𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐓 𝐇 𝐈 𝐑 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭

 It's been nearly a year since Briéa has been woken up by the sound of Reihan shrieking. In an odd way, she missed it.

"Haven't you two ever thought of practicing decency!"

Through the morning haze, Briéa feels Zaarin shift beside her, sheets rustling around them, and then laugh, just as tired and groggy as she feels. He's spent the last three nights in her bed and up until now, the thought has never crossed their mind to leave a sock on the door. Not that Reihan would end up noticing it anyway.

Briéa's covered enough by a sheet, but even then it's not like Reihan hasn't ever seen her naked before. She opens one eye to see Zaarin laying face down on the bed, bare ass out in the open.

Stretching her still asleep muscles, Briéa slides out of bed, snatching a discarded shirt from the floor and slipping it over her naked body. Reihan waits in the doorframe. Even with her back turned Briéa can see her hold her face in her hands. She snorts and rubs the sleep from her eyes.

"It is my room y'know?" She says padding across the chill floor.

Reihan scoffs. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize I still had to knock. Being your best friend and all for fuck's sake." Briéa laughs as she drapes a sheet over Zaarin's ass. His head perks up, an offended, albeit tired, look on his face.

"Oi! What if I'm her best friend?"

"He's decent now," Briéa says and Reihan turns around.

"Don't flatter yourself Zaarin." Briéa can't push down the second laugh that bubbles up at the sight of Reihan's flushed face. She nudges Reihan's hip with her own.

"C'mon now, not like you've never seen an ass before."

Reihan rolls her eyes, "Doesn't mean I wanted to see one this morning."

"Well out of all asses, I bet mine is the finest you've seen in the morning."

"Zaarin shut up before I hit you."

Briéa looks over her shoulder. "Besides, she's seen mine and we both know mine is better than yours." She turns back to Reihan and raises a brow in curiosity as she takes her in fully now.

It's hardly mid-morning and yet already she's done up and set for the day ahead. Her deep violet tunic, one trimmed with silver-a gift from the Makorov matriarch-,is clean and steamed, not a wrinkle in sight. The golden rose crest of the council sits leveled on her chest. She wears a pair of black leather boots that reach her knee, freshly polished so the toes manage to reflect a bit of light. A pair of matching gloves adorn her hands. Half of her hair has been pulled back in a simple, but elegant, braid. Briéa reaches to touch the bit of blush that powders her cheeks. Reihan smacks the hand away.

"Well someone's looking radiant this morning," Briéa notes, folding her arms and leaning against the doorframe besides Reihan.

"Ah, yes, radiant as usual Reihan." Zaarin now rests on his side, hand propped under his head. There's a crooked smile on his face and Reihan holds her middle finger up in his direction.

"Go back to sleep." Reihan turns back to Briéa, giving her a quick glance over. "And you need to get dressed." Briéa straightens.

"What? Why?"

Reihan doesn't answer. Instead, she heads straight for the wardrobe in the corner of the room. When she opens the doors, a goblet made from gold, an ivory pen, a few embezzled rings, and some old pieces of parchment tumble out.