“Ah, yes. The witch trying to ruin my wedding.”
“I believe their utter lack of compatibility is what is ruining it. But, technically, I’m only ruining theirengagement; the wedding is collateral damage.” Her chin jerked up, everything about her primed for an argument. Iris could already hear her spiel about the suffrage movement, bra burning, and the ever-present problem of the inequitable division of labor in households. Minus, of course, orcs. Who, apparently, were brutes in the streets, but lovingly attentive husbands and fathers at home.
“You know what? I think I senselongingburied deep in that cold, jaded heart.” Iris watched as Arden stepped closer toward Selene. Even though everything about her friend was sparking warning signs.
“You’re mistaken. That’s just the echo chamber where I keep my apathy.” Selene stepped closer to a display table, pretending that she needed to straighten the stacks. When Iris knew she was simply putting some space between herself and the demon who perhaps saw a bit more of her than she liked.
“Are you sure you’re not just scared of love?” Arden asked.
“No. I’m scared of glitter, huggers, and overhyped books. Love just has terrible PR.”
“Love is the most potent magic of all.”
Iris almost wanted to snort at that. Sure, mermaids were of the romantic sort. But that was cheesy even for her kind.
“Love is a neurochemical betrayal wrapped in bad poetry and cheap flowers.”
“You reallydon’tbelieve in love, do you?” Arden asked, the charm slipping to genuine concern.
“I believe in books, caffeine, petty revenge, and the inevitable heat death of the universe. Love is somewhere below those.” Despite her words, Iris could swear she heard a false note in her friend’s voice.
Arden watched her for a moment. “You know, if I planned your love life, I bet you could actually have one.”
“If I let you near my love life, I’d have to be fumigated. So, progress?” Selene asked, looking away from Arden to give Iris her full attention. Like if she tried hard enough, she could pretend the demon and his keen observations didn’t exist at all.
“Well, he hates the bugs and teeth. And the doll almost made him wet himself. But, no. No, he’s just … the same old Finn.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Arden said, pulling the binder from his chest to flash it toward the two women.
“Oh, yes, a carefully orchestrated pap shot. How romantic. That campaign manager of his probably even tipped off the press.”
“Thank you,” Iris said, vindicated. Even if her heart did a little flip each time she saw the pictures of the kiss.
“Oh, come on. Even you have to admit that Finn is leading man material,” Arden insisted. He gestured toward the table of romance novels she’d just straightened.
“Sure, if he is the main character in a cautionary tale about the subjugation of women. I mean, look at her,” Selene said, flinging an arm at Iris. “She’s from a matriarchal culture. Even her own true form is, at a biological level, matriarchal. Her body has to be excited and willing for there to be any sort of sex. And you want to forceher to become the pawn in some scheme among surface men?” Selene’s tone was tight, borderline angry.
“Darling, it’s only a scheme if she doesn’t like him. And I, for one, see the look in her eyes when she talks about him. That’s not hate. That’s a spark.
“I’m not some mustache-twirling villain. I happen to think they’re perfect for each other. And if I’m right, that makes me a romantic, not a conspirator.”
“A man who was perfect for her wouldn’t force her to leave the ocean.” Selene, in her anger, took a step closer toward Arden. Iris swore the air sparked between them. She wasn’t sure if that was the witch’s magic or something more.
“I believe that honor belongs to Her Majesty the queen, not Finn.” Arden tucked his chin to look down at Selene.
There was a silence following that. Because they all knew he was right. Sure, Finn had wanted an advantageous marriage to a paranormal figure. But it had been Tatiana who’d volunteered Iris for the position, whether she wanted it or not.
“Anyway,” Arden said. His voice sliced through the tension in the store. “For the seating chart for your friend here, I think we should place her somewhere strategic,” he said, opening up his binder. “Close enough to witness true love conquering in the end. Far enough that her scowling won’t ruin the photos …”
Despite trying to keep her lips in a firm line, Selene’s smile and snort indicated that she wasn’t quite as immune to the demon’s charm as she’d claimed.
“I mean, I’d consider putting her at the singles table. But we don’t want to risk her sparking an anti-romance rebellion mid-toast.”
To that, Selene rolled her eyes. “Why is he here?” she asked, her arms crossing as she nodded her head toward the demon.
“He shows up randomly and insists we talk about fonts and centerpieces.” Though why he wanted to keep her in the loop when she was so insistent on there not being a wedding was beyond her.
“Hmm,” Selene said. “Hey, we could use that.”