The muscles in Bri’s jaw tightened as she watched them wander off. Her hard expression morphed to one of surprise as half of the guards followed the father and son. She was about to question the action when she spotted the wolf silhouette carved into the guards’ armor—the Wystron family crest. They brought their own personal guards to the parade? They must have known they’d be breaking off from Lina, but why did they need their own guards? She wondered if any of them accompanied Darrow and Tem into the palace too.

When Lina’s foot hit the landing, she turned and pulled Bri’s attention back to those hypnotic dark eyes. “Are you coming?”

“I thought guards weren’t allowed to enter witch temples,” Bri said, looking from Lina’s inquiring face down toward the hilt of her dagger.

“You aren’t official guards,” Lina said with a scoff as if it were an honor far beyond Bri’s reach. “You’re guests of the palace, currently, who happen to be good with a sword. You may enter.”

Bri frowned at that distinction but relented, climbing the steps and following Carys and Lina into the atrium. The high, windowless walls stretched up into an open roof. They walked around the mirrorlike reflection pool and into the temple proper, where Baba Omly waited for them.

She greeted Lina with a hug. “Hello, my dear.” She had a warm, steady tone, the kind so common amongst brown witches. She craned her neck toward them all and smiled. “Welcome.”

Bri and Carys nodded to the High Priestess. Two witches in flowing brown robes walked slowly past, a human standing in between them. The human hobbled, leaning on one of the witches as she bore weight on her bandaged leg. The witches whispered words of encouragement to her and she grimaced but kept moving.

Bri quirked her brow. “I thought this place was a temple.”

“It is,” Baba Omly said. “A temple to brown witches and our healing magic. A hospital is the greatest way we can honor our gifts. Many of our coven reside here as healers along with the patients. All those in need of healing are welcome here—witches, fae, and humans.” She clasped her hands together and turned toward Lina. “She’d welcome you if you’d like to visit with her.”

Lina pursed her lips together and nodded, following after the High Priestess.

“Who?” Carys whispered, though Bri already suspected she knew.

They followed Baba Omly down the winding corridor, past rooms filled with cots, dining halls, and garden courtyards. The whole space smelled of chaewood smoke, a cleansing herb found in the Western woods.

Bri leaned into Lina and whispered, “You seem in good spirits today.”

Lina’s thick lashes lifted and she smirked at Bri. “I slept well last night.”