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Valda threw the sword away from the soldier’s reach. “Tell General Arwin his queen is back. I must talk to him at once.”

The soldier nodded. “I will relay your message to the king.” Yet, the guard did not move as another one left the hall. The echo of the boots receded and bounced between the walls.

Several tense minutes passed when a young soldier came back from inside the castle. He stood next to Valda, dangerously close to Maris. The feral need to protect her mate kicked in as she stood between the young man and her lover.

“The king asked us to escort you back to your chamber. He will call for you once he is ready.”

Valda closed her chamber door, grabbed a chair, and placed it under the handle, locking it in place. Valda was agitated. Maris could feel it in that distinctive tug, that dread coursing through her as well. In the background, Cerberus’ hungry meows took her by surprise. The large cat ran out, her screams loud, calling for attention from both women. It seemed she hadn’t eaten anything since they left.

“Cerberus!” Maris kneeled down and cradled the cat in her arms. “You poor thing.”

“What in the actual fuck?” Valda snarled. Her features were tense as she laced her fingers behind her head in frustration, dropping her stoic facade. As she turned to Maris and saw her with Cerberus she grew even more worried. She grabbed the cat from Maris’s arms, touching and inspecting her. Cerberus’ loud purrs invaded the room, yet she meowed again, struggling to leave Valda’s arms as if wanting to show her something.

“She must’ve been hiding,” Valda said as she allowed Cerberus to escape her embrace and run to the empty bowl.

“Valda…” Maris began, reaching towards her mate.

“I must have some water somewhere—”

“Valda—”

“There should be something to eat—”

“Valda!” Maris screamed, stopping her before she went to look for food. “Arwin is the leader of the coup!”

Valda visibly swallowed and sat on the sofa, not defeated, but on the verge of collapsing. Maris knew she was thinking about the bodies.

Those bodies… There were dozens and dozens of them. Young maids, soldiers, Dristan… Maris pressed her fingers to her temple. All her plans, her ideas. They were trash now, disposed of like nothing. Arwin had been the one in charge all along.

Valda stood up, running her hands through her hair. Her hard stomps were the only sound other than their heavy breathing before Maris said, “It was always him all along! He left to gather his men, not to investigate.”

Valda was quiet, her rage bubbling in her chest before she growled, “I am going to slash his throat and watch him bleed. Fucking traitor.”

“No. You will hold your ground and take a breather. This is what he wants. To destabilize.” She grabbed Valda by her forearms, Cerberus’ loud meows diminishing in the background.

“He killed them!” Valda yelled, swinging her arms as she turned to her mate. “My men, my soldiers, Dristan. The maids!”

Valda clutched her hair again, a swirl of air forming around her. A small tornado erupted from within the queen’s body. The furniture around them tumbled and thrashed about as papers erupted from drawers.

Maris quickly cupped Valda’s face and held her steady. She wouldn’t allow this. She couldn’t. Valda losing control would just make things worse. There must be a diplomatic way of dealing with things. Right?

“Valda! You can’t let the rage control you. It won’t fix anything.” Maris said, watching the darkness in Valda’s eyes settle as she breathed in.

The raging wind around them shifted until it stopped completely. The flying sheets of paper floated around them like dry leaves until they scattered all over the chamber floor.

Valda closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to Maris. As she trembled, her hands twitched over the sword handle. It had been a while since she had seen Valda like this, with rage spewing out of her pores. She understood it. She even acknowledged the need to do unimaginable things to whoever was responsible for the hideous act outside the castle, but they needed to think, plan, and act accordingly. If every soldier inside the castle were against Valda, acting on their feelings without a plan would be absurd.

“If he touches a strand of your hair—”

“He won’t,” Maris assured her, squeezing Valda’s cheeks.

“If he does…” Valda continued, her arms circling Maris, crushing their bodies together.

Maris could feel the drumming of Valda’s heart against her chest. She wanted to calm her, to clear her mind. She needed her to think straight, with logic, not with her emotions. Truth be told, Maris wasn’t exactly calm.

The doorknob turned harshly, and when it didn’t open, the person on the other side slammed their fist against the thick wood.

Valda tensed under Maris’s touch and turned towards the chamber entrance before releasing her. Before Valda could ask who it was, a masculine voice yelled from the other side, “Valda Aither, the king is available for an audience. Open so we may escort you. Your companion will stay here. Only you are allowed to be in his presence.”