“Do you kiss men you’re not romantically involved with?”
“No.”
“My point exactly.”
“What is your point?”
“Before coming here tonight, I had a meeting in Isolacuori. When I arrived, Dante’s tongue was buried deep in the princess’s throat.”
“You’re lying.”
He removes an enameled snuffbox from his pant pocket and pinches out a single flake of salt, which he presses onto the tip of his tongue. After he’s swallowed it, he repeats those words, and each one embeds itself into the fragile casing of my heart, causing the organ to ache. “The man won’t sleep with whores because the Glacin princess won’t allow him into her bed if he does. I’m guessing he hasn’t told her about you, though.” He slides the snuffbox toward me, and although I don’t want to play this game, I scoop out a fingerful of flakes, which I sniff.
Salt. It truly is salt.
He snaps the box shut and returns it to his pocket. “You look positively distraught by the news.”
I roll my fingers into such tight fists that my nails tattoo small crescents inside my palms.
“Commander Silvius, the establishment is closed.” Giana’s voice clangs like metal striking metal.
He tosses something shiny her way. “I’ll take a room. Preferably one without a roach.”
Giana’s nostrils flare as she watches the silver coin flip end over end to the ground, not even attempting to seize it. “I’m afraid all our rooms are booked for the night.”
He stops his incessant circling. “Are they now? Catriona mentioned business was slow for the doxies this evening when she propositioned me.”
Gia doesn’t gratify him with an answer. “Don’t forget your coin on your way out.”
“Careful, Signorina Amari. I could make or break this establishment’s reputation.” He snaps his fingers to showcase how easily he could ruin her and her family.
“I don’t take nicely to threats, Commander. Now, stop harassing my staff and see yourself out. And perhaps, quit returning. Like you said, too many roaches crawling around our establishment. It’s time we run them out.”
The glower he sends her way is frightful, and yet Giana doesn’t even flinch. However hard I want to wrap her in a hug and thank her for her support, guilt that I brought this upon her and her family tacks my feet to the sticky floorboards and my arms to my ribs.
My departure may not have been ordained by any god, and yet it’s a godsend for everyone around me.
When the commander and his friend finally leave, I whisper, “I’m sorry.”
“For what, Fallon?”
“It’s my fault he threatens you.”
She swipes a dishrag over the bar. “Dolcca, don’t ever again take the blame for fatuous men. Now, lock the door and help me straighten this place before you leave on your adventure.”
“You heard?”
“I hear all.”
“All, huh? Did you hear about the way I spent my afternoon?”
Sybille emerges from the kitchen. “Finally. I thought the sprite ass would never leave.” One look between her sister and me has her frowning. “What did I miss?”
“Fallon was about to recount her adventures on Isolacuori.”
Gods, Giana truly does hear all.
Syb gasps. “You went to Isolacuori without me?”
