I shrugged. "Look, when you met me, there were all kinds of things I didn't want. There were things I didn't even know I did want. One of them was you. So, as long as I have you, I don't care what happens. As long as you're safe, I’ll count my lucky stars."

"You and me against the world?"

I pulled her close and tucked my arms around her. "Yup, you and me against the world."

What I wasn't going to remind her of was just what I was willing to do and what I was capable of if it meant keeping her safe. She was mine. Forever. And if anyone threatened that, they'd end up the same way the last guy had.

1

Lex…

Five Years Earlier…

"To my prince of a brother, while it may not yet be your twenty-fifth birthday, we’re going to celebrate all bloody year. You are a little prince amongst men, and I couldn't have a better brother."

I laughed at Xander even as I raised my glass. "Thank you for the toast, Xan. Except, I'm not a prince."

He chuckled then. "Oh, we both are. Just, you know, we don't actually have the country or the crowns to go with it, but I lay claim to it all the time. Particularly with the fairer sex."

I rolled my eyes as our friends guffawed around us. We were at yet another nameless club. The latest hotspot. For us, the booze flowed freely, and the women came easily. I loved my brother and my mates, but lately when we went out, I wondered exactly what the purpose was. Maybe I’d enjoyed more than was my fair share of the parties and I was bored stiff.

All around us, there were girls. Tall ones, short ones, beautiful ones. Everyone was stunning in their own way. Most were wearing next to nothing and offering to blow us for access to the VIP area. They knew who we were, and we preferred not to know who they were.

If you're so bored, why do you keep coming out?

That was a good question. The number of nights that I'd been tempted to just beg off and stay home was plenty. But still, the truth of it was that it was better to be with people than alone in my own box. That wasn't ideal. So, I went out.

All around me, my friends were drinking and having a good time. At one point, Jasper crash-landed on my lap. "Come on, give us a kiss, birthday boy.”

The scent of alcohol oozed out of his pores, and I shoved his face away. "No. God, how much have you had, mate?"

Jasper chuckled, splashing whatever clear liquid that was in his glass onto his hand. "Why are you asking such questions? We were pre-gaming for your birthday party."

"Jas, it's not my birthday yet. I've got over a month left."