“Well, tell them to turn back,” Rua hissed from beyond the stable wall.

Bri lifted her fingers to her lips, slowly sliding Lina’s trousers back up. Lina shook her head, a silent laugh making her shoulders shake as Bri slowly returned Lina’s clothes and buckled her belt. Bri dropped her forehead into Lina’s hip, giving the fabric one last kiss before standing. Bri lifted onto her toes and peeked through the gap in the boards above her head.

“Really? That’s how you’re going to handle this?” Aneryn snapped at Rua, the hawk on her shoulder bristling. The witch’s eyes and hands flickered a sapphire blue as her vision waned.

“Handle what?” Bri asked by way of greeting. The two jerked toward Bri and Lina as they turned the corner.

Aneryn’s eyes darted between them and Rua’s nostrils flared, but they didn’t say anything, too lost in their squabble. Bri bit the inside of her lip as she glanced at Lina’s flushed face.

“I’m sending them away, Bri. I’ll handle it,” Rua said.

“Who?” Bri asked. She and Lina moved back toward the stable door; Airev had abandoned her plot entirely for the euphoria of Bri’s mischievous mouth.

Rua looked down at her hands and clenched her jaw. “Your parents are coming to the ball tomorrow night.”

Bri’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“We didn’t invite them directly,” Aneryn said. “But we did send out invitations to the heads of each court and . . . somehow they took that to mean they were invited.”

Bri rolled her eyes. “Of course they did.”

“They’re in Brufdoran now; Aneryn just Saw them,” Rua said. “I’ll have one of the messengers fae fire them and tell them to turn back.”

Aneryn leaned into her friend. “Ru—”

“You’d rather they come?” Rua raised her brows.

Aneryn shrugged. “You invited Hale’s mother. And Neelo’s.”

“Yeah, but everyone likes Hale’s mother.” Rua gestured wildly. “And Neelo’s mother is a Queen, and none of the rest of us have parents around to decide whether or not they should garner an invite.” Rua’s mouth dropped open, realizing her slip of the tongue a moment too late. She gave Lina an apologetic glance. “Sorry.”

Lina chuckled, shaking her head. “Gods help anyone who is your enemy, Rua. You’re fiercely loyal to your friends.” Her gaze dropped to the Immortal Blade on Rua’s hip and back up to her eyes. “I respect that.”

Aneryn folded her arms and looked at Bri. “What would you have us do?”

Bri scratched the side of her head, frowning at the floor. “You’re making me decide?”

“I think we should send them away,” Rua said, folding her arms in the exact same way as Aneryn’s, the two of them looking like twins.