I spin on my heels, and I’m staring up into those stormy green eyes of his. “I don’t reject you.”
Booming laughter cuts from Roman’s throat as he throws his head back and all but howls at the moon over how fucking funny I apparently am.
“Baby, you’ve rejected me so many times, I’m starting to think I’m a shame slut for how often I come back for more.”
A shame slut. Why am I smiling so hard right now?
His eyes shine like starlight as he trails over every one of my features so slowly, it’s like I can feel the heat of his stare burning over my skin. With a delicate pull, he guides me a single step closer to him.
My heartbeat is competing right now with the bang of the drums.
And my heartbeat is definitely winning.
He has this way about him. A flirting cruelty that hides the softness underneath that he’ll never show anyone.
Except for me I suppose.
His nose brushes mine as his head lowers. I can taste his exhales against my tongue, and I can’t help but lift my head to him.
“If I kissed you, would you reject me again?” His tone is a painful rasp. A plea of a sound.
I feel that rasp all through my core.
“Maybe,” I whisper against his lips.
The smile that creases the corners of his eyes causes so many warm and helpless emotions to flood through me.
“Mmm, I’m definitely a shame slut, then,” he says just before his head lowers a fraction of an inch, and his mouth skims ever so lightly over mine.
And then a scream and a clatter of curses break through the music.
Silence falls, but it’s not alone.
A gasp of a cry is all I can hear. It’s all I can focus on as I tear myself away from Roman’s embrace.
Because I know that cry.
I’ve heard it throughout our childhood.
And I will kill anyone who makes Nyra cry.
I’m shoving my way through the circle of hell fae and shifters surrounding who I already know is lying at their feet. I will fucking end them!
When I finally spot her, Vanitee is already there. She’s cradling my sister’s head in her hands and examining the deep claw marks that bloody the pink scar along the side of her heart-shaped face.
Vanitee stands and spins so fast, her long black hair fans around her. “Do not touch her! She is not your enemy! She is one of us, and if I ever find the coward who hurt her, I’ll break your hand clean off and beat you with it!”
A shifting of feet and a palpable fear sounds through the crowd. Vanitee takes Nyra’s hand and pulls her up, draping my sister’s arm around her thin shoulder as she starts to lead her away from the hungry watchers.
“Nyra,” I whisper, my hand reaching for her as she walks away.
But she doesn’t hear me.
It’s then that I can’t help but wonder... does she even know I’m here?
Because my sister doesn’t need me.
And it’smewho’s hurtingher.
