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I groaned, my head falling back on the headboard. “I might have been a little ambitious. I think we can get away with three days. Besides, I’ll need a break by then and I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
Daphne stroked my beard lightly. “Three days then.”
“Three days,” I promised.
Chapter 32
Daphne
We left Sounion three days to the minute after we’d arrived. Lukas had sent a note to Zale promising to be back by then and when we hadn’t returned the morning of the third day, he’d sent a warning that he had no problem dragging us back kicking and screaming.
That almost occurred, given neither Lukas nor I wanted to leave.
We’d spent those days finally enjoying each other without anything hidden. We swam, took advantage of the sun, made meals from the food in the pantry. On the second day, we got fairly desperate.
I sent a very panicked, very brief note to Rose that said something along the lines ofplease provide sustenance, Lukas has the appetite of a whale. She sent back a basket an hour later, with pasta, bread, vegetables, and wine tucked inside. Along with a note that readFUCKING FINALLY,xoxo Rose and Dominic.
Lukas and I sat on the patio and ate, bickering over whether they meant that we were fuckingfinallyor that we’dfucking finallygotten our shit together.
Then Lukas told me the story of how Loretta had caught Rose and Dominic in the water and was convinced this was Dominic getting him back. I’d almost choked on my wine laughing so hard as he recounted how distraught Loretta had been. Only a heaping serving of sardines calmed her down in that state.
So no, neither of us were particularly happy to have our time cut short. We walked back into the palace through a portal, landing right in our dining room.
Zale and Eleni sat at the table, looking like children about to open presents.
“You get two questions each,” I said. Eleni frowned, so I added. “For now. We’re tired.”
Zale barked a laugh. “I’ll bet you are.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Lukas said, shooting him daggers. Zale just laughed and threw up his hands in surrender before wincing like Eleni had kicked him under the table.
“Go,” I said, restraining a smile.
Eleni took the first question, jumping up and clapping her hands together. “Where were you?”
“Sounion,” I answered.
“Who said I love you first?” Eleni asked.
“I did,” we said at the same time. Lukas looked like I’d just stripped him of a world record, so I corrected, “Lukas. Because he wouldn’t let me.”
I looked at Zale, expecting questions from him. “I only have one,” he said. “Eleni can take my other.”
Eleni leaned over and gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek.
“Your question?” Lukas asked Zale.
Zale leaned back in his chair, far enough that he looked like he was about to fall over. “Who is paying the pool?”
“Excuse me?” Lukas said and I felt his hand tighten in mine.
“You know,” Zale said. “The bet that you guys have been secretly together for years but hiding behind the arranged marriage.”
Lukas and I looked at each other and I laughed lightly. We knew there were rumors, but a full-blown bet was more involved than I’d expected.
“And how many people are in this pool?” I asked.
“Like twenty.” Eleni shrugged before sipping her cup of tea. “All people you like, I promise.”
