Brutal Blueblood

she was firmly in love-her-like-a-sister territory.
Besides, Rhys would have had my head. He might claim not to want her, but if anyone dared touch her, he’d murder them.
“Yes, I have the agenda. If I didn’t love your organization, I’d find you really annoying.”
Her smile was sweet, and it completely transformed her face. On any day, Serafina van Doren was stunning. Honestly. Dark skin that I’d never seen with a single blemish. Big, wild curls. One time when we were first years, a teacher tried to make her straighten it, or pull it back, or something. I don’t think the old geezer had ever recovered from what Serafina had told him.
She’d gone on and on about the glory of Africa being in her hair and how his comment showed his racist and colonialist ideals. Honestly, the old bloke nearly cried. I’d thought she was amazing. And when she smiled, you completely understood why Serafina van Doren got just about anything she wanted.
If I ever thought about settling down or being with someone, it would be someone like her. Not her, exactly, because God, it really would be like dating my sister. Our families had done so much together that I knew Sera better than any other girl in the school. And she was bossy. Neither one of us was going to give up control of anything anytime. It’d be chaos if we dated, and I didn’t want to tangle with the queen even on the best day.
I gave Sera my most we’ve been friends for years look. “Must I go?”
“Yes, you must. It is what it is. Deal with it.”
Felix sauntered over. “What’s this about ice-skating?”
Sera gave him a warm smile. “Felix. How are you?”
“Can’t complain. Let me take you out, Sera.”
“When I suddenly start dating fuckboys, I’ll give you a call.”
Felix moaned and placed a hand over his heart dramatically. “You’d wound me if it wasn’t true. I am a fuckboy. I don’t mind, though. Who’s your friend?”
Sera lifted a brow. “Tanith? She’s not for you.”
I agreed wholeheartedly, grabbing his arm. “Let’s go, Felix.”
My brother shook me off. “Oh, come on, she’s cute. I do love blondes.”
Sera wrinkled a brow. “Weren’t you just declaring eternal love for me just a second ago?”
My brother grinned. “Hey, you’d look great as a blonde.”
“Why go blond when I’m a hundred percent perfect just the way that I am?” Sera countered.
That shut Felix up, because what could he say? She was Serafina van Doren, after all. And, well, I had to agree with her.
I didn’t have a thing for blondes, but my eyes still skittered over to Tanith.
I attempted to drag my brother away, but he tried to catch Tanith’s attention by waving vigorously at her and then flashing her a smile. My gaze went back to her. She smiled back. I scowled again. I did not like my brother smiling at her.
It was nothing. Ignore her. You don’t need the distraction.
It was true. I didn’t need the distraction. Certainly not from a girl like her.
*     *     *
Once we were in the city and back at mine, everyone had been assigned a room. A flurry of texts later, we were meeting with Sloan, Lennox’s permanent hip attachment, and the rest of the gang at the ice-skating rink in Central Park.
It was a cold night. Cold enough that my peacoat, jumper, and sheepskin gloves weren’t enough to ward it off.
The girls were teetering on their skates, and Sera was directing everyone with her usual efficiency. Even Rhys was listening to her. Or rather, more like Rhys was staring at her like she was a steak, and he hadn’t eaten in a month. I wasn’t sure if he were listening as he wore the kind of expression that said he either wanted to fuck her or kill her. I wasn’t sure which. And it wasn’t my business. Besides, Sera could take care of herself.
I, on the other hand, planned to stay on the sidelines. No way was I going skating.
Unsurprisingly, my idiot brother decided to stay with us, announcing Vail was dull in comparison with the delights to be found here. Worst of it all, Chad agreed, so they would be around for the holidays after all. Mum was going to have a strop on when she found out, but I decided that wasn’t my problem. I wasn’t going to start my holidays by cleaning up yet another Felix mess.
My brother and Chad skated out on the rink and were flirting with the girls. In particular, Tanith. My gut clenched watching Felix skate around her as she bit down on her lower lip with sheer concentration, like she was trying hard not to fall. That was odd because winters at Pembroke afforded plenty of ice-skating opportunities, and apparently, she’d been at Pembroke all this time. So why didn’t she know how to skate?
I didn’t even know what possessed me to do it, but I marched over to the rentals. I hadn’t brought my own because I truly hadn’t planned on skating, but I asked for size thirteens and then put them on with quick efficiency.
As I reached the group, I skated behind Tanith and my brother. Felix was in flying form. His usual form. Laying it on thick.
Tanith still had that deer-in-headlights look on her face. And then Felix did what I expected him to do—cause chaos. He executed a spin right in front of her. Unfortunately, he nearly crashed into her as he spun, and she struggled to stay upright as she scrambled to get out of the way.
I could see her losing her balance. Then just like that, one skate slipped from under her. As she tipped backward, I slid right into position and caught her under my arms, lifting her with an oof.
Her gaze snapped to mine, wide and alarmed. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I’m not a very good skater. I still can’t believe Sera talked me into this.”
“Then what are you doing out here if you’re not very good?”
“Well, I didn’t want