Zanthus? Why does that name ring a bell? I brush it off because I've got bigger problems at the moment.
"Nice to meet you, really. But look," I admit, "I'm not sure how I ended up here last night. I was super drunk, and to be honest, I remember nothing but this crazy-ass dream I had. How is it I came to be in your room exactly? And not to be rude, but where are my clothes?”
Zanthus somehow manages to keep his scowl as he huffs, "You call that scrap of material you were wearing clothing?"
Zephyr chuckles, and it raises my hackles.
"I don't need your approval on the choices of my attire, you brute. Just give me back my dress and I'll be on my merry way out of here," I snap at him.
Probably not the smartest or politest I could have been, especially considering I have a blank memory about last night. He must not have contributed much considering I'm lying naked in his brother's bed. My guilt dies down at that and the fact that I refuse to let him think he has any control over my emotions.
"You want your dress, woman?" he asks.
His muscles flex as he reaches down into the small trash can beside him. The flimsy black material hangs from the end of his fingertip as he taunts, "Come get it."
I don't know who he thinks he is or who he thinks I am for that matter, but I don't scare easily. Tori always said I was the crazy one out of the two of us. She even banned the game truth or dare within the first year of knowing me.
I couldn't possibly care any less about them seeing me naked. At least one of them has already. Tossing back the covers, I take a deep breath to steady the drumbeat in my head. When it drops to a low lull, I stand and make my way over to him. To his credit, his eyes never stray from my face. I'm pretty sure I can't say the same for his brothers. Which is confirmed when I hear one of them whistle under his breath.
I snatch the material and head towards the connected bathroom door. Only when I turn the knob and open it, I see that it's a closet. I cut my eye over to Zanthus, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed brute, just in time to see a mocking smirk on his face.
Zale tries to hide his smile as he points to the door on the other side of the room. I march past them, and Zephyr chuckles under his breath. His tattoos move as though they are trying to come alive when he lightly skims his hand down my arm. Goosebumps break out over my skin. As tempting as it is to lean into his touch, I am stark ass naked in a room with three very sexy males. Things could get very ugly or very delicious, very fast.
Down girl, I chide myself. You more than likely made a fool of yourself last night. Just keep walking. So, I do.
Following Zale's instruction leads me straight to the bathroom. I shut the door and lean against it for a second. Shaking my head, I plop it down into my hand. I cannot believe I just did that. Taking another deep breath, I move over to the sink. In the mirror above it, I finally catch my first glimpse of myself. I look like death warmed over. My hair sticks out in random spikes around what looks like bird nests. Something catches my eye. Reaching up, I yank a piece of grass out of my hair.
What in the hell?
Ok, maybe I don't want to know exactly what happened last night. I use my fingers to splay out the dress in my hand. It's soaking wet.
And it just keeps getting better and better.
Staring at the ceiling, I let my eyelids drift closed while trying to ignore the embarrassment and pounding in my skull.
A knock at the door has me flinching right before Zale's striking green eyes and blonde head peeks around a crack he makes. I watch, fascinated, as some of his beaded braids fall over his shoulder. Trying to cover myself with the wet scrap of fabric seems futile, so I give up, letting it drop with a splat to the floor.
He smiles as he ventures the rest of the way into the room. "I brought you a few things."
Coming to stand directly beside me, he sets a folded dress on the counter before sitting a glass beside it and confessing, "This is all we have for you to wear right now."
Zephyr pipes up from outside the door, "I can give you one of my shirts if the dress doesn't fit."
I know it’s him because the tone doesn’t hold the frustration Zanthus expressed moments ago.
"And here I was beginning to think none of you owned a shirt. Thanks for ruining that image," I joke.
Zale's face says he's happy with my teasing of his brother. "Seriously, if it doesn't fit, we can find you something else."
"Well, I guess we should find out," I say, carefully removing it from the counter. My breath catches as it unfolds. The purple material is soft, unlike anything I've ever felt before. When the light catches on it, the fabric changes colors like scales on a fish.
"This is beautiful," I tell him. "Thank you."
He nods his head, and I go to slide the dress up my legs. Of course, my foot catches on the hem and sends me tumbling right into Zale's arms where we meet with an oomph from me.
I glance up to his no longer amused face. He flicks his eyes down to my lips and there's an undeniable hunger there. I know in that moment that he's going to kiss me, and I fully intend to let him.
That's when the door flings open.
"What the hell?"
I jump away from Zale like I was just zapped. A very pissed of Zanthus stands with his arms crossed in the doorway and Zephyr behind him, amusement dancing in those golden eyes.
"It was an accident. I fell," I snap, trying to cover myself with my arms.
Zephyr is full-on cackling at his back with his brown hair swinging, but Zanthus' face never changes. I retrieve the wet mess of my dress off the floor and chuck it at him.
"It's none of your business anyways. Now get out!"
The shirt smacks him dead in the chest, and I see water splatter in every direction. He growls at me and makes a move to come into the room, but Zale stops him one step in. He shoves him back out before turning around to face me. "Dress and drink that. We'll talk when you come out."
"What is it?" I ask as he grabs the door.
He grins at me. "Just a small concoction of herbs. It'll help with the headache."
"Thank you," I tell him.
Still smiling, he shuts the door. I hear the three of them on the other side having a heated discussion.
"What have you gotten yourself into this time, Rubi?" I ask my reflection.
The door closes behind the most beautiful female I've ever laid my eyes upon, and I can’t stop the grin from spreading over my face. I know the others must be feeling what I am. They've been hovering since we brought her past the barrier. There wasn't even enough time to warn Merrick or any of the others, so they'd all worn their surprise on their faces as I carried the small woman into the Keep while Zephyr went back for Zanthus. It was a risky move and we all knew it. But I'm not big on coincidences. One, maybe, but not on the path the fates took us a few hours ago. All the way from the pressure I'd been feeling in my chest for days before, then abruptly ending the moment my skin touched hers. Also, the fact that she fell off a boat unnoticed loaded with the rest of those humans. Then to us even being there in the first place. Not to mention the spout that gave us just enough power to get back to the Keep alive. I don't know about the other two, but I feel like the fates could've slapped me in the face and it still wouldn't be as strong of an understanding than I have right now. This is exactly where we're supposed to be.