“Yeah, exactly like that.” Grinning, he glanced at the board on the coffee table. “Maybe we can play tomorrow?”
The responding smile that spread across Brynleigh’s face made Ryker burn hotter than any fire ever had.
“I’d love that,” she said.
He stepped towards her, unable to pull himself away from the magnetic draw of her stunning lips when a wet nose bumped into his leg.
Pausing, he looked down.
Marlowe stood with his leash in his mouth, his tail thumping eagerly as he looked between the fae and vampire.
“I’ll take him,” Brynleigh offered. “The sun’s set. We’ll walk around the block while you wait for River.”
“Thank you.” Ryker kissed her cheek before crouching. He hooked Marlowe’s leash on his collar and looked the dog in the eye. “You listen to your mom, okay? Her word is just as good as mine.”
Marlowe barked, saying what Ryker could only assume was a resounding,Yes, sir.
Straightening, Ryker handed Brynleigh the leash. “Don’t let him pull you around. Show him who’s boss.”
“You got it, Captain.”
Brynleigh gave him a mock salute and blew him a kiss as she headed out the door. Marlowe trotted eagerly behind her, happy to go outside.
Ryker watched them go, a grin on his face. His chest heated, and he rubbed a fist over his heart. It took him a moment to realize what he was feeling.
Happiness.
Thiswas what he’d always wanted, ever since he’d made his Choice. Finally, it seemed like they would get the future he wanted. As long as everything worked out.
Ryker had just pulled a sweatshirt over his head when a knock came on the door. “Open up. Your favorite sister’s here!”
He hurried through the apartment, moving a few pairs of shoes aside in the mud room before flinging open the door.
River beamed up at him. Like Brynleigh, his sister was wearing black leggings. Unlike the vampire, River wore a cropped navy blue and white jersey. A dragon flew across the front, the symbol of the Drahanian Dragons. The jersey was tied above River’s belly button, showing off her newest piercing.
“Who says you’re my favorite sister, Shortie?” Ryker teased, pulling her in for a hug.
She laughed, wrapped her arms around him, and squeezed. “I’m your only sister, so obviously, the title belongs to me.”
Ryker chuckled as he pulled back and ruffled her hair. “I suppose that’s true. How was training earlier?”
Two water fae Ryker trusted, Gabriel and Carson, were continuing with his sister’s magical training while he dealt with the Black Night. Hopefully, he could get back to personally supervising her sessions once things died down.
“It went well. I told you, I’ve got my magic under control. Nothing bad will ever happen again.” She jabbed him in the side. “Stop worrying about me.”
“Never.” Still, he released her. “What time is Ember coming?”
“The second quarter. She has a late class.” River held up her phone, showing Ryker her text thread with the fire fae.
The background was a selfie of the two friends, Ember’s glowing russet skin and midnight hair contrasting River’s tan. The two fae were grinning, and there was an air of lightness about them that Ryker rarely saw around his sister.
“Wonderful.” Ryker meant it.
He was pleased River had someone to confide in, especially since he knew how difficult life in Waterborne House could be.
River peered around him into the mud room. “Where’s your wife?”
“She took Marlowe for a walk, but they’ll be back soon.” Ryker placed a hand on his sister’s arm and waited until she looked at him before he continued, “Brynleigh’s been through a lot over the past few weeks.” Understatement of the century. “Try not to overwhelm her.”