“Do we have to go over this again?” But I couldn’t deny that the little voice in the back of my mind was wondering how much longer I could go before seriously considering it. This new clue left little doubt the union actually was important. Us getting married still made no sense in the context of unlocking the bracelets, but if nothing else worked . . . And what if it could get lots of people behind us, searching for my mom? What if it helped in finding the tomb after all? I knew marrying any other Circle members would do nothing, but with Stellan, there was a chance. An insane, far-fetched chance, but still a chance.
“If we did it—” It was the first time I’d ever said it out loud. “Not that we are, but if we did, it would mean outing yourself. Which we think they might accept if we came out together, but could also be dangerous.”
“I know. Trust me, I know.”
“And, you know, pledging your eternal love to me.” I opened a cupboard, surveying the huge amount of food Colette had.
“You do yourself a disservice if you think that’s as repulsive as you’re implying.” The boat rocked suddenly in what must have been the wake of another boat speeding by. “Plus, there’s the happy fact that the Circle’s wedding ceremony requires the marriage to be consummated immediately for it to be valid.”
I pulled out a jar of Nutella and a spoon and rolled my eyes. “No it doesn’t.”
“It does. It’s part of the ceremony—a holdover from medieval times. The priest and the families and a few special guests watch. To make sure it happens.”
I paused with the spoon halfway to my mouth. “Are you serious?”
“Serious as you can be about live pornography.”
“So if the wedding with Luc had happened . . .”
Stellan nodded. I sat down heavily in the chair across from him.
“Have you ever seen . . . ?”
“Sadly, no,” he said. “Luc’s the only Dauphin child—well, he was until recently—and so there’s been no occasion for it.”
I rested my elbows on the table. “That doesn’t matter. We’re not getting married, so we won’t have to actually—” I waved one hand.
“I think that might be more offensive than saying no to the marriage part,” Stellan mused.
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reply. After a few seconds, I said, “What if, hypothetically, we were to . . . pretend. Would they believe us if we said we’d gotten married?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It’d be our word against any doubters. But if it was only pretend, we wouldn’t get the benefit of the union for finding the tomb. Or unlocking the bracelets.”
“If ‘union’ actually does mean ‘marriage.’” I drew my feet up onto the seat and wrapped my arms around my knees. As usual, this argument was going nowhere.
“Will someone throw me the white top drying by the door?” a voice called from the bedrooms. Colette stuck her head around the corner, arms crossed over her more-than-ample chest. She wore only a pink polka-dotted bra and a flowing skirt.
I turned around quickly, averting my eyes. Stellan didn’t. He gave her a teasing smile. “No,” he said. “We won’t.”
Colette gave him a look of mock outrage and teased back in French. I grabbed the shirt and tossed it toward her.
“Thank you, cherie,” she said, shooting an eye roll in Stellan’s direction before disappearing back into the room.
When the door closed behind her, I turned to Stellan. “Her boyfriend just died.”
“Yes.”
“You’re flirting with her.” He’d been doing it since we got to Greece. She’d cozy up to his side; he’d whisper something that made her giggle.
“Hmm. I take issue with that categorization. Technically, she’s flirting with me. I’m just following her lead.” The sun had just started to dip below the horizon, and Stellan made his way outside.
I followed. “Don’t you dare take advantage of Colette. I like her.”
He looked back inside and lowered his voice. “I like her, too. That’s the point. People grieve in different ways. Lettie wants a distraction, so I’m being nice.”
“Does she know that?”
He cocked his head to one side, and the sea breeze rippled his white button-down shirt. “Yes. How can I make you understand this? Lettie . . . she’s been in the spotlight for so long that she hates being alone. Being adored is her safe place. But everyone who usually fawns over her just treats her like a sad war widow now.” He paused, and I let it sink in. I’d never really thought about Colette that way. Stellan continued, “Harmless flirting happens to serve both our interests. And yours, really.”
“My interests?”
“If she’s happy, she’s more likely to help us with whatever insane plan you think up next.”
I paced down the stairs to the lower deck, Stellan on my heels.
“Do you always use sex to get your way?” I said, swirling a finger on a water mark on the top of the bar.
He scowled. “I’m not sleeping with her. As you so judgingly pointed out, her boyfriend just died. Her boyfriend who was a friend of mine, I might add, just like Colette is. I have some morals, you know.” He paused. “And anyway, girls do it all the time.”
I started to protest, but he went on. “Listen. I said I’d train you. Here’s a lesson that doesn’t have to do with fighting. Being nice doesn’t get you far in the world of the Circle. You have to use whatever tools you have to get ahead.”
He sounded surprisingly bitter. And the conversation sounded over.