Pulling off the road into a park near the Waterborns’ farmhouse, Nikhail cut off the engine. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel before looking over at his friend.
Ryker was sitting up straight in the passenger seat, his jaw so hard it could cut glass. Clouds had been rolling in during the ride here. Thunder rumbled ominously in the background.
A warning, and a reminder, of who Nikhail was dealing with.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Nikhail said after a moment, answering Ryker’s previous question.
Ryker’s glare was searing. “So it was an accident? You tripped, and your lips fell onto my sister’s?”
“Fuck you,” Nikhail huffed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Nikhail looked outside at the trees cast in the dim light of the setting sun. He gathered his thoughts, choosing his next words with care.
“River and I… we didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”
It was, quite possibly, the worst way Ryker could’ve found out.
Nikhail looked over in time to see a vein in Ryker’s jaw tick. “No, I imagine you didn’t.”
“I’ll admit, things got out of hand. She was so upset, and one thing led to another, and?—”
“She’s my sister, Nikhail.” Ryker’s voice was calm. Steady in a way that didn’t match the anger pulsing in the air, and that made things worse. “There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. This is one of them.”
“I know.”
“It didn’t seem to stop you, though.”
Nikhail scrubbed a hand over his face. “No.”
He wasn’t going to apologize for the way he felt about River. Yes, he felt bad that this was how Ryker had found out, but he wasn’t upset that they’d been discovered.
If anything, he was relieved they wouldn’t have to hide any longer. It was one less thing they’d have to worry about.
Ryker glared at him. If looks could kill, Nikhail was sure he would be dead right now.
Several long minutes passed in terse silence before Ryker asked, “How long has this dalliance been going on for?” His eyes flashed with fury. “I know you’re a good man, Nikhail, so I’m assuming that you didn’t kiss my sister for the first time on the day of our father’s memorial service.”
“No,” he said after a moment. “That wasn’t the first time. It’s been going on for a while.”
“A while,” Ryker repeated.
Memories flashed through Nikhail’s mind of all the moments they’d stolen in the past. River asking him to help with her storm. Dancing together. Kissing her beneath the stars in the solarium. Coming together on the night of the bonding.
“Yes,” Nikhail said.
Another long, terse silence.
“You could’ve pickedanyone, Nik.” Ryker rubbed his temples. “Literally anyone else, and I would’ve been over the moon for you. But her? Why?”
“I love her, Ryker.” The admission slipped from Nikhail’s tongue. He hadn’t meant to say it, especially when he hadn’teven told River yet, but now that it was out there, he didn’t regret it.
The water fae’s eyes flung over to him. “What?”
“I love her so much, it feels impossible to think about a time when she didn’t consume my thoughts.”
Ryker groaned. “My gods.”