Navid gulped, his wince showing he concurred enough with Rek’s sentiment to come up short of excuses.
“It wasn’t what it looked like,” I said hurriedly. “We weren’t actually…”
Rek finally let Navid go, his face softening as he turned to me.
“Of course it wasn’t what it looked like.” He actually sounded amused. “Are you forgetting how well I know you? I shudder to think what mischief you were so busily trying to conceal with that little act.”
I gasped, Rek’s arrival having completely driven Esai from my mind.
“Esai!” I hissed, leaning around Rek to peer into the refreshment room. “He’s here!”
“Esai? At this party?” Rek’s body stiffened, his muscles tense and alert as he smoothly turned, careful not to draw attention with sudden movement.
“I don’t think he came past us into the corridor,” I said, unable to see either man in the room. “They must have gone directly into the gardens through that side door.”
Rek took a step in the direction of the room before stopping and looking back with a frown.
“They?”
“He’s with an older man,” Navid said. “Zaria thinks he’s Esai’s father.”
Rek gave a long, low whistle. “The original gang leader himself. We’ve heard plenty of rumors but never been able to confirm his identity. This is pretty brazen, though.”
“Come on!” I brushed past him. “We’ve already lost them. We need to hurry.”
I peered through the glass door for a moment before concluding our quarry had already moved on and thrusting it open. Rek was only a step behind as I crossed onto the gravel path on the other side.
Navid followed us, and we all faced in different directions, scanning our surroundings for signs of movement or anyone out of place.
But when I glanced back into the refreshment room, two different people caught my eye. With a sigh, I slipped back inside, away from my companions.
“You two really need to get out of here,” I said to the twins in a low voice. “If Rek sees you—”
“Ah, don’t think we’ll fall for that again.” Xavier slung his arm around my shoulders with a grin.
“Fall for what exactly?” asked a deadly voice from behind us.
Xander choked on his drink as we all spun around to face Rek.
“Rek!” Xavier’s voice was admirably bright despite the sudden tightness of his arm across my shoulders. “Where did you spring from?”
Rek’s icy gaze fastened on his brother’s arm, and Xavier quickly let it drop, taking a step back and holding both hands in the air.
“No harm meant, best of brothers.”
Xander sent him a wounded look before eyeing Rek.
“I’ll warrant Yasmine never gave you an invite.”
Rek looked him up and down before raising an eyebrow. “Did you think that would stop me? I’m the crown prince, remember?”
“How could we possibly forget?” Xavier muttered.
“I think it’s time the two of you went home,” Rek said in forbidding tones. “You have no idea what you’ve interrupted here. We don’t have time to deal with you right now.”
Xander looked from Rek, who now hovered protectively at my shoulder, to Navid who was standing in the doorway, his attention divided between the tense scene inside and the occasional passing partygoer outside. Both Xander’s brows slowly rose.
“I assure you I couldn’t possibly imagine. But it looks a great deal more exciting than anything going on at home.”