HEIRS: THE PRINCESS AND THE HUNTER

Chapter 4 - Trouble

Aurora D’Angelo / Isla Smith

We arrived at the bar, which Melody said was the epicenter of the whole nightlife around campus. A place that looked dingy from the outside, but inside was different. Lights, lasers, loud music, drinks with questionable colors, and bodies dancing and grinding against each other in the middle of a cramped dance floor.

I am sure the place violated capacity, because there was no room for one more soul tonight. “This is… fun!” Arline smiled, and I nodded.

“Shall we hit the dance floor?” I said, and Sage laughed.

“Come on, let's get tipsy. That way, if some wandering hands reach us, we won't mind…” she smirked, and I chuckled. She seemed the most serious of all of us, but underneath, she was pure fire.

We held each other's hands, and Melody opened up a way towards the bar. “This corner,” she said, and I sighed. Finally, a little room to breathe.

“What can I get you ladies, tonight?” the bartender asked, and Sage smiled.

“We want tequila shots…” she said. “Eight,” the bartender lifted his eyebrows, and she gave him a sweet smile. Of course, it will take a lot more alcohol to get us drunk, but we could get there with the right mix.

“So, has anyone met their mate yet?” Sage asked, and I sighed.

“I don't think we should use that word here…” I muttered,

“Complete giveaway,” Arline said, and Sage sighed.

“Well, your significant other?” she corrected, and I chuckled. That was a very human way of putting the whole ´mate´ situation.

“Not yet,” I sighed, and she nodded.

“Me neither… wouldn't it suck if it was a plain human?” she bit her lower lip, “Although I would not mind having some fun… I mean, get a boy toy…” she said, and I shook my head.

“I think I want to save myself for my ma… significant other,” I said, and Melody gasped.

“No f*****g way! What is the purpose of coming here, if not to have fun? Humans are horny as hell, and they can make a good practice round,” Melody said, and I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don't know, I haven't thought about it,” I said.

“I lost my V-card in senior year prom…” Arline said,

“Well, we are known to have high libidos, so I lost it at 16,” Melody said, and I smiled. I never thought that being a virgin would be an issue.

“15 for me… a water dragon… hot as hell… it was steamy,” she said, making us all laugh, the concept of water hitting fire and turning into steam completely accurate and graphic in an uncomfortable way.

“Isla?” They looked at me,

“Not telling…” I said, and they started pushing.

“Come on!...” Sage said, and I shook my head. The way they were bantering made me laugh. I turned around, hoping no one was paying attention to our conversation, and laughed.

“Cheers!” Sage passed around another round of tequila shots, and we gulped down the burning liquid.

“So, you are a virgin,” Melody smirked, and I laughed.

“I said I was not one to kiss and tell…” I tried to avoid admitting to them that I was an inexperienced virgin.

“Oh! You totally are!” Arline said, and I rolled my eyes.

“I hate you,” I mumbled, and they surrounded me in a group hug.

“There is nothing wrong with it…” Melody said, and I sighed.

“I just… never found the right guy,” I sighed, knowing well that it was not a matter of the right or wrong guy; it had been a matter of opportunity… I was under surveillance 24/7, thanks to Daddy dearest.

“Well, good thing you came here… we can find you a guy to get laid,” Sage said, and I shook my head.

“Let her be…” Arline said, and Sage lifted her hands in surrender… “She will get there when she is ready,” she said, and I smiled at her in relief.

“Let's get another round of shots, and we can hit the dance floor,” Melody said, and Sage lifted her hand, ordering another tray of shots. These girls were fun, and my first real friends. At school, I was mostly isolated, and my only friends growing up were my cousins. Even when we were each other's ride or die… it was not the same.

The bartender set the tray, and Sage paid. “Thanks,” he said when she left a hefty tip. She smiled, totally flirting with the guy, and I rolled my eyes. She was inhibited and gorgeous. Of course, she could get any guy in this place.

“To the new year!” Melody lifted the shot, and we toasted.

“To new adventures, and friendship!” Sage took the second round, and we cheered, downing the eight shots in no time.

We laughed. “Let's dance!” Arline said, and when we turned around to move, a waiter holding a tray full of colorful drinks smiled our way.

“Ladies…” he said, and Sage looked at him with a weird expression. “Compliments from the gentlemen in the VIP area,” he said, pointing at a balcony, where four male silhouettes stood.

Sage looked at me, and I shook my head. Melody did the same, and it was Arline, the one who spoke… “Tell the gentlemen up there, no, thanks…” she said, held my hand, and I held Melody's hand. Mel took Sage's hand in hers, and Arline led the way to the dance floor, leaving a very confused waiter there.

We made it to the dance floor, and the song changed to an upbeat tune that had us laughing and dancing with each other. It was fun…

Another group of girls, all human, started dancing beside us, and after the fourth time, one of them bumped into me. I stood. “Is there a problem?” I asked her because it felt intentional.

“Who is asking?” She gave me a nasty once-over, “You?” she said, and I rolled my eyes…

“You have been burping into our group…” Arline said, and she smirked.

“I was just curious to find out about the group of losers that refused the drinks,” she said, and I raised my eyebrow. Certainly, that raised my interest. I had no idea that refusing drinks was a matter of national offense… maybe things work differently in the human realm.

“We don't care,” Arline pulled me beside her, and the girls smirked. “You refused the drinks the kings sent… either you are utterly confident or stupid…” she said, and Arline laughed.

"I'll go with confidence,” Arline said, turning around and leading us to another side of the dance floor. We followed because what the f**k was that?

“The kings?” I mumbled, and Arline shrugged her shoulders.

“Whatever, babes… who the f**k sends radioactive-looking drinks to girls… that is moronic!” she said, making all of us laugh.

“Let's get another drink,” Sage said, and I nodded.

“Mel, let's go…” I said, and she followed the group.

“That was weird,” I said, and Arline nodded.

“The kings…” Sage paused, “What kind of morons name themselves that?” She said, and I felt a warm body behind me.

“Then, how do you suggest we call ourselves?” A grave, baritone voice said against my ear, making me jump.

My heart beat rapidly, my hands started sweating… People around us were very curious, and I had no idea why I felt as if time had stopped.

“I don't know… I have no idea what your name is?” I said, slowly turning around, to face the most gorgeous man I have ever seen.

“Asthon Varnat,” he extended his hand.

“Isla… Smith…” I said, and he smirked.

“Isla… that is a beautiful name…” he said, and I smiled.

“Thanks…”

“Now care to explain why you reject the drinks we sent your way?” he asked, and I looked at Arline.

Arline smirked, and Sage nodded, encouraging me to speak up. It had made us uncomfortable that strangers had sent drinks in our direction. The look of the drinks was different. It was as if we must like colorful, fruity drinks because we are women… something didn't sit well with us, we knew humans spiked drinks… There were too many red flags around the simple offering.

“Because I thought it was obvious… We don't care for colorful drinks, and we are not interested… in whatever that was.” I said, turned around, heading towards the door… the girls had my back, and followed my lead. I have had enough, and I hope to never run into this asshole in my entire life.

I had no idea why, but I was absolutely mad, angry, livid, and completely aroused… That man was dangerous; people referring to him as a king meant that he was trouble, and I was here to study, not to mess around with trouble.