My eyes flash open, and I straighten my spine.Dustin.
“Or did he fall out of love with you because you no longer look like a little boy?” Marcus chuckles. What is his obsession with Liam? As much as I want to say something snarky, I don’t. Maybe if I ignore them, they’ll just leave.
Shudders travel down my spine, and a creepy-crawly sensation runs along my scalp. Marcus and Dustin stand directly behind me now. I literally have nothing but a railing and a twelve-foot drop in front of me. The drop I can handle, but these two assholes… maybe if I wasn’t wearing this dress. A rough hand grips my shoulder and pulls me away from the balcony into a warm, solid chest.
“Where’s your boy toy, Princess? He and I have some unfinished business,” Marcus growls in my ear. My eyes focus on the scenery in front of me. I won’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that they rattle me.
I yank my shoulder forward. My dress tears as his grip tightens. Forcing me to spin around, he pins me against the railing with his huge body and both arms on either side of me.
“Oh, we’re not playing that game again, sweet cheeks,” Dustin says as he sidles closer. I ball my hands into fists, ready to fight. “Come on. Don’t be like that. We just want to talk. That’s all.” Dustin’s hand lifts to touch my face.
On instinct, I raise my arm, blocking him, and push at Marcus. Like a stone wall, he doesn’t budge.
Marcus and Dustin laugh. “Can we keep her?” Dustin whispers. “I like her fight.”
Marcus’s lip twitches in amusement. “Maybe I want her all for myself.”
Dustin pouts. “What if she wants me instead?”
Marcus cuts Dustin an angry glare before his eyes flick back to my face. I tilt my chin. “Who says I want either of you pigs?” I glance between the two of them, both wearing the official guard suit with the guard crest sewn in over their hearts. What a disgrace to the Emerald Guards.
“Like what you see?” Marcus asks, a cruel grin forming on his lips.
“No, actually. I was just thinking how you’re both disgusting.”
His hand flies up and grips my throat. He pulls me forward, his face so close to mine, his warm breath ghosting against my skin. He squeezes hard in warning, and then he relaxes his grip just enough so I can still breathe. “Where’s my cousin?”
I flick my gaze up to his steely gray eyes and bat my lashes in mock innocence. “You told me he was sent home,” I whisper.
He squeezes harder, cutting off my air. “He didn’t make it home. Stop fucking with me. Tell me where the fuck is Boris?” he roars, shaking me so hard my teeth clack against each other.
Dustin grasps his wrist, pulling Marcus’s grip away from my bruised throat. I recoil against the balcony and gulp in a breath of air. He pushes Marcus away. “Not here. What the hell is wrong with you? We’re in enough trouble as it is.” Dustin turns to me. “Come on, sweet cheeks. Just tell us where he is, and when we get him back home, you and I can have some fun.”
I laugh. Like I would enjoy anything they have planned for me. I raise my hand and tap my finger against my chin, as if I need to think about it.
Dustin crowds me in, blocking me in with his arms. “Don’t be like that. Once you get to know me, I’m sure you and I will get along just great.” He leans in closer, bringing his lips to my ear, and whispers, “In fact, if it makes you happy, I’ll get rid of him so you and I can be alone. I’m much more pleasant to be around.”
“Dustin!” Marcus growls, grabbing Dustin by the shoulder and yanking him away from me.
“Eeewwww! Are you two fighting over her?” A bright light flashes in my eyes.
“Elaine, where’s your brother? Don’t you two have some secret incestual twin videos to make for your father’s porn industry?” Marcus sneers in Elaine’s direction.
Elaine Powers had been among the girls in town yesterday. She was all over Luke. Her twin brother, Wills, tried to flirt with me, but Emily advised me to stay far away from him. So, I made it very clear that I wasn’t interested.
From what I learned, the Powers Pack of Territory Three made their riches in the entertainment industry. While my mother couldn’t confirm, rumor is that the Territory Three’s Alpha has a hand in some shady dealings. Why does Luke entertain them? From what it sounded like, he didn’t like themeither. Yet he hung around them for hours in town yesterday, and they snuck into the training grounds to meet with Luke and Liam last night.
“Fuck you, Marcus!” Elaine shrieks. “I came here to help, but if you want to be an asshole…” But she doesn’t move, the light still shining on my face.
I glance to the side. Maybe her impromptu visit is a blessing in disguise. If they continue to banter, I could easily slip past them and back into the ballroom. I glide carefully along the railing.
“We don’t need tips on hair and makeup. Now, fuck off, Elaine,” Dustin grumbles.
“Are you sure about that? Hey! Pay attention! She’s trying to get away,” she screeches.
Marcus leans forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me back into him.
“You’re a sneaky little bitch. Aren’t you?” Elaine coos. I hear the clicking of heels against the cement, slowly surrounding us. The flashlight blinds me so I can’t see what direction they came from, but I can imagine her little entourage from town circling around me like vultures.
