"And few would spend ten on a token," I countered, knowing she meant ten thousand bucks. "That's a lot for something that could be lost so easily."
"Oh, it won't come off," she promised. "I used four different golds to make sure of it. If your partner accepts it, you'll be able to bend it on with your hands, but to get it off, she'll have to see me. This? This is meant for a real relationship, not a fleeting one."
I began counting out bills.
"But," she said, "if you put your symbol on this, I'll let you talk me down to seven. Put Rymar's beside it, and I'll do five."
"What discount do I get for adding Kanik?"
She chuckled. "I don't know how to break this to you, but I'm not shocked to see Kanik settling down. You and Rymar? I thought you'd both marry your work. That's why I'm giving you the discount. And possibly because we all owe the Phoenix more than we want to admit."
"So the total?" I asked.
"Five," she relented. "And if she says no, I'll take the torc back and refund your money, but only until the end of the week."
"And if we've already stamped it?"
"I can buff that off," she promised. "I'm also hoping this will be enough incentive to convince you to stop waiting."
I handed her the money. "Ayla already convinced us of that, Tania. But thank you. It's beautiful."
She put the torc in a soft velvet bag, then handed it over. "Good luck, Zasen. I hope her answer is the one you really want."
"Me too," I agreed, turning away.
Ten
Zasen
Iwove back through the stalls on my way home, but my attention was on the torc in my hands. Slipping it from the bag, I was shocked to find it was so heavy. Not unbearably so, but it weighed enough she might not like it.
And yet, the colors were perfect. Four different shades for four very different people, and they all worked together to make something better. The design was simple enough to be sturdy, but beautiful enough to be something I hoped she'd like wearing. I also knew it wasn't solid gold, but the weight proved there was more than I'd expected.
Turning the corner, I was lost in all the fine details when a tail smacked me in the ass. Shocked, I sucked in a breath and turned, ready to tell someone off - and my eyes landed on Lessa. She smirked, obviously proud of herself for the smack, right up until her eyes landed on the thing in my hands.
"What the fuck is that?" she demanded, storming to close the distance between us so she could snatch it from my hands.
"It's a torc," I said, struggling to keep from snatching it back.
Pulling in a hard breath, she lifted her chin and demanded, "And who the fuck are you getting a token for, Zasen? Do you know how many of these I had made for you? Do you rememberhow many times you turned them down, and then you dothis?" She waved the thing in my face. "Torcs aren't meant to be removed!"
"That," I said, taking the jewelry back from her, "is the point."
"Who?" she snarled.
The look I gave her was both exhausted and making it clear she knew that answer. "Really?"
"Ayla?" Her voice was nearly a growl. "You are giving that woman a fuckingtorc?!"
"We," I said, emphasizing this wasn't just me, "areofferingit to her. I also don't care if you approve, Less."
"That woman is scared to death of marriage."
"I'm not marrying her."
She clenched her teeth so hard I swore I heard them crack. "And you think she's going to be okay with this?"
"I think," I told her, "that she asked Rymar about dating. I think the three of us talked. More than all of that, Less, I think it's none of your business."
