“Mm-hmm,” Delta hummed, having the perfect way to get under Bri’s skin. “I suppose you can make any traditions you want when you are Queen of the Eastern Court.”

“That has a nice ring to it.”

“How many people are you competing against?”

“I don’t know yet, at least a dozen, probably more. My biggest competition is from Talhan and Carys, but I have Fate on my side.”

“After all these years running from Fate.” Delta shook her short hair out of her eyes. “You are so certain of that prophecy now, hmm?”

“It all makes sense.” Bri bobbed her head. “This is my destiny.”

“Careful, destinies have a way of biting people in the ass.” Insects buzzed louder in the night as the stilted conversation lingered between them. Delta reached into her pocket and passed Bri a crumpled piece of paper. “Here.”

“What’s this?” Bri asked, unfolding the paper and glancing at the list of names on it.

“A list of whom I’ve already spoken to—who is in the clear, and who is still suspicious,” Delta said.

Bri’s eyes dropped down the long list of names and jobs, landing on the food tasters she had yet to find. “These two, I want to speak with.”

“You’ll probably find them at a tavern in town,” Delta said with a sigh.

“None of your guards are listed in the suspicious column,” Bri mused, lifting her brow.

“They’re beyond suspicion,” Delta countered. “I selected each one of them myself. They were all there, battling in the fray when the witch hunters attacked. If one of them was missing, I would have noted it.” Bri shook her head and Delta guffawed, taking another swig of her drink. “If you don’t believe me, please, by all means, interview each of them again.”

“I might,” Bri hedged.

Delta grinned. “I’ll miss this.”

Bri considered her, eyes roving her tight features and dark bronze eyes. “You speak as though you have stepped one foot out of this world already.”

“Have I not?”

“The surgery will be fine, Del.”

“I need you to look out for Lina,” she rasped as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “She’s the most important person, and despite everything, I trust you.”

“Your purpose isn’t only in brandishing your sword . . .” Bri turned the bottle in her hands, her thumb sweeping across the smooth glass. “You’ve clearly got people who care about you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Saika,” Delta said. Bri didn’t answer. “Saika and I were best friends my whole life. I asked her to marry me when I was sixteen. My aunt refused to allow it until we were of age.” She snorted, thinking of some memory. “But I was stubborn enough to wed her in secret, anyway.”

Bri smirked. “Why does that not surprise me?”

“I wanted to move out of my house and go train as a warrior.” Delta looked up to the bright night sky. “Plus, my parents hated her too, so of course she was the best choice for me.”