The necklace’s numerous purple beads glinted in the light of the chandelier overhead. Akna slid the necklace across the dining table, where Anita snatched it up. She ran it through her fingers, then held it close to her eyes. “Amethyst. Very pretty.” She held it to her neck, adjusted it so it hung just above the hem of her dress over the curve of her chest. “What do you think?”


    “I know.” Akna grinned. “Would you still like me if I killed your brother?”


    Anita’s eyebrows scrunched. “That has to be the strangest question anyone has ever asked me. I should probably be offended, but somehow I’m not. Don’t get me wrong. I’d be upset if he died, and I’d prefer you didn’t kill him, but I have to admit…” She glanced to either side of her, then leaned in closer to Akna. “He’s a total ass.” She blushed at her language, and her face dimpled in that cute way it did whenever she got embarrassed—which seemed to happen a lot when Akna was around. “The truth is, I don’t particularly like my brother, but you know that. But please don’t kill him.”


    “I’ll try to arrange things so you’re there next time.”


    Anita pointed to the necklace. “Tell me more about this necklace. You were so eager to show it to me. You said Lord Padara gave it to Felit?a. What are you doing with it?”


    Akna looked up at her and smiled. “Yes, well, that’s what Ses-Izel wanted, but I don’t accept Ses-Izel’s authority.” She placed the necklace on the table again. “Let’s just say Felit?a and I protect each other and leave it at that.”


    “Felit?a and I were at the Hall of Knowledge. We were supposed to be looking for...gods, I’m not even sure I remember exactly. We’re always looking for these really specific magical topics that Agernon sends us for. I don’t understand most of them. I just skim books looking for specific words—they change all the time—and if I find them, I hand the book to Felit?a. It’s boring. I fight exhaustion the whole time. Anyway, I came across a book about these prayer bead things.” She reached across the table for the necklace, but made certain she was slow enough for Anita to pull it away.


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    “Basically, you’re saying I get to watch you sleep just in case your necklace starts to glow. Sounds exciting.”


    “We’ll go to my apartments,” Anita said. “I’ve got loads of space.” She jumped to her feet and hurried around the table. She held out her hand, but as Akna went to take it, she pulled it back.


    Anita put the necklace around Akna’s neck, letting the tassel fall against Akna’s chest. Her fingers lingered on Akna’s neck, just lightly touching. A shiver ran through Akna. Then Anita closed the necklace’s clasp, but her fingers lingered again, this time on Akna’s back.


    Akna groaned. “About the dress.” She had spent hours a few days ago being fitted for a dress Anita had commissioned for her. Gods, Foliths were picky about the measurements of their clothing.


    As luck would have it, they couldn’t get all the way to Anita’s room without running into Danel Belone. He was coming out of the library as they approached it to pass through. It had been a few days since Akna had last run into him, but nonetheless, it felt like she couldn’t go anywhere in the palace without encountering him. She certainly ran into him more often than she did anyone else in his family other than Anita—but she and Anita actively sought each other out.


    “I’ll associate with whoever I want, Danel, and I’d appreciate if you’d stop using that word. She is anything but a savage.”