “Nice to meet you.”

Kiam nodded, and his gaze shuttered, exposing metallic burgundy eyeshadow expertly blended in with the black. The very idea of men wearing heavy cosmetics never sounded appealing to me and previously, I’d only associated it with club kids. These two clearly weren’t a part of that, not if you went by their refined manners and high-end clothing at least.

Lukas wore makeup around his eyes as well, though not nearly as much. The effect was stunning, bringing out the intensity of his features.

I turned to Kiam. “I like your makeup. Do you do it yourself?”

“It's partially magick.”

“Oh. Um, yeah, I think that’s the point.”

He ignored me. “I’m full. Are you ready to go?” He asked Lukas while scanning the room. Bryan finally glanced at the three of us before returning his attention to his friends.

Lukas pressed a finger to his lips as he peered down at me. Then, he turned to Kiam. “I have business to take care of first.”

“A bit crowded in here,” he said.

Lukas chuckled. “Not for long.”

Kiam tilted his head slightly, an unspoken message clearly passing between the two men. I snagged Lukas’s sleeve just as he was about to turn away. “You weren’t serious, were you?”

“I’m always serious.”

My hand began to tremble, and I glanced at his friend, as if he would offer help. The man leveled me with a gaze and when I met Lukas's eyes, my arm fell back to my side. He meant every word. There was nothing I could do but watch and wait for disaster to fall around me.

My brain scrambled for a solution, a way to stop these two strangers from interfering, but nothing came to me. There wasn’t anything I could do to stop them. If I called the police, help would never get here in time.

At the last minute I leaped forward, snatching his arm again. His head whipped around.

“Please,” I begged him. “Don’t do this. He’s not worth it. Trust me, I know.”

Lukas’s eyes went from a blazing fire to smoldering with soft heat. I was surprised he even heard me; my voice had been so low. He turned around and his chest sank when he took my hand in his.

“As you wish,” he whispered and his eyes glittered. “For now.”

I could’ve sworn Kiam rolled his eyes. “Thank you,” I said to Lukas.

The man snared my waist and pulled me against the hard mass of his torso. I felt his chin graze the top of my head before his palm tilted my chin. His irises appeared liquid; the jade color seeming to flow and pulse like a heartbeat. It was arresting and impossible, an aberration that shouldn’t have existed. I couldn’t look away.

His glimmering hair spilled against my cheek, and I felt the warmth of his breath against my ear as he said, “Don’t thank me yet, the clock is ticking.”

Suddenly, the heat of his body was gone, and the silk of his suit jacket brushed my shoulder. Him and the other man were walking away, without a backward glance.

Time seemed to slow down while I tracked their progress, the tall figures easy to make out among the other patrons. They disappeared, having entered the hallway, and I glanced back at Bryan.

A sense of unreality settled in my chest, leaving me feeling disconnected from my surroundings. I may as well have been floating in outer space. The noise was muted, and the figures around me blurred. Several minutes passed before it all returned with a rush of heightened noise.

Bryan, Lucy, and the rest of them remained where they were, as if I hadn’t just been boxed in by two towering, imposing, beautiful strangers.

My ex-boyfriend’s tie was loosened, and it almost looked like he had a telltale smear of red lipstick on his collar. The shade gracing Miriam’s lips matched the mark that blinked in and out of focus as the light shifted. Bryan swayed on his stool, overcome with laughter.

Would any of them notice if I left? I didn’t think so, so that’s exactly what I did.

A quick call to the car service, and I was deposited back home with a semi-plan of action.

If anyone had asked me why I was still with my boyfriend, I wouldn’t have an answer to give them.