Taking it, Bri grinned at the woman, who peeked at her through her curtain of hair.

“Abigail is free tonight, should you so wish,” the matron said, gesturing to the redhead.

The courtesan’s eyes flickered a brilliant scarlet, and Bri’s mouth dropped open.

“A red witch?” Bri cocked her head at the witch and then turned to the matron. “How?”

“My staff are all witches,” the matron said with a proud smirk. “And if you’ve never been with a red witch before, believe me, you’re missing out.”

Abigail flashed a carnal grin.

“I thought all the red witches were gone from the West,” Bri murmured. “Weren’t the only ones who survived hidden in the High Mountains?”

“Not those with powerful enough employers to protect them.” The matron lifted her chin, her face hardening. “This lounge became a safe haven over the past many years. Even now that witches no longer need a refuge, many have chosen to stay. People fear looking in the dark corners, afraid of what they might find, but that is where we have thrived.”

Abigail nodded, perching herself on Bri’s knee and biting the corner of her lip as she leaned back into Bri’s chest. She was overly perfumed but still had that magical scent of the witches hiding underneath. Bri’s hand snaked around to her belly as she gave the matron an approving nod.

She took a long swig of wine, spotting Lina’s peeking hood from the stairwell. She snorted into her drink, coughing to cover her surprise. Lina tipped her head in a gesture that indicated she had gotten what she’d come for as she gave Bri a pointed look.

Bri let the goblet slip from her grip, wine pouring down both her and Abigail. The courtesan leapt up as Bri muttered a string of apologies. The matron rushed over, grabbing a napkin from the side bar, and Lina bolted back to the door unseen.

“I’m so sorry,” Bri said again, wiping down her stained tunic.

“It’s no problem,” Abigail cooed. “It happens all the time.”

“I think I’ve had a bit too much.” Bri chuckled, dropping four gold coins onto the table.

The matron’s eyes widened at the coins, far more than Bri would have been charged. Bri hugged Abigail one last time, pressing two more gold coins into her palm and giving her a look. The matron would take most of the gold on the table for herself. These coins would be Abigail’s alone.

Abigail smirked and nodded. “I do hope you visit us again.”

With a wink, Bri headed toward the door and waved over her shoulder. “Have a lovely night, ladies.”

She heard Abigail’s excited whisper from behind her. “I can’t believe that just happened. Briata Catullus!”

She’d never get used to people’s excitement at seeing her, as if she were an oddity, her fame and reputation preceding her actual personality. In Swifthill, she was infamous—a threat to the Crown.

She stumbled back into the alleyway but Lina was already gone. She cursed, scanning the vacant road and jogging off in the direction she suspected Lina was heading.