Please don't hate each other.

I held my breath as I waited for either Syn or Caspian to say something to one another. I didn't know this shit. I was just as surprised as anyone else to find out about their statuses in Juva. I didn't even know they had magazines for dumb shit like that.

"It's always an honor losing to you," Caspian said with a smirk playing at his lips, exposing dimples I hadn't seen before.

"I wouldn't know," Syn said smugly with a raised brow. Caspian laughed softly at his dig and I shook my head in embarrassment. Syn turned to Cleo and held out his hand and she shook it. "I was actually reaching for my girlfriend's hand, but nice to meet you," Syn said.

Fucking Hell, Syn!

Cleo laughed and shook her head. "Sorry about that," she said as she placed Queen's hand into his.

"Don't apologize, Cleo. He's just an ass," Queen said as she snatched her hand away from Syn's and crossed her arms.
Syn rolled his eyes at her and I snickered along with Cleo at the pair.

"You have a gorgeous girlfriend," Cleo said nicely. I smiled at her compliment for Queen and Queen herself began blushing.

"I'm aware." Syn replied dryly.

Queen turned to Caspian and smiled brightly. "Caspian, you have a beautiful wife."

I watched as Caspian swung his head to Cleo, the seemingly permanent smirk on his face growing. "I'm aware." Cleo rolled her eyes at him and her eyes landed on me. I asked myself if she was thinking about the same thing I was-if memories of our nights before were replaying in their minds as it was mine.

Gen looked down at her phone and then back up at us. "The food is ready now and I'm starving so...everyone please sit."

Everyone nodded in agreement and we all walked to the table. Syn and Queen were first to head to their seat, and Cleo walked to where her name tag was placed. I didn't even realize how slow I was walking until my eyes connected with Caspian's and he bumped my arm with his.

"Do you need help walking, Xavier?" he teased, my name rolling off his tongue in an enchanting sound.

"Where are you from?" I asked. He had an accent but I couldn't place it.

"I grew up in London," he answered, knowing I was speaking about his voice.

"On Earth?" I asked, stunned at the revelation.

"No. The other London that you've never heard of," he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at his arrogant tone and walked to the table, sitting down in the empty seat beside Cleo.

"Is Cas being a dick?" she whispered.

"Definitely," I joked.

"I know you both are aware I can hear everything you say," he said as he took the seat on my other side.

Cleo laid a hand on my thigh and I shifted in my seat. "Don't let him get to you," she teased.

"He couldn't even if he tried," I said in my cockiest voice, earning a nod of approval from Cleo. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss on my jaw and I winked at her, making her shy away with a smile appearing on her face.

The table fell into their own private conversations as we waited for servers to get our orders. Queen and Syn were being disgusting as they looked at one another and occasionally kissed. Xyla and Felix were disturbingly quieter than usual along with Nate, who just watched as Jess, Gen, and Cleo engaged in a random conversation about clothes.

Speaking of clothes though, she definitely looked sexy. Her tight dress clung to her body, leaving little to the imagination. She glanced at me knowingly and I begrudgingly tore my eyes away from her. I turned to Caspian to see him slouching in his chair and twisting one of the many rings on his finger. He toyed with his lip ring between his teeth and stared absentmindedly at something on the table.

His eyes suddenly moved to mine and I winced knowing that I had just been caught staring. That's what I get for not being more subtle. I looked back at him to see him now sitting up and leaning forward in his seat, closer to me. A cocky smile was displayed on his full lips and he let out a small huff of laughter. "What are you looking at?" He whispered.

"Nothing," I said as I shook my head and sat back in my seat.

He looked at me for a moment before mimicking my movements and sitting back as well. "I feel undressed," he said.

I turned to him and eyed his white shirt that was almost see through, showcasing his tattooed upper body. His leather jacket hung loosely on his broad shoulders and he paired it with jeans. I thought he looked good, but I suppose compared to everyone else in here, he was a bit underdressed.

To me, he still managed to outshine almost everyone though. I was about to tell him just that until I remembered his smug attitude. There was no way I was going to be the one to fuel that. His ego was big enough to think he could overpower me already.

"Maybe try harder next time," I said.

He sniggered softly and turned to me. "Next time?"

"Next time you go out with someone," I clarified. Not letting my voice reveal any hints of nervousness.

"We are out?" He teased.

"Don't test me, Caspian. You know what I mean."

He smirked at me and ran his hand through his hair. "You say that as if I'd get in trouble if I did."

"Did what?"

"Tested you."

"You would," I said as I cast him an intimidating glance.

"You're not the boss here," Caspian said quietly as he moved towards me.

"I'm the boss wherever I please."

"Is that so?" He asked, his accent stretching each word. His rich cologne filled my senses and I was reminded of just how involved we all had gotten.

"So it is," I mocked, gathering my control.

"You're playing with fire, Xavier," he warned.

"So are you, Mr. Deveaux." I traced my finger onto his knee in challenge. He looked down at my finger and then back up at me before grabbing my hand roughly. I scoffed at his reaction and he looked at me perplexed with anger and desire evident in his eyes.

"Let that be the last time that you do that," he demanded.

"Or what?" I asked as I licked my lips and rolled my eyes. His eyes fell onto my lips for a few seconds before he let go and sat back without another word. Way to fucking go, I praised myself. I was a demon, if anyone was going to enjoy playing with fire, it was going to be me.

I held in the smile that was trying its hardest to shine and turned back to the rest of the table.

"So umm...Cleo," Jess began and everyone turned in her direction. "What are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I sense a heartbeat, yet you're not human," Jess said.

"I'm a witch. Meaning, that if any of you ever need voodoo dolls to fuck someone up...I'm your girl." She said with a serious glance around the table. Laughs rang from throughout the table, but Jess remained silent to my surprise. She along with Gen usually laughed at everything.

"What do you do for a living?" Jess questioned.

Syn groaned and shook his head. "Is this an interrogation?"
Queen smiled at him adoringly and brought his hand to her lips.

"I'm just getting to know them. Considering we're all now friends of Xavier." She pursed her lips and tucked her pink hair behind her ear, her smile still directed towards Cleo.

Jess was always a nice person, but the way the sweetness oozed from her words tonight didn't sound genuine like usual. She lifted her brow at Cleo, prompting her to answer and Cleo crossed her legs. "I'm a stripper."

I nodded slowly at the revelation. It wasn't that big of a surprise to me, she was an amazing dancer at the nightclub.

"And you?" Jess asked as she turned to Caspian.

"I own a few clubs and businesses in Juva," he replied in a bored tone.

"So you're rich?" Xyla questioned, finally speaking up after all this time. Silence wasn't her forté so tonight was a nice surprise.

Caspian squinted his eyes as he nodded in thought, just as unsure of this conversation as I was. "I suppose you could say that."

Felix scoffed and shook his head. "What type of man would let his wife be a stripper?"

"The same type of man that respects his wife's decisions and trusts in her ability to make her own choices," he calmly retorted. I looked at Cleo who remained quiet in her seat and I reached out for her hand to make sure she was okay. She looked up at me with a small smile and interlocked her fingers with mine, silently answering my question.

"Are you alright?" I whispered as I leaned towards her.

"I'm okay." I smiled down at her and she leaned forward, giving me a small kiss on my lips.

"So what is this?" Jess asked. "A throuple?" Xyla laughed at Jess' question and I looked at them in confusion. I never thought I'd see the day when Jess and Xyla laughed alongside one another. It was more disturbing than anything.

"No," Caspian said.

"Then what is it?" Jess insisted.

"None of your fucking business, Jessica," Syn spoke up. I shot him a look of appreciation and he nodded in return, rolling his eyes at her. I didn't know what was going on with her tonight, but this wasn't my friend.

"Jess, that's enough," Gen said.

"I can't have questions?" Jess asked. "I'm just making friendly conversation." With a shrug, she turned back to the three of us.

"So it's you and two guys?" Xyla asked Cleo.

Cleo shrugged and looked around. "And if it is?"

"Wouldn't that make you a h-" Jess started before I snapped.

"Enough!" I snapped before she could finish her sentence. I could only imagine the next nasty word that was about to come out of her mouth. Everyone's eyes widened as they turned to me, surprised by my sudden outburst. I let go of Cleo's hand as I abruptly stood up from the table and pointed to Jess. "You. Let's go."