“But I’d know.”
“Fine. Then you’ll let me buy you a pair.”
“Phoebus . . .”
He pats my hand as we reach the militarized strip of land between Tarelexo and Tarecuori.
A guard steps into our path. “What business brings you to Tarecuori?” His eyes gleam like the polished silver studs adorning his pointed ears.
Phoebus tucks a silken strand of hair back to reveal the shape of his own ears. “The name’s Phoebus Acolti. As for my business, that’s strictly none of yours, I’m headed to a luncheon at my family estate with my genteel lover.”
I pinch his arm, which just makes a grin streak across his face.
“Of course. Pardon me, Signore Acolti.” The guard steps aside to let us through.
“Genteel lover?” I whisper. “Really?”
“Would you rather I’d have called you my lusty broodmare?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, because there are only two ways to describe a woman in Luce.”
He snickers before growing contemplative. “I can’t believe you ended things with the third sexiest playfae in Luce.”
“Third sexiest?”
“Well, there’s me, then Catriona,thenAntoni.” He adds a wink to show me he’s jesting.
I bite back my smile. “I’m relieved that when you shed all those insecurities, you didn’t shed Syb and me in the process.”
“I shed my insecuritiesthanksto you and Syb.” He covers my arm with his palm and gives it a squeeze.
To think he used to be shorter than me, and so gangly, Syb and I could roll marbles between his ribs.
“Have you told Syb yet?”
“Not yet.”
“She’s going to rub my face in her victory.”
“What did you bet?”
“Swapping lives for a day.”
I smile. “No . . .”
“Yes . . .”
My cheeks ache from how wide I grin. “You agreed to wake up before noon, sweep the tavern, and serve obnoxious customers? Oh my Gods, Pheebs, you. Will. Die.”
“I didn’t think I’d lose.”
“Clearly.” I snort. “Why in the world would your virginal friend not want to lay with two men for her first time?”
“Exactly. Why choose?”
We smile at each other for a little while longer.
“I do think Antoni is the better lover.”
