Page 66 of The Puck Player

“Future son-in-law, huh?” I repeat with a laugh, and he shrugs with an arrogance only he could achieve.

“We both know I’m a better bet than the pastor, love,” he jokes with a wink, and now it’s my turn to smile.

“Yes, you really are.”

The party isunlike anything I have ever seen. We arrived in a black town car alongside Alexander’s parents, and the second we stepped out of the car, cameras were flashing in our faces. Alexander had warned me prior to our arrival what it would be like, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality. Reporters were screaming at us to look this way and that way, questioning who I was and if the heir to the Reign throne had finally settled down. It was intimidating and totally insane, and Alexander kept me locked by his side the entire time.

Inside was no better, with Sinclair being the guest of honor, we were hounded the second we stepped inside, and the most pressing question on everyone’s lips was who did her son bring with him. Again Alexander didn’t leave my side, guiding us to the bar in the corner as soon as we could escape the crowd, and that’s where we have been ever since.

“I can’t believe this is your life,” I muse, sipping my glass of champagne, not missing the multiple women lusting after my date, but of course he doesn’t notice a single one of them.

“Fun right? Although I think I prefer church now,” he replies sweetly, eyeing me over the rim of his glass with a knowing look, and I almost choke on my drink.

“Alexander,” I curse his name, flicking my stare around, but of course he only chuckles, before his eyes flick over my shoulder and he groans, placing down his drink.

“Incoming,” he mumbles beneath his breath, and before I can ask what that means, he is pulling me against him and turning me around, just as we are joined by three ridiculously handsome men. “Well, good evening, Kings, to what do I owe this royal pleasure?” Alexander drawls by way of greeting, and the more serious looking one of the three frowns, as the other two roll their eyes.

“Don’t be a prick, Alexander,” the grumpy one replies, holding out his hand.

“Don’t be a wanker, Paxton,” Alexander snaps back, shaking it, and then they both smirk. “Joey, Finn,” he adds, greeting the other two with another handshake, before adding, “Where’s the poor pretender and the psycho?”

The one he called Joey laughs. “Wren is out hunting down our lost queen like always, and Theo is lurking around here somewhere,” he replies dryly, before moving his focus to me. “And who is this lovely specimen?”

I open my mouth to introduce myself, but Alexander pulls me against him even tighter. “Someone out of your league, so avert your fucking eyes,” he snaps, and now all three of the men smile.

“Aubree Callows,” I jab Alexander in the ribs with my elbow as I introduce myself, and all three of them smirk. “How do you three know Alexander?” I ask, looking between them all, and I see the second they shut down a little, so I don’t expect an answer.

Yet of course Alexander doesn’t seem to care, because he doesn’t even hesitate in giving me an answer. “I told you I was in a secret society once,” he shrugs, gesturing between the three of them. “Meet some of the members of The Kinghood,” he adds, and I swear one of them groans at his candor, and I can’t help but choke out a laugh.

“Okay, well, how about I let you four catch up for a moment,” I start, turning back to Alexander. “I’m just going to use the restroom,” I tell him, and he puts down his drink as if he is going to join me, but I stop him. “It’s okay, I know where it is, I’ll be back in a minute okay?” I say gently, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his lips, and as I move to pull away, he drags me back, deepening the kiss, audience be damned.

When we pull apart, I look at him and he smirks knowingly. “Three minutes, Trouble, and counting,” he winks, before releasing me, and I walk away in a daze, as I hear him add to the guys, “Eyes off my fucking girl.”

A warm feeling spreads through me as I make my way through the crowd, until I find the bathroom and push inside, but then instantly stop in my tracks when I find another ridiculously attractive man. He is leaning on the marble vanity with two pills lined on top of it. His eyes flick up when I enter, giving me a quick once over and a nod of his head, before he adds another pill next to the first two.

“Oh, sorry,” I stutter, before trailing off, ensuring I am in fact in the right restroom, before I add, “Erm, should you really be doing that here?”

His dark eyes flash back up to meet mine and they are filled with amused kindness, but also something else I can’t quite place. “Don’t worry, they’re not illegal pharmaceuticals,” he muses, placing the first one on his tongue and using the whiskey in his hand to swallow it down with. “Not tonight anyway,” he adds blandly without emotion, and I laugh a little, uncertain as to whether I should leave or not.

He doesn’t look dangerous or give off a bad vibe or anything, but I can tell there is something wrong with him. So I take a gentle step forward and reply, “No, I meant because this is the women’s restroom.”

That pulls a soft chuckle from him as he tosses down the next pill and looks at me sternly. “Have you ever been in a men’s restroom?” he asks, waiting for my answer, and I slowly shake my head. “Good, don’t, even at a party as expensive as this one they are still completely vile,” he adds with a shudder, swallowing the third pill and finishing off his drink. “I’m Theodore Wells,” he introduces himself, holding out his hand, and I take it, but before I can respond, he continues, “You’re Aubree Callows, right? Reign’s girl?”

I blink back a little in surprise as he releases my hand. “Erm, yeah, I am. How did you know that?” I ask with a nervous laugh.

“Insomnia, I know everything,” he replies with a causal wave of his hand, as if the two are somewhat related.

“Are you a King by any chance?” I dare to ask, wondering if Theodore Wells also goes by Theo, and now I get my first real reaction from him, as a knowing smirk flashes across his mouth.

“Ah, my reputation precedes me,” he winks, straightening his jacket, before offering me a tip of his head. “Anyway, I’ll wait outside for you,” he declares, striding from the room before I can ask what he means, and then I am left alone and completely bewildered. Still, I quickly do what I need to do, washing my hands, and checking over my appearance, and sure enough when I exit the bathroom, Theo is there waiting. “Shall we?” he offers, holding out his arm for me to take, the same way Alexander did earlier.

I smile in confusion, but still take his arm and allow him to lead me back to the guys, and as soon as Alexander spies us approaching, he looks ready to lose his mind. “Theo?” he greets him, his voice holding an edge of warning that confuses me, as he reaches out and steals me from him instantly, only making my new friend smirk.

“Alexander, how’s my favorite hockey goalie?” Theo asks, looking amused, as he joins the three other Kings. “Word on thestreet is you have a little stray dog problem,” he adds, flicking his stare between us both, and I feel Alexander tense against me.

“Been flirting with the Duchess again?” Alexander grits, tightening his hold on me.

“Only when I’m bored,” Theo yawns, pulling out his phone just as the other three do too. “Anyway, give your mother our best, but if you’ll excuse us, we have something that needs our attention,” he gestures to all of the men beside him, before reaching for my hand and dropping a kiss to the back of it. “Miss Callows, until we meet again,” he teases, tossing Alexander a wink, before all four of them disappear into the crowd.

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