Page 33 of Shattered Vows

Darn it. I definitely don’t want to see Kol. I don’t think I can take his whiplash moods today, and being around him certainly won’t help me sort out my feelings.

I step backward, but before I can get out of sight, Nero spots me. He raises his hand and waves. “Hey, Rapsody. Why don’t you join us?”

Kol’s body stiffens. He doesn’t turn around to look at me.

Not wanting to be rude and turn down Nero’s invitation, I slowly walk over. I realize I have a decision to make as I get closer. Will I sit beside Kol or Nero?

I choose Nero since he’s the one who invited me, and Kol hasn’t acknowledged my presence. When I reach them, I smile and sit, carefully placing the long fabric of my dress over my bare legs.

Nero eyes the paints when I set them down to my left. “You’re a painter?”

My cheeks heat. “I don’t know if I’d call myself a painter, but I enjoy it. I find it relaxing. Helps to clear my head.”

Kol scoffs, and for the first time since I sat down, our eyes connect.

“What?” I snipe, sick of his Jekyll and Hyde act.

“Own it. You’re a talented painter.”

My forehead creases. “How would you know?”

In the short time we were seeing each other, I hadn’t had the opportunity to show him any of my paintings.

“I was in the conservatory this morning and saw your paintings.”

I blink several times, not sure what to say. Not sure why he would bother complimenting me.

Nero laughs and shakes his head. “I love being right.”

I look at him. “What do you mean?”

“Ignore him. He’s drunk. And high,” Kol says.

Then I see the bottle of booze on the grass. “Are you guys celebrating something?”

A caustic laugh leaves Nero. “Certainly not. It’s a shit day for us Vosses, second only to the day that our mother was murdered. And today…” He leans in and looks me straight in the eye. There’s a glassy glint to his stare. “Today is especially shitty for me.”

“What happened?”

“Called off my wedding.” He rests a hand on my knee.

“I’m sorry.” I place my hand over his and squeeze. No wonder he’s getting drunk.

“You could help me feel better, Rapsody. I can think of some ways you could help me forget all the?—”

“Cut it out, kid.” Kol’s voice is as frosty as the tips of the Rocky Mountains in winter.

Nero laughs and removes his hand from under mine. Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a joint. “Want some?”

I shake my head. “No thanks.”

“Suit yourself.” He holds his hand out to Kol, who places a lighter in his palm, then Nero lights the end of his joint.

The musty scent of a skunk wafts past me.

Nero inhales, then exhales and offers it to Kol, who waves him off.

“You two are no fun. I’m gonna go see if I can find some trouble. Get my mind off things.” Nero gets up off the grass and wobbles a bit before finding his equilibrium. “See you two lov… see you two later.”

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