She sat nervously, fingers fidgeting in front of the three enigmatic brothers. Iston's gaze remained fixated on her without a single blink, while the other two mirrored his intensity, causing the poor soul to shiver under their scrutiny. It was a scenario that would send anyone else to hell, but this girl seemed to test them at every turn.

"Where is Collin?" Iston furrowed his brows, Nathan grimaced, and Chris reprimanded upon hearing another name from her innocent, pink-blushed lips.

So natural!

Chris, don't roll your eyes.

Then stop behaving like a fucking pussy and dreaming of utopia.

"Yeah!"

"Collin?"

"Yes, where is he?"

"Who?"

She looked at them innocently. "M..My brother! He is your friend, why are you saying this?"

Tears threatened to spill as Chris said, "Girl, you've confused us by repeatedly asking questions. Will you stop interrogating? If you want to leave, the door is there. Go. But when Collin asks us, we'll say that you don't trust us."

Chris despised being questioned, and this girl was testing him. She shivered but dared to speak again. "Sorry, Sir! I am so sorry. I am so stupid, that’s why my brother always protected me. You are his friends and saved me. I will not ask anything, please don’t be angry." She stood with a guilty expression.

"You look cute, Lacuna! Don’t worry; you can ask anything, but not now," sphallolalia dripped in Iston’s voice, irking the other brothers.

"So! From the start, tell us about you?" Nathan inquired, his tone bristling with authority.

"What?" she asked in an angelic tone.

"The basic rule, Enigma! When we question, answer us, no matter what!" Chris crisply stated, intimidating the poor girl who looked like a little lamb in front of three six-feet-plus wolves.

"So! Answer us, Lacuna! You are a good girl!" Nathan rasped monotonously. The girl nodded timidly, closing her eyes as she reminisced about something. The brothers were curious, as their every attempt to gather information about her had failed. She began, "Y..yes, I am a good girl. I was with my family at a get-together, and some people attacked us to kill. I..I don’t know where my parents are, and my brother…he was also attacked. But to save me while making me escape, I ran from there, but no one was there."

Tears welled up as she continued, "An uncle gave me a lift and promised to drop me at the airport, but he was also…killed by a creature. That creature wanted to eat me too. He wanted to catch me, but I ran away. He caught me, but I made myself free in the struggle. He pushed me, and I collided with a car. After that, I don’t know. When I opened my eyes, I thought I was in hell."

The girl's voice became hoarse, tears flowing freely. This narrative didn't sit well with the brothers; witnessing her cry, an unfamiliar feeling surged within their newfound hearts. Nathan came to her side, hugging her shoulders. She clung to him, observing this, Iston's jaw clenched, and he also sat near her, pulling her into him. Her scintillating sillage reached their nostrils.

The naive girl sobbed as Iston kissed her forehead, feeling content. Chris, who had been watching the scene, gritted his teeth. His jaws and fists clenched as he fought the urge to comfort her.

"How do we believe you?" Chris's rational mind blurted out, his voice gravelly. Both brothers glared at him, daring him to utter gibberish.

"Because I am a good girl. I never lied. Mom always said that God never does bad to good people," she uttered, her voice childlike. A smile appeared on Iston’s face, and Chris scratched his beard to stifle a laugh.

"Yes, Precious! Never lie to us. That's the thing that terrifies us the most." Nathan grabbed her hand and sniffed like a drug. She pulled her hand back, making Nathan growl, his eyes shining.

"I haven't bathed yet," she said innocently, and he smiled. Chris stood up, taking predatory steps to attenuate the alien trouvaille.

"You didn’t mention your name, Enigma?" Chris said, hovering over her. Nathan and Iston glared at Chris, feeling the nemesism in his aura.

"Chris, you are scaring her!" Iston reprimanded, but Chris's one glare was enough for him to understand what Chris wanted.

"Don’t make me wait, Enigma!" Chris growled deeply yet hoarsely.

"S..S..Scarlet!" she timidly whispered, but it was loud enough for them to hear. The brothers' eyes shined upon hearing her name.

"Scarlet! Truly suits you," Iston chimed. Her cheeks turned red, and she bowed her head. For the first time in this hour, a slight smile appeared on Chris's face, looking at her flushed cheeks. Nathan rolled his tongue inside his mouth to suppress his laughter.

"Beautiful name!" Chris's eyes held adoration. "But who are you all? How did you meet Collin?" Another question was hurled at them.

Nathan closed his eyes, knowing that Chris was fuming, but Iston mind-linked, Dare you, Chris, if you think to harm her! Are you challenging me for a mere stupid girl? Chris, no! There are myriad ways to show her place. Thank me I am being a gentleman.

Fuck, are we bawling?

"But who are you all?" her sudden question took them off guard. Iston smiled when he caught her checking them out.

"Lacuna! If you want to stare at us, please do that." Her eyes widened as her glancing was caught by Iston.

Nathan looked at Chris, and Chris was already looking at Scarlet’s face. Her childlike actions amused him.

The eunoia made him fall for her.

No, no, no!

She is a distraction.

She is something that we have not found yet.

Some force is protecting her, that’s why we are unable to read her mind.

But she is naïve.

Deception and destruction are always magnificent, but when hit, only ugliness would be around.

"Scarlet! Chris saved you yesterday, and we all took care of you," Nathan explained. Her eyes became warm and filled with gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Sir. My wounds are healing now; I will go after proper healing and Collin’s arrival," she said.

"You are not going anywhere!" Chris's words caught her off guard.

"What?"

"Let us clear this! I am Christopher Noah Venedistine, King of this whole dynasty." Her eyes gleamed, and she held Chris’s hand. Chris's ataraxia made its way; her soft touch vibrated everything in him.

Hopefully, she is so kind…

"I am delighted to meet you, Sir!" Nathan jumped into the conversation, much to Chris's dismay.

"I am Nathan Noah Venedistine! Advisor of the king. And King of Vam… let it be."

"Aww, don’t feel bad if you are not a king. The kingdom is also required for a king to rule. I am not a queen or from a royal family, just a mere peasant. See, the king is so kind that we are in his home." Iston smiled.

Indeed, she is so kind…

"I am Kingston Noah Venedistine! I am second in command, and I am also not a king but a mere employee." He huffed and bowed his head. Chris groaned at his poor acting.

"Oh, please, you are a king by your name. Why are you feeling sad?" Scarlet cupped his grimacing face. He felt heaven when she touched him.

Nathan and Chris were drilling holes into his stupidity and sphallolalia.

Guys, don’t share our reality. Till we know who she is exactly. Ask for her address and send your man to inquire.

It’s okay, Chris! She is just a teen. Maybe she is supernatural like us; that’s why we ARE unable to trace her down.

Still, we have enemies. We have enemies.

I like her a lot, brother. She is very sweet and innocent.

I agree with Iston.

Oh, so the magic begins! Don’t forget you are talking to your king. If I find any single piece of information wrong, I will reward her head to myself.

This is cruel!

Go get a room, Iston. We are heartless, cruel monsters. Don’t forget I am the Lycan King, and you are the Vampire King. Nathan, keep your beast in check; we can’t let her know our secret.

Okay!

We need to meet with some business meet in the study room.

On the way, brother!

I was t…

A loud sound echoed in the room, breaking their link of minds.

"Fuck!"

The chapter ended with a mysterious cliffhanger, leaving the brothers in suspense, their unity shattered.

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