“Your brother buying you clothes?” Aydra asked. “Careful. He’ll think he can dress you next,” she added with a wink.
Nyssa laughed. “Let me guess. Dear Rhafian left the blue dress out?”
Aydra’s brows raised. “Mm… that he did.”
“I assumed it as soon as you walked in. You usually wear the lace ones when you want to piss him off.”
Aydra took a long swig of her drink. “I think this time I exceeded expectations,” she mused, noticing her brother’s glare from across the room.
“Drae,” Nyssa said then, her voice taking a serious turn. “Why did you stand up for the Venari?”
Aydra looked around them, and then pulled her sister over to the window. “What do you mean?” she asked her.
“I mean… you asked the Dreamer company to hunt elsewhere. Why?”
“I did not stand up for the Venari,” Aydra argued. “After everything Duarb put Arbina through before his being forced into his tree, and the greed of their ancestors attempting to take over our kingdom, I dare not trust their kind. But… the Noctuans are different. The Venari have no control over the creatures that roam their forest. And innocent creatures deserve to live, regardless of how misunderstood they might be,” Aydra answered her as her gaze flickered around the room.
“Innocent? The Noctuans?”
Aydra did a double-take at the confusion on her sister’s face. “Oh.” She realized she had not taken her to meet them yet. A smile rose on her face, and she reached for Nyssa’s hands. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Nyssa. I should have… We’ll ride out together before the moons set. It is past time you learn of them. I’m sorry I have not taken you before.”
Nyssa’s weight shifted. “To… the Forest? Won’t—”
“We’ll be fine,” Aydra assured her.
“If you’ll not need me, my Lady, I will take my retire of the evening,” Lex said upon reaching Aydra.
“Please do, Lex. Take a Noble with you,” she said with a wink. “Or perhaps my sister. She could use a night to lessen that frustration of hers.”
Lex laughed. “That will be up to your princess to decide. In the meantime…” Her eyes trailed to one of the Dreamer women from the Village in the corner, and Aydra saw her give a wink to her.
Aydra smiled at the exchange. “You always find the prettiest little thing in the room,” she mused to her Second.
“I take it Ash expects to warm your bed after this?” Lex asked.
“That he does,” Aydra replied.
“Sure that’s what you’re thirsting for tonight?” Lex asked with a raised brow.
Aydra frowned, but followed the woman’s gaze across the room to the one standing in the darkened corner. Aydra glared at her upon realizing who was standing there. “Please. I’d never give him the satisfaction.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’d satisfy everything,” Lex mused against the rim of her cup.
Aydra’s jaw clenched. “Perhaps you should invite him to your party.”
“Perhaps I will. I’m sure he’d love to join.”
Aydra almost laughed at the smug glint in Lex’s eyes. “Right. You have fun with that.”
Lex swirled the last bit of wine in her goblet and then drank it, finishing with an audible “Ah,” upon swallowing the liquid. “Well… if you get bored of Ash, I’m sure we will have room enough for one more,” Lex grinned at her.
Aydra laughed under her breath. “I will be sure to knock first.”
Lex sat her cup down on the table. “Don’t bother. Just join in,” she added. “I’ll see you tomorrow, my Queen.”
Aydra raised her cup to her. “Yes. Tomorrow. We’ll get to start our day with another beheading.”
“Oh yes, that’s right,” Lex said delightedly. “Love a good beheading.”
