I must have been on the verge of hysteria because I had to bite my lips to keep from giggling. Unfortunately, an unattractive snort came through my nose anyway, and they all turned to me. It was enough to make me laugh even harder, gripping my stomach as painful, nervous laughter barked out my throat, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Shit. Look what you’ve done,” the headmaster said, which sent me into a fresh wave of laughter. He didn’t look much older than the rest, and his appearance was so mild, it made me giggle some more.

He gazed at me in alarm then turned to a dark skinned, golden-eyed, gorgeous male whom I suspected wasn’t part of the original terrible five.

“Kam, take Asher and Thatcher and get them back to Copulus. I’ll meet you there after I’ve finished cleaning up this mess.”

He moved on to a sleek looking, black-haired male who had red eyes. “Rowan,” he barked, his voice angrier than how he’d addressed the others, “you, Lachlan and Laikan get into Sanguis and stay there. I’ll alert the headmaster you’re coming.”

Oh, so he’s not the headmaster. Geez, if these hoodlums listened to this guy, he must be scarier than he looked. I briefly wondered what the real headmaster must be like. Would he dress like Mr. Rogers here, too? Still giggling, I watched Rowan and the other two leave.

As they moved under the streetlight, it was apparent Lachlan and Laikan were probably twins. Despite someone calling them “ugly doubles” earlier, they would have been attractive if not for their evil red glares.

They turned those twin glares my way and the hysterical laughter that had been choking me died. There was serious danger in those eyes. I was glad the one called Rowan seemed to have them under control as they melded into the shadows and disappeared under the train tracks.

Mr. Normal-ish continued to stare after them for a moment before turning toward the remaining two males. Both appeared angry, but more in control than the rest had been.

One, in particular, wore an expression so cold and aloof you’d think he hadn’t been part of the battle at all. He was more leanly muscular than the ones who had departed, but it didn’t detract from his looks one bit. His glowing blue eyes slanted across sharp cheekbones, which sat over a square jaw. Asian ancestry carved across his face, mixed with something else, though I wasn’t sure what. His lips were full, his nose high bridged, and his skin glowed a warm, golden-brown in the dim light. His entire demeanor was detached and scholarly. Aristocratic, even.

“Xander, I trust you and Kam will make your way back without further incident?”

My attention speared on the one who nodded. Xander. Beautiful, aloof god, and owner of the delicious voice. His gaze snagged mine before he nodded, and my lungs tightened again.

“I’ll return to help you, Peter, after I drop off Kam.”

So, Peter the not-headmaster. And Kam the … other rescuer?

Kam was taller and more muscular than Xander, and just as handsome but in an earthier way. While Xander appeared aloof, Kam practically vibrated with energy and sensuality. I did a quick appraisal, despite myself. Dark, tan skin, square jaw, and full lips. Long, light brown braids framed his face perfectly, and his eyes glowed feline gold.

He raised an eyebrow at Xander. “I can get myself there,” he said, right before he disappeared into thin air.

The last thing I saw as my knees gave out was Xander leaning over me while Peter kept me from hitting the pavement.

Chapter Three

I awoke in a languorous state, unwilling to open my eyes yet. The dead quiet of the tiny dorm let me know my roommate spent the night with her boyfriend, and the moment felt too delicious to face the harsh realities of study. Stretching my arms over my head, I gave a small moan when the soft cotton of my t-shirt slid over my nipples, and a little pulse shot between my legs. My thighs clenched in response, and I slid my hand down my panties, smiling. I’d just found my rhythm in the slickness when a masculine chuckle brought everything to a screeching halt.

Literal screech.

I screamed when my eyes flew open and three large, gorgeous men stood over me. My damned body and brain went into freeze mode as they always do, and I couldn’t draw another breath to scream again when they moved closer.

“I think she’d do well in Copulus, don’t you?” asked one, while another leaned over me and sniffed.

“Still smells like Witch to me, but you Copula demons don’t really care where you stick your dicks, do you?” He turned to the third guy. “Probably same could said for the Sangui.”

“At least we get our dicks wet, asshole. All you do is mope around and meditate all day.”

Oh, god, oh god, oh god. I sat up, snatching the sheet for cover, and scrambled backwards in a bed I now saw was not my own. My back connected with a padded headboard, and my eyes widened as the memories came flooding back, some crystalline, some muddy.

“She really smells delicious,” said … Rowan. I remembered. His name was Rowan. He adjusted the bulge in his pants. “Tastes it, too.”

My brain stopped there, and my felt dunked in ice water.

His gorgeous companion scoffed. “Witches taste like shit to me.” Xander, of the beautiful voice and face. He would have fit right in with a stunning K-Pop band.

But what he’d said made no sense. Witches? What the hell? My crazy roommate was the Wiccan, not me.

“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” said the third member of the trio.

What was his name again? I searched my fuzzy nightmares … Peter! Peter, the one they had listened to. Not the so-called headmaster, but they still followed him.

Dark and deadly, Rowan chuckled. “Leave the celibate alone. Leaves more for us, bro. Though from the sound of her heartbeat, she might die before we get a solid taste.”

He wasn’t lying. My heart felt like it might burst through my ribcage, but how could he hear it?

I turned my focus toward Peter. He had … saved me, right? Not all memories were clear, but I recall him sending several others away. Ones who been harassing me.

“I … I think there’s been some mistake. I need to leave, so please let me go.” My voice must have sounded like a mouse squeaking to a cat, because they all wore Cheshire grins.

“Nice try, but you can’t fool us, Witch.” Xander again. “Though if you cooperate, we might let you live.” He bit out the word ‘might.’

Cooperate, how? My eyes pivoted wildly among the three of them, afraid to let anyone out of my sight. Last night, I thought they had rescued me. Now I knew they were crazy. And dangerous.

Through my peripheral vision, I took in the room. Dark and decadent as the men before me. It looked like a Hollywood depiction of a luxurious vampire lair—all black and gold silk, satin, and leather, with heavy curtains blacking out the windows. I stifled a smirk at the stupid thought. They couldn’t be vampires, but they might be part of some wealthy gang. Or more likely, just some bored, nasty, rich boys from the North Shore with too much time and money on their hands while their hearts and minds went bankrupt.

Evil. That’s what I faced.

I fought to keep from squeezing my eyes shut against the tears threatening to leak ... and became uncomfortably aware that I was squeezing my thighs shut against the threat of a bladder leak. I’d just woken up and was terrified. Of course, my bladder would act up.

Rowan snickered and Peter’s expression turned to one of amused understanding. “I’ll show you to the bathroom.”

Nodding, I scrambled out of the large bed—how could I have thought I was in the dorm?—taking the sheet around me, still not willing to think about the implications of the fact that I was only wearing my t-shirt and panties. I didn’t want to go with him, didn’t trust him, but if there was a chance I could get to a bathroom, maybe I’d find a way to escape.

The thick, soft rug that stretched from under the bed gave way to cold marble tile under my feet and my urgency grew. “How far is it?” I asked, hating that even I could hear the fear in my voice.

He laughed. “Not far. Unfortunately, this room isn’t equipped with an en-suite, so you’ll have to take a little trek down the hall.” He opened one of the huge, carved wooden doors and stepped out into a corridor that carried on with the movie theme.

“What is this place?” I breathed, more to myself than to him.

“This section is one of the neutral guest rooms adjacent to the Sanguis wing.”

Of course, it was. “What does that even mean?” I muttered, tip-toeing a pee-pee dance across the cold marble. It could have been modeled after the palace of Versailles, sans the parquet floors.

I squealed when he scooped me off my feet. “It means,” he said as he took off at an impossible pace, “those cold-blooded bastards prefer things cold, hard, and dark, unlike we of Copulus House, who love warm, soft things.”

He deposited me in front of another opulent door. “Your throne awaits, M’lady,” he gestured with a flourish and a grin.

Desperate, I grabbed open the door and prayed, slamming it behind me. Thank god, there was a lock.