of his pent-up energy through his grip—an impossible feat, as every inch of him was galvanized and alive.
“God, look at Her.” Flynn whacked Tobias on the arm. “Tell me She’s not the most ravishing Creature you’ve ever seen.”
Cosima. She had entered the room at some point, Tobias assumed, but still he stared at Leila. “She’s incredible.”
“Leila looks nice too,” Raphael said.
Tobias spun toward him. “Come again?”
“Leila.” Raphael nodded in her direction. “She looks nice, doesn’t she?”
“God, listen to this one.” Flynn laughed. “Talking about Leila, of all people.”
The conversation faded, and Tobias exhaled, thankful the topic had been abandoned. A chalice somehow ended up in his possession, and while the others drank themselves silly, he set his aside, his full attention on the woman in the black dress.
People darted onto the dance floor, erasing Leila from his sight. Dammit, out of the way. The annoyance was entertainment; dancing girls in colorful dresses spun in synchronized circles and wiggled their hips in a way that would’ve instantly held his attention weeks ago. The other competitors admired the display, but Tobias peered between the dancers at Leila, who stared back at him with that fiery gaze.
And then actual flames consumed his vision. Fire-breathers shot bursts of yellow across the atrium, and Leila fanned herself with a black feathered fan, the air suddenly hot and thick. Cosima leaned into Leila, whispering with her behind their fans; Tobias should’ve looked away, but his gaze didn’t waver, their fixed stares an unspoken dare. A smile spread across Leila’s lips, and she crossed her legs, leaving the whole damn thing from ankle to thigh completely exposed. Was that for me? A wave of heat rushed through his body. Please God, say that was for me.
A wall of blue blocked his line of sight. Delphi stood before him, her dress like a bright summer sky.
“Delphi.” Tobias sat up straight. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you.” She gestured over her shoulder. “Care to join me?”
The music of harps and double flutes floated through the space, the floor filled with people dancing. “You’re asking me to dance?”
“It’d be a shame not to put your lesson to use.”
He watched the people for a moment longer before looking up at Delphi, who held out her hand. “So? Do you accept?”
He took her hand in his. “It would be an honor.”
“Proper decorum and everything.”
The two headed across the atrium, leaving a trail of curious stares in their wake. Delphi stopped in the center of the dance floor, turning to Tobias with her palm raised, and when he hesitated, she cocked her head in its direction. Oh, right. Taking her hand, he slowly led their dance, each step a little stiff and unsure.
“So then”—Delphi mirrored his steps effortlessly—“what do you think of the palace?”
Tobias’s eyes darted across the atrium. “It’s big.”
“How very observant.”
“It’s overwhelming.”
“Is that so? You looked utterly poised in the bathhouse today.”
He scoffed. “Very funny.”
“I saw your cock.”
“I know. Don’t remind me.”
Delphi chuckled, swatting him on the arm. “Don’t be hard on yourself. Those four are especially excitable. You never stood a chance.”
“The whole thing was a mess. Two of them were identical twins. I could hardly tell them apart.”
“Ah, yes. The twins.” She lifted their hands high, essentially spinning herself, then fell back into her normal steps. “Thank God Nyx cut her hair. Before then it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the two. But I found ways.”
“Really? How?”
“The freckles.”
“Freckles?” Tobias said. “They didn’t have freckles.”
“Not on their faces. But Nyx has quite a few sprinkled on her inner thigh, just shy of her cunt.”
Tobias burst into laughter. “Delphi!”
“Hemera, on the other hand, hasn’t a single freckle or mark to speak of. Anywhere.” She winked. “Trust me.”
“You’ve bedded them both?”
“Of course. But never at the same time, I’m not crude.”
Tobias still chuckled, shaking his head. “Delphi, you’re a scoundrel.”
“Hardly. I just love to love, is that so wrong? It’s all in good fun.”
The couples around them changed their position, and Tobias followed suit, entwining his fingers with hers.
“And what of you and Leila?” she cooed. “Are you having fun?”
“You ask as if she hasn’t told you every detail herself. I’m sure she has.”
“Just checking.” She flashed him a cheeky smile. “Curious to see if you’d lie to me, as men often do. Boast of your prowess.”
“You test me.”
“She’s my sister. It’s my job to test you.”
“How am I doing so far?”
She offered him a nod. “Well.”
“That’s a relief to hear. I’m doing something right. I’ve been feeling like a fish out of