"Khm!" Lyra coughed loudly as an obvious warning for Felicity to shut her trap. Now was not the time for this.
But that only prompted Ria to slowly turn toward Lyra and Iris.
Lyra gulped so hard her throat clicked.
"So," Ria began with a cold, calm tone that made both girls straighten. "Two teens having fun at my expense, I can understand. But you…"
She pointed at Lyra.
"Woman whom I trusted with my back countless times, were you laughing too?"
"No!!" Lyra practically cried her response. "Never! I swear! I couldn't reveal anything, or I'd risk our safety, yours included! That's the only reason!"
Ria paused. Her dark expression eased just a touch because Lyra's sincerity shone through too clearly to ignore.
Then her head slowly rotated toward the last one.
Iris.
The captain didn't turn. Didn't flinch.
Iris simply said, flat and immediate, without even waiting to be prompted, "Me too."
