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“Shit, you’re so wet. Do you get this wet for my brother?”
“Jake.”
Retreating backwards, she stopped when she hit something that released a shrill noise. Whipping around, she cursed at the hex alarm she hadn’t spotted.
“Shit, who is it?”
Not bothering to look back, Oye rushed back up the steps only to feel something wrap around her ankle tripping her. Falling forward she caught herself on the railing. Looking down she saw what looked like straw wrapping around it. Moving the metal in her body, she forced blades of all shapes to explode from her skin. The straw broke and fell away, yanking herself free she ran back up and out of the exit door only to slam into someone’s open arms.
“Whoa, what’s going on?” She met Arwin’s shocked gaze with a surprised one of her own. Hearing what sounded like someone running up the steps behind her, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him along with her. “Follow me.”
“What?’
“Which one is your room,” she demanded, not daring to slow down.
He motioned to the door up ahead to their left. “That one.”
Just as she heard the exit door slam open Oye rushed inside and slammed the door shut. Breathing heavily, she pressed her back against it.
Arwin turned around and stared at her in confusion. “Who are we—”
“Shh.”
She reached out and covered his mouth, his brows lifted in surprise. Not paying him any attention. Oye kept an ear pressed to the door, her heart slowly stopped its frantic beating. She could hear something that sounded like a whispered argument outside Arwin’s door. After a few minutes everything turned quiet as whoever had been standing outside retreated.
Holding her breath, she waited for the sound to fade and once she was sure the coast was clear she sagged in relief. Facing forward she realized her hand was still on Arwin’s mouth, she quickly removed it. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you along.”
Arwin pressed the back of his hand to his mouth. “Well, it’s not often I’m dragged into a room by an attractive woman who doesn’t have any intentions on seducing me.”
Oye wondered why; she immediately thought of Castian. Arwin didn’t look anything like the man, but something about the way he acted and the way he said what he just did immediately made her think of the annoying Warlock.
“Well, I wasn’t planning on running for my life,” she said, straightening. “I just wanted to take a short cut to the garden and surprise. Two people decided to have a quickie in the stairwell.”
Something flickered in his eyes, but it was too quick for her to catch. He smirked. “Well, don’t be shocked, it’s a common thing to happen when you come to these events.”
She shifted, realizing maybe this would be a good chance to dig for information. “Torik said this would be an event only for the Ring of Syed. And there are more people coming, just how big are your families?”
He shook his head. “Oh, no, darling, the other people who are coming aren’t a part of the Ring.” Oye refused to twitch at his calling her darling. It wasn’t like Castian had any particular claim on that name. It was just something about anyone other than him calling her that, that rubbed her the wrong way. “Before Tillon and Renson took over their families. This event was usually only for close family members. But since those two took over it’s become common to have a few outsiders at these things.” His lips twisted, clearly showing his distaste.
“I take it you don’t like this?”
Arwin tilted his chin up, the corner of his lips turning up. “I can’t tell them what to do or how to act, but they seem eager to pervert everything we once stood for.”
Oye decided to push a little more, “Well, it must be related to their business ventures. I actually hoped that Torick would return, and get a bit involved in his family business. He needs something to focus on rather than causing trouble.”
Oye shamelessly played the caring girlfriend card.
“No, it’s much better that he sticks to his acting and socialite life,” Arwin argued. “Originally our four families, including my own, the Shran; wouldn’t think of going into any business without the other three agreeing, but this time. Renson and Tillon took up business with a man who’s far beneath our family personage.”
“Really?” she asked, taking a step forward. “Do you know who he is?”
Just as Arwin was going to answer, the door behind her opened. She glanced over her shoulder only to turn fully around when she saw it was Castian disguised as Torick. His expression was cloudy as he moved his focus from Arwin to her. Oye wasn’t sure why she felt a tingle of fear run down her spine, but she moved so she stood between Arwin and him.
“Thank god.” She exclaimed, moving towards him. “I didn’t know when I could leave this room. How did you find me?”
Castian lifted a small vial. “I sent out a search but thought it odd it stayed on this floor.” He turned his attention to Arwin. “I was even more alarmed to find it had landed in front of your door.”
Incredibly Arwin didn’t flinch under Castian’s cold stare. He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heel. “Well, ol’ boy, I think I’m owed a thank you. I saved your girlfriend here from an awkward run in with a too eager couple in the stairwell.”
