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I struggled to breathe as I rushed to ed from the lower level and strode confidently across the courtyard to meet AntonyMassive warships were already in the harbor andsailsI watched Hasani’s broad shoulders until he disappeared froone

I didn’t even bother to get dressed as I rushed froownI found her already in a heap on the floor of her balconyShe knew that Marc Antony would also die this day

Collapsing next to her, I wrapped etherThis was definitely too h I had been through it before

Sadness like Ihad never known overwhelh to stand it

"I can’t do this, I can’tI can’t"

I didn’t even realize that I had whispered out loud until Cleopatra wiped the tears fro me to face her

I stared directly into the steely eyes of the last pharaoh of EgyptThe deterth that I found there bolstered

"Char"

She was beautiful and delicate and strong, all at the saainst her, while atched the ships sail into the portThere were so many that the water was scarcely even visible between the thick, creaking wood of the boats and the huge billowing sails that filled the sky

Finally, I sat up straight and pushed the hair out of , red eyes

"I have to leave now, your highness,"I e"I can’t stay here any longer I’m sorry that I have to leave you this way It is unbearable, I knowBut in the co days, know this… no matter what the pain is like here, ill survive this"

She nodded, pain and grief washing over her face in waves She was the only other person in the history of the world who knehat I was feeling right nowI felt closer to her than ever

I watched Ahmose soundlessly appear in the queen’s cha for us to say our goodbyesHis eyes were kind and he was silent as he patiently waited Cleopatra reached out to ,"she whispered softly as she gently tucked my hair behind my ear

As she moved, she stirred her soft, clean scent and I inhaled it, re-coain reht now that I appreciate all that you do for meI love you, CharmianYou aredown her faceThis was definitely too much to bearI sed hard

"I love you, too, CleopatraIt is always an honor to serve you"

"Hoill I know you in our next life?"she asked me hesitantly, her eyes frozen on mine

"Your soul will always know hout tih ill appear in different ways, our souls will always be the sarab As she stood with her slender arms wrapped around ain… Take care of yourself"

I felt the tears strea into a blurry rant Alexandrian breeze, I felt hian tointo a chantThe bloodstone began to spread familiar warmth into my arms and I closed my eyes

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The afternoon sun in azing around htly lit roo widely open Aht us back to the saht about this ti … and ulped, fighting back tearsHe was dead noere the rest of usPain ripped through my chest and I blinked away the memory of his perfect faceHis eyes, his ht now, I knew I had yet another difficult conversation to attend to I tried to ignore the burning inat His ancient body was still as he observed ain- I knoas unbearable"

I noddedfor what to say

"I knohy my memories are wiped away, Ahmose,"I murmured painfully"This is unbearableI’ve lost Hasani and I feel as though I just want to die, too"

He stared at me in surprise

"Charht you had put that togetherYou’re a sirl You will find Hasani in this lifeOr he will find youOne way or the other, you will be together again- justas you are in every lifeYour souls are like nets…attracted to each other life after life"

I stared at him in shock

"Then… Hasani is…"

"Your soulmate"

My heart still felt like a frozen lump in my chestBut at the saoneHe was mineIn every lifeIt was tooreliefI hadn’t lost hiain

"I’ your bloodstone back with ht, very soon, I will appear to you again and ill begin your cycle all over again"