“You know her, the green witch from the ice lakes?” Bri racked her brain trying to place the green witch. She thought to the witch with straight black hair, pale skin, and round face who would bring out the breakfasts at the camp. That was probably Laris. The rest of the green witches she remembered were too old. She chuckled, wondering if Aneryn and Laris were an item or if the two of them were just close friends.

She stared into the flickering green flames. She doubted Rua would even consider that Bri wanted to be at her wedding. She knew she didn’t seem like the type to care, but she was proud of Rua for how far she’d come since that day in Drunehan when Bri had found her staring lifelessly at the Immortal Blade.

“I didn’t want it to be a big thing,” Rua said, finally breaking the awkward silence between them.

“We wouldn’t have made it a big thing.” Carys clutched her chest in mock offense. “Just some gowns, flowers, catering, jewels, drinks . . .”

Bri snorted. “You’ve got a point, Ru.”

If Remy and Carys came within a mile of the festivities, they’d have wanted to change it, make it more elegant and fantastical and less like Rua.

“We’ll celebrate together during the Spring Equinox festivities,” Rua said. “You’re still coming?”

“Three days of wine and revelry? Gods, I hope so.” Bri shoved her hands in her pockets and rocked up on her toes with eagerness. It sounded like the exact sort of thing she’d love, far more than chasing wayward Princesses through city slums, at least. “I want this thing solved before then. If not, maybe we can convince Lina to come with us.”

“Good luck with that.” Carys chortled, her braid swishing as she shook her head. “I assume she’s invited?”

The fire flickered in silence before Rua finally said, “Of course.”

Bri grinned, knowing Rua hadn’t even considered inviting her until they’d brought it up.

“It would probably be good to get her out of this court for a while,” Carys said. “It’s a mess here.”

“Her mother wanted her to stay cloistered in Swifthill,” Bri added. “But she found her own ways out over the years.”

“I like her already.” Rua’s voice echoed around the room.

Bri’s lips pulled up at the corners. “You would like her.”

Lina fit right in their group—brave, cunning, cheeky, and somewhat brash. She could hold her own in any conversation and in any battle. Plus, she was already close with most of the royal fae of Okrith. She grew up with Hale, Renwick, Neelo, even Carys, when they attended parties and events hosted in Swifthill. Only Bri and Talhan weren’t there, their stories slightly skewed from those of the others because of their banishment.

“How is everyone?” Bri asked, hoping Rua would tell her about her twin.