“I know that. I’m trying,” Lina growled, exhaustion and frustration making her voice rough. “But I’d rather trust no one at all than trust the wrong person.” She stared down into her mug. “My mother trusted a lot of the wrong people.” Her voice softened as if her mind was drifting to a far-off memory.

“I’m not the wrong person,” Bri whispered.

Lina’s eyes lifted, something like sadness flickering through her sharp expression. “I wish you were.”

The moment stretched on in silence, Bri contemplating the weight of each of those words, until finally she tipped her head toward Lina. “Why can’t you sleep?”

“It’s a recent affliction,” Lina said, pulling back into herself. She let Bri piece together the rest.

“I don’t blame you, knowing there are people around who want you dead . . .” She blew on her tea. “It would make anyone want to stay up.” Bri tapped the hilt of her amber dagger. “It’s why you should train with daggers; you can’t sleep with your battle-axe under your pillow.”

Lina huffed, rising from her chair and sidling over to her bed. She reached under her pillow and pulled out the hand axe that Airev wore on her belt.

Bri grinned. “I stand corrected.”

Abandoning her tea, Bri walked around to the far side of the bed and slid her dagger under the last pillow. She kicked off her boots and slid beneath the sheets, a groan pulling from her chest as the soft mattress cradled her body. The sheets were softer than any she’d ever felt before, the light duvet just the right amount of weight for the temperature.

“You’re sleeping in your clothes?” Lina asked, perplexed as she replaced her axe. “Aren’t a tunic and trousers uncomfortable to sleep in?”

“I don’t usually sleep that long,” Bri said, staring at Lina as she tucked her face into the supple pillow. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she was certain this bed was magic. “Changing isn’t really worth it for a nap. Besides, it’s this or nothing, so . . .”

Lina rolled her eyes. “Turn over.”

“What?”

Lina’s fingertips hovered on the silk belt of her robes. “Turn. Over.”

Bri rolled over to her other side and listened to the sound of the fabric pooling on the ground. The sheets rustled and the bed dipped as Lina slipped beneath the sheets. When the movement halted, Bri rolled back over, her eyes dipping to the thin straps of Lina’s nightdress.

“Why’d you make me turn over?” Bri chuckled. “You’re still clothed.”

Lina’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t want you getting any ideas.”

Bri flashed a wide grin. “You’re very confident in the effect the sight of you in a nightdress would elicit.”