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Gods above, her voice. It rang through the space, and he paused, one foot on the steps. If the goddess’s eyes were filled with power, her voice was a stormy siren’s call, beckoning him forward. He wanted to hear it every minute of every day for the rest of his life.

He pressed his palm against his chest. “I’m Nikhail Galebringer,” he replied, surprised that his voice still worked in her presence. “And you are…”

Her bottom lip disappeared into her mouth as she eyed him carefully.

“River,” she supplied a moment later.

Nikhail took another step towards her. He couldn’t help himself. He had to get closer to her.

“Hello, River.” Her name tasted like the finest delicacy as it flowed off his tongue, and a shiver raced through him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

River’s brown gaze swept over him, studying him intently. He didn’t hide from her, didn’t shrink away. He got the feeling that whatever she wanted from him, whatever she asked for, he’d give it to her .

The thought should’ve scared him, but it didn’t.

She tilted her head. “What brings you to my house?”

Her house.

Because she was…

Oh, gods.

Nikhail released the railing and stumbled down the two steps he’d managed to climb. The trance this goddess’s arrival— River’s arrival—had thrown over his mind vanished. Had it ever existed?

His heart raced, a galloping horse desperate to escape his chest. Fuck. How could he have forgotten where he was? This stunningly beautiful woman wasn’t just anyone. She was?—

“Shortie!” Ryker’s booming voice filled the foyer, and he hopped down the stairs. He wrapped his arms around his sister—oh, gods, this was Ryker’s sister—and swept her into a massive hug. “I see you’ve met Nik.”

River peered around her brother, smiling shyly at him.

“Yes, we just met.” She wiggled her fingers in his direction. “Hi, Nik.”

His stomach knotted. He’d never heard a sound as beautiful as River’s voice—nor had he ever heard one so intensely forbidden.

What the fuck was he doing? By the Blessed Obsidian Sands, he couldn’t be thinking about River like this.

Not just because she was Ryker’s sister—although, gods-damn, that was a problem—but she was young.

He remembered Ryker mentioning that his sister had celebrated her nineteenth birthday a few months ago.

Months!

There were nearly fifteen years between them. For the gods’ sake, River was nearly a decade younger than Laney. River hadn’t even entered the workforce yet. She was studying to be a doctor at the University of Balance.

Nikhail wanted to slam his head against the wall.

This goddess had an entire life left to live, and he was just an air fae in the military.

He was good at his job, yes, but he would never be deserving of a woman like her.

He’d never be able to provide for her. This house was proof of that.

Her expensive workout gear probably cost a month’s rent.

There were so many reasons why he had to stay away from her, so many reasons why he should forget this meeting and try to get on with his life, that Nikhail felt like he could barely breathe.

The rest of the visit passed in a hazy blur.

Nikhail spoke when necessary, although he couldn’t recall any words he said.

He laughed at a joke Ryker told, although he had no idea what his friend said.

He didn’t know how long they stayed there, only that River was imprinting herself on his mind with every passing minute.

Long after he and Ryker had left Waterborn House, River and her barely contained tempest occupied Nikhail’s thoughts. She remained on his mind well past sunset, into the late hours of the night.

Nikhail tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. By the time dawn rolled around, he’d reached two conclusions.

First, he was a terrible friend because he couldn’t get Ryker’s sister out of his mind. Secondly, and far more importantly, he wanted River Waterborn. He needed her like he needed air.

And yet, even though that need existed within him, he’d already reached the heart-wrenching conclusion that he couldn’t have her.

Not in the way he wanted, not in the way his gods-damned spirit desired .

Their circumstances would never allow them to be together.

They were doomed from the very beginning.

If Nikhail were more intelligent, he would’ve vowed to forget ever meeting River Waterborn. He would’ve tried to move on, ignoring the way his body, mind, and soul yearned for her.

But apparently, he wasn’t all that intelligent, because he would sooner rip his heart out of his chest before trying to forget her. Asking him to overlook the siren’s existence would be like asking him to wipe his mind of the fact that the sky was blue or that the winds called to him.

Fucking impossible. He wouldn’t even try.

No, Nikhail couldn’t have River, at least not in the way he wanted her, but he wouldn’t stay away. He couldn’t. If she let him, he would remain in her life. He’d guide her, keep her safe, and help her along in whatever way he could.

After all, being in the presence of her storm, even as a spectator, would be better than never seeing it again.