#rysand

So here they were, driving out to meet with their youngest sister, Feyre. She had moved out from the city, more than a couple months ago, met some guys and now lived with him on his ranch.

The Ranch, which Nesta was currently struggling to find. With their belongings packed into the small backseat of her car, she had the sat-nav playing softly near the drafts of the aircon.

But the weak signal was making their location jump across the cracked screen.

She didn't want to stir Elain awake, not when her sisters eyes were worn red and shadows dulled the undersides of them. Seeing the asshole break her sister heart had stirred something with Nesta, something she had been content to drown and ignore for the years following their parents deaths', but the distraught aura cloaking her sister had brought everything to the surface, the ugly side of her that now reared its head.

When Feyre had called a week ago, to check on their sister, Nesta hadn't shied from the idea of Elain taking a break from the city, to retreat to...

Nesta scowled at the sat nav on her phones, squinting at the name of the Ranch typed into the top search bar,

Starfall Ranch should be the next turn. But as the phone froze and rejogged their current location the map moved. Leaving her off scale for what felt like the hundredth time.

Groaning in frustration Nesta jerked the steering wheel and clamped her foot down on the break. Taking the car off the side of the dirt road.

Elain shifted, the blanket falling from her lap as Nesta ripped the phone from where it had sat in the stand.

"What's the matter?" Elain asked softly, reaching for the blanket that had fallen into the footwell,

"This is why the city is best, no lagging signal there." She typed quickly at the phone, searching for Feyre's contact, Pulling it up she clicked on the icon, a picture of her sister on a hillside, the sunsetting behind her and a man Nesta could only assume was this Rhysand.

"Hey" Feyre called through the phone as Nesta clicked her onto speaker, Elain sitting up at the sound of their sister sweet voice,

"We're lost." Admitting it had something sour sitting itself in Nesta's gut, to admit defeat and ask for help was never something she found easy, had prised herself on the dance floor for working through shit on her own. She knew it sounded horrible for Feyre, who was putting them up in her new home. Nesta didn't mean for the bite in her tone, but the whole situation was making her skin crawl with unease.

"Well..." Feyre paused as something clunked behind her in the background of the speakers feed, "Where are you?"

Nesta tried to bit her lip in frustration to keep herself from launching the phone out the open window beside her, "I don't know Feyre, some sort of field. Everything looks the same"

She glanced around the car, spotting a sign, a sun carved into the warped wooden boards with spikes of sun beams sprouting out in every direction from the circle.

"There is a sign with a sun symbol on it."

There is a clatter from the line and Feyre paused, to think, "Oh yes! That's a nearby Ranch, I'll come meet you. Give me a couple minutes." Nesta was about to protest, to ask her sister to simply direct her but Feyre had already hung up. The call ending with a single beep that filled the now silent vehicle.

Dropping the phone into her laps, Nesta sighed, falling into silence beside Elain who had snuggled back under the blanket.

They waited for a couple minutes before a burgundy red truck caught Nesta's attention in the rear view mirror, the gaps between their bags obscuring the view of the truck as it got closer.

The plume of dust swirled around her small white car as the truck pulled to a stop beside her. Feyre beamed out the passenger side, swinging the door wide.

She jumped down and came around the nose of the truck, Elain sprung out from the car beside Nesta, running to meet Feyre. They collided into an embrace at the front of Nesta car.

Sighing to herself for strength, Nesta opened the door, climbing out to watch them leave the hug, Elain was grinning happily, a fact that drew a weak smile on Nesta' expression.

The drivers door of the truck slammed, the smile melting from Nesta as a red headed male wandered around, his long hair pulled back into a hair tie, a tan brown cowboy hat rested on his head, he had leaned against the front of his truck watching Elain and Feyre.

He acknowledged Nesta with a stiff nod when he caught her gaze studying him with a narrowed gaze. She hadn't missed the way his attention had snagged and lingered on Elain. She knew from overhearing Feyre's conversations with Elain over the phone in previous months, this wasn't Rhysand. This male was slimmer, paler and had fiery red hair.

"It's so good to see you." Feyre pulled away, keeping her hand on Elain's arm,

To see her younger sister now, Nesta couldn't deny how being here had done her well. Feyre had never been one for the busy rat race of city life. The exposure to country life had someone brought back Feyre's spark, her body was fuller now- Healthier. And her skin seemed to glow, kissed by the sun, a small amount of freckled dusted her exposed arms and the bridge of her nose.

Nesta kept a close eye on the stranger still watching Elain as Feyre approached her for a hug, it was rigid, partially due to the aches in Nesta's muscles from her last show, she hadn't the time to stretch today. Her bones felt too big for her skin, flesh stretched too thin.

Feyre quickly pulled back, taking notice of her eldest sisters gaze,

"Oh" she softly breathed, finally gesturing to the male with a flourish, "This is Lucien. His father Helion owns the Ranch next to our own."

The comfortable nature of Feyre calling the Ranch her own had Nesta's skin involuntarily tightening with guilt. Even if she hide it with a dismissive huff as the male finally pushed off his truck with his hip.

"It was lovely to meet you ladies." He tipped his hat, to them and then does so again in Elain's direction, his action notably extended to her. Nesta stiffened as Elain offered a soft smile in return, but as Lucien straightened he nodded once before moving back around to the driver's door.

He climbed in and rolled the window to Feyre, "Tell Az I'll get those horses over by the next fortnight."

Feyre thanked him waving as he turned down the road, following the Sun depicted sign posts. His burgundy truck spitting up dust and stones as it sped off in the distance.

"Right, let's go then." Feyre chirped cheerfully, excitement thrumming from her as she spun to the back door,

The three sisters gathered inside Nesta small white car, Feyre in the back seat offering the small amount of directions, until they were on the straight drive to the Starfall Ranch.

There was a couple buildings, off the road, Nesta noticed each one they passed and as if she heard her thoughts Feyre chimes in, "This is all owned by Rhys, he inherited it from his father. The houses are other family members and his friends that work her for him."

He makes his friends work for him?

As they passed by, Feyre pointed out a bigger building, "That's the bunk house, where the majority of the field hands and cowboys are accommodated." and then her arm is swinging in front of them once more, directing Nesta into a stone drive,

"This is the main house," she said it with such pride, Nesta couldn't help but hid the small grin, despite the unease curling in her gut about all of this.

As Nesta pulled the car into park, Feyre jumped out, Elain following, blanket discarded onto the passenger seat.

"This is where everyone gathers, it is Rhys' house and we have family meals here once a week." Feyre was beaming as she stood staring at the building,

Nesta could understand why, the house was massive, definitely big enough to house family meals. She couldn't help the venom that burned in her chest, Feyre hadn't ever invited them out for those meals until Elain's asshole fiance dumped her.

Feyre turns to help them unload the car, an effort they all set into routine of working through as Feyre continued to chatter excitedly, "Rhys and the other are out preparing for an event tonight, once we have you guys settled we can drive to meet them, then we can go out for drinks!"

Nesta reared her head back, it was effort enough that she had driven them here today, but being dragged out to meet with Feyre's new family and play nice to complete strangers.

"It will be fun Nes."

"Don't call me that" she barked as she rested a bag on the floor, but as she straightened she caught the look on Elain's face as she turned away, her heart constricted as Feyre spotted it too.

Maybe for a couple hours she could play nice...

☽⋆❈⋆☾

The music roared loud as the entered the stands, Elain clung to Nesta's arm as they followed Feyre. Manoeuvring through the crowd that roared with excitement as a bull sprung from the gate a man tethered atop it.

Elain gasps softly watching as Nesta pulled her through the stands of seating,

"Nes, look!" Elain tugged excitedly at her elbow, aiming to draw her sister's attention to where the bull bucked and thrashed to toss the rider from its back, a viciously violent dance she could recognise as the male released his hold and flew off the animal, racing to get behind the protection of the rodeo clowns.

"Elain, there isn't entertainment in watching egotistical men ride adrenaline pumped beast that want to trample them." she deadpanned, tugging Elain on as to not lose Feyre, she continued to lead them to where Rhys was supposed to be.

"Not much better entertainment then that." Feyre called over her shoulder, a smile plastering her face as she spotted her partner.

"Rhys!" She called, the males head popping up, a second head beside him following the sound of Feyre's voice, they both looked towards them now and even as Nesta's legs continued to follow her sister she grew distant.

These males were breathtaking, rugged yet fully powerful bodies toned from ranch work. Night dark hair and skin worshiped by the sun from no doubt working outside almost every day of their lives, They both rose, the one closet presumable Rhysand by the way he leaned in to meet Feyre in a quick kiss, his hand resting in the belt loop of her jeans, "Hello darling," his whispered softly to her, but Nesta caught it even over the sound as the crowd roared around them again.

"Rhys, Az, these are my sister, Elain and Nesta." She gestured to them, both pairs of eyes drawing up to meet where they stood,

"Nesta, Elain this is Rhysand and Azriel." Elain pleasantly moved to greet them. Nesta stayed put, watching Rhys greet Elain warmly and then the second one, Az.

She knew Elain had possible met them before, over video call with Feyre, given by the way both males leaned in for a distanced hug she guessed correct.

Rhys watched Nesta from under the rim of his hat, she offered a small smile and nod, which seemed to prompt him into movement, he brought a hand up to..

The difference there shook her, bringing her own up to shake his hand, she was quick to drop it and offered a nod to his friend,

"Oh he's about to come out!" Feyre beamed warmly, a hand resting into Rhysand's chest, he watched her delicately, but Nesta turned to ignore it as they all took their seats, Elain moving to be beside Az.

They all edged forward in their seats as the clatter of the next bull rammed itself into the gate, from their seats Nesta could see the movement of the rider climbing up the railings.

He was well muscles and his dark hair pulled back into a small bun at the back of his head. His arm were distracting even from here. Something in her core burned as he smoothed his hands gentle over the rope, fingers curling and gliding down—

"Come on Cassian," Feyre rooted beside her, her hand wringing in...

Was she nervous?

Nesta eyed her sister curiously, perhaps sensing her attention, Feyre tilted closer, hand sliding into Rhysand's lap to clasp his own hand, perhaps for ease of mind or comfort.

"Cassian lives on the Ranch with the rest of us."She jerks her chin to the bull ring "This is what he enjoys doing and if without the nerves we loves watching, to support him."

Nesta's brow rose, "So I'm here as a cheerleader to some cocky bull rider. Great."

Feyre's lips pursed, forming a thin line, as she watched the gate, where Cassian was preparing for his run, "I know you're here for Elain's sake, but you could enjoy this you know."

"With you new shiny family. Yeah loads of fun." She knew these comments would hurt Feyre, it wasn't her intention, not entirely.

Feyre sighed beside her, resting forward in her seat as the coaches and workers prepared to release the bull, "We will talk about this later." Feyre didn't glance at her as she spoke, but Nesta felt every work, the weight and meaning behind them. This wasn't going to be a conversation that went down well.

But for now as the gate swung and the crowd chorused an uproar Nesta settled back, watching as the bull flung free.

The male, Cassian, the name stilling every second that slowed as Nesta watched. The bull flung its whole weight up, body burling down heavy as Cassian threw himself against the movement, free hand spirally above him.

The bull danced up and Nesta drew slow breath as she watched the dance, vicious and volatile, where Cassian's powerful thighs cling to the bulls sides, to keep himself steady and it curled spinning on its front hooves.

From her own experience in dancing she watched the way he moved to balance his core, to keep himself centered to stay on the bulls back.

As a timer buzzed out over the screams of the spectators Cassian released his grip, the rope unravelling from his hand, swinging a leg he launched himself from his seat.

Jumping out the way towards the fencing railings, the rodeo clowns following and corralling the bull as it spun before filing back down the chute,

Cassian stood tall on the fence, a leg hooked over the top for balance, he flung his hat up and the crowd responded with cheers and bellows of excitement,

Despite the curling in her stomach the liquid fire pulsing though her veins, Nesta dampened that desire and rolled her eyes at the sight of the male, revelling in the feedback from the crowd.

Cocky Bull riders.

The first stream of women swirled around him, his swaggering grin drawing them in, from social media types Nesta spied the buckle bunnies amongst them easily,

"Right then, off to Rita's for celebratory drinks!" Rhys clasped his hand down on Feyre's knee, his voice drawing the attention of everyone in their group of even a few others. He seemed to have that affect, to draw gazes, it wasn't a surprise Feyre had fallen for the male.

Even as she fought to keep her gaze from drifting as they all rose, Nesta glanced to where Cassian still clung off the fence, a women, golden skin and slim pulled herself up beside him on the railing, her delicately small hand rising to clasp the curve of his hat, plucking it off his head she rest it down onto her own, Nesta couldn't see the women's expression but the mirror on Cassian's face had Nesta's gut swirling, the grin there rocking a pulse through her.

A soft chuckle rumbled behind her, Nesta flinched looking over her shoulder at Azriel. He too watched Cassian, waiting for Nesta to move before he left the stand,

He shook his head, adverting his gaze from her own when she looked at him, "Buckles bunnies," He flicked a hand up to rub a thumb along the rim of his own hat, tapping it twice with a finger, "Wear the hat, Ride the Cowboy"

He met her stare, unblinking. As though he might decipher the expression on her face, break the mold of her mask and understand every thought. He smirked to himself as he watched her attention flick back to Cassian, for just a second.

Betraying her inner thought,

For what it might be like to ride that Cowboy.

☽⋆❈⋆☾

Nesta stepped into the warmth of the bar, having being abandoned by Elain, her sister opting to enter into the bar beside Azriel, while Feyre waltzed in hooked under Rhysand's strong arm.

Rita's was in the closest town to the Starfall Ranch, and it seemed most of the bull riders and their families came here after the night at the ring.

But as their group wandered in, heads turned. Feyre had explained to Elain more about the Ranch on there drive over, her sister was happy to keep to herself about the comments Nesta had made earlier, a fact Nesta herself was also content to ignore for the time being.

During the journey, Feyre had explained that Starfall Ranch was well known in Velaris County, as not only the biggest by size but also the biggest producer for high bred horses and cattle, and their stream of champion Bull riders and Team Penning. For which Rhysand, Azriel and Cassian were a "formidable team" as Feyre had put it, saying that the other locals renowned them for their silent communication and understanding of one another whilst they worked.

They were respected. Which was more then Nesta felt as the local women eyed her and Elain, noting them with the males. She flung the hardest stare should could muster as she shadowed Elain, making them think twice about going after her sister. Elain had come here to heal not to start petty small town drama. Nesta on the other hand wouldn't be so opposed to a good brawl.

It wasn't uncommon for her to occasionally get into fights in her youth, the countless clubs and bars in the city teemed with prissy country girls who thought they could even contend with the throws of a city girl. And men in the city were weak, fickle. The amount of men Nesta had been with that had slept around whilst with her... She could make a bible sized book of the times its had happened.

Rhysand led the way, Feyre still tucked securely under an arm, to a table at the back, near the far side of the bar.

The lights were warm and emitted soft glows, that only added to the affect of the bar, old whiskey barrels were used as tables, high enough to be up to her waist and patrons roared with life around the open dance floor, where people swung one another around. Arm flung upwards to conjoin with new partners. Lines formed as bodies swirled.

It drew her eye more than she cared to admit, allowed her something to watch other than the happy couple beside her in the booth.

"Cassian said he will be here shortly," Azriel slide a phone into the back pocket of his loose jeans. He assessed the group, turning to Elain, "Gin and tonic?"

"Tonic water will be fine," she smiled at him in thanks, He took a second to stare Feyre and Rhys down, not needing to ask for their drinks before he turned to Nesta. "Gin and Tonic?"

"Whiskey." She didn't look away from the lines of people still shuffling around on the open floor,

When Azriel didn't immediately move she turned to meet his stare, the corner of his mouth twitching up in mild amusement, before he twisted away into the crowd.

Nesta turned back, her bones twitching to dance. It was annoying to watch the almost slopping drunken moves of the dance floor, To dance was to embrace the movement, a message to commit ones soul to something greater than themself. It was release and a battle.

These dancers were anything but warriors, she ached to move, to show them how it was done.

"You should dance Nesta." Elain voices from where she hid in the shadows of the booth wall watching the look on her older sisters expression. Nesta slowly drags her attention to face her sister, to see Elain whither into the shadows, to want to hide from view was a tragedy almost as tragic as those dancing on the open floor.

She swept her gaze back to pity those dancing, "You wouldn't see a queen in a charity shop." silence settled over their table as her word met them,

"So you think highly of yourself then" Rhys added his brow high as Feyre elbowed him,

Trading her attention back to those at her table, Nesta allowed the smirk to tug her lips, "Well, No one else will." She locked eyes with Rhysand now, allowed him to see how much she meant it. If not for Elain she would still be in the city with Gwyn and Emery. Probably at the studio dancing until her body grew too tired to support her own weight.

But Rhysand didn't look away, not initially until Feyre moved against him, nudging him as she tracked the approaching figure.

Cassian had swaggered in, the women glued to his side, his hat still propped atop her head. Be-lining for their usual table he swiftly pushed himself through he crowd to where he could see them.

Pulling the women beside him Cassian slide up to the table, quick eyes taking a scan of the faces now looking up at him,

"Well done!"

Nesta didn't even try to resist rolling her eyes as Feyre beamed her congratulations for her friend, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Rhysand.

"Here we are." Azriel said, skillfully sliding the tray of booze onto the table,

The tray was place almost in front of Nesta, the sting of the liqueur hitting her nostrils, if she couldn't dance, drinking would get her that same numbness she needed. It would have to do,

As Azriel passed out each drink, Nesta already spied her glass, the amber liquid was calling to her.

But Azriel had paid for the drinks, a point she wasn't ignorant enough to ignore, so she waited for her liqueur to make its way to her.

Only for a new hand to reach onto the tray, hand twisting to pick up her glass. Nesta watched it as the hand plucked it from the tray, and brought it to their lips.

Cassian wiggled a brow at her over the rim of the glass. He gulped back almost more than half the glass, before handing it off to the women beside him, she bashfully took it,

Cassian turned back now, meeting Nesta's gaze, He surveyed her with a once up and down sweep, his gaze growing gradually slow over her breasts, and up the column of her throat to settle on her face.

"That wasn't yours." She bite out, ignoring the way her toes curled in her boots as he smirked, head tilting to watch her.

"and you are?"

"Cassian," Feyre held her glass before her, "These are my sisters. Elain" she gestured to her sister beside Azriel, then turned to Nesta, who still hadn't turn away from watching the women screw her face up as she sipped the whiskey. Her Whiskey. "And that is Nesta."

The laugh that bellowed from the Bull rider made her skin itch with warmth, Snapping Nesta attention away from her stolen glass "You're Nesta."

What the hell was that supposed to mean? What had Feyre said about her to the male that gave him that air of amusement.

Pushing up with her palms on the table, Nesta rose up purposefully into his space, her breast so close to brushing his muscled chest when she reached to take the class of amber liquid from the women beside him, the blonde women grasped trying to hold to it, to someone prove herself to the bull riders whose hat she wore.

Taking the glass to her with ease, Nesta met the bull riders gaze, simply ignoring how close they were to distract herself from the rising ache between her legs at his scent, his closeness, as she teased the glass along her bottom lip, swirling it, "And you must be the egotistical bull rider who thinks women wearing your hat gives them the right to ride you. How worthless you must feel. It's cheap."

Then she nocked her head back, downed the whiskey in one, she slammed the glass onto the table before stalking towards the bar. Without pulling a face as the blonde beside him had done at a mere sip.

Nesta didn't look back as she moved through the dancers, the other patrons parting for her, a shark in a shoal of fish. Didn't look back as she felt Cassian gaze linger,

Cassian let lose of the breath that had lodged itself in his chest at her closeness.

Nesta. He mulled her name as a whisper on his lips, intrigued as he watched her, watched the way people moved from her paths as though to warrant her attention was to draw deaths scythe.

Whatever it was they all shied from, he wanted it. Wanted her.

Taking a final glance at the whiskey glass on the table, the lines of her lip gloss rimming the edges, Cassian met his brothers gaze.

With his usual bolstering smirk, Cassian plucked his hat off the girls head beside him, securing it in its rightful place, he stalked off after Nesta. Cutting thought he path she had made for him in the crowd, a direct line to follow, to get to her.

Damn the rule. Hat or no, he had ridden bulls that gave the same fight as her and it had always thrilled him.