Aina k robably a bit te to be cheg in oe delvers, but after such a stelr respoo the goblin raid earlier, she had wao gratute them firsthand. Hence why she was here, a few hours past su, heading up into the sed story of The Kraken's Hearth to track down Natalie—who Aina had gotten the impression was the unofficial leader of the group, despite Elizabeth Beaumon's inclusion oeam.

  And that was definitely why she tracked down Natalie specifically, Aina told herself. Because she seemed to be their group's leader. Not for any other reason.

  Aina would admit she was a bit enthralled by the cept of delvers. As the daughter of a baron, she had seey of high-level bat csses, and they each had auras of mystique or at least petence. But few were Teraihat meant something. Te—one of the most prestigious academies in the world.

  And for whatever reason, the team's o their professions made Aina even more ied ihey felt more retable for the fact, yet no less intriguing. Perhaps that had been why she'd volunteered to see to their needs as a show of grace … though Elizabeth Beaumon's presence had all but demahe Crestwood family show some level of humility on its ow.

  She hadn't thought it would be a chore in the first pce, but seeing just who she would be catering to for the short few days it took them to plete the quest had doubly stoked Aina's i. Because what a fasating group of five. Natalie especially. Aina had seey of beautiful women in her life, but of Natalie's particur stature, with that roguish short red hair and stunning blue eyes? Those strong arms and idle fidence?

  Aina didn't even prefer women, but if she did… well, Natalie, she supposed, would be her type.

  She shook her head clear. Those thoughts were wholly inappropriate, she chided herself in reminder, not for the first time.

  Climbing into the lodging area of The Kraken's Hearth, she sed the numbers engraved on the faces of the doors, seeking out the number she knew beloo Natalie's room—which the innkeeper downstairs had provided to her. Seven, she thought, sing. Seven. Owo, three … down the hall, then. She kept walking.

  Reag the end of the corridor, she became aware of a hat had bee from further away, but, ing into focus as she homed in on Natalie's room, finally became reizable.

  The g of flesh.

  Moans. Whines. Grunting. The very enthusiastic squeaking of bedsprings, and a headboard hitting the wall.

  Oh.

  Oh.

  Aina froze there, standing just outside Natalie's door. Listening, though not in any voyeuristic way, but rather from shock, suddenly uo move.

  Natalie had a visitor? Some gentleman?

  That hardly surprised her. The woman could obviously pull anyone she wanted back to her room. Who wouldn't want to—um, be her guest?

  Except.

  Why did the grunts and moans sound like two different women? And not a man and a woman? Why the g of flesh?

  Aina's face grew hotter and hotter as she stood there, frozen in pce. Yes, by the here were defiwo women enjoying each other's pany, past that door.

  W-With the help of a toy, then? Or what? Because that was definitely one person hammering into another … Aina wasn't the most experienced, but she could tell that much by the very loud, enthusiastioises.

  Oh, dear.

  Should she leave?

  Obviously she should leave.

  Natalie was clearly busy.

  But then why was Aina's hand raising, g into a fist?

  To knock at the door in several loud raps?

  The noises in Natalie's room fell silent. It stayed that way for a few seds, the octs surely having heard the knock. But then the sounds returned. Even louder. Reinvigorated. The moans and grunts took a fevered pitch. As if the two of them were w even faster, unwilling to be interrupted—and thus finishing as quickly as they could.

  Aina listened, heart smming, as two women clearly came to groaning climax.

  A few seds passed, the noises growing silent.

  She knocked a sed time.

  Why hadn't she just left?

  It took a few moments, but the door swung open, revealing, as expected, Natalie. Except in a thh state of undress. She'd hastily thrown her bra ba and ed her waist with a thin towel.

  A towel that was … protruding outward?

  Like something oking it out? Something hard and rod-like?

  Aina's mi bnk.

  The toy they'd been using? She'd kept it on to ahe door? Why?

  Except, as strange as it was to assume, Aina did not think it was a toy.

  "I'm a little busy, if you 't—" Natalie started dryly.

  Her words dried up before she finished. Blue eyes widened and widened as she saas standing in the doorway.

  "A-Aina?" Natalie stammered, her casual amusement disappearing in an instant, repced by panic. She looked down at herself—at her bra-and-towel state of attire. "What are you doing here?!"

  Clearly, Natalie had answered her door expeg someone else. One of her teammates, most likely. Hehe state she'd answered in, assuming her ck of dress would be, while inappropriate, not nearly as sdalous as it would be in Aina's presence.

  She probably hadn't been thinking right. Which was fair. sidering what she'd just been doing.

  Aina's mouth worked soundlessly for several moments.

  Again, why had she knocked, despite knowing what Natalie had been up to? Then stayed even while hearing the two of them e to climax?

  And why was her heart smming so hard?

  The doorway obscured her sight of the bed. Aina had to fight the urge to lean forward and see who Natalie's quest was. One of her teammates? Someone else?

  And she had no doubt it was indeed Natalie the one doing the quering. She had gotten that impression only moments after meeting her.

  Had that been flirting in the wagohen? She'd vinced herself Natalie was just being friendly. But maybe Aina had been wrong. That Natalie had been a bit too friendly in her responses.

  Her eyes flicked down, again, to the tent in Natalie's towel.

  Aina didn't even prefer women.

  "Natalie," Aina said faintly, dragging her eyes back up and finally finding her voice. "I just wao gratute you. On your successful defense of our city. I didn't realize you would. Um. Be busy."

  Busy.

  Fug another woman.

  With her cock?

  Her cock.

  Oh, Heavens.

  Why did that have her thoughts melting down? She was growing genuinely dizzy. Maybe it was just the embarrassment of the situation.

  Seriously, why had she knocked?

  She preferred men. Not women.

  Though …

  sidering Natalie's particur endowment …

  Maybe …?

  "Oh," Natalie said, looking as flustered as Ai. "Um. Well. Yeah. Thanks. It's what we dht?"

  "That was it," Aina squeaked. "Just a quick gratutions. I don't want to be a burden. I'll leave you to it. Have fun?"

  Have fun?

  Have fun?

  What was wrong with her? A dy was expected to keep her posure in any situation.

  Before Natalie could reply to the horribly flustered words, Aina was already scurrying away, down the hall. Her face felt like it was on fire. And as much from the embarrassment of intruding on Natalie in that way, her head inning for a different reason.

  Because …

  Aina might already have been slightly ied in Natalie, despite her preferences. Something she was just admitting to herself now.

  But with this reveal?

  Maybe she was a little more than just 'ied'.