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“Lies! Did she tell you not to say anything? Does she have you so wrapped around her finger? Did she want that much control that she took the Sealian heiress as her fucking whore!?”

Her anger boiled over, and without thinking, Maris drew her hand back and struck Eyphah on her face. The sting in her hand ran through her very bones. It had been so long since she had been that angry. Eyphah might have been protecting her people, but Maris would not be disrespected.

Eyphah’s turned to her, her hand on her cheek, and Maris couldn’t tell if it was astonishment or rage shining through those cobalt eyes. “I’ve had it with your stupidity and you running your mouth as if you know me. You don’t, Eyphah. I will be damned if I have to stand here and let you run that fucking mouth of yours and insult me or the Queen.”

“You are lovers, aren’t you?”

“Did you even hear a word I’ve just said?”

“Why won’t you answer?”

“Because that is none of your concern.” Maris turned away from Eyphah and headed after Valda.

Valda wasn’t sure how many people she tripped over. She didn’t know if they did it on purpose or if she was moving chaotically in search of safety, House of Arago. In search of silence. Where were her guards when she needed them?

When she was just about to give up and sit down on the dirty, uneven ground, a small voice called out. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. It wasn’t just one; it was three. Coljar, Kimmi, and Lia called to her as if she was one of them, as she was an equal, and for the time being, she believed that was what she needed.The kids circled her. Coljar grabbed her pant leg and tugged on it while Kimmi pressed Valda’s forgotten blouse to her flank. Valda didn’t speak. She stood her ground until little Lia asked what was wrong and why she looked so sad.

Valda frowned at the question. Sad? She looked sad. She chuckled and ran her fingers through her hair before giving them her best smile. “I seem to be a bit lost, that’s all.”

“Do you wish to go to House of Arago?” Kimmi asked.

“Very much so,” Valda answered, turning her face in Kimmi’s direction.

The young girl’s small hand slipped inside Valda’s as she whispered, “Here is your blouse.”

“It has some paint stains on it,” Coljar added.

“It’s fine. It was bound to happen.”Valda’s hands closed over the soft fabric.

“You messed up your painting while dancing,” Lia said, her small finger poking the many dots she had made over Valda’s left hand.

“Yes. I am sorry.”

“No! It’s fine! You were having fun!”

“Lia’s right. You looked like you were having a lot of fun,” Kimmi said, her hand now resting on Valda’s wrist. “Do you mind if we take you back to House of Arago? You are pretty far away from it.”

Valda swallowed hard and nodded. “Please?”

All three kids quietly guided Valda to the doorstep of the cabin. Valda could feel their hesitation to let her walk in alone. Holding her blouse with a death grip, she moved her other hand to search for the doorknob, turned to the children, and once again gave them a cheerful fake smile.

“Thank you. I think I will wash off and head to bed.”

“Would you like to come to the lakes with us tomorrow?” Kimmi asked.

Valda shrugged at first, but then agreed with a dip of her chin. “Sure. Good night.”

Valda turned the doorknob, walked inside, and quickly closed the door behind her. She exhaled the ragged breath she had been holding and stumbled to the sofa. She dropped her blouse somewhere on the cabin floor as she sat down, mentally exhausted.

Then, it hit her.

Maris was the heiress of the Sea Kingdom.

She had always been the heiress.

Leaning her elbows on her knees, Valda rested her head on the palm of her hands.

Everything made sense…