Present Day

In contrast to her bedroom, Queen Sharra’s personal bath was full of color. Rich blues and lush greens colored the walls in intricate patterns. Red and pink flowers hung from the ceiling. Cream colored mirrors hung on the walls. And in the middle, a coral colored clawfoot tub rested, a large tub where Sharra and Emmar were enjoying privacy in the early morning.

***

“You feel tense, love.” Emmar said as she positioned herself behind Sharra.

“I’m always tense.” Sharra murmured back.

The two had been hiding their new relationship from the public for some time. Thus, private moments such as these were cherished.

“Tell me, what are you thinking?” Emmar asked as she washed Sharra’s body.

Sharra let out a deep sigh. “What kind of Queen am I, darling?”

“A dutiful one.” Emmar answered immediately.

Sharra barked out a laugh. “A dutiful Queen wouldn’t hide in her palace.”

“Well, we both know that’s not true anymore.”

“I left to attend Mesyla’s Coronation Ceremony. That’s one event.” Sharra disputed.

“Andddd you’re hosting the Pearl Ball a week from now. Your daughter’s coronation is in four days.”

“And what about Benna? I haven’t been to Benna since my coronation.”

“Benna is a war zone. It’s not…. safe.”

Sharra rolled her eyes. “I'm the Incarnate of Skyra. Safety is not really a concern.”

“What is it then? Why ask such a question?”

“I won’t be seen as weak. They will respect me.”

“Are you talking abou—”

“The Separationists, yes.”

“I thought we agreed on no talk of politics.” Emmar huffed.

“Well, it’s the only thing on my mind now. I mean, how could it not be? You were there earlier.”

Moments before they entered the bath, Sharra was notified the Separationists attacked her army again. Furious, she darkened the skies and called on the rain.

“Maybe it’s time for a meeting with their leader.” Emmar suggested slowly.

Sharra suddenly leaned forward in the tub, causing Emmar to briefly fumble the cloth.

“If my mother was still Queen, she wouldn’t show mercy…..I am trying my best to find a way for us to all live in peace.”

Behind Sharra, Emmar rolled her eyes. “My love, the Separationists…I don’t think they see you as anything but a danger.”

Sharra whipped her head over her shoulder. “Danger?”

“You killed your oath. The one person you chose —-”

“Don’t.” Sharra interrupted, her voice low and warning.

“A Crown who kills their own spouse is a dangerous one….an untrustworthy one.”

Sharra locked her hands into fists, anger suddenly burned through her. “Do you believe I’m a danger, Emmar? Don’t lie.”

Emmar’s mouth kept opening and closing, but nothing came out.

“That’s what I thought.”

Sharra then came to a standing position.

“I loved Wren.” She said angrily.

“I didn’t say you didn’t.” Emmar countered.

“It wasn’t an easy choice….but I will never kill anyone else I love.”

Emmar then stood in the tub.

“Does that include me too?” She asked, voice shaky.

The sudden tension in the bath was palpable. Both of their hearts were beating like fast drums. As Sharra gazed into Emmar’s eyes, she couldn’t help but think about the night of Emmar’s ceremony where she was crowned Pariesa of the Isle, where she excused herself after her fourth drink….but Emmar followed her into the hall. And when they were alone, Emmar, so kind and caring, had asked if she was okay and whether she needed assistance. And instead of turning her away, Sharra had reached out to touch Emmar’s left cheek and asked her ‘You are going to be a problem, aren’t you?’. But before Emmar answered, Sharra walked away.

But there in the tub, instead of reaching out, Sharra stepped out and grabbed her blush covered robe off the lone chair in the bath. She looked back at Emmar once more before storming back towards the bedroom, leaving Emmar alone.

But just like that ceremonial night, Emmar immediately went after her.

***

“I didn’t choose him.” Sharra said as Emmar joined her in the bedroom.

Sharra was standing in front of the open window, taking in the sunlight.

Emmar slowly approached her from behind, stopping only an inch behind her.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“What do you mean?” Emmar asked.

“I didn’t choose to marry Wren….I didn’t want that.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Of course you didn’t. You don’t know our customs, Emmar.”

“Well, explain them to me.” Emmar pleaded softly.

“We are not like the Mountains nor the Kingdom of Fyr. Not like you. Heirs don’t choose their partners.” Sharra explained. “But my mother….she thought she was doing me a favor by marrying me off to my friend. But she didn’t know Wren like I did. I always saw the fire in his eyes. His hunger for glory.”

“He sounds so different from you.” Emmar interjected.

“He came from a long line of generals. His family helped this kingdom conquer the East. We were always destined to be friends… and we bonded over our shared history. As my friend, he pushed my buttons, kept me on my feet, kept me sharp. ”

“What changed then? What aren’t you telling me?”

A tear suddenly slipped from Sharra’s eyes.

“Up until a year ago, we were one. He was my second brain.” Sharra croaked. “Then the hunger took control.”

Emmar frowned. “What do you mean?”

“It’s like his very being, his soul darkened. He went mad, withdrew from me. He wasn’t like the man you met. He wanted something I couldn’t give him.”

“What did he want?”

Sharra took a deep breath, then turned to face Emmar. “Annihilation.”

“Whose annihilation?”

Sharra tilted her head. “Who do you think?”

“The Separationists.”

Sharra nodded. “He asked me to strike Benna, the nest, and destroy it…so we can start anew. He even brought it up to the Royal Court.”

Emmar suddenly felt lightheaded. She stepped away from Sharra and walked towards the bed, taking a seat on the edge.

“And if anyone was to get in my way, including the other Incarnates, I should destroy them.” Sharra added.

“Kill them?”

Sharra began waving her hands in the air. “He became mad….something changed. He kept talking about bringing Arla under Isle rule. My husband, my friend, he was no longer the Wren I knew growing up.”

“You didn't consider it, did you?” Emmar asked, voice trembling.

“Of course not. Even though they are a problem I would love to get rid of, I’m not a monster.” Sharra answered softly.

But as she answered, she tapped her left hand’s index finger three times alongside her thigh. A tell that she was lying. A tell that Emmar knew of…and saw.

Instead of confronting her, Emmar flopped backwards on the bed.

Sharra marched over and joined her.

The two briefly sat there in silence until Sharra said, “I know you sympathize with them.”

“Sharra!” Emmar groaned immediately after.

“Don’t. Let me finish.” Sharra replied quickly, then inched closer to Emmar. “Your sympathies are obvious, and I understand them. I also understand our relationship is unbalanced and unusual given our roles and how we got here.”

Emmar sucked in a breath. She didn’t like where this was going.

“But I am still the Queen. If they continue with these bombings, I won’t have any other choice…. Just as I did with my husband, I will enact judgment.”

“Do you still have love for Wren?” Emmar asked quietly.

Sharra sighed. “I’m a Queen who didn’t want to inherit this….and he knew it. He helped rule this kingdom when I didn’t.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Does it matter?”

“It does, actually.”

Sharra frowned. “Why?”

“Because if you do still love him, that means your love for him is still strong. Yet, it still wasn’t enough to save him….” Emmar whispered. “and that truly scares me.”

Sharra then cupped Emmar’s left cheek. “I put him out of his misery. He was losing his mind ... .talking to shadows.”

Emmar’s eyes suddenly widened. This was her first time hearing of Wren talking to shadows.

She propped herself on her elbows. “What are you talking about? What shadows?”

Sharra turned her head away from Emmar. She immediately regretted bringing it up.

“I should have never said anything.” She murmured. “I don’t like thinking about it.”

Emmar’s jaw muscles tensed.

This could explain the emptiness I saw in him. She thought to herself.

So instead of letting it go, she softly placed her hand under Sharra’s chin and turned her face back towards her.

“Tell me.” She begged, eyes pleading.

Sharra sucked her teeth. Thinking of Wren’s final year brought upon sadness and confusion. Emmar noticed her eyes were suddenly shimmering. So she removed her hand from her cheek and grabbed her right hand, squeezing it tightly.

“It’s okay. You can tell me.” She whispered.

Sharra lowered her head. “Before everything happened, I caught Wren whispering to the shadows and into the void. On some occasions, he was shouting at them…telling them about us and our meetings, the Arlan gods and what they would have wanted.”

“Were they shadow shifters?”

Sharra shook her head. “Shifters are only shadows during the day…these shadows were at night.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

Sharra barked out a laugh. “You’ve been living here for weeks. You have seen first hand that I have a lot on my plate.”

Emmar bit her lower lip, pondering for a second on what to say.

“Do you think he was cursed?”

“Whether he was cursed or not, he betrayed me.” Sharra answered quickly, her eyes still shimmering. “But despite the betrayal, he will always be a friend I love. He understood me, took care of me….well before it all turned for the worse.”

Sharra then raised her head, up towards the ceiling, where a piece of art remains.

“That’s why I can’t remove the painting. He will always have a piece of my heart.”

A small smile then formed on Emmar’s face. Her heart fluttered. She loved vulnerable and soft Shara. But she needed to know where she fit into this. A lot has changed since 271 days ago.

“So where does that leave me?” She whispered. “Am I just a friend you love like Wren?”

Emmar’s lips were suddenly dangerously close to Sharra’s lips.

“I don’t like problems, Emmar….but problems seem to find me…and a long time ago I thought you were one of them.”

“But now?”

Sharra leaned closer. “You’ve been more of a gift to me.”

Sharra then placed a soft kiss on Emmar’s lips. Immediately, the kiss turned heated and desperate, and within seconds, Sharra was on top of Emmar. Sharra slowly traced kisses down Emmar’s neck, then down her chest. Once she reached Emmar’s belly, she placed a ring of kisses around Emmar’s navel. She was about to venture farther but then a knock on a door came.

Emmar and Sharra both let out a huge groan.

“Come in.” Sharra yelled.

A young male servant slowly walked in. He was wearing a red robe, signifying him as a caretaker.

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty, your daughter is awake.

Sharra’s eyes lit up. “I’ll be right there.”