Immediately after Sharra informed Annae about her dead husband, Annae

  bursted into tears. Sharra, surprising both of them, comforted her as her tears fell on her shoulder. The two women had known each other almost their entire lives. A friendship of ups and downs. Hurts and betrayals. Joy and ughter. But the st betrayal hurt the most for both women, and now their friendship was fractured once more.

  ***

  Once Annae was able to pull herself together, dinner was served in the Lioran Room, a grand dining room painted in gold with bck furniture and where a bronze statue of the Goddess Desire stood.

  The dies were served goat and potato soup.

  Sharra had just finished her soup when she announced,

  “Annae, I’m sending you back to Thassia.”

  Annae immediately dropped her spoon. “What?”

  “I’m sending you home.”

  Annae slowly pced both of her hands on the table. “This is my home.”

  Sharra picked up her utensils and began cutting her goat. “Thassia is your home. There is no need for you here now….and you may be in danger.”

  Annae ran a hand through her hair.

  “So, you’re going to leave Scarlet empty after you return to Thassia?”

  Sharra shook her head. “No…..the twins and Winnea will stay.”

  Annae smmed her right hand on the table. “Servants? You’re leaving the pace to servants?”

  “And Emmar, of course.”

  Emmar whipped her head towards Sharra. “I’m sorry?”

  Sharra stabbed a piece of goat from her pte with the silver fork. “I’ve made the decision.”

  Emmar frowned. She was confused.

  Did I upset her? Was it the carriage conversation? She thought to herself.

  “Emmar will permanently move back to Benna where she belongs and Annae will move back home.”

  Annae and Emmar briefly looked at each other before turning their attention back towards the queen.

  “You’re not serious.” Emmar ughed. “This is a joke.”

  Sharra just stayed silent as she chewed on her goat. But inside, Skyra was telling her it was the right decision.

  “Emmar, this is your pace. Do you want it or not?” She asked once she finished chewing the goat.

  “I…I..” Emmar stuttered. “I like Thassia.”

  Sharra smmed her knife on the table. “Is it Thassia or is it me?”

  “What is wrong with you?”

  “What is wrong with me?”

  “Sharra!” Emmar shouted. “You never said anything about me leaving Thassia. Where is this coming from?”

  Sharra didn’t respond.

  “Sharra!” Emmar shouted again. “Is it Skyra telling you this?”

  Sharra looked up at Annae who was staring at Emmar.

  “We can talk about it ter, Emmar.” She said while staring at Annae.

  “You are out of your mind.” Emmar responded, then slowly stood from the table. “May I be excused from the table, Your Majesty.”

  Sharra exhaled loudly before nodded.

  Once she was out of the room, Annae mumbled,

  “Finally.”

  Sharra gred at her. “Don’t.”

  Annae grinned.

  “She’s feisty with you….” She rushed out. “..and you allow it. Interesting.”

  “Just say what you want to say, Annae.”

  Annae picked up her fork and started to toy with her goat. “I’m assuming there is something more going on.”

  Sharra continued to stare at her.

  “You really want me to say it?”

  “I dare you.” Sharra answered through gritted teeth.

  Annae dropped her fork and raised her head to look at Sharra. “What happened to Liana?”

  “Do you miss Une?” Sharra responded quickly.

  “How’s my brother?” Annae responded back.

  The two women suddenly broke into a ughing fit.

  “It truly is nice seeing you, Sharra.” Annae spoke once they stopped ughing.

  Sharra gave her a warm smile.

  “I’m gd you’re not alone after Wren, Sha.”

  “That’s why you must come back to Thassia…to be with your family now…so you’re not alone.”

  Annae shook her head.

  “But I can help.” She whimpered.

  Sharra leaned back in her seat. “How? How can you help?”

  Annae tilted her head. “Well…the st time I saw Kilé he was meeting with the man with a cloak.”

  Sharra’s face scrunched up. “Man with a cloak?”

  Annae nodded. “Kilé had been meeting with this man for weeks now.”

  This was new to Sharra. There was nothing about a man in the weekly letters sent to Thassia.

  “Weeks? Why?”

  Annae pced her utensils on the table and leaned forward in her seat. “I eavesdropped once.”

  “Yes?”

  Annae nodded. “The man was asking for help.”

  Sharra leaned forward in her seat. “Help with what?”

  “He wanted to go home.”

  “Home? Is Benna not his home?”

  Annae shrugged her shoulders. “And he wanted to see you.”

  “Me?”

  Annae nodded slowly. “He said to Kilé that only an Incarnate could help him.

  Sharra leaned back in her seat.

  “And he was wearing a cloak?”

  Annae nodded.

  “It’s extremely hot. Why would he be wearing a cloak?”

  Annae shrugged. “I do have a name though.”

  Sharra raised her eyebrows.

  “Lato.” Annae revealed.

  “Lato.” Sharra repeated slowly. “And what color was the cloak, exactly?”

  “Green.”

  “And you can identify him?”

  Annae nodded.

  Sharra just stared at Annae for a long moment.

  “What?” Annae asked. “Do you think he could have killed Kilé?”

  Sharra cocked her head. “I’m not sure….”

  “But?”

  “I think it’s worth investigating.”

  Annae leaned back in her seat and a smug grin formed on her face. “Kilé did promise him that he would talk to you, but he kept pushing it off and saying Benna needs his attention more now.”

  “And when was the st time you saw….. this…. Lato?”

  “Three days ago.”

  “Okay.” Sharra said slowly, then picked up her fork again. “You’ll remain in the East Wing then. Emmar and I will stay in the West wing.”

  Annae smirked. “Together?

  Sharra rolled her eyes. “Don’t.”

  Sharra really wanted to wipe that smirk off her face.

  “What happened to Ricard? Liana? Mero? Why do you do this with so many?”

  Sharra aggressively dropped her fork and folded her arms across her chest. “That’s none of your business.”

  Annae raised her arms in submission. “I just think it’s interesting.”

  “What is?”

  “You can have anyone you want…..” Annae said, voice low. “But I can’t have Une.”

  And there it was. The reminder.

  “And whose fault is that?” Sharra responded angrily.

  Annae lowered her gaze. “When will you forgive me, Sha?”

  “In death.” Sharra answered coldly. “You’re the reason why Wren is dead.”

  Annae’s face suddenly hardened. “But you got what you wanted in the end anyway.”

  Sharra rushed to a standing position and gred down at Annae. “You really want to do this?”

  Annae smiled up at her.

  “Does Emmar know the truth?”

  “Don’t.” Sharra’s face was suddenly red.

  “Will you even tell Cra who her real father is?”

  “ENOUGH!” Sharra yelled.

  A loud thunder cp followed.

  Annae flinched.

  “You’ve always been jealous of my retionship with your brother, Annae. It’s not healthy.”

  “I’m not jealous.”

  “Yes, you are.” Sharra ughed as she smoothed her dress down. “It’s pathetic.”

  “Do you still love him?” Annae asked. “Or is it her now?”

  Sharra stepped away from the table and began walking towards the door.

  “She will never choose you over her birthright, if it comes to it.” Annae shouted.

  Sharra immediately stopped walking.

  “And I hope she doesn’t.” She yelled back.

  “I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!”

  Sharra clenched her fists then turned around and marched back towards the table where Annae was still seated.

  Annae sucked in a breath as she walked towards her.

  When she got there, she bent over and brought her face as close as she could to Annae.

  “Emmar and I know who we are, individually and to each other. We are Incarnates, possessing and holding two souls. We have been chosen to juggle the interests of mad gods and our own.” She spoke. “We care for each other. We fuck each other. If I were to give her Benna back, I know she wouldn’t hesitate to take it. Trust me, I know the woman I’m sleeping with is dangerous.”

  “I hope you do …” Emmar whispered back. “…because the st time a queen slept next to danger, a princess died.

  Sharra’s jaw went sck.

  And before she could respond, her calling relic rang.

  She opened it and the sound of Ravyna’s voice came through,

  She immediately closed the relic and returned her gaze back to Annae.

  “Leave.” She ordered her.

  Annae slowly came to her feet. “This conversation isn’t over.”

  “Leave. Now!”

  Annae smirked then left the room.

  “Send Ravyna my regards.” She shouted as she closed the door.

  Once the door was closed, Sharra took a seat at the table and opened the relic.

  The sound of water was followed by a soft, silky voice.

  “Sharra, you must come to Gassia immediately.” Ravyna said, a hint of worry in her voice. “Power has returned.”