Page 129 of Break Out the Girl

My brother who didn’t save me from Quo.

Or from being forced to become Crankshawe’s intended.

Or help me escape the gilded-cage of Drakeward Manor.

But…he’s also the closest thing I had to a friend for most of my life—even if I only saw him for a few days a year.

I stand frozen for a beat as the freezing air takes over the warmth of the trailer. Then instinct takes over. Not waiting to put on shoes, I stumble down the steps and into Cosmo’s arms.

“Rory, am I fucking glad to see you.”

I revel in his comforting embrace for a moment, but then remember Sky is freaking out in the bedroom. I push off Cosmo’s chest. “Back in a minute.”

“What? Rory, where the fuck are you going?”

I turn and run straight into the trailer, calling out to Sky as I do so. “Hey, it’s all good. It’s just my stupid brother,” I tell her, crawling over the mattress and pulling stuffed zebras off her body. She looks up at me with big, blotchy eyes.

Fuck.

I gently stroke the hair away from her face. “Do you want to come out and meet him?”

“Maybe l-later?” she mumbles.

“Are you OK if I go back out to speak with him? I can get Basil or London to come sit with you?”

She shakes her head. “It’s alright, Rory. Gimme a few minutes and maybe I’ll join you all.” Sky gives me a weak smile. “Not gonna lie, I’m pretty curious to meet your bro.”

Leaning forward, I kiss her on the top of the head. “Love you.”

Taking a deep breath, I head back outside to see Cosmo with his arms crossed, and basically tapping his foot with impatience. Nothing changes, he still doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Well, fuck him. He’s not my priority.

“Now where were we?” I ask, going back over and poking him in the chest. “You were just saying you’d missed me. Now…what’s my response to that?” I sarcastically tap my chin, pretending to look thoughtful. “Did you miss me while I was in Quo? Because, like, you could have come and visited, maybe tried to get me out of there—you douche.”

Boringly, I don’t get a rise out of him. He grins. “And there I was worried you’d be beaten down. Glad to see you haven't changed—apart from the mad-pixie look.” Cosmo pulls me back into a hug. “We’ve a lot to catch up on, little sis, but maybe this should continue in your fine abode.” He glances down at my frozen toes.

“You’re not the boss of me,” I growl with zero heat and a grin on my face.

“No, but I am,” Taliesin butts in, picking me off my feet. “Come inside.”

Cosmo looks at me, then back at the SUV. He waves.

From the warmth of Tally’s arms I see the passenger door open. A huge dude with white hair steps out. He looks around, frowning and wary.

“Rory, Taliesin, this is Ludo. He’s, er, Theo’s family.”

The giant stares at Cosmo impassively.

“And, I guess, my family too.”

Interesting.

Once we’ve got Basil to stand down, Sky to understand everything is cool, and Cosmo, and Ludo settled, I realize someone is missing. “Where’s London?”

“The crazy-goat?” Cosmo asks, immediately making me bristle.

“Stop it. You don’t know him. He’s not crazy, and he’s a faun, and one of the best people I know.”

“Really, Kitten?” The man himself steps into the already over-crowded trailer. “Me? You actually would say that about me?”