Lannahi did not move. Letiri’s suggestion was a good one, but in this case, Lannahi wasn’t going to listen to her sister. She curtsied only to her parents and her audience after a performance.
She met the eyes of each man and nodded slightly. “Good fate.”
The corner of Llazaros’s mouth twitched. “Good fate, indeed.” He looked at Letiri. “Besides the differences in your tastes, is there anything else you’d like to tell me about?”
Lannahi felt a sting of shame. Did the man think Letiri had introduced her to him for a specific reason?
A mischievous smile danced on her sister’s lips. “Let me warn you before you get disappointed,” she told the prince. “If you would like to listen to Lannahi’s songs, you will have to go to Goldenshadows. Long journeys do not appeal to my sister.”
Lannahi almost flinched from embarrassment, but her heart ignited with anger. How did Letiri dare? And that after hearing what Lannahi told her and Maal yesterday?
Amusement flashed in Llazaros’ eyes, but when he turned to Lannahi, his tone was polite. “Wouldn’t you like to see the ocean, Lannahi? In my opinion, it’s a nicer view than meadows and orchards.”
If Lannahi had intended to buy her way into the man’s court, she would have seized the opportunity and enthusiastically asserted that she dreamed of seeing the ocean. Since she had no intention of doing so, she said, “Ilike meadows and orchards.”
Broad smiles that appeared on the men’s faces seemed sincere, but Llazaros’s next question made her uncomfortable.
“You don’t like getting wet?” he asked, lowering his voice suggestively.
Flirtation wasn’t something foreign to Lannahi, but looking into Llazaros’s eyes she didn’t feel like she was being seduced. She felt like a toy. However, no matter how upset she felt, she couldn’t turn around and walk away. Insulting Letiri and Llazaros would not benefit her and, instead, certainly do harm. They were stronger than her, after all.
Feigning seriousness in such a way that it was clear she was pretending, she furrowed her eyebrows slightly and answered with a question, “Where did this conclusion come from?”
Llazaros regarded her for a moment, amused, and then he suddenly turned to Sammais. “And what should I say to that?”
His friend didn’t even spare him a glance. “That it wasn’t a conclusion,” he said, looking Lannahi in the eye, “but an inappropriate joke from an asshole whose ego is bigger than his brain.”
Lannahi suppressed her surprise but not the smile that pulled at her lips.
Llazaros glanced at Lannahi’s face and again at Sammais. “I hate when you are right.”
Sammais smiled, but there was a challenging glint in his gaze. “Since I am right, then be kind to articulate aproperinvitation.”
Llazaros raised an eyebrow as if he was going to argue but eventually sighed and said, “If you change your mind, I will be glad to welcome you at my court, Lannahi. Assuming, of course, that you aren’t already repulsed by my behavior.”
“I appreciate the gesture,” she replied with a light smile.
When it became clear that she didn’t intend to address Llazaros’s last remark, he turned to Letiri, amused. “And you, my orchid? Will you appreciate my gesture when I invite you too?”
Letiri smiled sweetly. “I’m not yours,” she said also ignoring his last words.
Sammais snorted with laughter. “I think it will be you who will be traveling, my prince.”
Letiri’s smile grew predatory. “We’ll be waiting,” she said but didn’t wait for a reply. She took Lannahi’s arm again and with the grace of a socialite started on her way back to their parents.
When they were far enough from the two men, she leaned over to her sister and spoke in a low voice, “You can have Llazaros if you want, but I think Sammais will be more to your liking.”
Lannahi ignored a pang of anger. Also lowering her voice, she said, “I thought, sister, that you understood what I meant yesterday.”
“I did,” Letiri said without a hint of remorse. “And I didn’t ask you for anything, did I? I only created opportunities. It’s always good to have some.”
“Nevertheless, I would be grateful if you wouldn’t put me in a similar situation again.”
“Are you sure? You did well. I think that before the end of the evening, we will get you at least five invitations.”
Lannahi swallowed a sharp retort. “I’m sure.”
The corners of Letiri’s mouth lifted slightly. “Normally I would try to convince you, but I feel I won’t succeed this evening.”
