Briar had stiffened when Peyton threw himself around her, his massive frame easily over taking her own. Part of her wanted to yell at him for being such an idiot - that was the whole reason she put up the shield, she didn't need protecting. On the other hand she was a little touched. He hadn't hesitated in doing it. If his wand work had been better he likely would have made a good Auror.

As the dust settled Briar looked after their retreating companion, "take your own advice, yeah?" Had she been even remotely sober she would have marked Nate for what he was right from the start. For now she tried to commit his features to memory for the next time he would undoubtably cross her path.

She looked up as her cousin scolded her and scoffed, "Hardly." She wrapped her arm around his again and gave a tug, "c'mon, we need more drinks."