Each guest was escorted by at least two servants who showed them to their rooms. They were led up the stairs, and on each side of the stairs was an elevator. Julies, Marcus, and Cassia were led to the left, and Liam, Lucas, Hunter, and Brexley were led to the right one.
The left was taken to the fifth floor and each given a suite of rooms. Cassia knew the small apartment they grew up in in Rome would have fit in her suite alone. Each room was equipped with a separate living room and library, as well as two bathrooms and two bedrooms.
Their luggage was brought in, and the staff began to immediately unpack for them and hang their clothes. Within five minutes, the trio had congregated in Marcus’s room.
Cassia jumped on the bed and said, “Can you believe how huge this place is?”
Julius, who had been looking out the window, turned and replied, “I haven’t been in anything this big since the castle in Scotland.”
“I know I thought we were wealthy, but this makes us look absolutely poverty stricken!” she replied.
“Is everything all right, Julius, you have been unusually quiet?” Marcus asked.
“I’m fine, just trying to take it all in. You have to admit we have found ourselves in an unusual situation,” he answered.
“That we have,” Marcus agreed.
The right elevator went to the fourth floor, and while Hunter was offered her own rooms, she refused, letting them all know she would be staying with Liam. She didn’t stay to watch them unpack, though. She headed straight for Brexley’s room and ordered the staff to leave. When the door was shut behind them, she grabbed Brexley’s arm and dragged her to the window seat. She sat facing her, and the two girls began to gossip.
“Can you believe how ridiculous this house is?” said Brexley.
“I’ve seen bigger,” Hunter said, in a snarly mood.
“I doubt it, but okay. Are you freaking out because she’s so pretty?” Brexley asked, referring to Sawyer.
Hunter rolled her eyes at Brexley and said, “Absolutely not! First of all, she’s not that pretty, and secondly, Liam adores me. Don’t forget he turned me so we can be together forever.”
“Yeah, but if Liam is her soul mate, then it sounds like he won’t have a choice. Then what are you going to do?” Brexley said.
“I need you to shut up about soul mates. I don’t want to hear that word again!” she yelled at her friend. Brexley was hurt but nodded her head in agreement.
Meanwhile, Liam and Lucas stood staring out their window at the never-ending garden.
“Well, what do you think?” Lucas asked without looking at his brother.
Liam continued to stare out the window but answered, “I think if you turn out to be her soul mate, you could do a lot worse. Sawyer is gorgeous, and I don’t think it would be hard to get used to this house. I can guarantee you I will visit every Christmas.”
Lucas laughed and asked, “What makes you so sure it’s not you?”
“I just don’t think I’ve ever been sad about anything. If the boy’s sadness is what got half his soul taken, I would say I’m just convinced I have been excluded from the soul mate pool,” he said sarcastically.
Hunter entered the room in a huff, and Lucas left for his own rooms. The last thing he wanted to see right now was Hunter in a mood.
The staff informed them they were expected to dress for dinner, and they all left to change. The men had each wanted to be alone with their own thoughts for a while and consider the questions they wanted to ask.
Chapter 5
Dinner was late being served because as the staff had come to escort Hunter and Brexley to dinner, they found out neither girl had appropriate dinner attire. The staff escorted the four men and Cassia to the library, and they were offered brandy and cigars, while they scrambled to find the girls something to wear.
When they were all finally seated at the large dining room table with both camps sitting on opposite sides, Sawyer walked in and sat down at the head of the table.
Sawyer noticed that the girls looked a little uncomfortable in their modest clothes, but she certainly wasn’t going to allow shorts or tank tops at her dinner table.
She smiled at everyone and spoke. “Good evening, everyone, I trust your rooms are satisfactory?”
They all smiled and nodded. Cassia had taken an immediate liking to Sawyer. She liked how the young woman held herself in a regal manner. She was the first to speak.
“Our rooms are wonderful! Have you lived in this house your whole life?” she asked.
“Yes, I have spent my entire life here,” Sawyer answered and smiled back at her. She was relieved that someone was finally speaking.
“Well, I hope one of my brothers is chosen then, I won’t mind coming to visit,” she said.
“Cassia! You are bordering on rudeness,” Marcus rebuked.
“It’s fine, I appreciate her candor and honesty. Tonight I am here to answer any and all questions any of you might have. So please speak freely and ask anything you want, nothing is off-limits,” Sawyer told them all.
“I’m sure we will all try to behave accordingly,” stated Marcus and gave his sister a side glance.
“Where is Astrid?” Lucas inquired.
“She has gone to the fae realm, her job is done,” answered Sawyer.
“What was her job?” asked Liam.
“To keep you four safe until it was time for you to come here. Now that you are here, I will keep you safe until my soul sings,” Sawyer answered.
Liam laughed at this. “I’m pretty sure we don’t need you to keep us safe. In fact, the only people who have kidnapped us lately are you and your band of fairies,” he answered rudely.
She turned to look at him directly for a moment, and her eyes never wavered. “I know this is an uncomfortable situation for everyone, but I think if we all try to keep it civil, it will go more smoothly for everyone. As for keeping you safe, I’m sure you believe you are invincible, but I assure you that you are not. I know it must hurt the ego to hear a woman say she will protect you, and if it causes you to lose sleep, please pretend that I never said it. I will, however, protect you, even if your attitude makes me upset.” She then smiled and waited to see if he would respond.
He only smirked in response. He thought this frail-looking girl was the one who would need protecting if she continued to speak to him that way. It was Hunter who responded.
“Well, I have some questions for you,” she said challengingly.
“Oh, Hunter, please don’t start.” Lucas groaned.
“It’s