“I have been with a few men, and you’re an asshole for reminding me.” Lorna’s shoulders sag, and she turns a desperate face to me. “I think we should risk the fire,” she states.

“Relax, Lorna. You don’t have to fully strip. Besides, you’re sleeping with Idalia and Lin. The big boy’s all mine.”

Torrent releases a barbaric yowl, winks, and sends me a sinister grin. Lin shivers, wrapping his arms around his fully clothed body.

“I never agreed to that arrangement,” he says.

“Didn’t have to,” I say between bites of an apple. “You three are the smallest, so you’ll need more of each other’s heat. Torr’s a bear; his heat will do fine for me.”

Lorna clutches Torr’s tunic to her chest and continues to argue. “I can’t believe you lot agreed to this ridiculous plan. To the Lady, I’ll never forgive you,” she huffs.

A laugh springs up behind me—her laugh.

Lorna is unamused. “Oh, I’ll bet you think this is hilarious, don’t you?” she shouts at Idalia. “Verdanians love frigid weather. After all, they do say your bones are made of ice.”

I turn around. Idalia holds her red nose high in the air, though she doesn’t look upset by Lorna’s jeer. Her lips press tightly together before she speaks.

“Actually, I’ve always hated the cold.” She unbuttons her trousers, and I can’t move. I can’t look away. “So, I highly doubt my bones are frozen.” She briskly pulls them down without so much as a thought. Though the oversized tunic still covers most of her thighs, I’m surprised by her lack of shyness.

“Truthfully, I’d say that if my bones were made of anything, it would be branches. Like a tree. I’ve always loved trees. Especially the ones that hover over the Baellilean castle…” She abruptly stops.

“Was that a compliment…about Baelliles?” Torr asks with a cheeky grin. Idalia blushes and then throws her trousers on the ground.

“A slip of the tongue,” she smiles. “These woods must’ve bent my mind.”

Torrent also removes his trousers and stands before us in nothing but a brown loincloth.

I choke on my fruit. “Gods, Torrent. That can’t possibly be all you wear!” I yell, catching coughed-up apple in my hand. Lin is almost hysterical with laughter; Lorna grimaces. Torr’s skin is layered in goosebumps, but he stands straight and pretends not to notice.

“Shall I remove it?” His fingers trace playfully over the small cloth.

“For the love of the Guard, no!” Lorna pleads. “If you have any ounce of respect for me, you’ll leave it on!” We all buck in laughter. Even Idalia.

“Well, I, for one, will change in the privacy of the carriage. After all, that’s where we’ll be sleeping,” Lin says, stalking away.