Movie Night

Somehow, I’d gone from homeless to living in the biggest, most expensive penthouse in a matter of minutes, and I had not one but ~two~ of the city’s most eligible bachelors interested in dating me.

Somebody should get me my own damn reality show because shit…

This was too good to be true.

Which almost always meant that it was.

I wasn’t as naive as Loch and Hael thought. I was still very much on guard and still waiting for the real reason for their interest in me to be revealed.

I refused to believe that pickpocketing them and somehow having an aversion to green flames ignited the romance of the century or whatever.

Maybe I was already on a reality show and didn’t even know it.

Ever since I’d met the Dobrzyckas, I’d been a magnet for the weird and strange.

I needed some serious explanations, and maybe this “date night” would offer them.

But pushing aside the complete absurdity of this scenario—and that was ~really~ hard to do—I was actually feeling just one thing…

Nervous.

I was about to go on a date with two of the hottest men I’d ever met, and it was a three-way date no less.

I was given a fully appointed room with a walk-in closet full of clothes and shoes in my size, a vanity with makeup I didn’t know how to use, and a bed so large I thought I would get lost in it.

I’d caught myself checking my makeup and outfit in the mirror half a dozen times already. I felt like such a ~girl~, and, well, no one had ever really made me feel that way before.

I wanted to dish about this with Harry and Darshan so badly, but I decided I’d wait until after the date.

The only voice I wanted in my head tonight was my own. This was a lot to navigate, and I needed a clear mind.

I was standing in the living room, waiting for Loch and Hael, when the elevator dinged and someone entered the penthouse.

“Darren!” I shouted as he came into view. I was actually relieved that Adara and Darren would be joining us tonight. I hoped having a familiar face there would take some of the pressure off.

Darren hadn’t toned down his punk look at all, and it was a comfort I didn’t know I needed in that moment.

“How’s it going, Maddie? Settling in all right?” he asked, joining me on the oversize curved sofa.

“It’s a bit weird.” I sighed. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” he said, rolling up his torn tuxedo sleeves. “Also, uh, I’m really sorry about what happened this morning. I heard what Elle did.”

“Don’t worry about it. I was always on borrowed time with her.”

“Still, looks like you did all right.” He grinned, waving his hand at the room. “I mean look at all this. Who woulda thought a couple of orphans like us would land in the lap of luxury?”

Yeah, but why exactly did we land here? That was what I wanted to know.

What was so special about me? Why did I deserve this?

There had to be a catch. There was always a catch.

Nothing good in life was free. I’d learned that the hard way my entire life.

If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have survived.

Darren seemed way too complacent about all this, and it worried me. He wasn’t going to question anything, that was for sure.

“Hey, cool tattoo,” he said suddenly, turning my shoulder so he could see it better. “Is it new?”

Despite how many times I’d checked myself in the mirror, I had neglected to realize I picked a dress that exposed my shoulders.

“It’s, um, yeah, it’s new,” I replied self-consciously. “I got it…this morning, actually.”

“Wow, holy shit. Well, it’s super rad,” he said, examining it. “What does it mean?”

What ~did~ it mean?

I had no freaking clue.

But I intended to find out.

***

Date night turned out to be movie night, which was frustrating since I’d hoped to have time to talk to Loch and Hael about everything that had happened.

I wasn’t expecting a dramatic confrontation or anything, but I also wasn’t expecting to be awkwardly sandwiched between the two brothers while a gruesome horror movie blared in the background.

Darren was lying with his head in Adara’s lap as she stroked his hair like he was her prized pet. It was…a bit creepy.

“Not enjoying the movie?” Hael whispered to me as Loch munched through his second bowl of popcorn.

“Horror isn’t really my thing,” I said, flinching as someone on screen was ripped in half. “It brings back bad memories from my childhood.”

I cringed, realizing I probably shouldn’t have shared that. It was intimate and not something I told many people about.

My parents had abandoned me when I was a little girl and left me to deal with one abusive authority figure after the next. I didn’t know who they were or why they left me to fend for myself.

When I was little, I used to imagine them returning to save me from the cruel life of the child welfare system. But they never did.

Instead, I was left to create my own family, my own close-knit group of friends who looked out for each other and tried to build a life with what little we had.

As the brutal images flashed across the screen, I hugged my knees tightly to my chest, trying to find comfort as the girl on the screen was locked in chains, her captor endlessly tormenting her.

All three of the Dobrzyckas seemed to be eating it up.

This was entertainment?

Well, if they were focused on the monsters on the screen, it meant they weren’t paying attention to me.

I closed my eyes and started playing an alternate version of the movie in my head—one where the girl escaped and got to live the life ~she~ chose.

“You’re missing the best part.” Loch nudged me while scarfing down more popcorn. “Are you scared or something?”

“Not scared, just disgusted,” I retorted.

“Whatever. Your loss,” he said, returning his attention to the movie.

Maybe I hated this so much because I identified with that girl. Maybe I’d never been put in literal chains, but I’d always lived a life dictated by someone else.

Dominic, Elle, the rules of the streets…

I wanted to control my own life for once.

The movie abruptly ended in an unsurprising bloodbath, and as the Dobrzyckas clapped and cheered, I thanked the heavens that it was finally over.

“Would you like to join us in bed,” Loch said with a devious smile. “Either bed would do. Mine. Hael’s. Hell, we’ll even join you in yours if you want.”

~Ugh, the nerve of this guy.~

“I’m not sleeping with ~either~ of you,” I said immediately. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“Suit yourself.” Loch shrugged. “Hope you don’t have any nightmares.”

I suppressed my shudder at the thought of having a nightmare. Would my dreams be full of chains and blood? Or of hot, male flesh writhing against mine?

At this point, I wasn’t sure which I wanted to experience least.

Adara and Darren made a beeline for her bedroom as soon as the movie ended—how she was turned on after that trash, I’d never understand—leaving me alone with the brothers.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable sleeping alone?” Hael asked, unconvinced.

~When my other option is sleeping with one of you? Yeah.~

“I’ll be fine. I won’t let the large bed you gave me swallow me or anything,” I joked.

Hael and Loch gave each other a weird smile that made me shudder.

Sometimes it felt like the two of them shared a brain—one single, fucked-up, mystifying brain.

“Very well, we’ll leave you to your sleep,” Hael said, getting up. “This was a delightful evening.”

~Was it? For whom?~

Hael and Loch disappeared into their bedrooms, although Loch gave me an annoying wink before he left.

I made my way to my room, changing into a sleepshirt before crawling into bed.

I’d had a long day, and sleep hit me like a speeding truck, but as I drifted off, images of the movie kept flashing through my mind.

***

~A blood-curdling scream.~

~The clattering of chains.~

~A girl running for her life.~

I jolted awake in a cold sweat, breathing heavily.

It was just a nightmare. I was okay. I was safe.

My shirt was so soaked that I had to peel it off and throw it aside, leaving me in just my bra and panties.

I knew watching that movie was a bad idea.

Now, every dark corner I looked at seemed to be moving, and every weird creak or rattle made me wince.

THUMP.

I cowered as the bed frame shook.

~Okay, I might be acting like a baby, but I definitely do not want to be alone right now.~

I opened the door to the hall and looked toward the other bedrooms. It looked like both Hael’s and Loch’s lights were still on.

I was torn. If I approached one of them, would they take it as an invitation for more?

Maybe we could just talk for a while? Would they be up for that?

Neither of them had proved to be the most empathetic of people, but they had both said they wanted to get to know me better.

I returned to the bed and grabbed the blanket off the end, draping it around my shoulders before I quietly crept into the hallway.

Their rooms were on opposite sides of the hall, facing each other.

Who should I choose?

~Hael kind of seems like he could have a sensitive side…~

~But then again, Loch has a more straightforward attitude.~

~He’s also more likely to try and sleep with me…~

~So, Hael it is.~

I took a step toward Hael’s door, my tattoo tingling. All of a sudden, I found myself wanting to be in his presence.

I picked up my pace and knocked softly on the door before opening it.

“Madeline?” Hael looked surprised to see me. “Can’t sleep?”

His eyes met mine, their emerald hue swirling as I took a step closer to him.

“Just had a bad dream. Thought maybe you’d be down to talk for a bit?” I said hopefully.

“Of course.” Hael smiled, waving me over. “We have much to talk about. Why don’t you sleep here with us tonight?”

With ~us~?

I suddenly felt two strong hands gripping my shoulders, and the tingling in my tattoo went wild.

“Don’t worry, we don’t bite—not always anyway,” Loch said from behind me.

He pushed me forward, coaxing me onto the bed.

I now found myself lying between the two brothers in the exact situation I had been trying to avoid.

“Don’t be so tense,” Loch said as his green eyes flashed with mischief. “This is natural for all of us.”

“Loch,” Hael said with a warning tone. “We agreed she’s not ready.”

“No, you did,” Loch shot back. “I won’t delay our fates any longer. She deserves to know the truth.”

“And what the hell is the truth?” I suddenly shouted.

Loch and Hael looked at each other, and Hael finally nodded.

“The truth is…” Loch shot me a toothy smile. “We’re Dragon Lords. And you’re our mate.”