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“She said she was to talk to us at first light,” Eyphah snapped back.

“Things happen…”

Maris moved between the two, her hand absentmindedly falling on Valda’s stomach. Valda jumped at the sudden contact, yet did not pull away from it. She was tired of hiding, tired of acting as if her relationship with Maris was anything but lovers. Not to mention, Valda was aware of Eyphah’s intentions with Maris, and she was not going to have it. She noticed Eyphah was looking at Maris’s hand. Good. Let it be known that the future queen of the Sea Kingdom was hers, and she would do anything in her power to keep it that way.

“It’s true?” Eyphah asked. “You are mates?”

Valda felt a brief air of tension and anxiousness. Maris wouldn’t deny her, would she? Holding in her breath, Valda watched her lover nod, ever confident, ever grateful, and she couldn’t help but smirk proudly.

“Are you sure?”

“If you keep questioning our union, I will take it as a sign of disrespect, and I already told you what I would do to you if you disrespected my mate.”

“Your Highness,” Maris’s warning tone mirrored the displeasure in her narrowed eyes. “There will be no bloodshed.”

“That depends on Hurley,” Valda rectified while Maris inflicted more pressure on her stomach.

Valda knew she wasn’t the most pliable. She was on edge at the sight of Eyphah. If Maris had a type, Eyphah fell in it, and Valda would not take any chances. Straightening her back and shoulders, Valda set her large hand on Maris’s lower back, as her eyes penetrated Eyphah’s angry and suspicious gaze.

Ignoring Valda, Eyphah turned her undivided attention towards Maris. “They are asking for you. They have already started to settle at the square, and they want to talk to you. My people, your people, are terrified and excited, and hopeful, and I don’t know what to tell them other than to wait. They sent me to get you, and that’s why I am here. I didn’t mean to intrude or make you feel uncomfortable, Your Highness.”

She shook her head. “Call me by my name. I am still Maris.”

“No, I—” Valda said, agitated.

“Valda, that is my choice,” Maris said, raising her hand and interjecting what Valda was about to say.

She swallowed hard, but ultimately nodded at her lover’s words. “Fine.”

Eyphah bit her lower lip, probably to hide her discomfort at the interaction, and left when Maris told her to wait outside. Valda closed the door right behind her, as Maris gathered her clothing to dress.

Today was going to be a day.

***

Valda watched in awe while Maris spoke to her people.

Their eyes fell on Maris the moment she walked out of House of Arago. Everyone was already waiting for her with both apprehension and pride on their faces, and although she felt Maris’s fear of being exposed, Valda couldn’t feel prouder of how she stood her ground.

Maris didn’t keep anything to herself. She explained how she was adopted, how she was raised, her parents’ fear of having their child being taken away, how she was different and able to manipulate water, but also how she ignored it thinking she wasn’t the real princess. Maris explained how she came to work at Oberon castle, and became Valda’s maid, how she met Isen Hurley, and how felt this overwhelming feeling of wanting to keep everyone safe and do everything for their best interest.

As Maris spoke, Valda saw the Sealians eyes water with happiness while Eyphah moved uncomfortably at the mention of her brother, rubbing her tattoo.

Finally, Maris spoke about her fears, about how she knew nothing about being a leader, or ruling, how she was just like them, how she feared doing something that would hurt them, any of them, and they would see her as unworthy.

There was silence for a couple of seconds, until Eyphah said, “We do not expect you to run this as if you know how to. I think I speak for everyone when we say we are just,” she swallowed hard. “We are glad we are not alone.”

“You will never be alone,” Maris answered, turning for a split second to lock eyes with Valda. “Now we have to come together if we want to rebuild.”

“We would like to rebuild the Sea Kingdom,” a man said, his hand curling over who appeared to be his husband. “We can help,” he moved his free hand to show off the settlement. “We can rebuild anything.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that we can, but I do believe that it will be much better to regroup as much as we can and make a solid plan. I would gladly go back, see what is salvageable. I don’t want to jump in right and put you in danger.”

“There is a full generation of Sealians that were raised here, and have never seen our kingdom in its full glory. And, with all due respect to Queen Valda, this is not our home, it is nothing like it. We want to go back,” a middle-aged woman said, in her arms was a toddler with wild blue locks like Maris’s. “They should live and experience their home, like we did.”

“And they will, in due time,” Maris’s voice did not falter.

Valda took a deep breath as her heavy hand slipped to Maris’s shoulder before giving her a firm squeeze. She was more than sure that Maris could feel her warmth. The bond was new to them, and a tad overwhelming, but it was necessary to have the quiet conversation and reassurance of a touch.