She's the True Heir

The music was pumping and the lights were flashing everywhere. It felt great. And it felt free. The smell of alcohol and sweat mixed together while a lot of people were on the dance floor and a lot were on the sides at tables hanging with their friends. As soon as we got settled Devin went over to get our drinks while we were all standing around a high table talking and laughing about anything and everything. Mostly chucking off at each other, but that’s what friends do. It wasn’t too long before I felt this weird presence in the club. I was sipping on my drink when this weird feeling came over me. I turned around to look around the club and that’s when I saw them. Two guys leaning on the bar in the exact same pose, which I guess shouldn’t surprise me since they looked like identical twins. Both with brown hair and very muscly figures. I’m considered tall to be 6 foot but these guys even towered over me. They were both standing there staring straight at me and as soon as I caught their eyes, I couldn't look away either. “Bella. Are you flirting with those twins?” Ally asked. “I’m looking at them. There’s nothing wrong with that.” I said. “Of course not. But I really think you should talk to them.” She said. “Or they can stop being p*****s and come here and talk to me.” I said. It was almost like they could hear exactly what I said because almost at that exact instant they both moved from the bar and started walking in our direction. “Holy s**t. Alright. You better not f**k this up.” Ally said. “f**k what up?” I asked. “Getting with one of these guys.” Ally said. “Who says I’m going to choose between them?” I asked, not taking my eyes off of them as they slowly stalked closer towards me and my friends. As soon as the twins reached us, the first thing I noticed was how they positioned themselves between myself and Devin, close enough to feel intentional without being obvious, and when Levi tugged Devin off to the side mid-sentence, the space shifted, quieter and suddenly very focused on me. The one on my left cleared his throat first, turning fully toward me with an easy confidence that felt practiced. “Guess we should start properly.” He said, extending his hand. “I’m Axel.” I glanced down at his hand for a beat longer than necessary before taking it, his grip warm and steady, fingers lingering just a second too long when we shook. “Bella,” I said. “Nice to finally put a name to the staring.” His mouth twitched, unapologetic. “Didn’t realise I was being subtle.” The twin on my right laughed, low and amused, and leaned forward slightly like he couldn’t help inserting himself into the moment. “I’m Atticus.” He said, offering a small bow instead of a handshake, which only made me blink at him. “And before you say it, yes, I was also staring.” “Well,” I said, letting my hands drop back to my sides as I looked between them, “at least you’re honest.” “Usually,” Atticus replied, straightening with a grin that felt lighter than Axel’s but no less dangerous. “Depends on the situation.” Axel tilted his head, studying me openly now. “So, Bella,” he said, rolling my name like he was testing the weight of it, “are we meant to apologise for crowding you, or is this where you tell us to back off?” I shrugged, deliberately casual even as my awareness sharpened. “That depends,” I said. “Is this your version of an introduction, or are you planning to tell me why you felt the need to stand like my personal security detail?” Atticus pressed a hand to his chest, mock wounded. “Can’t a guy be protective without it being interrogated?” “Both of you?” I asked. “At the same time?” Axel’s smile was slow, measured. “Habit.” “Twin thing,” Atticus added cheerfully. “We come as a set. Hope that’s not a dealbreaker.” I laughed softly, shaking my head. “I don’t think I’m in a position to have dealbreakers yet, considering I just met you.” “Fair.” Axel said, stepping back half a pace, though his eyes didn’t stop tracking me. “But now you know our names, and we know yours, which feels like progress.” “Mm.” I said. “You sure you don’t want my last name too?” Atticus leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was letting me in on a secret. “We’re patient. First names feel more personal.” I arched my brow. “Is that so?” “Very,” Axel replied, his tone calm but intent. “Especially when the person wearing it looks like she could cause trouble.” I smiled then, slow and deliberate. “Careful,” I said. “You’re still in the introduction phase.” Atticus laughed again, delighted. “Good,” he said. “Means there’s plenty more to come.” I glanced at Ally who had this goofy looking smile on her face and she quickly joined the other girls that were with us so it didn’t look like she was prying. But her eyes never left us and the smile on her face never disappeared for a second. She watched every interaction. Every movement I made, as well as the twins. The way they leaned on the table in a very relaxed way as they were starting to get closer to me. “We haven’t seen you around here before.” Atticus said. “Maybe you just weren’t looking hard enough.” I smirked. “Hey Bella, we’re gonna hit the dance floor. Are you coming?” Devin asked, getting closer to me as the twins never stopped staring at me. “Not just yet.” I said. So my friends all went towards the dancefloor and I stayed where I was. Which seemed to please the twins more than I realized until something seemed to spark in their eyes like they were happy that I chose to stay and talk to them. “So, why don’t we get out of here? Go some place where it’s a little easier to talk?” Axel asked. “Wow. You’re pretty cocky. I only just met you and you already think I’m going to leave with you.” I said. “Something tells me that you know how to take care of yourself.” Atticus said. “Well, you’re not wrong there.” I said. Axel slowly reached forward and held my hand, gesturing towards the front door. I hesitated for a moment, only a moment, before I finished my drink and I started following him with Atticus right behind me. I turned around and I saw Ally on the dance floor giving me a thumbs up like she had no filter at all, because let’s face it, she doesn’t. As soon as we got outside I saw the bouncer looking at me strangely before he mouthed ‘are you okay’? I thought that was a really strange question since I wasn’t being dragged out of the club. But I just nodded and started walking down the road with Axel still holding my hand and Atticus with his arm across my shoulders. We only walked a couple of blocks before we came to this really big looking two story house that looked like a mansion in comparison to my house. We slipped around the side of the house and through the narrow door, the hinges barely whispering as Axel eased it shut behind us, and the quiet that followed felt thick, like the house itself was holding its breath. The hallway was dim, shadows stretching long along the walls, and we moved slowly, close enough that I could feel their presence on either side of me even when they weren’t touching me yet.