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Lunara and Fern shared a look, at least one of their questions answered—the library really was outside of time.

Which begs the questions how and why.

True, but that was a problem for later.

“Good. That’s— Yes. Good. And you’re not with him because…?”

“Because between Lyriat, Brand, Faldir, and myself, at least one of us has to mind the realm when the others are busy, and it was my turn.”

“Busy?” Her heart turned over. “Where are they?”

“With Lyriat, so Brand can recount his part of yesterday’s events.”

The way she said, “With Lyriat,” made it abundantly clear they were in his secret meeting room below the mountain, and thus not to be disturbed. Not that she could’ve gone in there without the king accompanying her anyway. Although…

No. No, no. Don’t start getting ideas. You can’t mist in there. And what would be the point?

Setting her eyes on Brand to assuage some of the choking fear that something happened to him but everyone was keeping it from her, for starters.

“Lunara?”

“Hmm?” She looked up from Brand’s dagger, not sure when or how it snagged her attention again, and found both of them staring at her.

Hedda softened first, tossing the blanket back. “How about you have a little nap? I think it’ll do you some good.”

“I’m not tired.” Lunara shook herself and broke away from Brand’s gifts, her traitorous feet carrying her halfway across the room towards the bed.

“The purple bags under your swirly fucking eyes say differently, you bum blossom.” Fern fluffed the pillow. “Come on, get in. I’ll pet your hair.”

Damn it. That was tempting.

Lunara refused to give in so easily. Instead, she leaned against the back of the settee, picking at a loose thread in the damask fabric.

“She’s breaking,” Hedda whispered through one corner of her mouth. “More bribery, you think? Or should I start in on threats?”

“Definitely the threats.”

Hedda smirked. “If you don’t get into this bed, I’m going to start singing. Wherever you go, for as long as it takes, I won’t stop until you’ve agreed to a nap.”

Maybe you could pretend and leave early. They’ll just think you’re sleeping.

Fern’s narrowed gaze said otherwise, but that might be because Lunara was still fiddling with the furniture instead of doing as she was told.

Besides, even if she did go to the chasm now, she’d only be able to stay for a couple of hours before they got suspicious. And there was no telling whether they’d need her. If something happened…

Hedda drew a sharp breath and opened wide, her cracking alto screeching, “Oh, my lover lies weeping! She cries and cries over meeeee!”

Weeping, fucking moons.

Fern joined her, offering some melody to the madness, but still. “It’s not ‘cause I’m gone, not ‘cause I’ve bloody died.”

“For the love of…” Lunara muttered, misting to the bed as she stifled a smile. “Make it stop!”

“Nay! She’s pissed ‘cause I went out to drink!”

They descended on her amidst their cackles, tucking her in and, just as Fern promised, petting her hair.

“I’ve already slept too much as it is,” she murmured, lids heavy.