Shade gripped her tightly, feeling, for once, at home again. She’d never been more happy to see the Scren Palace and even more so to see Anna, James and Benton. “Hey, Sis! How’s the royal life ‘road trip style’ been treating you?” She loosened her sister’s iron grip around her chest, sucking in a breath as she looked her up and down. Anna seemed taller—even older—than she had when they’d left to get Kilara. “You look like a beautiful young queen, Anna!” “Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you’re back, Shade. You can have the throne. Not for me at all. Not much going on here, but man… I know what you mean now by having to repel a throng of suitors! Holy heck! Those Teleen men have journeyed here from the Caverns to court me. Me! I’m just sixteen for goodness sake! Soap has been able to keep them outside the actual palace walls, but they are relentless, asking for my hand in marriage, sending birds with messages to my window. Just the other day one of them….”
