“I thought you were going out,” Raisa muttered.

“We decided not to,” Talia said, stroking Raisa’s hair. “Did you follow him?”

Raisa nodded, her face still pressed into the pillow. “How long have you known he was seeing someone?”

“A while. He hasn’t kept it a secret…”

“From anyone but me,” Raisa finished. She wished she could disappear. Was it that obvious she was in love with Amon? How could she ever face any of them again?

Talia pressed her hands into Raisa’s shoulders, digging deep into the muscles, working free the knots. “He didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I see. So he discussed it with the triple, and you all agreed that—”

“No, no, no.” Talia’s hands stilled themselves. “It wasn’t like that at all. He’s not a very good liar, and he’s so bloody honorable. He’s been absolutely miserable, if you haven’t noticed.”

Raisa could hear the love in Talia’s voice. Every member of the Gray Wolves loved Amon Byrne. They had that in common.

The door opened and closed again, and Raisa twitched irritably.

“There, now,” Talia said. “Hallie’s brought you some tea is all.”

“I’ll get you something stronger if you’d like,” Hallie said. “I got some brandy will put you out like a doused candle.”

Raisa shook her head. She needed a clear mind.

“We didn’t know what had been between you,” Talia went on. “Or if any promises had been made, but—”

“None,” Raisa said bitterly. “There was nothing. We were friends, that’s all.”

I used to think I was good at reading people, she thought. I loved Amon, and I was convinced he loved me back, or that I could make him love me if I could just break through the barriers of class and duty.

Could they ever be friends again?

She didn’t even have the energy to be worried about running into Cat Tyburn. Just then, getting her throat cut seemed like an easy out.

For the next hour, Hallie and Talia soothed her, plied her with tea, and tried to feed her dinner. Much of the time they just sat with her, holding her hands, saying nothing. Amid the heartbreak and self-blame, Raisa felt propped up by their presence. Maybe this was what it was like to have real friends.

Finally, she heard the creaking of the stairs, and recognized Amon’s step.

“We’ll stay if you want,” Hallie said quickly. “No matter what the corporal says.”

Raisa shook her head. “We need to talk. We’ve needed to talk for a long time.”

He knocked on the door.

“Come in!” Talia said, and Amon pushed open the door. He stood looking at the three of them, his expression haggard and grim.

Talia and Hallie kissed Raisa on opposite cheeks. “We’ll be downstairs if you need us,” Talia said. And they left, circling Amon, giving him the hard eye.