Chapter 17
Theora
Theora had been having a nice time, until their tram pulled up for their excursion and she heard the sound of running water and saw the massive wrought iron gate set in stone.
She couldn’t help but think that someone in their party was deliberately making this trip as uncomfortable for her as possible.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Theora groaned.
Argos seemed slightly on guard at her tone. “What is it?”
Lover’s Lagoon was by far the most exclusive tourist attraction in Lasius—a beautiful, ancient cavern, with a river cruise leading to a glowing lagoon at its center.
To help sustain its natural beauty, only two hundred people were allowed inside at a time, and reservations needed to be bought well in advance.
Hundreds of intimate wedding ceremonies were performed here each year.
But that wasn’t why Theora was annoyed.
The peace talks had been planned for months, but Argos had only been added to their guest list a few weeks ago, as soon as she had solidified the plan to claim him.
It definitely wasn’t a wedding present from Venita.
Which meant that someone had either pulled some strings to procure Argos a ticket…
or someone had arranged this beforehand, believing Theora would be single.
Because, per tradition—and safety regulations—guests were only allowed inside in pairs.
Sitting on Argos’s lap had been more than enough intimacy for one day, but this place was practically designed for romance. It was called Lover’s Lagoon, for Sovereign’s sake.
“You had me thinking this place was dangerous,” said Argos as Theora took his hand and led him to where Venita and Apollo waited for them by the front gate. “Why are we here if you hate it so much?”
“I don’t hate it. It’s just not the excursion I’d prefer.”
“Come on, Theora.” He barely avoided a smirk. “You’re livid.”
“Just don’t do anything, you know…intimate.”
“As long as you don’t start hugging Apollo again.” He rolled his eyes. “Honestly, I’m not even sure if he understands we’re married at this point, the way you were clinging to him before lunch.”
That wasn’t entirely fair. After all, she’d sat on Argos’s lap through part of lunch. “Trust me,” she murmured, “he’ll know by the end of this excursion.”
They approached the entrance gate, which was guarded by a sculpture of a woman in flowing robes with her hands together, palms upward, holding about two dozen golden coins.
“How did we secure a reservation at such late notice?” Theora asked, expertly keeping the panic from her voice, since she couldn’t very well order Venita to stop meddling in the middle of what was supposed to be a fun excursion.
Apollo’s expression was a combination of boyish charm and clever nonchalance. “A little bird told me you’d never seen it, and I know someone in the office. Everyone, at least once in their life, should experience the majesty of natural perfection.”
“I experience that on a daily basis,” said Argos, holding Theora close and kissing the top of her head.
He was warm, his touch comforting, and it made Theora want to run away screaming.
He was far too good at this.
Theora led her husband toward the gate as quickly as possible, eclipsing Venita’s and Apollo’s casual pace.
“In order to enter the Lover’s Lagoon,” said the cheerful man at the gate, Theora’s stomach twisting more and more with nerves at each word, “you must pay a toll to Ellenmara, goddess of love and good fortune. If two people put a golden coin in her hands, ring the bell, and kiss, they’ll have eternal love and good luck in this life and the next. ”
“It’s more a childish tradition than a requirement for entry,” said Venita, providing just the right information so Theora would know she could skip the theatrics.
But she couldn’t, really. A couple madly in love wouldn’t be bashful about one little kiss.
Apollo paid his admission without the gimmick, simply dropping a coin into the hands of the statue, then handed an extra coin to the gatekeeper before striking up a conversation with him.
Of course he would tip the staff generously, make her admire him even more on a day when Theora wished he weren’t here to see her.
Argos wrapped his arm around Theora’s shoulders and chest from behind, leaning close to whisper in her ear, “Are all Docile activities this…weird?”
Theora fought back her smirk. “This cavern is one of the natural wonders of the world.”
“No, I mean are we going to leave here with spirits latched on to us after presenting an offering to this idol?”
This time she couldn’t stop a small smirk from sneaking through. He was so devout it was almost adorable. “We’re not worshiping it. It’s just a way to get more money out of tourists.”
“Ah.” He paused, his lips skirting her ear, sending a shiver through her that, oddly, made her lean closer to him. “I think we’re going to have to break your rule.”
He didn’t even need to state which one. Theora swallowed and nodded. She’d set the rule for no kissing, but it seemed now they had no choice. Because if she truly were married, she’d have no problem at all kissing her husband.
For Sovereign’s sake, she had sat on the man’s lap. She could get through this, no problem.
“Just close your eyes, let me do the work. I’ll keep it tame,” he said, and he at least sounded like he meant it.
Theora fished out a gold coin from her tiny change purse, taking a breath to push down her dread at what she was about to do.
Dread was perhaps the wrong word for it.
It wasn’t as if she was…entirely opposed to kissing Argos.
It was just that they hadn’t practiced, and she wasn’t sure she could ever make it look natural.
“Come, Theora,” Argos said, already standing near the statue.
A pinprick of annoyance flicked at her. That was a command, whether or not anyone recognized it as one. She was almost tempted to challenge it, but all that would do was make Argos double down, overdo the affection. Not that the bar wasn’t already set far too high.
She stepped forward, forcing herself not to pause before taking Argos’s hand, holding the coin with him.
They didn’t linger—better to get this whole thing over with—and dropped the coin.
Together they took hold of the rope and pulled it.
The bell was old, its ring dull and muted, but for some reason the sound raised her anxiety. Because she knew what was coming next.
Her heart pounded, echoing off her rib cage. There was no time to soothe her nerves, no time to give Argos further instructions—he’d said he would keep it tame, but she had no idea what that meant to him. All she could do was close her eyes and trust that she wouldn’t have to lecture him later.
Thankfully, he didn’t leave her to her thoughts for long.
He took her chin in his hand, and Theora instinctively lifted her hands to push him off, at the last second remembering herself and softening the movement to take hold of his wrist…
just in time to feel the gentle pressure of his lips against hers.
Even though she knew it was coming, her breath caught from surprise or relief—she couldn’t decide which, and she didn’t have time to.
Because as her lips parted the slightest bit Argos took her lead, deepening their kiss.
She nearly swooned at the soft, pleasing pressure of his tongue in her mouth.
She gripped his wrist, nearly moving forward to take him back as his lips left hers.
In the next second, she remembered where she was, what she was doing.
This isn’t real…I can’t keep this…
Theora opened her eyes and blinked a few times, already missing his lips. She went to speak, but instead a burst of laughter escaped.
A giggle, Theora? What are you, a lovesick teenager?
Argos hugged her close, with the slightest raise of his brow. “And you said you didn’t like this place.”
“If you don’t let go of me…” she muttered.
With her face resting against his chest, she felt the rumble of his low laugh. “You’ll what?”
Venita’s expression was all disapproval when they rejoined them to enter the gate.
Lover’s Lagoon was different from any other tunnel in Lasius.
The walls and ceiling were encrusted with luminescent rocks, giving it an almost starlit, ethereal feel that went along with the dim, calming light from the lampposts.
The cavern opened up into smaller ones, she knew, that contained real saltwater lakes, some hot springs, some glowing plants.
But the main attraction was an underground river that flowed for miles—and that had been flowing, or so the lore went, for thousands of years.
A spray of light moved close by, and it wasn’t until it was passing them that Theora realized someone’s cat must’ve rolled in a pile of flowers and gotten the luminescent pollen stuck to it. She laughed but stopped herself quickly.
She looked up at Argos, who was looking down at her, a slight grin tugging the corner of his mouth.
Theora was glad it was dark enough that he couldn’t see her blushing. “Don’t start.”
“This trip is allowed to be fun, you know.”
“I’m too stressed for fun,” she said. She looked over her shoulder, checking to make sure no one in their party was in earshot. “By the way, was that your idea of a tame kiss?”
“It was three seconds, at the most,” said Argos.
“Forget how long it was. You stuck your tongue in my mouth.”
“You’re the one who opened your mouth. I thought it was an invitation.”
“I-I—” She glared at him, but only because she didn’t have a good explanation for what happened. “Well, we’re not doing it again. You do realize you’re single-handedly ruining my future marriage.”
Argos raised a brow at her. “I believe this whole plan was your idea.”
“Forgive the interruption, Your Grace,” said Apollo, approaching, “but I wonder if I might have a moment.”
“Of course, Apollo,” she said, almost relieved as she regained her composure. She took the arm her friend offered, shooting Argos a look to behave as they strolled ahead.