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“You are right. You are right, I am so sorry, Maris.”

“I bet he begged for his life. I bet he told you about me.”

Valda’s lower lip quivered, and she nodded. “He did.”

Maris’s face twisted in pain and anger all the same. “And still you killed him.”

“I was following orders.”

“From who?”

Valda didn’t have to answer the question. The way her shoulders slacked in defeat was all the answer Maris needed.

Maris pursed her lips, tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. “Arwin?”

“I was young.” Valda slowly lowered herself to one knee, then the other, her hands still open. “I didn’t know what I was doing. Maris, I am so sorry.”

“You are not.” Maris got closer, the blade of the Heaven Sword inches away from Valda’s pulse. “You are not, you killed a good man, destroyed a family. My mother killed herself because her mate was taken away from her. I lost my parents not only once, but twice, and it was all you; my mate.” She hissed with such uncontained fury that Valda closed her eyes, waiting for the final inches of the blade to meet her neck.

She would gladly welcome death if she were to die by Maris’s hands. She had hurt her in a way she would never be able to repair, and knowing she was the cause was a burden too heavy for Valda to carry.

“Maris,” Valda’s soft silky voice quivered inside her chest.

Tears flowed down her face. She was unable to hold them back, not when Maris was so hurt. Valda knew Maris wanted nothing to do with her. All fragments of love had become pure and unfathomable rage and hate. Still, Valda grabbed her sword handle, covering Maris’s delicate fingers with her own and pushed the blade. The pressure was enough to break her skin into a bloody fine line.

Maris stumbled back as she saw the crimson of Valda’s blood stained the blouse. Her eyes widened in shock and a hint of worry. Yet Valda could only see a sliver of hope that Maris still cared.

“If you wish to kill me, Seashell, do it.” Another drop of blood sluiced down her neck, deepening the stain. “You deserve to avenge your father. I know that’s what I would’ve done. If it will make your hurt disappear, do it. I shouldn’t have caused you this much torment. If the damage is beyond repair, take your revenge.”

The hesitation was there. She saw it in the spark of Maris’s eyes. Maris’s grip on the sword slackened enough for her to slip her hands away. Valda took control of the weapon yet kept it in the same position.

“I can’t,” Maris murmured, her hands falling at her side. “I won’t.”

Valda noticed the way she trembled; she watched a million thoughts run through her lover’s mind, and gods, she wanted nothing more than to know what she was thinking. The pain was evident in her features. Her heart was broken. Valda could feel it deep within her chest, and as much as she tried to pull Maris back, she would just drive her away.

No… Valda couldn’t pull her back now. She couldn’t force her to do anything. It would just make them drift farther apart.

Maris’s gaze shot up to the bedroom entrance. Her anger subsided, replaced by dread.

Following Maris, Valda turned and found a group of guards by the chamber’s entrance. Their swords were drawn, waiting for either of them to attack. Valda gripped her sword tightly, standing and putting herself as a barrier between the intruders and Maris.

“What do you want?” Valda asked, her voice low and menacing.

“King Arwin has requested your presence in the throne room, as well as your companion,” the guard said before pausing and adding, “He has an announcement to make.”

***

The last time Valda had seen the throne room this full was on her twenty-first birthday. Then, friendly faces filled the room and welcomed her. Now, scowls and angry stares greeted her. Insults were hurled at her. Mediocre, fake, unlawful, weak.

Weak.

Taking her anger out on them would prove she was not only weak, but a coward. A coward like Arwin. Valda could still not wrap her head around the fact this man was responsible for the bodies outside her castle. The same man who showed her how to rule and make day to day decisions. His tough love never led her to believe he could kill so many people in cold blood, and if he was capable of that, what else could he do?

Maris walked closely behind her, and Valda could feel the anger blazing from their connection. Maris didn’t want anything to do with Valda. Whenever Valda reached for her, she pulled back and averted her gaze to look anywhere but at her. The rejection hurt, but Valda preferred her angry than away from her. As much as Maris was the most important thing in her life as her mate, Valda needed to find a way to deal with what was happening in her kingdom and Arwin.

Valda and Maris stood in the middle of the throne room, away from the dais. Around them, the people had created a circle isolating the two women and making them the center of attention. They stayed away from them as if they were diseased.

“Ah! Good! You are here. All of this wouldn’t be possible without your presence.”