An hour later, after Sharra had Tyran bury the dead body with the others, the two made their way back to the Grand Palace. A grand structure, dressed in a cooling, light blue that sat directly on the coast of Thalassia.

As Sharra stormed in, she shouted, “I’m here. Where is my daughter? Where is Clara?” Her determined, loud steps echoed through the palace. As she ventured further inside, a group of young ladies wearing white satin dresses immediately swarmed her.

“Your Majesty, Clara is sleeping.” One said softly.

“She’s been a delight.” Another added.

Sharra gave a sound of approval and kept walking the halls of the ground floor, her soaked cloak leaving a trail, as Tyran and her ladies-in-waiting followed closely. They passed through several arched doorways and winding corridors. And with each turn, a door was there. A door to a fancy ballroom with twelve hanging crystal chandeliers in the shape of icicles. A door to a vibrant library with bright blue colored walls. A door to the indoor courtyard where Sharra gave birth to Clara. Everywhere they went, the air was heavy with the scent of tropical, fruity flowers. When they finally reached the back of the castle, they took the winding stairs to the second floor, where Sharra’s bedroom was. A couple of turns later, they made it to her door, where a guard was standing.

“Your Majesty.” He said loudly.

“Yinne.” Sharra responded.

Yinne unlocked the door of her bedroom and took a sweep of the room before giving them the green light. As they stepped inside, their senses were immediately overwhelmed by the scent of coconut, a brush of cold air, and the soft glow of the moonlight beaming through the open window.

In contrast to the other rooms, the Queen’s bedroom was lacking much decor. To the left, a large bed with a towering canopy made of sheer curtains stood. And on both sides of the platform, white painted tables stood, their surfaces adorned with multicolored porcelain vases filled with fresh flowers.

Sharra took a seat on the edge of the bed and released a loud groan. The ladies all looked at each other before rushing over.

“Would you like your tea, Your Majesty?” One lady asked.

“Or would you like a cold bath? I can get a start on it.” Another asked.

Sharra shook her head, then turned her gaze to Tyran.

“Your Majesty, would you like us to leave?” He asked.

“The rain….” Sharra started.

But instead of continuing, she closed her eyes and raised her left hand, pointing it towards the window. Suddenly, a soft light of blue energy departed from her hand, making its way to the window.

“Muno a ryn.” Sharra commanded in a whisper. Rain, come to an end.

After a couple of seconds, the clouds retreated and vanished. And the rain stopped.

“You could have just asked me to close the window” joked Tyran.

“Like that would have made a big difference.” Sharra retorted. “The rain follows me in my sleep….and I would like peace tonight.”

Sharra suddenly stood from the bed and removed her crown. Crafted from the finest materials in Arla, the Crown of Sharra was adorned with tiny turquoise gemstones at the bottom and a cluster of pearls on top, with a single Fymae at the center.

Once the crown was removed, the ladies helped Sharra undress, slipping out of her gown and into a silk night slip.

The eldest lady was removing Sharra’s last piece of jewelry when Sharra asked, “Where is Emmar?”

The ladies gave each other a look. Sharra noticed.

“Emmar hasn’t been here.” The tallest lady answered.

Sharra made eye contact with Tyran, who only shrugged his shoulders. Sharra let out a huge sigh.

“She said she was going to check on Belle.” Sharra mumbled to herself.

Sharra could feel everyone paying attention to her, waiting for her next words. After thinking it over, she turned her gaze to her favorite lady, Lilla.

“Release Janel.” Sharra ordered her.

“Janel? Now?”

“Tell her….. to find me Emmar.” Sharra answered slowly. “Discreetly.”

Lilla nodded and then exited the room.

Minutes later, after Sharra was done getting ready for bed, Sharra ordered the rest except Tyran to exit. The youngest lady had one foot out the door when Sharra asked her to make and bring her Foam tea, lavender tea brewed with fresh ocean foam. Immediately after the door closed, Tyran started laughing.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Sharra shut her eyes. “What’s funny?”

“You just released Janel. You don’t think Emmar is going to recognize that big white bird? She wouldn’t like that.” Janel, one of the many eyes of Sharra. An all-seeing talking bird that allows Sharra to spy on Arlans.

Sharra raised an eyebrow at Tyran, who folded his arms across his chest back at her.

“I said discreetly.” Sharra replied. “And that bird could be out there for anyone.”

“As if.” Tyran mumbled, as he took a seat in one of the chairs across the room.

Sharra turned her face away from Tyran and climbed into bed. The gentle rustling of the wind and tumbling waves filled the temporary silence.

Sharra was trying to find the right words before speaking them, her mouth opening and closing until she found them. Once she did, she whispered just loud enough for Tyran to hear,

“Emmar thinks she can hide from me.” She said, a hint of disdain in her voice. “Keep secrets from me. She….”

“But you rule the Ether, the skies.” Tyran interrupted. “It’s hard to hide under the light.”

“Exactly.” Sharra responded.

But Tyran was still frowning.

“Is that why you’ve gotten close her? Is there something going on that you are worried about?” He asked.

Tyran couldn’t see, but Sharra’s left eye slightly twitched.

“She’s….great company.” She answered slowly, as she stared back at him.

Tyran quickly turned his gaze away from Sharra and towards the window.

“Your Majesty, may I speak freely?” He asked, as he stared out of the window.

“Of course, Tyran.”

“Emmar will never be your friend….or whatever it is that’s going on behind these walls.” Tyran professed. “A lot has changed, I understand. Your husband is no longer and your daughter was just born. Now, Emmar is always here. But you can’t forget her place in this kingdom…who she truly is, Your Majesty.”

Sharra, still in bed, raised herself on her elbows. “And who is she, Tyran?”

“The Pariesa.” He answered, finally meeting her gaze. “With the Bane of Desire.”

A small smile then formed on Sharra’s face.

“My Queen, don’t forget Emmar’s place. She will always be a subject, not an ally.” He added. “And dare I say, a foe….as long as Benna is yours.”

Sharra was suddenly grinning, a wide smile stretched across her face. She pushed back the duvet and climbed out of her bed, marched her way towards Tyran, and pulled him to his feet.

She reached up to caress his left cheek.

“You are so loyal to me, my friend.” She breathed. “But I’m not blinded by Emmar’s beauty…nor her witty ways.”

“You will never be able to fully trust her. You know this?” He responded back.

Ever since Emmar became the Ascended Incarnate of the Goddess Desire and Pariesa of the Isle, Sharra’s sudden and fast developed friendship with Emmar became a concern to everyone close to her. A Pariesa, an Incarnate of Desire, had never been welcomed in the Grand Palace…not until Emmar.

Sharra was remembering the moment it all began. The fire in Emmar’s eyes. The confidence in her walk. The softness in her voice when she told Sharra that her mother was….

“Your Majesty, say something….” Tyran pleaded, snapping Sharra out of her thoughts.

Sharra cleared her throat. “Emmar is Desire. Everyone desires her, at some point. And I admit, I do desire her. Sometimes, I even give in. But..” Sharra paused for a moment. “But maybe, Emmar is not the only one with an agenda here.”

Tyran raised his eyebrows. “May I ask?”

“It’s better if you don’t.”

“I—”

“It’s not related to the pond.” Sharra clarified. “I promise.”

“Is she pressuring you about the delegation votes?” Tyran asked instead. The votes that will decide the fate of three kingdoms. Whether they stand or crumble.

“Her sympathies are very clear….and obviously biased.” Sharra responded, avoiding the question.

“Do you think she’s working with the Separationists? She’s more outspoken than her father.” Tyran rushed out, the concern evident in his voice.

“I think….I think its unwise to not assume Incarnates of Desire will do anything for their throne back.”

“But your sympathies….”

“What about them, Tyran?”

“Where do your sympathies lie?….Your bloodline or your subject? I will stand with you either way.”

But before Sharra could answer, their convo was interrupted by three knocks on the door. Both whipped their heads in the direction of the door.

“It’s me, Sharra.” Emmar sang from the other side.

Sharra turned back to Tyran and winked at him.

“You’re dismissed.” She whispered to Tyran. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

They exchanged a long, warm hug.

But before Sharra could release him, Tyran whispered to Sharra: “The Bane of Desire can burn the brightest soul, even one harboring the mother of light…if you allow her.”

Sharra, unbothered, gave Tyran a small pat on his back and sent him on his way. Deep down, she had an inkling he was right.

But when he opened the door, the woman in a crimson red dress was staring right at her and Sharra pushed away everything he just said to the side.

***

As soon as the door was shut, Sharra and Emmar immediately embraced each other. Emmar reached out to caress Sharra’s cheek, Sharra leaned into it, as their eyes locked.

“Where have you been?” Sharra breathed.

“I saw Janel.” Emmar answered instead.

“I was worried.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.” Emmar countered softly. “I’m not the Queen.”

Sharra let out a small giggle. “You’re not ….but you are important to me and the list of my enemies continues to grow, unfortunately.”

“Are you talking about the Separationists?” Emmar laughed. “They only want their ways back…not your death.”

“My Darling, I’m not blind.” Sharra responded coldly. “Don’t lie to me.”

Sharra removed Emmar’s hands from her face and walked to the other side of the room. But Emmar followed her anyway. Once she was close enough, she grabbed Sharra’s left wrist and pulled her back to her chest. Sharra reached up to touch Emmar’s left cheek. Before she could say what she wanted, Emmar lowered her face and pressed her lips to hers.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for days.” Emmar exhaled, after she pulled back

Sharra smiled. “I thought those Coronation Events would never end.”

“But now we’re back here.” Emmar whispered. “And finally no more questions about your former husband.”

“Just me and you.” Sharra purred.

The two were still holding each other, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“You want to know something?” Emmar asked, after a long silence.

Sharra nodded.

“I couldn’t help but peek into their desires.”

“Whose?”

“The Mountain people.” Emmar answered. “They only desired one thing in your presence.”

“And what was that?”

“Answers.” She revealed. “Why did you kill your husband? And—”

“And should they fear me like my ancestors?”

Emmar nodded.

Sharra shrugged. “I guess we’ll truly never know until the time comes.”

“And what about the other question?”

“Well, they can blame you for that.” Sharra smirked.

Emmar rolled her eyes, playfully. “270 days ago.” She huffed.

“270 days ago.” Sharra repeated. “The day you stormed into my life.”

The same day they’ll look back as the beginning of the war.

To be continued.