Great. Perfect. Wonderful.
This was going exactly how she had hoped, which was to say not at all.
Another camera flashed.
He gave her another gentle squeeze at the waist. “Relax,” he murmured softly.
She kept smiling through her teeth. “I’m going to murder you later,” she whispered back.
His grin widened.
“Oh, don’t mind us,” Calyra waved a taloned hand dismissively when she noticed Liora staring at the camera crew. “It’s like we’re not even here.”
One of the cameras clicked immediately as if to prove the opposite.
“We’ll take a couple of shots while the stylists work,” Calyra continued, scribbling something onto a thin crystal tablet. “Then maybe get a quote or two later.” She flashed another eager smile. “Nothing intrusive.”
Liora watched as the harpy and her crew drifted off toward one of the elaborate photo sets, murmuring among themselves and adjusting lenses.
The moment they were far enough away, Liora turned to Thaleia. “Can we have a moment?” she asked politely.
“Of course, darling,” the lamia said smoothly.
Within seconds, the nymph, the assistants, and the stylists quietly slipped out of the dressing area, leaving the curtain swaying gently behind them. Silence settled.
Liora immediately turned to Maldenis. But before she could say a word?—
“Careful,” he said calmly.
She froze, and a slow breath left her nose. Gods, she was beginning to hate it when he said that. But the cameras were still out there somewhere, watching and waiting.
Fine. If she had to play the game…
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck as if they were simply being affectionate. From a distance, it probably looked sweet.
Up close, her whisper was sharp. “What is happening?” she murmured. “What is all of this?”
He rested his hands lightly at her waist, leaning in like this was the most natural thing in the world. “You know this is a big deal,” he said quietly. “The first basilisk marriage in centuries.
“Everyone thinks that it’s lucky to be part of it,” he sighed.
She pulled back just enough to give him a look.
“Alright,” he admitted. “There’s… a whole media blitz.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“And the party.”
Liora blinked. “Oh gods,” she whispered. “How big is this party going to be?”
His mouth curved with that familiar wry amusement. “You already know,” he said dryly.
She stared at him. Because yes. Yes, she did. And that answer was somehow worse than anything else he could have said.
He studied her for a moment, his eyes moving slowly over her face, lingering just enough to make her aware of every inch of it.
She felt the look settle over her, her pulse betraying her with a faint, unwelcome shift. There was something in his gaze that made it hard to breathe evenly. She liked it. And hated that she liked it.
