Delta tipped her head to the stack of books on her bedside table. “I’ll give you one guess who sent me those as a get-well-soon present.”

Bri’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Neelo Emberspear.”

“They said this should be enough to keep me entertained until I’m out of bed.” Delta laughed, sizing up the massive stack of books. “I suspect Neelo thinks I can read books as fast as they can.”

Bri grinned and shook her head. “Ah, well, enjoy.” She patted Delta on the shoulder, her friend giving her a nod in farewell as she left.

The halls were crowded with servants bustling about in the early evening. She kept close to the wall to avoid the flurry of activity as they closed down the castle for the night—hauling baskets of linens, carrying trays of food, lighting the torches along the walls. She weaved through the hubbub, making herself a shadow as she twined her way back toward the great hall.

Bri ducked out of the way of a harried-looking servant by tucking up against a door. She heard voices from the other side of the painted wood. At first they were murmured, then one voice she heard more distinctly. Her brows dropped, her face scrunching as she recognized it.

She quietly tested the handle but the door was locked. Grabbing her smallest knife from her belt, she inserted it into the lock and twisted. Once the lock was disengaged she opened the door and stepped into the front room.

What she saw made her freeze. Saika gasped, hauling a blanket up to cover her bare chest from where she sat straddling none other than Captain Yaest.

Bri snarled and turned back to the door.

“Bri, wait!” Saika called, climbing off Yaest and wrapping the blanket around her shoulders. She scurried over to Bri with a panicked look on her face. “Don’t tell Delta, please.”

“The two of you truly deserve each other.” She huffed a bitter laugh, glowering at Saika. “I think you and your wife need to talk.”

“I love her, Bri, I do, but—”

“Spare me,” Bri grumbled. “That is a conversation for you and Delta.” She glanced to Yaest, who covered himself with a pillow, watching Bri warily. “This makes everything you’ve told me all the less believable.”

“I haven’t lied to you,” Yaest said with a haughty shrug. “You didn’t ask me if I was sleeping with anyone.”

“Gods, each one of you is worse than the last,” Bri gritted out. She flung her hands in the air. “I don’t care. Leave me out of it.”

“Delta didn’t leave you out of it,” Saika hissed. She clenched her blanket around her shoulders as Bri’s eyes widened. “You think I didn’t know?”

“You knew?”