“Because we look convincing,” he found himself thinking about the kiss, how, even with the cameras and the photographer prompting them, it hadn’t felt staged in the moment, just unexpectedly real.
“We were convincing because you ambushed me.”
“You literally said ‘here we go’ before kissing me.”
“That was sarcasm.”
“The camera didn’t pick up sarcasm.” He shrugged.
She rolled her eyes. “I cannot believe this is my life now.”
He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. “Look on the bright side.”
She gave him a suspicious glance. “There is no bright side.”
“You’re currently the most famous human in basilisk society.”
“That’s not comforting.”
He gestured subtly toward the crowd. “Half the room is pretending not to stare at you.”
“Oh, good,” she said flatly. “Lucky me.”
“Someone over there just knocked over a tray because they were staring.” He glanced to his right, where a young basilisk was hurriedly apologizing to a server.
“See?” He grinned. “Influence.”
She huffed a quiet laugh. “This is ridiculous.”
“Agreed.”
“You know what the worst part is?” She crossed her arms slightly, still scanning the room.
“What?”
“I feel like we’re on display.”
He considered that and then leaned closer again. “We are.”
“That was not helpful.” She glared at him.
“But look at it this way.” He nodded toward the room again. “It’s not just you.”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
He lifted his glass toward the massive portrait behind them. “Congratulations,” he said casually. “We’re both part of the exhibit.”
For a second, she stared at him. Then she snorted. “Great,” she muttered. “We’re a museum installation.”
“Exactly.”
“What would the plaque say?”
He pretended to think about it. “‘Rare example of accidental interspecies marriage.’”
She laughed under her breath. “‘Handle with caution.’”
“‘Prone to biting.’”
