Winry isn’t like me. No amount of training and browbeating by our mother could hammer out the softness she carries. She’ll never be ruthless or cold or willing to cut down her enemies first and ask questions later. Why in the name of the gods did they pair her with Cohen Paine? Even a glimpse of him is enough to label him a stone-cold killer, just like me.

Better that she end up with someone like the man standing behind me, radiating impatience. Broderick might be the second-born Paine, but he doesn’t have the same cold ruthlessness that comes off some of his brothers in waves. “If your brother hurts my sister, I’ll skin him alive.”

Broderick stops short, looking at me like I’m a poisonous snake that just opened my mouth and spoke. “No one is going to be hurt. No one is going to be forced.”

“You say that, and yet your scary big brother just said to consummate the handfasting, no exceptions.”

“For fuck’s sake, Monroe.” He seems legitimately insulted. “There are half a dozen ways to consummate without having sex, and they have all night to figure out a way that won’t harm anyone. Give us some credit.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I will.” Will Winry do the smart thing and submit to get it over with? I think she will, but sometimes when she gets scared, she acts against her best interest. My chest gets tight at the thought, but I have too much control to let my worry show on my face. I smile up at Broderick, and his flinch makes me feel the tiniest bit better. “I don’t bluff. If Cohen harms Winry or scares her or makes her cry, I’m going to fucking gut him.” I doubt I can take the burly redhead in a fair fight, but I’ve never been in a fair fight in my life—at least outside of feast days.

“No one is going to hurt your sister.” Broderick narrows his pretty, blue eyes. Really, all of him is pretty. Most of the Paine brothers have a brutal edge to them, but he’s traditionally handsome with a strong jaw, sensual lips, and nice, high cheekbones. He’s kept his hair at a length just longer than a buzz cut, and it leaves his features in stark relief. Paired with his broad shoulders and strong body, it creates quite the image.

Sleeping with him is going to be no hardship.

Especially since he’s already shown he’s so easy to provoke.

“You’re not worried about your uncle?”