Time seemed to stretch on before Lina took the dagger. It made Bri ache to have someone else hold it. A sharp pang of sorrow shot through her and she silently cursed Delta for begging her to do this.

Lina slowly touched the tip of the dagger to one of Bri’s shoulders, then the other, saying in a low voice, “Rise.”

Bri stood, a hair’s breadth from the Princess, as her dagger was returned. The scent of jasmine and rose oil wafted from Lina as her golden earrings glinted in the dappled sunlight, but it was those endless eyes that ensnared Bri every time she looked into them. From a distance, Lina seemed cold and cunning, but this close, Bri could see the swirling emotions rise to the surface. She hated how enticing it all was—to know what lay beneath that royal exterior. Now that she had pledged herself to Lina, she supposed she had time to find out.

Lina looked at her cousin and nodded. Delta’s eyes filled with tears as she bobbed her chin. Cole stepped forward, bringing a vial to her lips. Delta drank it, her body going limp within a single breath.

Cole looked around the room, adjusting his golden spectacles. “It will take a few hours. I’ll send one of my aides with updates.”

They made their way to the door . . . all except Delta’s wife.

“Saika,” Cole whispered. “You don’t want to be here for this.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Saika insisted, holding fast to Delta’s hand.

“All right, let’s begin.” He nodded to the rest of them and they departed.

Lina strode off at a clip down the hall, Bri fast on her heels. She moved faster and Bri matched her speed until Lina stopped abruptly and whirled on her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m following you.”

“I can see that,” Lina said, rolling her eyes. “Why are you following me?”

Bri’s brow furrowed. “Because I’ve sworn to protect you.”

“I officially absolve you of your pledge,” Lina said, glancing warily at Carys and leaning in to snarl at Bri. “You’re only here to appease Delta. I don’t need you of all people looming around when I’m trying to bring peace to my court. Now, go away.”

Bri rocked back from that confession. She’d been suspicious of the Princess, and now she knew why. Lina didn’t want her there at all. She was just using Bri to convince her cousin to undergo the surgery, and now that she had what she wanted, she was done with Bri.

“I can’t do that,” Bri pushed back, resting her hand on the hilt of her amber dagger. Delta knew what she was doing by requesting that Bri use that one. She knew it would mean too much for Bri to fob off the ritual as an act. “I’ll keep my distance, just . . . let me do this until Delta wakes at least.”

Lina leaned further in with a frown, easily making Bri feel small despite being a head taller. “I don’t like being controlled.”