Captured and Claimed By the Four Princes.

CHAPTER ONE Aurora’s POV “Keep your head down, don’t get caught,” I muttered under my breath. “Easy job, in and out.” Except there’s nothing easy about sneaking into a mafia party packed with supernatural royals. I adjusted the maid’s cap on my head and moved through the crowd, a tray in hand, pretending to refill glasses. My eyes weren’t on the guests that I claimed to be serving—they were on the pendant. A silver relic resting against the base of the slender neck of the woman everyone came to see—Eloise, Ressler’s bride-to-be. All I had to do was get close enough to take it. Grab, go, disappear. I’ve done worse jobs. This wasn't any different. There didn't seem to be anything interesting about it so I couldn't understand why I had been hired to steal it but my job wasn't to ask questions. It was to obey orders. So, I kept monitoring her. Despite my calm demeanor, I couldn’t ignore the four men posted around her—Ressler, the wolf Prince built like a tank and her husband to be. Daemon, the pale looking lord with a frown on his face. Aregon, a silent man with eyes that gleamed like silver and Jessiel, the one who looked like he enjoyed the idea of killing someone. Lucky me. Good thing I did my research on all of them. They weren't the type of people I wanted to mess with, that was for sure. I kept moving, scanning the room, counting guards, exits, and timing my steps with the music. No one noticed the maid. They never do. That’s why I’m good at this. Eloise laughed, tossing her hair back as she conversed with a snobbish looking lady. The pendant glimmered and my eyes gleamed in the dark. Now or never. I forced a smile, approached her with a glass of red wine. “For you, my lady.” I bowed my head slightly. She turned, polite and unsuspecting. “Thank you” She grinned and then I “tripped.” The wine spilled down her gown in one smooth movement, soaking through the expensive cream dress, staining it. She gasped just as a gasp rippled through the room and I held my breath. “What—?!” There it was. “Oh my goddess, I’m so sorry!” I reached for a napkin, acting panicked. “Please, the bathroom’s just through here. I’ll help—” She moved away from me really quickly as the liquid dripped down the seams of her dress. “No, don't. You have already caused enough harm for the night” She muttered. My head dipped even lower but I was inwardly pleased by how well everything was playing out. “Oh god, I'm so sorry” I kept muttering. “Forget it” She raised a hand dismissively as she rushed off to the bathroom, and I followed. My feet was quiet against the marble floor as I peeked into the open door of the bathroom, watching as she hunched over the basin, her brows drawn together as she used a napkin to wipe at the stain. Quietly, I slid into the bathroom and closed the door behind me, the forced smile I had donned for most of the night wiping off. She looked up on my arrival and I noticed the way she stiffened. “I said I didn't need your help. It's okay, you can go” She turned back to the basin, wiping at the front of her dress. How lovely. “We can make this really quick, Eloise” My voice dropped as I took a step forward. She froze and looked up at me, panic flashing in her eyes. “Who are you?” She demanded. A slow grin spread my lips. “Someone who will be gone very far away from this place in just a minute. Give me that pretty pendant” Subconsciously, her fingers reached up to toy with it. “Ressler will kill you if you touch me” She warned and I knew she was one minute away from doing something stupid ㅡ Like screaming. I didn't waste any more time. I crossed the space between us and smiled one last time. “Too bad he'll be too late. Sorry for the dress by the way” One heavy hit to the head. That was all it took and her eyes fluttered shut before she slid to the ground unconscious. She'll be fine. I unclasped the necklace, slid it into my pocket, and looked in the mirror. My reflection stared back—black hair tucked, eyes sharp. Still breathing. Still alive. This was going pretty well. Maybe a bit too well. Step one done. All I had to do was leave this place with my head on my body. “Too easy,” I muttered, stepping over her body as I wore the pendant around my neck, tucking it in my clothes so it wouldn't be visible. The hallway outside was quiet. Good sign. I slipped toward the back entrance, heart pounding. I slipped into the hall, keeping to the shadows and forcing smiles to people who randomly passed by, my feet silent on the floor. Almost at the service exit. Just two turns and— The lights flickered. A growl ripped through the air, low and animalistic. My instincts kicked up and I froze, feeling my heart pound heavily in my chest. What was that? I paused at the next turn, feeling my throat dry up. Whatever that was, it wasn't going to be friendly. With a shaky exhale, I peeked around the corner and then I froze. Four figures blocked the corridor. Broad shoulders. Cold eyes. Definitely not friendly and not unfamiliar. Just the first time this night that I was seeing them this close. Ressler. Daemon. Aregon. Jessiel. The Princes. My stomach dropped. s**t. I turned to bolt, but a hand clamped around my arm before I made it two steps. How did he get behind me so fast? The force yanked me back, hard. Pain shot through my shoulder as my knife slipped from the hidden hilt in my belt, clattering to the floor. “Let—” The word choked in my throat. His grip felt like iron and I couldn’t breathe. Another hand seized the back of my neck, slamming me against the wall and my vision blurred as pain shot through me. Panic clawed at my chest. “Please” I gasped. A sharp pain cracked through my skull. White flashed behind my eyes. The world tilted, spinning on its axis. The last thing I saw was Ressler’s eyes, glowing amber, watching me fall. Then—Darkness.