Could she be content with that? A physical connection, but not a soul one? A marriage with passion but no connection?
“What has you most conflicted?” Shelly asked.
“I don’t know if I can spend the rest of my life plastering on plastic smiles and pretending I don’t see Finn being fake. Or flirting with gargoyles in front of me.”
“Come again?”
“He was talking to a gargoyle, and it was … flirty. For sure on her side. And then Finn dismissed me.”
“Dismissed you? Why?”
“So they could flirt in private, I imagine.”
“You imagine or you know?” Iris was sure her sister could read that answer on her face. “Well, what did you say to him when you confronted him about it?” At Iris’s silence, Shelly sighed. “Did you expect your fiancé to be a mind reader? Because I’m pretty sure Mom told you he was human through and through.”
“It was rude. I shouldn’t have needed to tell him for him to know that.”
“Or maybe you just saw it that way because you were upset about what you perceived was flirting.”
“Listen, I don’t like this version of you. I want the sister back who always spoke before she thought.”
“Even she could see that you’re looking for reasons to dislike Finn.”
“Maybe,” Iris conceded. “But there are also some legitimate concerns.”
“Then how about I suggest you sit down and talk themout like two partners in a relationship would do? Instead of just tiptoeing around it and hurting your own feelings?”
“We’ll see. I’m not even sure I’m going back yet.”
Just then, there was a slam in the hallway, making both sisters straighten. They knew that slam. That was Tatiana herself. And she was unhappy about something.
“Oh, no,” Iris whispered. “Juna has Osiren in her room.”
“He’s been in her room every night. She doesn’t care. Actually, I think she’s happy about it. If anything, I think she figured out that you—”
“Iris Lanae Marivelle.”
“Uh-oh,” Shelly said, shooting her sister a grimace.
“Hello, Mother,” Iris greeted the queen as her bedroom door flew open.
“What have you done?”
“What?” Iris asked, stomach twisting. Had Finn said something? Had another news outlet published something embarrassing about her?
“The only reason you could possibly be here is if you bungled your relationship with Finn Westrock.”
“That’s not true. I could have gotten myself in trouble with the law and needed somewhere to hide out,” Iris quipped.
But her mother was in no mood to entertain jokes.
“Out with it. What did you do?”
“She didn’t do anything, Mom,” Shelly said. She swam next to her sister, her chin jerking up.
“Then why is she here at this hour?”
“She missed us. And the ocean. Isn’t she allowed to visit?”
