Tem dropped into his leather chair, firelight flickering behind him. The curtains were still drawn but beams of sunlight illuminated the painted vase sitting between the windows. The room filled with the cloying scent of wilting flowers.

“Why am I really here?” Bri asked, slumping further down in her chair.

Tem raised his eyebrows. “You think I don’t know about the two of you?”

Bri shifted under his look. “There is no two of us.”

“Of course.” Tem smirked, raising his hands in defense before Bri could argue. “I’m not angry. I always knew Lina would never care for me in the way that I cared for her. I just want to see her happy. She deserves some happiness after all she’s been through.”

Bri’s eyes darted awkwardly around the room—the lush rug, the tapestry on the wall, the carved wood box on the mantle—there wasn’t anywhere her eyes could land as her feelings betrayed her. There was something between her and Lina, something that others could see.

Bri thought of that shared moment in the wine cellar, how she had grabbed Lina the same way that she’d wanted to after interrogating Meson those many weeks ago. Bolts of fire shot through her at the thought of pinning Lina to the wall again, of her hand dipping under the hem of Lina’s shirt and down between her legs.

Bri cleared her throat. “You seem surprisingly even-keeled about this,” she muttered.

“Lina is far from the first royal to have other lovers,” Tem said, grabbing a glass of amber liquid from the table beside him and swirling it in his hand. “But you don’t seem like the type to be a Queen’s mistress.”

“I’m not,” Bri growled.

“Then make sure Lina knows that.” Tem gave her a look. “You still plan on going to Wynreach and competing for the Eastern crown, yes?”

“Yes, and Lina knows that.”

“As long as she understands what you are to each other.” Tem took a swig of his drink. “I don’t want to see her any more heartbroken than she already is.” He lifted his long lashes. “And you, Catullus, seem like the type to break hearts.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do,” Bri gritted out.

“No?” Tem cocked his head. “What are you trying to do?”

“I’m trying to find who killed the Queen and make sure Lina is safe on her throne.”

Tem bobbed his head. “Well, then, you and I have a shared goal.” He stood, gesturing toward the doorway. “I’m sorry to have troubled you. I only wanted to ensure Lina would be safe on her travels. You must be heading to the horses now.”

“Right,” she muttered, hauling her heavy pack back onto her shoulders.