Neelo seemed stiffer than usual, their shoulders bunched up around their ears as they shrunk in their seat and focused on their book. No wonder Neelo had seized the opportunity to travel to Silver Sands. Being around Queen Emberspear and her excesses—parties, orgies, dangerous stunts—was fun and thrilling in small doses, but to live around her must be terrible, especially for someone who enjoyed quiet pastimes like Neelo.

Carys nudged Bri with her elbow and Bri looked up to the arched doorway. Her heart stopped when she saw who stood there, silhouetted against the torchlight.

Lina Thorne: Warrior. Queen. Goddess.

She wore a shimmering bronze gown that hugged her plentiful bust and flowed out in draped waves to her sandaled feet. A matching bronze circlet wrapped around her forehead, a spherical diamond hanging from the center. Her face was painted in matching metallic highlights that made her dark eyes sparkle, but one other tiny detail took Bri’s breath away: the slit in Lina’s dress that rose all the way up to her hip, revealing the amethyst dagger strapped to her thigh.

Bri’s eyes drifted up Lina’s body as heat pooled in her core. The way that cold dagger pressed into Lina’s soft thigh . . . She looked up into Lina’s eyes, finding the goddess staring back at her.

Talhan slid his goblet in front of Bri. “Here. You’re looking parched.”

“Shut up,” Bri snapped, the spell broken.

“Do you remember—”

“Yes,” Bri said, not needing him to finish his thought. She remembered the agreement they’d made as children, what they would do for each other when it was time, the things they held for each other in safekeeping.

Lina sauntered up to the dais, each step offering a peek at the dagger and making Bri’s heart stutter. The Princess could stab Bri straight through with that dagger and Bri would only thank her for it. Lina bowed to the other sovereigns seated at the table and took her place between Carys and Renwick. Bri leaned so far over the table that Carys had to pull her back to keep Bri from lighting her hair on the flickering tapers. She gave Lina a look and Lina smirked back coyly, knowing exactly what she was doing by wearing that dress with that dagger.

“I see the West has been a fun adventure for you,” Talhan taunted.

Bri scowled at her twin. “Something like that.”

With a huff, Carys tossed back her wine. Queen Emberspear stood, her eyes hooded and her movements flowing. She tapped her knife against her glass, making the musicians pause and the dancers halt.

“Oh Gods,” Carys muttered, watching the Queen. “What havoc is she about to wreak?”

Bri shook her head, bracing herself.