I run my thumb over her bottom lip, tracing the delicate curve.
From the moment Jerrod died, I knew I would go to Bakva and bring Annora to Sharhavva.
She sees beyond my arrogance and fury to the man I wish to become—a leader driven by compassion as much as ambition.
With her by my side, I can transform our people’s future into one of prosperity instead of destruction.
ChapterThirty-Three
ANNORA
How does somuch change in just two days? Two days of being in Sharhavva. Two days of being stared at as I walk through the corridors wearing my veil. I try to not allow it to bother me, yet it still does.
On the third morning after our arrival, I adjust my veil and step into the Grand Library inside the palace. Row upon row of towering shelves brim with books, the aged tomes blanketed in a gentle glow from the sunlight streaming through the arched windows overhead.
My footsteps echo against the floor as I wander between the shelves and trail my fingers over the leather spines.
As I venture further inside, the faint musty scent of parchment mingles with traces of beeswax and cedar. I pause to examine an intricate map etched across a scroll laid out on one of the reading tables. My eyes trace the inked mountains and rivers, envisioning all the places I have yet to explore.
I continue my stroll until I spot a nook with an armchair. A contented sigh escapes me as I settle into the seat.
The faint twitter of birds drifts in through the open windows as I reach for the collection of fanciful tales on the small table beside me.
I flip open the leather-bound cover, but before I can begin reading, the sound of approaching footsteps catches my attention. I glance up as Zerah appears from between the shelves.
“Hello,” she says.
“Hello.” I nod to the chair next to me. “Shall you join me?”
There’s a part of me that craves her friendship. Probably the same part of me that misses my sisters.
Zerah nods, then claims the chair opposite of me.
“Isn’t this place just marvelous?” Her eyes skim the room as she speaks. “I could spend hours here, lost in the stories and histories.”
“It is a treasure,” I agree as my gaze follows hers. “Do you have a favorite section?”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly choose.” With her knuckles, she brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. “But I find myself drawn to the poets of old. There’s something about how they weave words together, like a tapestry more vivid than any painter could dream up.” She pauses for a breath before diving back in. “And what about you? Where do your literary loyalties lie?”
“I’ve always been partial to folklore. They make me believe there’s more to this world than what we see.”
Her eyes light up. “Exactly. Stories let us imagine possibilities beyond our reach.” Zerah leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Sometimes I think about leaving my mark on those tales. Visualize being remembered like that. How glorious that would be.”
“I think you’d make a fine heroine in any story.”
“Thank you.”
The conversation lulls as Zerah seems to ponder this new perspective. She looks around the library again before returning her attention to me.
“Tell me about your sisters.” She pauses for a moment, as if stopping to think. “Asha, Emerin, and Tahira. Those are their names. Yes?”
Knots form in my throat as I manage a nod.
“I would love to know more about them. I only have one sister, and she lives deep in Bloodstone territory.”
A wistful smile forms on my lips as I think of each of my sisters. “Asha is the eldest, and she’s always been fiercely protective of the rest of us. She can be a bit bossy at times, but her heart is in the right place. She’ll do anything to keep the people she cares about safe.”
I pause, picturing Emerin’s delicate features and kind eyes. “Emerin has a gentle soul. She’s always been the most soft-spoken, preferring her books and art to rowdy games. And then there’s Tahira. She’s the youngest, and she has boundless energy.”
