Page 28 of Silverproof Damsel

Ruger rubbed his nose with his thumb. Running his tongue over his bottom lip, he chuckled. “Maybe?” He snatched it back before I could prevent it, then flinched as I released an angry growl.

Horror flashed through my mind before my stomach churned with nausea. “Please tell me it is not oil from anextinctmale nymph.” Ruger slid his eyes toward Sig, who shrugged as if he didn’t care if I knew the truth or wasn’t sure what was in the tiny glass vial.

“Remi,” Ruger let my name roll off his tongue slowly, as if he fished for an answer to supply.

“This is where you answer me. If that is male nymph oil, you knowhowthey collected it, right?” I probed, rubbing the tension from my temples. Siggy’s arm reached back as he scratched his neck, frowning. “You two are unbelievable. You know that, right?” Glancing between the guilt tugging on both of their faces, I snorted. “Give it back to me now.” Holding out my hand, I tapped my foot against the wooden porch.

“No way, brat. I paid a hefty fucking price for this shit.” Ruger’s eyes slid over my angry face. Then, his shoulders slumped as he answered the question. “I didn’t mean thatitwas shit. Only that it was expensive stuff.”

Giving him some serious side eye, I noted the way Nyx remained silent through it all. She wasn’t laser focused on getting a dick for once. It was nice, but weirdly sad, too.

Sure, sometimes she was a little much. Nyx always chooses the wrong time to become the head marketing agent when cheering on any chance of me getting laid. It was embarrassing, certainly. It didn’t bother me that much, though.

It bothered me that Nyx wasn’t herself anymore. I adored her wild personality that made Nyx, well, Nyx. No matter what happened, I didn’t want her watering herself down for anyone, including me.

Ruger held the chain out for me to take. Snatching it back from him, I turned, then grabbed Nyx’s hand. Placing the necklace into her palm snapped her out of the spell. Her eyes rounded as she peered up at me, her mouth making a fish-out-of-water impression.

“How did you get this?” she whispered, with fear crowding her eyes.

Ruger exhaled as he brought his hands in front of him, placing his palms together before rubbing them.

“Answer me,” Nyx pleaded, causing Ruger’s eyes to narrow.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, Ruger. The nymph is fucking terrified. Put the poor creature out of her misery,” Savage interjected herself into the conversation. It forced Ruger’s head to turn toward where she leaned against the doorway.

“I don’t need to be put out of my misery!” Nyx’s words rushed out in a whirl of sound. Wide, terrified violet eyes locked with mine as I threw my hands into the air.

“That wasn’t what my sister meant, Nyx.Right, Savage?” Giving the sister in question a pointed look.

Savage shook her silvery head. It was almost convincing. It would’ve been, had the cheese-eating-grin curving over hermouth not exposed how much she was enjoying the shitshow unfolding on our front porch.

“I forgot how mischievous you two assholes could be when you’re together.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I swore silently. “Nyx . . .” I breathed out on a heavy sigh. It was cut off by Ruger who explained.

“I bought it from a witch a couple of years back. She promised it was a magnet for nymphs. We’d heard rumors of them being a beast when they caught the scent of it.” Ruger’s reply caused my nose to scrunch up.

“Baby boy, I’m a fuckingmonsterin the sheets. If you think it’s an aphrodisiac, you’re wrong. It significantly dampens female nymphs’ libidos. Nymphs weren’t the same sort of creature when our species could procreate together. We weren’t so insane or single minded.” A sniffle threatened to escape from my nose at her reply.

“It wasn’t right for us to take advantage of you in your less than perfect state . . . well,” Siggy said, his mouth tugged down in the corners as he looked at me for direction. “Are you crying, honey?” Stepping closer to me, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, then used the other to tug me against his chest. “We’re assholes.”

“I’m not crying. Something was in my eye,” I argued. “I believe you were apologizing to mybestfriend?”

Ruger shuffled on his feet as the tips of his ears turned red. “My apologies, ma’am. I wasn’t aware it would be offensive. Remington, I’m sorry,” he stated as his eyes found the ground, remaining there.

“Does this mean she’s not available later?” Siggy asked, forcing me to pinch his ribs.

He yelped before placing distance between us. “Did you just pinch me?” Wrapping his arms around me, he kissed the top of my head as a chuckle left his lips.

“I did. I’ll do more than pinch if either of you seek out Nyx for more than a friendly chat or to ask about the fucking weather. We have much bigger issues to worry about than debauchery or chasing her around like Neanderthals,” I irritably snapped. Pulling away from Sig, I glanced toward Nyx as a deafening sound tore through the gathering.

Pain tore through my shoulder, forcing me back as if a bee had stung me. In front of me, Nyx’s face twisted in agony. A scream ripped from Savage as several more explosions clapped through the countryside. No, it wasnotan explosion.

The tattletale sound of piercing shots continued as my stare dipped to Nyx’s chest. My brain wasn’t computing how I could see through her upper chest. Daylight was visible right below her chin.

In stupefied horror, I watched as she dropped to her knees, then slumped sideways before me. Stepping toward her, I cried out as powerful arms wrapped around me, then dropped us to the ground.

The moment we landed on the porch, the hum of silver accumulating around us sounded in my ears. On the ground, I stared into Nyx’s sightless eyes, tears pricking as they burned mine. White light swam in my vision as I felt the world begin tilting out of control.

A shriek of horror burst from my lungs. Heavy feet rushing over the wooden floors erupted before the whizzing of silver dimmed out all other sounds around us. Massive amounts of silver cut a path toward the shooters.

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