I don’t know, I told him. Tawny had never expressed such interests before, unlike when a male caught her eye. But I didn’t think that meant there hadn’t been any, especially considering the world we came from. Such attraction wasn’t outright forbidden in Solis among the nobility, but it hadn’t exactly been something welcomed. Tawny might not have felt comfortable discussing her attraction. Or perhaps she, like me and many of the second sons and daughters, simply hadn’t gained enough experience to know what she liked.
I wanted to ask, but I also didn’t want it to seem like a big deal. Because it wasn’t. Not to me or anyone else in this chamber.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true.
Tawny’s relationship with anyone was a big deal because of what I’d turned her into.
She turned, and a smile crossed her lips. When she smiled like that, it was impossible to think of her becoming cruel and cold.
Tawny sidled up to me, her voice low as she drawled, “Sooo, Attes?”
Looking around, I didn’t see him, even though I felt he was nearby. Maybe he was in the other room. “He just arrived last night.”
“He is quite…virile.”
“Virile?” I coughed.
Her lips were mashed together as she smiled, which was quite the expression. “Yes.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“That’s because you’re…dickmatized.” Tawny’s gaze traveled across the chamber.
“Tawny,” I whispered, swallowing a laugh as I saw Kieran frown.
“Twice over,” she added.
I started to turn.
“MeyaahLiessa,” Gianna spoke, drawing my attention as she dipped her head. She started to bow.
I shot forward, nearly running straight into Malik as Casteel let go. “That’s not necessary,” I assured her.
Gianna straightened, the center of her cheeks flushing. “Sorry,” she said softly. “It’s habit.”
“It’s okay.” I glanced behind me as Malik intercepted Casteel. I faced them, smiling. “Thank you for making sure Tawny got here in one piece.”
“No need to thank me,” Gianna replied, loosely clasping her hands in front of her lavender tunic while Tawny stared at me with raised brows. “It was an honor to do so.”
Tawny laughed. “She is lying. It was likely more of an enormous pain, considering the amount of complaining I did.”
“That’s not true.” Gianna’s perfectly bowed lips spread into a grin. “Entirely.”
I kept smiling, even though Tawny was still staring at me weirdly. “I’m still shocked that Tawny slept outside of four walls and a roof.”
Tawny snorted. “You and me both.” She turned to Gianna as she looped an arm through mine. “I’ll be right back,” she said, starting to steer me around.
“It’s good to see you,” I said to Gianna.
Surprised, Gianna blinked. “Same.”
“Poppy,” Tawny whispered as she all but dragged me past Delano’s curious gaze. “Why are you smiling like that?”
My brows knitted. “What do you mean?”
“You’re smiling with your whole face.” Tawny stopped at the entryway to the second chamber. “Like yourwholeface.”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
