“Everybody, leave!” Empress Tassia commanded, eyes locked on Raena, as if afraid she’d say something else if she so much as looked away. The soft rustling of clothes and the quiet steps announced the departure of her servants, including her lady-in-waiting.
“Kara, wait outside,” Raena ordered before Tassia could say something that would put her friend in danger. When she heard the click of the doors, Raena let her smile drop. Standing in front of the Empress and keeping her cool was proving way more difficult than dealing with an angry customer demanding to speak with the manager because they found hair in their food.
Raena swallowed the lump in her throat, waiting for the other woman to speak.
“You seem to have a death wish,” Empress Tassia spat, dropping into her seat with a sneer. “
