"I'm positive you've heard the stories of Thora." Serenity said to her other half as they remained in each other's embrace. Amanthy pulled back to study her lover.

"That doesn't explain everything Serenity. The existence of Thora was strictly a rumor back then, I don't know what's real and what's fake at this point, I need you to lay everything on the table so I can understand." Amanthy replied tenderly as her hands remained on the other woman's hips drawing soothing circles with her thumbs.

"I have no problem telling you everything baby, I just need you to keep an open mind," Serenity said as she melted in her mates hold. Every touch or word she spoke felt like her own personal drug, Serenity knew if she lost her again she likely wouldn't come out sane this time.

Amanthy's heart raced whenever she heard the term of endearment from her lover. It made it all the more difficult to focus on the matter at hand. The green eyed woman nodded as she placed a kiss to her forehead and gestured for her to continue.

"Thora is the sister of mg, their reign has lasted since time was conceived. Since the beginning the two have fought over the energy of this universe. From what I know they treat it like a game, every move they make during the game determines which direction the energy moves," Serenity explained as she held eye contact with the woman before her.

"Wait wait, what do you mean a game, and yes I'm familiar with energy but what kind of energy are we referring to?" Amanthy asked in confusion.

"It's a game of chess my love. Every piece they move shifts the energy around us in one or the others favor. Thora recently won the game, meaning she holds the power to this world— this universe— for the next thousand years and so on. To my knowledge the game wasn't always chess, it evolves with time depending on who holds power at the time. Mg chose chess for this millennium, and still loss." Serenity said answering the other woman's questions. Amanthy had to resist the urge to let her jaw fall to the floor.

There was a beat of silence as Serenity let her mate collect her thoughts. Her words weren't exactly hard to grasp but yet Amanthy felt a slight panic take over at the thought that the universe is in someone else's hands now. From what she's been told she came to the conclusion that mg took her rule just before she was born. At the thought of her own birth, another question manifested itself.

"Okay, but who conceived them? If they're sisters then that means they have parents." Amanthy replied in thought.

"Thora wasn't very clear when I asked. She said the universe birthed them." Serenity's words left the green eyed woman even more confused as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"When you asked?" Amanthy mimicked in question. She didn't like the thought of a goddess communicating with her mate privately.

"We've had several conversation regarding our plan." Serenity replied leaving no further explanation.

"Our plan? What exactly is the plan because I don't understand why she would need to get involved." Amanthy said as she tried to keep her irritation to a minimum.

"The plan is exactly the same as I've told you before Amanthy, but there are some things about myself that I haven't shared with you since you've returned," The other woman replied as she drew Amanthy closer. The former queen furrowed her brows in question once again as she allowed her mate to pull her in. She had no idea what to expect from the woman who continued to constantly surprise her— dead or alive.

"A few years ago I looked into my parents heavily, and as it turns out you and Amara were right all those years ago. Not only do I have 2 supernatural ties, but 3. I can minipulate the energy around me, I can harness it or release it at my will— in other words-"

"You're also part witch." Amanthy finished for her barely above a whisper. Serenity nodded in confirmation as she watched the wheels turning in her lovers head. Serenity hadn't intended to keep so much from her but she only had now to lay everything out— so that's exactly what she planned to do.

"I asked Thora to make sure you or mg couldn't see those moments that I did practice it. It's our trump card in case mg has a plan of her own, a layer of security in case everything goes south." Serenity said as she further explained herself. In truth Serenity would only make such efforts for her mate, she didn't owe anyone else an explanation of any sort.

"But that would mean Thora's jurisdiction outranked Mg's at the time, but from what you've told me, Mg controlled the energy around then." Amanthy said as she analyzed the time periods.

"Just because Mg had most of the control during that time doesn't make her superior on a common sense sort of basis. For example, right now my position outranks yours my love, but that doesn't make my strength or talents any greater than yours. If you chose to challenge me right now, whats to say I'll even come close to winning?"  Serenity explained as she provided the best example she could. Amanthy nodded in understanding as she felt the real truth to her words.

"I understand where you're coming from when you refer to those two. Just because the energy is in one of there favor doesn't mean the other can't still minipulate the energy themselves as long as it's discreet." Amanthy said further explaining her understanding. There was a moment of silence as a slow smirk spread across the green eyed woman's face. "But as for me and you— you can't lie to me Serenity."

"Lie to you?" Serenity repeated in question.

"I can detect energy as well my love. I may not be able to fully manipulate it but I sense it, it flows in and out of you and me, or anyone else for that matter." Amanthy said as confusion struck Serenity at her words. "You can't fool me, you know just as well as I do that your extremely close to surpassing me. Right in this moment, if one of us challenged the other— there's no telling who would win."

A slow smirk overtook Serenity's expression at her lovers observation. She wasn't too sure herself but hearing it from Amanthy confirmed her thoughts— they were now matched in strength.

"I didn't think you'd still be that sharp." Serenity said with no attempt to deny her words. She couldn't deny it if she wanted to, there was energy practically pouring from them as it thrummed with their own essence— they were no doubt of equal value.

"I suppose we'll just keep surprising each other then." Amanthy said as she leaned in to taste what was hers once again. Their lips locked in a kiss that they were sure would leave them breathless. Amanthy pulled her lover impossibly closer as her tongue demanded access. This kiss wasn't as soft as the last and they both sensed that neither would stop on their own account.

Serenity's hands wondered lower as she grabbed a handful of what was considered hers as well. Amanthy let out a subtle moan in response as she took the other woman's bottom lip into her mouth which earned her a moan in return.

"None of that freaky shit in the throne room guys." A voice cut through the air, making them both snap their heads to the source.

Zavarius stood there with his eyebrows raised and an amused smirk adorning his features. Amanthy glared at her brother in irritation, eliciting a ring of laughter from the culprit.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your make out session, but there's someone requesting access to the palace, she says she knows Serenity." Zavarius said as he elaborated on his reason for coming.

"What's their name?" Serenity asked as the two women slowly separated from each other and waited intently for a name.

"She says it's Riley" he replied with a shrug.

Flashbacks to a easier time flooded Serenity's mind as she remembered the girl she once knew.

"Let her in immediately." Amanthy responded without hesitation as she remembered Serenity's high school friend as well.

"Wait who is she?" Zavarius asked as he felt like he was out of the loop. Serenity couldn't help but smile.

"An old friend."

———

A/N: I think this may be the quickest update I've released. I'll try to stay at the same pace and get updates out quicker.

Thank you to those who continue to follow the updates regardless of how long it takes me, you guys are appreciated <3

Votes and comments make me update faster, it reminds me that the book exists so please interact if you can lol.