Page 41 of The Heir's Bargain

Marisil.

Selena.

Rosalina.

"Dani is not one of them," I said through clenched teeth.

"Are you sure about that?"

"She's different."

"How? You brought her to the concert hall. How many other women have you paraded around there? How many other women did you have sitting in your lap as you whispered promises into their ears—promises you always break?"

"Dani and I are different."

We weren't in a real relationship, for starters. She would not fall for me, nor would I fall for her. There were no strings attached, no faulty promises or hopeful gazes. Dani knew my history. But more than that, she knew who I was.

We had a deal. It was that simple.

"I won't hurt her, Ter."

Still, Terin attacked.

I dodged, but Terin saw through it. He snatched my collar and forced me to the ground. My ears wrung as dust flew into the air.

"And what's to say she won't hurt you?"

I laughed, the sound like gravel. "She won't."

Terin's eyes flicked over my face. "You don't know that."

"I do."

"When the two of you break up?—"

"Who is to say we will?" I asked, even though I knew we would. The whole purpose of this fake courtship was that it was temporary. But Terin didn't need to know that—he couldn't.

"Look, I care about you both too much." He took a deep breath, his hand loosening. When he looked down at me, pain dripped from his gaze. "We've already lost one sister. I don't want to lose another."

Without thinking, my fist slammed into his jaw.

Terin rolled off me, palm caressing his cheek. "Shit, Fynn. I didn’t?—"

"Don't you bring our sister into this. This isn't about her."

His words had struck a chord.

Perhaps, it was because I did not wish to think about our sister right now. Or perhaps, it was because he thought so little of me that I would cause Dani to erase us from her life. Either way, I tried to tame the rage. I tried to let the sea of anger wash over me, for the tidal wave to subside, but I couldn't.

"You're right. I—" Terin swallowed, struggling for the right words.

We both knew there weren't any. It might have been fifteen years since we last saw our sister, but we hadn't forgotten her.

One day, however, we would get her back.

Even if it was the last thing I did.

I exhaled, long and hard. "It's fine." I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing back the fallen strands.

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