“Unparalleled charm?” I laugh, and Gods, it feels good. “How I’ve missed your extravagant ego.”
“And I’ve missed your mercurial character.”
I flick water his way, but it falls long before splashing him. “Where have you been sleeping?”
“Lorcan made me the owner of a bedroom not too far from here.”
“And how have his people been treating you?”
“With a mix of caution and kindness. More kindness than caution. And his mother has been teaching me to grow plantswithoutmagic.”
“Do you miss using your magic?”
“I do.” He raises his head. “But life without magic isn’t so terrible.”
I trail a perfect curl of steam until it disintegrates into mist. “That’s because you know you’ll get it back the second you leave this place.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. “I cannot believe Dante pretended Meriam was free.”
His comment jiggles the metaphorical knife the men in my life have planted inside my gut.
“I also cannot believe Lorcan hasn’t made the Faerie King sing. I wonder what he’s waiting for.”
The blade goes in deeper because, of course, Lorcan hasn’t sharedthatwith me. I glide my palms over the silken surface of the water, hating my constant state of cluelessness.
“Lore is surely biding his time for a reas— Hi.” Phoebus grins so wide that I assume his Crow-heartthrob must’ve arrived.
I glance over my shoulder, a greeting at the ready, but my words wither, along with my nascent smile. Although a male of shifting faith stands behind me, that male is not Connor.
Forty-Nine
Lorcan’s gold stare pins me to the rock seat I’ve been propped on for the better part of the last hour. “Enjoying our amenities, Behach Éan?”
“I should, um . . .” Phoebus clears his throat. “Start getting ready. You know how long it takes me to do my hair.”
I blink away from Lorcan’s face, toward Phoebus who’s wading to the far side of the basin. “Do your hair?Seriously?” I hiss. “Wait.”
“No, no, you stay.” He’s already circling Lorcan, who’s blocking the narrow passageway.
I am absolutely not staying behind with a fully dressed monarch whose body is steaming just as profusely as the water pruning my skin.
As Phoebus climbs out, I hop to my feet, forgetting that the level is waist-deep, and that I am currently putting my breasts on display for all to see.
Not that there’s anyone looking.
Not that there’s anyone here.
Where is everyone?
Gone.Lorcan’s monosyllabic answer knells between my temples.
When I feel his eyes on my chest, I sink back down to my neck. I’m aware he’s already seen my breasts and that they’re really not something to write home about, but popping up in his bedroom naked and stripping in front of a few dozen strangers has apparently not rid me of my self-consciousness.
“You have a tub in your bathing chamber, Fallon.”
I bristle. “I was looking for Phoebus, and Phoebus wasn’t in my tub. I didn’t realize I needed a permission slip to use the public baths. You know, what with them beingpublicand all.”
His outline wavers some more but not his scowl. His scowl remains unyielding and in perfect focus.
