“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Nikhail said. “Neither of us did. We tried to stay away from each other, but we just… couldn’t. And River desperately needs to be loved, you know? Especially right now. The second storm was worse than the first. She was already broken, and now?—”
“She told you?” Ryker cut him off, hands furled into fists. “Youknow?”
“About the Incident?” Nikhail hated the way the words felt on his tongue.
Ryker inclined his head.
“Yes, I know what happened.” Nikhail would never forget the pain in River’s voice when she told him about her storm or the way she thought it would frighten him away.
“Fuck.” Ryker’s head fell back. “For her to tell you that… Gods-damn it. She must really like you.”
“I hope so.” Because there would never be anyone else for him. River would be his lasteverything, for as long as he lived. He didn’t want to date anyone else, kiss another pair of lips, hear another person’s moans.
He just wanted her.
Ryker heaved a sigh. “Fine. But if you hurt her, I will kill you myself.”
The threat was unnecessary. Nikhail would rather die a thousand deaths before he inflicted an ounce of pain on River. But he knew Ryker was coming from a place of love, and he was glad River had someone who cared so much about her on her side.
“Understood.”
CHAPTER 14
A Horrifying Realization
A short while ago
“Do you want to talk about it?” Brynleigh glanced at River as she pulled into the farmhouse’s garage and turned off the car.
River sighed and rested her head against her palm. Even though she’d expelled the Faerie wine from her system, she had a lingering headache that had only gotten worse. “Not really.”
She couldn’t get the image of Ryker and Nikhail fighting out of her mind. Her heart had contorted at the sight of her brother and the man who was slowly stealing pieces of her heart scuffling with each other. She’d felt pulled to them both.
Stupid.
She and Nikhail had been so fucking stupid, kissing out in the open where anyone could find them. She should’ve known something like this would happen, should’ve put a stop to things the moment Nikhail’s lips touched hers.
But she hadn’t wanted to. Even now, she didn’t regret the kiss. How could she when those moments with Nikhail were the only bright parts of her day?
“Okay. No pressure.” Brynleigh exited the car and unlocked the house. After a moment, River followed. She was moving slowly, her mind still reeling from the events that had transpired.
The vampire paused with her hand on the door. “You know, your brother means well. Ry just loves you deeply, that’s all.”
“I know.” Even now, River didn’t doubt Ryker’s love for her.
“He’s a bit hard-headed, but he’ll come around.”
River raised a brow. “Do you think so?”
Based on the fighting from earlier, she wasn’t sure that was the case.
“Yes, absolutely. Besides, it’s not like Nikhail has been all that great at hiding how he feels about you. Anyone who pays even an ounce of attention can see that he looks at you like you’re his entire world. Ryker has just blinded himself to it.”
River blinked. “Is it that obvious?”
Brynleigh’s lips twitched as she opened the door. A bark was the only warning they got before Marlowe barrelled towards them, begging for pets.
“To me, at least.” After providing Marlowe with his required adoration, Brynleigh kicked off her shoes and headed to the fridge, withdrawing a glass bottle of blood. “I noticed something between the two of you back when we were at The Obsidian Palace.”