"WAIT," Elizabeth calls out from the bathroom as she puts the last of her mascara on. "Are you sure you're alive?"

My brows scrunch together in confusion. "Um...yeah I'm pretty sure I'm alive..." I trail with my words dipped in sarcasm.

I glance at my roommate for some assistance to help decode her cousin's words, but she just shrugs just as puzzled as I am. She lifts her shot glass filled to the brim with chilled fireball at me, and I lift mine to clink against hers. We both tip our heads back and take the shot in one large gulp. It's cold but the effect of the cinnamon liquor sends a current of warmth through my chest.

Elizabeth steps out of the bathroom wearing a skin tight, strapless black leather dress paired with knee high boots. She looks like a sexy undercover spy, and perfect for the first night of the deadly sins parties.

"You said and I quote "over my dead body I go to the heirs parties"," she reminds me before walking over to the counter and taking the shot Annabelle poured for her.

She takes it like a pro without smearing an inch of her perfectly applied red lipstick.

It's my turn to shrug now as I attempt to play it cool. But ever since last night and the pool with Preston my body has been wound so tight with an energy I can't explain and that I've never experienced.

The shadow of the night that once cloaked me was torn away when the sun broke into the sky this morning, but my mind didn't change. It once might've. I was always braver in the dark. But in the daylight I didn't waver. I stood on solid ground.

If possible I woke up even more determined to show up to these parties. My brother and Preston can try to stop me from finding my answers all they want. But at the end of the day I won't be stopped. I can't be. Them pushing me away has only made me hungrier for the answers that seem to be just out of my reach.

But not for long.

And I am fully aware I can't be with Preston, but that doesn't mean I have to lose the feeling he gives me. That empowers me.

My shoulders sink under my friend's playfully interrogating gaze. "I decided I was maybe being a bit dramatic before," I confess to her.

"Yeah, just a bit," she teases, pouring another round for all of us.

"Wow, I really never imagined us going to one of these parties together," Annabelle says before tossing back the shot. Her nose scrunches with the burn of the alcohol. "But I'm happy it's happening. We wanted new adventures, right?"

Her words bring me back to the night of the bonfire in the woods. The adventures we were chasing that night seem so small compared to the ones we are chasing now. I feel like that night will pale in comparison to what is in the cards for this wildly sinful week.

My roommates cheeks are rosy from the shots and perfectly match her blush mini skirt. Her bandeau cropped top is covered in small white feathers and she has jeweled clips pinning back her short brunette hair. She looks soft and innocent and the exact opposite of someone who should be attending a seven deadly sins party.

"Cheers to that Anna," I say before taking the shot and letting my blood sizzle in the heavy coat of liquor.

"Hey, I'm all for whatever gets my best friends to attend parties with me," Elizabeth responds, pouring herself one last shot.

"If tonight ends up with you throwing up anywhere near me I will never go to another party with you again," I warn her before finishing off my can of hard seltzer.

My roommate bursts out into laughter. "Watch out then cause she doesn't have a good track record with these parties and her bodily fluids."

"Ew, you make me sound like a crazy person," Elizabeth complains.

"You are a crazy person," I cut in with a giggle.

"Yes, but good crazy. Not bad crazy. And I only threw up once," she clarifies before taking her shot.

"Laid in your own throw up once, and also peed the bed once," Annabelle points out.

Her cousin shoves her only making my roommate laugh even more. "What? Like you're so perfect Anna?"

"Better than you," she teases back.

Elizabeth turns to me with a mischievous grin. "How about we see how you both feel after tonight before you pass your judgments. Get ready for a night you won't remember ladies."

♢

The heirs hold all their parties at different locations between their homes and properties across the state of New York. The deadly sins week parties rotate depending on the night and theme.

The kick off party is always held at a large off campus house Everett's father owns. It's a three story gothic victorian painted all black and looks as if it should be owned by witches and demons and ghosts.

But in actuality it's owned by a much worse evil.

According to the rumors and Elizabeth the first party of the week is usually the tamest of the week. Though tame is a subjective word when it comes to the heirs.

Pride is the first sin to start the week of debauchery, and these men sure do have a hell of a lot of pride in themselves with the way they walk around campus as if no one can touch them. Ever.

As soon as the Uber drops us off and we exit the car we can hear the bass of the music thrumming through the air like a wild heartbeat and it only makes my own accelerate.

It's a little past eleven and people are outside as well as pushing their way inside. The house sits separate from most of campus, on a small piece of land, making it easy to party with no excessive sound complaints from any neighboring properties.

The night air sends a breeze towards me that lifts the hem of my very short black slip dress. There's a small slit up my right thigh that makes me feel sexy and confident, and it's a feeling I rarely get to experience so I'm soaking every ounce of it up. I tug the leather jacket I borrowed from my roommate tighter around my body to shield myself from the wind. I feel tough in the jacket. Like it's perfectly mirroring my badass insides. Like I can see Preston and remain tough and keep my distance from him.

No matter how much my body wants to give in.

As soon as we enter the house I see there are women and men dressed up like sexy devils with trays of shots and other assortments of things I don't even want to begin to know about. I'm pretty sure I saw a bowl of condoms being walked around.

Men are in devil horns and satin red boxers and completely shirtless. And women are in red corsets and thongs with fishnet stockings with devil horns. It's kitschy and stupid, but it does create a certain atmosphere to the party.

The heat from the bodies inside hits us, and I immediately feel sweat bead up on the back of my neck. The air is thick and heady and scarily intoxicating as we weave deeper into the crowd of students who are experiencing the night of their lives.

There are two smaller rooms off to the side when you first walk into the house with old school velect chaise lounges. They are both filled with small groups of people hanging out while the devils wait on their every need. They almost look like what the VIP room's of a trendy night club or expensive strip club would be.

Past those rooms and the massive ornate spiral staircase is the living room. The space is fully open with no furniture to create a dance floor and a DJ booth in the corner.

The back wall has large windows making it easy to see straight into the backyard. It has a kidney shaped pool and a hot tub that are both filled with naked men and women. Some just chilling. Some drinking. Most making out, but my guess would be more is happening under the surface of the water that our eyes can't see from here.

Smoke dances in the air as the smell of weed tickles my nose. Drugs are everywhere. Alcohol is abundant. And bad decisions are bound to be made because for this week nothing is off limits.

All sins are free to be set loose and take over any moral quandaries one might have.

"This is..." Annabelle trails quietly to me. I can hear the disbelief shimmering in her voice.

I turn to see her eyes wide and her mouth agape as she watches a man rip a line of cocaine off a woman's bare breasts.

"Insane?" I finish for her. "Yeah, yeah it is."

"This is just the beginning ladies," Elizabeth calls out to us from the bar.

My roommate and I make our way to the professional bar that is set up where it looks like the kitchen once used to be. Elizabeth is already ordering us shots of Clase Azul, her favorite tequila.

I lean my back against the bar and continue to watch the party. It's almost like being at an exotic zoo or freak show and not knowing where to look first. There's so much going on. It's way more intense than the party at Everett's apartment.

That was child's play compared to this.

There's no need to search for the main attraction of the night, the heirs, because they are the center of attention as always. Everything and everyone revolves around them as if they are the center of the universe.

Lawrence is in the corner and leaning against the wall. He's drenched in darkness besides the lights that are set up in the living room for the dance floor. They reflect over him in flashing colors to show his stoic expression and locked jaw. But it's noticeable the way there's a wide berth around him as if everyone is too scared to get too close to him.

The only person who even dares to walk over to him, and speak to him is Lilith. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a sleek ponytail and she's in a tailored maroon blazer dress with a deep V in the front and shiny gold buttons with stilettos that match.

She's a walking siren. A teenage girl who looks like a full blooded woman. She's far too young to be at any party let alone an heir party, but especially tonight of all nights. If she isn't a recipe for a disaster then I don't know what is.

But I can't help but to remember the way Everett said Lawrence would never let anything happen to Lilith. He was so sure of his words. No wavering or hesitation. My eyes fall to the tall, muscular blonde man who everyone knows to stay away from.

He hasn't moved from his spot, but Lilith is now speaking with her cousin Charlotte, and his eyes are locked on her. I can see the protectiveness in his stance. Like he would hurt someone on the spot if she asked him to. He cares for her. A lot. But for some random reason I can't explain, I don't get the sense that it's sexual. From a bystander it seems almost like he's her older brother.

Their connection intrigues me because I've never seen Lawrence close with anyone besides the heirs. Preston and Everett at least venture out and talk with others, but Lawrence never does. He is loyal to them and them only.

My eyes then float to see Everett. There's a crowd of women and men surrounding him. All wanting to talk to him. All wanting to be with him. All intoxicated by the atmosphere and him. A blunt is hanging from his smirking lips, and his jet black hair is a mess but in a way that only enhances his beauty and only someone like him could pull off.

He's making them all laugh, and everyone is enthralled and desperate to hang off of his every single word. He's so good at disarming people and making himself seem all too innocent. But there's a twisted darkness that hides behind his easy smile, and it's one I wouldn't want to be around for when it breaks loose. It would wreak havoc on even the strongest of souls.

I'm not sure who would survive that. Survive him.

Lastly my eyes find Preston.

But to my surprise his eyes are already on me. Focused on me so completely and intensely that for a moment it's as if the party fades away and it's just us. Just like last night in the pool. We are the only two souls to exist and nothing else matters.

My entire body yearns to run over to him and wrap my arms around him and never let go. But I know I can't. I know we can be nothing if he won't let me fully in.

My attention then falls to the girls hanging out around him. They are openly flirting and it shouldn't hurt. But it does. It shocks me so much, the severity of the pain, that it steals my breath for a moment. The women shouldn't make me jealous. But they do. They do so much that I have to look away or I might combust with the way the green eyed monster slithers through my veins and sets me aflame with the dirty and shameful emotion.

I pivot away from the dance floor unable to look at Preston anymore without exploding. "I need a drink," I murmur before grabbing the shot in Elizabeth's hand and tossing it back without even a wince. I welcome the burn of the liquor in my chest because it hurts less than the stupid and weak emotion that is still rushing through my blood.

Her brown eyes stare at me widely. "From the looks of it you might need a few more," she comments before glancing over her shoulder. And I know who she's looking for. She knows there's only one person to make me feel this way, because she knows me. But I can't talk about him right now.

I shake my head as she slides another shot my way along with a lime this time. "Don't start Liz."

"I didn't say anything," she says defensively with both of her hands in the air.

"Your eyes say it all," I tell her before drinking down the next shot and chasing with the sour bite of a lime.

"Am I supposed to fix my eyes now?" she asks with the roll of said eyes.

"Yes." Both me and Annabelle say at the same time that it causes all three of us to fall into a pit of laughter.

"We need another round," my roommate announces before ordering from the bartender.

I'm quite a few shots deep at this point so I feel free and happy and the perfect kind of drunk to have the best night with my friends.

Annabelle is about to hand me my shot when a hand darts in to grab onto the glass to yank out from her grasp.

My eyes snap to meet my brother's cold gaze and I watch as he takes the shot and sets it on the bar behind me.

Aiden is angry and it's blatantly painted across his face, and his rash emotion only pisses me off. He doesn't get to feel anything towards me after what happened last night. He walked away. He cut me off.

He doused a bucket of water on the single spark of hope that wanted to grow inside of me, and killed any idea of a future between us.

"Come with me now," he barely grits out between his clenched teeth.

I can't even get my next words out before his hand is wrapped tightly around my upper arm and he begins to drag me away from my friends.

My eyes cast behind me to see my friends staring at me in shock and unable to help. They know they could cause a scene. But with Aiden being so close to the heirs they know it's a risk, and one most wouldn't take.

Plus I can handle myself. Even if my younger brother likes to think I can't.

Aiden pulls me behind him, his grip boarding on painful, as he hastily weaves through the guests of the party. He finally makes his way outside of the crowd until we are near the side rooms near the entrance, but he doesn't stop there. He pulls me through a door into a small office.

There is only a desk lamp on in the room casting a low yellow haze all over the empty walls and simple desk and chair set up. The room is barren besides the few boxes in the corner and closed laptop sitting on the desk. It's clearly not a regularly used room.

I finally yank out of his grasp. "What the fuck Aiden?" I shout at him vehemently.

Aiden walks over to the desk and leans against the edge. It reminds me so much of my father that it makes an unwanted chill down my spine. "Why are you here Jameson?"

I narrow my eyes at him. "Why are you here?" I counter with a bite.

"Because these are my friends." His lame response makes me want to slap him.

I scoff with a sardonic smirk lifting my lips. "Barely."

"I told you to stay away," he practically growls at me. "You shouldn't be here."

"Screw you!" I shout at him hating the way my heart wants to break at my brother's words. So instead of letting my walls down, I let them fly up so high that not even Aiden can hurt me. "You can't tell me what to do."

He steps forward and the look on his face is one I've never seen before. It almost scares me to my core, but I don't let it show. It's a look so cold and deprived of all human emotion it makes me want to cry in mourning for the sibling I once had. "I'm not dad. I can follow through with my promises, and I can promise to ruin you if you don't stay away. And I don't want to do that James. I swear I don't."

My teeth scrape harshly against my bottom lip and the pain helps to keep my walls high and my tears locked up tightly. "Really you don't?" My question comes out with a sharp laugh that is mean and jarring. "Please stop acting like you care about me in the first place."

Aiden's eyes flash with the same emotion I unexpectedly saw last night. Distress. And it makes my walls weaken at the sight. "Why would you say that?"

My arms cross over my chest. "Because it's the truth," I maintain.

I see the moment his walls fly up and harden, and it makes mine want to weaken. But I don't let them.

Aiden takes one last look at me before he walks past me and storms out the door letting it slam shut behind him.

And then here I am. Left all alone at a deadly sins party  in a random office, and angry as hell. Not at all where I expected to be, and not at all how I expected my night to go. But in all honesty this entire semester has been nothing I expected, and it's left me an utter mess on the verge of a breakdown, and yet it's also somehow made me stronger.

With a heavy sigh I move to open the door when it shoves open on me revealing Preston.

The action has me stumbling backwards with a shocked gasp.

I hate how attractive he is. I hate that knowing how he got the scar on his cheek only makes me want to kiss it instead of push him away in the knowledge that he was involved in the death of a teenager. He turns everything I once thought I knew on its side and confuses the shit out of me.

"Why are you here?" I ask, wishing I had another shot in my system to squash the nerves that have suddenly hit me.

Being bold and spontaneous is a lot easier when there's yards of distance between us. But now only a few feet separate us.

Preston walks into the room and shuts the door behind him. His tall frame casting a shadow over mine in the dimly lit room. His shadow merges with mine making my heart beat faster and my fingertips tingle to reach out and touch him. Just to make sure he's real, because sometimes I'm not so sure.

But I keep them firmly at my side even though the memories of the pool want to overwhelm me.

"You," he finally answers my questions as he continues to lean against the door. Effectively blocking my only way out. My escape. But my body doesn't want to run. It wants to stay in his presence and soak up every inch of him for just a minute longer.

His answer is like a punch to the gut, because it's all I ever want to hear him say, but I keep my face calm. "I was just leaving," I tell him with a pointed look.

"Why leave?" he questions as he takes a step forward making me take a step backwards. "I thought we could talk about last night?"

"What about last night?" I ask playing dumb. "Was a pretty boring night if you ask me...I didn't find any monsters."

Preston's lips can do amazing things. Like explain the most complicated of laws and topics in a way that almost anyone could understand. His lips can also do wicked things. I feel my cheeks redden at