“A royal gilding revel? You scored an invite to your former lover’s gilding revel?”
“Not just me.”
“And you planned on attending?”
“We did, until the wildling fiasco.”
“Gods, who are you and what did you do with my Fallon?”
I smile at being called his Fallon, but then my smile fades because I think of Catriona’s spoiled life. Dargento’s bladed features float across my friend’s beautiful face. However much I don’t want the former commander to intrude on my reunion, until his heart stops beating, he’ll forever be present.
I sigh. “I’ve more to tell you.”
“I bet, but let’s talk while we soak.” He nods to the fabric clinging to my body. “Dress off.”
“It’s already ruined. May as well swim in it.”
“You’ve got nothing half the people around here don’t have.”
I glance around the steam-filled grotto. Although Crow females aren’t as voluptuous as Faeries, they’reallstrong. I’m both soft and bony, a conundrum that perplexed the seamstress in charge of my measurements for Eponine’s revel.
Even though I reminded myself that I was attending the party to murder a king, my cheeks had reddened at her remark.
“Pheebs, I—” I push away a lock of hair stuck to my cheek.
“You what?”
“I—I’m not comfortable getting naked in front of”—I bite my lip—“so many strangers.”
“A body is just flesh, Fal. Well, feathers for some, but at present, it’s predominantly skin, and we’re all made of skin.”
I gnaw on my lip.
“You’re beautiful, Fal. For a female.” He winks.
His attempt to put me at ease does nothing to settle my heart.
“Picolina, no one will judge you. Get rid of your blasted insecurities.”
“That’s not—”
“Really?” He tilts his face so low that his chin looks like it dents his long neck. “Look me in the eye and tell me that’s not the reason you’re not shedding your frock.”
“You’re right. It is.” Resolve makes me snatch the hem of my dress and pull it up and over my head.
“Good girl.”
My cheeks burn as the moist air envelops my bared skin. I kick off my slippers, then, tongue swiping incessantly at my lower lip, I hook my thumbs into the band of my underwear and roll them off.
* * *
“I can’t believeI’m bathing naked in public.” My awed whisper is gulped by the hiss of steam and splash of water.
Phoebus has his head propped on the stone lip of one of the smallest pools. “Doesn’t it feel divine?”
The water is so hot that it does feel delightful. “So now that you’ve heard all my news, tell me about a certain stormy, tavern-running Crow.”
He smiles. “Not much to tell yet, but I believe I’m slowly eroding his scowls with my unparalleled charm.”
