I need to know because I only have five ribbons, and I’m the nymph! I am made for fucking! The shame!” She placed her hand over her eyes dramatically, and I groaned.
“I need a drink,” I stated as someone tapped my shoulder.
“I’m not fucking you!” I snapped, coming face to face with Nyota, who lifted a dark eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I would hope not, I don’t swing that way,” she snorted, sliding in beside me. “Rhys will never allow you to get close to him. You’re only hurting yourself with your delusion that he’ll ever care for you.” She looked over at Nyx, who tried to hide that she was listening, but failing miserably. “Go find something to fuck, nymph.”
“No,” I stated icily, glaring at Nyota, watching as her eyes slid back to mine. “She’s having a drink with me, and if you’re here, to tell me how Rhys will never allow himself to have me for more than a quick fuck, I’ve heard it already tonight, several times.”
“Rhys wants you, Silversmith. Of that, you can be certain.” Her eyes slid over my face before she sat at the bar and nodded for me to join her. “Sit and listen, because whatever it is you’ve done to Rhys, it’s given him a spark. That isn’t something I’ve seen since your murderous whore of an aunt fucked him over.” I slid onto the stool, nodding at the bartender who peered at Nyota and then bowed before pouring our drinks. “He will allow himself to have you once, and then he will be stoic, distant, and cold. Cole will sweep in to pick up your broken pieces. After a while, he will grow bored with you. When Rhys doesn’t rise to the occasion to argue for you, Illeron will then try for you, and then they will pass you down the line of my brothers, and that is the ugly truth. It’s been that way since that bitch burned inside that mansion, if she actually did. Cole only wants you because he’s made it his mission to force Rhys to forgive himself. Illeron, well, he’s an asshole. The rest, well, they just like to be sure that they’ve tasted whatever flavor Rhys tasted first.
“I want my family healed, of that, you can be sure, too. You’re not the one who can do that, Silversmith. You’re the enemy. So fuck Rhys, let him get you out of his system, and then fuck off. If you don’t, know this: I am the one person Rhys will never hurt. I can murder you, and he’d forgive me. Maybe not right away, but he’s always forgiven me of my crimes. Don’t make me murder you, because you seem innocent in this. But then so did Roslyn, until she revealed her true colors. Rhys is trying to stop a war with you, but you’re going to be the one who starts it. If you fuck Cole tonight, you can end this before it begins.”
“You’re intervening where you’re not warranted,” Cole growled, his tone sending a shiver up my spine. “Rhys might forgive you, sweet sister, but I don’t. Now fuck off and leave her alone. Remington, it’s time for the real party to start. Finish your drink. You’re going to need it.”
I started to place my hand into his, but a giant hand gripped mine. It yanked me from the chair violently, pulling me forward. Cole swore beneath his breath, and the entire assembly seemed to go silent around us.
“Dance. You dance… me, please,” the giant said.
I lifted my eyes to his, barely schooling my response in time. He had a scar that ran across his face from one ear to the other, giving his face a caved-in appearance. My pulse kicked up while Cole stepped back, and Nyota swore beneath her breath. The surrounding silence was deafening, and I fought to control my response to the giant’s sheer size.
“You… dance… me,” he stammered, his words hitching.
“I will dance with you,” I stated, smiling softly.
He smiled, and the entire room released a breath. His head tilted as he watched me. His disfigured smile was unnerving, but there was an innocence to him that dispelled the fear I’d felt. He easily stood over seven-feet-tall, with dark, cropped hair that hung to his shoulders.
He smiled again, leaning closer to me to whisper, which came out in a scream that tickled my ear. “I… Thurston!”
“I am Remi,” I grinned, watching as he nodded joyously.