“What about Roke?” she demanded.
“Ah.” Levet smiled, but Fallon sensed he wasn’t fooled. “You have no need to worry about your sister. Roke is excessively devoted to her.”
“And she’s happy?” Fallon continued the game even though she had no need to ask the question.
She’d seen the way her sister and Roke looked at each other. The two were blatantly gaga for each other.
“Oui,” Levet readily confirmed. “She appears to be very pleased with her mate.”
Fallon nodded. She truly was happy for Sally. Even though she hadn’t known her sister when they were growing up, she sensed they could become friends if they were given the opportunity. Still, she couldn’t deny a small pang of envy.
What would it feel like to be chosen by a male because he was so deeply in love with her that he couldn’t imagine a life without her? To be consumed by his passion and to know he would never, ever stray from her bed?
“Good,” she forced herself to say.
Levet tilted his head to the side. “And what of your mate?”
She glanced down at the robe she continued to wear. It would take time to gather the courage to try on the jeans and sweater that were now neatly folded in her room.
“Chatri don’t mate,” she admitted in low tones. “We have a more practical approach to relationships.”
She heard the scratch of Levet’s claws on the floor as he moved to stand beside her. “Practical?”
“Our marriages are arranged.”
“Ah.” The tiny gargoyle heaved a sigh. “That is often the choice among gargoyle royalty as well.”
“It’s . . .” She tried to come up with a word to describe her upcoming union with Prince Magnus. Bleak. Endless. “Efficient,” she at last murmured.
“It is a suitable arrangement for some demons,” Levet slowly agreed.
“Yes.”
Fallon felt a small hand lightly stroke her arm, the comforting gesture pulling her out of her brooding thoughts.
“I sense your unhappiness, ma belle.”
“Well, this is all very unsettling,” she said, not wanting this creature’s sympathy. “I’ve never been away from my father’s palace.”
Levet gave her another pat. “You are homesick?”
“Oh no,” she breathed, trying to hide her tiny shudder at the mere thought of being whisked back to the elegant palace and her inevitable fate. “I’ve always hoped to travel to this world.” She grimaced. “Although my dreams hadn’t included spying on the Commission or being trapped with a bipolar vampire.”
Levet sighed. “Oui, bipolar vampires are usually reserved for our nightmares.” He abruptly smiled. “Thankfully we will eventually discover the culprit and you will be able to explore this world.”
Explore the world . . .
Fallon forced herself to snuff out the small spark of hope.
It would only lead to disappointment.
“My father will never allow me to remain,” she said, her voice carefully composed. “Besides, I’ll soon be marrying my prince.”
Levet’s fingers tightened on her arm, his expression filled with open sympathy. “I have learned that trying to live your life to please your family is a certain path to misery.”
There was something in his lightly accented voice that assured Fallon that he did understand the burden of family duty.
“Did your family want you to wed a gargoyle of their choosing?” she asked softly.