Not to mention, I really,reallyhate that he refers toBottom of the Jugas a brothel. It’s so much more than that. “Shall I give Giana your regards? I hear the two of you were friends back in the day.”
“I’m not certain which Giana you speak of, but do pass on my regards to whomever you wish, if it can make their day.”
Wow.
“I will see you upon my return next week.” He turns in a glinting whirl and marches forward, two armed men preceding him, two tailing him. “Guards, blow out the candles and lock the doors!”
“Altezza, Signorina.” A silver-eyed soldier with a long brown ponytail flourishes his hand, inviting us to exit the room.
I glance at the bowl, itching to reach out and pinch it, but thievery in front of the prince and a regiment of armed Fae is undoubtedly unwise.
Dante gives my elbow a gentle squeeze, and I shuffle forward.
The Fae guard sweeps his hand, snuffing out the king’s fire and my prospect of doubling down.
Thirty-One
Dante and I don’t speak during our trek back to the pontoon. It’s only after we’ve boarded the military gondola and drifted a ways from the solid gold dock that he breaks his worrisome silence.
“Why?” He studies the choppy ocean, the darker strait in which dwell the serpents.
“Why what?”
“Why would you risk your life for a serpent? Not only does this make you look unhinged, but it makes me look disloyal.”
I lean backward on the varnished bench seat I share with Dante, eyes widening in time with my mouth. “Wh-what?”
“It was one thing to slip into the canal and survive. It’s another to jump in.” His Adam’s apple climbs slowly, then drops back even slower. “How do you think Marco would react if I went to Shabbe and pledged my allegiance to their queen?”
Annoyance tiptoes over my shock. “You can’t possibly equate protecting serpents to swearing fealty to another monarch?”
“In Marco’s eyes, the serpents are just as despicable as the Shabbins.”
“You’re comparing people to animals.”
“Says the girl who considers them our equal.”
I lock my lips and turn my eyes to the horizon, spy a coiling shape beneath the swells. Thankfully, the scales gleam orange and not pink. I don’t want Minimus anywhere near a boat loaded with powerful Fae.
After a very long beat, I spit out, “Why wouldmyact reflect onyou?”
“Because I stood up for you, Fal.” His hand plucks mine from the folds of my dress, cocoons it between his warm palms. “Because I want to keep standing up for you, but I can’t do that if you deliberately put yourself in such situations.”
I try to snatch my hand away, but he holds on tight. “I never asked you to pick sides.”
The wind rises when we reach the middle of the channel and swirls my hair.
He snares a lock and presses it behind my ear, and although Dante knows me by heart, I flinch when his thumb grazes the blunt shell. “There are very few people in this kingdom who want nothing from me. I treasure the few.”
Although my pulse doesn’t slow, it settles into another rhythm. “Except I do want something from you, Dante.”
His eyebrows slide close together.
Before his wariness can take root, I say, “I want that date you promised me. If you’re still willing to take out the wild serpent-charmer.”
A smile crooks the corner of his mouth, which he moves close to my ear. “Once Marco returns and I hand him back Isolacuori, I will demand a few days’ leave.” His volume drops. “Stay out of trouble so we can spend my vacation time together, all right?”
His suggestion buoys my heart. “Just us?”
