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What was his name?

The sound of footsteps made her tilt her head back. Her breath hitched the moment she heard Maris greet her guards outside of the cabin.

Her heart was racing when she stood from the sofa just as Maris said goodnight and closed the cabin door, locking it in the night.Valda relaxed the moment that delicious sea scent engulfed her senses.

“Are you all right?” She tensed. “Did she touch you?”

“I am fine. She didn’t do anything she would regret later.” Maris’s padded closer to her. Her hand suddenly fell on Valda’s belt. “Nothing bad happened. On the contrary. I think I will be able to talk to her like a civilized individual.”

Valda’s face warmed. “Really?”

“Yes,” Maris said, her voice trailing off as if unsure of sharing whatever information was in her mind.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” Maris guided Valda to sit back on the sofa before joining her. “There is going to be a celebration in two nights time—the Night of the Nymph, she called it.”

“She wants you there?”

“Yes. She wants me to experience a patron night.” She paused.

“I feel like you are hiding something for me,” Valda said, her lips pressing into a scowl.

Valda had tried to open up to this woman, but the feeling of Maris not telling everything to her, of not trusting her, was a slight pang of pain in her chest. She wanted Maris to trust her with everything. She wanted her to feel like she could tell her absolutely anything and know she wouldn’t judge her for it, Gods knew she would try to be as understanding as she could.

Valda tensed before speaking again. “What happened?”

Maris grabbed her callused hands and gave them a firm squeeze before speaking, “I saw the lakes, well… I would call them ponds instead of lakes,” she said as she trailed her index finger over a protruding vein on the back of Valda’s hand. “She asked me to go back to her cabin.” Her voice was low, careful as if she knew Valda was going to be furious.

Valda’s upper lip twitched. Heat rose to her ears and face, and an exhale whistled through her nose until she was able to talk. “And did you?” The question hung in the air, and she felt Maris tense.

“I am here.”

“That doesn’t—” She closed her eyes as she tried to control the bubbling rage inside her chest. She gritted her teeth before inhaling sharply. “That doesn’t answer the question, Seashell.”

“Valda.” Maris cupped her jaw and held her face steadily. “I want you to listen and listen well.”

Valda could hear her own pulse inside her head as heat flushed her entire body. “I am listening.” Her voice shook.

“I don’t want anyone else but you.”

Valda exhaled, closing her eyes ashamed of the rage that coiled in her very core. “Do you?”

Pulling her in, Maris pressed her forehead with hers and kept her there as she nodded her response. “I only want you. No one else, just you. You are enough.”

Valda gripped Maris’s arms, close to her shoulders. She dipped her head and pressed a quick kiss to the other woman’s lips. “Forgive me, Maris.”

Maris moved a strand of ebony hair away from Valda’s face. “What for?”

“I should’ve done more. We—My family, should’ve done more. I promise you I will rebuild New Agenor. I will rebuild the Sea Kingdom, the castle, everything.” She shuddered and drifted her hands to Maris’s waist. “Gods, I will rebuild the castle for you,”

Maris giggled and shook her head. “I am no queen.”

Valda let out a ragged breath while chortling. “Oh, but you are. You are my queen, Seashell.” Valda whispered before claiming Maris’s lips in a sweet yet passionate kiss. “You have me wrapped around your fingers, and I can’t believe I am glad that you do.”

“Valda—”

“Just take the fucking compliment.”