I’m a little surprised when Alana and I are called into the study together after Orphelia’s daring entrance and exit but I won’t complain being in a room full of beautiful women. I wave for Alana to take the empty seat and perch on the end of the table. A shiver of delight rolls down my spine as the two women stare at me. Maybe I do have a thing for older women after all. “I have to admit, I’m a little excited at the thought of you two interrogating me.”

Miss Alyssa sighs deeply. “We already know what happened but I just want you to clear up a few details. For starters—”

She’s interrupted by Miss Talia standing from her chair. All eyes are on her as she walks around the table and stands before me. “Lou,” she says in that mesmerizing voice.

I grin helplessly. “Been a while. How have you been?”

“Busy. Many instructors have come to me with questions about the initiates under my care. You are also aware of the recent upheaval in the capital.”

“Ah. Are the interrogators giving you trouble too?”

“For reasons I am unaware, the king is drawing clear lines between his allies and his enemies. Not only that, but his allies are being tested.”

“Mm. Good thing all of that is several leagues away.”

“If you two are done gossiping,” Miss Alyssa snaps. Miss Talia glances at her but doesn’t move. The instructor scoffs. “Tell me what happened.”

Alana takes the initiative to answer. “While we were preparing to leave the Sanctuary, a team of five initiates on horseback approached us. A man who named himself as Ethor spoke to us. He announced his intentions to rob Robert’s team of their points and offered to pay us to stay out of the conflict.”

“Right, that. According to the other team, he and Lou spoke privately before she agreed to leave them alone.” The redhead gives me a squinty-eyed glare. “Someone accused you of collaborating with them in the assault.”

“Let me guess. Mr. Talented?” What is it with privileged young men and accusing me of heinous crimes?

“Why did you leave your then allies to face a threat alone? It wasn’t gold. Your wife has enough of that.”

“True. It wasn’t gold.” I lean toward her. “Thing is, he promised to introduce me to a good courtesan. Really good apparently. Called it a whole experience. He piqued my interest and I wasn’t too fond of my supposed allies so I decided to leave them to it.”

“…I should have known. Don’t you get enough between your wife and thrall? And apparently, you’re involved with your guide?”

“Are you asking because of the investigation or for personal reasons?”

She shakes her head. “What did you see of the fight?”

“Not much.”

“Ethor engaged the entire team,” Alana elaborates. “I couldn’t see what the attack was but the whole team besides Orphelia fell to the ground. Then a dome of darkness surrounded them.”

“Darkness? That girl has the light affinity?”

“She is a blade,” Miss Talia says. “Assassins and spies utilized by the king’s advisors. The light affinity itself carries significant political weight. One cannot be allowed to flaunt it. Unless the child has a significant family background, they are ‘adopted’ by the crown and trained to handle unsavory matters. Indoctrinated at a young age, their loyalty is unshakable…supposedly.”

Saints.

“But Orphelia isn’t some woe begone orphan. She’s the daughter of a baron. I’m sure he could kick up a significant fuss,” Alana says heatedly.

“Alana…” I say carefully, remembering Orphelia’s words to her. If she wasn’t the daughter of Duke James, a noble with forces able to rival the capital, would she have also been taken from her home and trained to murder people on command?

“For a low noble like him, the crown taking an interest in his daughter was probably a dream come true. If he is like any other noble, he probably happily cooperated with them and milked the situation for all its worth.”

My friend glares at me.

The sound of deep swallows draws my attention. Miss Alyssa sets down a bottle of Herbanacle. “Haha, can’t believe I thought I’d heard everything. At least your story matches the others.”

“What will be done about Orphelia?” Alana asks.

“Done? What do you mean?”

“She murdered four people in cold blood,” the future saint says icily. “Only one of them attacked her team. Before the dome of darkness hid what happened, Ethor’s teammates tried to help him escape. They had not presented as hostile and she made no attempt to negotiate a surrender.”

She gives me a pointed look and I nod. “Yep, saw the same thing.”

Miss Alyssa scratches her head. “Ah. I don’t know what you’re expecting.”

“For her to be detained and her crimes investigated,” she replies slowly, as if the answer is obvious.

“We can detain her, sure. I’m investigating right now. But I don’t think that is enough to satisfy you. You want to see her punished.”

Alana nods. “She did something wrong. She deserves to be punished.”

“See, that’s where things get complicated. If she is really working for the saints damned royal advisors, they are not going to be happy about us stepping on their toes. Especially not for the sake of possible rebels. Say what you like, this Ethor did kill Sebas Hoffen. Under the circumstances, she had enough reason to justify lethal force.”

“So…nothing’s going to happen?”

“That’s not up to me. It’s up to the Grandmaster. My opinion? He bans her from the Hall but that’s about all he can do without getting into a pissing contest with the king.”

“She was right,” my friend mutters. Then she jumps to her feet and storms out of the room.

I’m ready to follow her but a soft grip on my arm stops me. I turn to Miss Talia curiously.

“There was something else I wanted to question you about.” To anyone not used to her, her face would seem blank but I know her well enough to see the slightest bend of her lips showing her unhappiness. “In their memories, I saw you and Orphelia Yemen. Before you were with the guide.”

“Ah. You saw that?”

My smile freezes as her fingers gently brush my cheek. They’re a little cool. She must be someone who runs cold. “Do you love them?”

“…no. Cloud is a friend, a very good one. Orphelia…that was something done in the moment.”

“Kierra told me to be more open with how I feel. I am…upset that you were intimate with another woman before me.”

I know she doesn’t mean that the way it sounds. In her mind, she sees intimacy as a currency to buy my favor. She thinks Orphelia is taking her opportunity to get close me. Her attraction to me is middling if it even exists at all. I know that, but my heart can’t help thudding in my chest.

“I don’t have a relationship with Orphelia,” I say, cupping her hand and nuzzling into it. “Not like what we have, Talia. I’ve missed you.”

“I will find time to see you.” She hesitates a moment before leaning forward to brush her lips over mine. Grinning, I follow her as she retreats, claiming another kiss, just a simple peck. Have to be careful with her.

A groan makes me look over my shoulder. Miss Alyssa is staring at the two of us incredulously. “Is it me?” she asks no one as her gaze wanders to the ceiling. “Am I the crazy one?”

“Don’t knock it till you try it,” I quip.

In response, she finishes off the bottle of Herbanacle and stands up. “I’m taking a vacation,” she declares firmly and stomps out of the room.

Once the door slams shut behind her, I turn back to Miss Talia. “Are you okay?”

“I am fine.”

“Despite rejecting Orphelia?” The tiniest twitch in her brows shows her confusion. I tap my ears. “Strength wasn’t the only thing I wanted from my new form.”

“I see. Yes. I have long understood that choosing to align myself with you would likely put me at odds with the crown. I cannot pursue the crown’s agenda and my own. Between the two, I will always choose my own.”

A woman after my own heart. I lazily reach out, putting my arms on her shoulders. “I don’t suppose you can stick around today?”

“No. I will need to be present with Alyssa when she reports to the Grandmaster. Then I will have to inform my contact in the interrogators about what has transpired before Orphelia sends her own report. Do not worry. I have been playing the game for a long time.”

“If something goes wrong, come to me. I will protect you.”

Her head tilts. “You can protect me from the entirety of the kingdom? Mental casters of my ability are not allowed to simply roam free. Especially one with my training and access.”

“I can and I will. Do you believe me?”

She nods slowly. “I do. It is why I am interested in you, Lou.” She carefully steps out of my arms. “I must get going. The sooner this situation is handled, the sooner I can return to personal matters. I have been waiting patiently.”

“So have I,” I mutter, unconsciously licking my lips. I hop off the table and hurry to the door, opening it with a smile.

One that quickly fades when I see the chaos in the other room.