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Valda smiled and shrugged. “You sound like your father.”

“I am starting to think he was right.”

“The Sky Kingdom is an ally of Rhea. We will always protect those who help us.”

“Of course,” Hawthorne chuckled and patted Valda’s shoulder. “I made an appearance. If you forgive me, I must retire. My kingdom is still mourning my father’s death, and I don’t think my people will see me in good eyes if I am out here celebrating.”

“Understandable,” Valda agreed, gripping Hawthorne’s forearm before allowing him to leave.

Alone with her thoughts, Valda turned to the party. She watched the laughter come and go as the maids waltzed in trays upon trays of food and drinks. She searched for any guests from the Sea Kingdom.

She found a couple of blue heads that she had already met before, not one of them looked pleased to be there. With a sigh, Valda turned to the throne. Her mother was casually talking to Arwin, who stood next to her as both company and maybe as protection. Her upper lip twitched in slight disapproval. She knew there was something going on with her mother and the General. If anyone denied it, they had to be blind. The General’s eyes shone with an untold adoration while the queen’s lips curled at the corner every time they spoke.

They were probably heart mates, and Valda couldn’t blame her mother for wanting to be with someone after her father’s death. But Valda couldn’t comprehend how someone that once had a soulmate could be with someone else after their mate’s death. Wasn’t her mother supposed to feel that gaping hole in her chest?

She is still human, Valda. She needs to feel something other than pain.

Grunting, Valda picked a glass from a passing maid. Still grumbling from watching her mother close to the general, her eyes caught a shade of blue she hadn’t seen before. Bright aqua blue hair…

Valda finished the drink and placed the empty glass as another maid walked by. She fixed her suit and as she was about to walk towards the owner of such blue hair, a deep red cut in front of her path.

“Kayden.” Valda sighed and looked over his shoulder. The blue was gone.

“Your mother told me to look for you.”

Valda inhaled deeply, her jaw tensing. “What for?”

“She has a present for you. Also, speaking of mothers. You were not hitting on my mother, right?”

“They are off limits.”

“Yes, of course, they are off limits, but she was hitting on you, and I could swear you were reciprocating—Pay attention to what I am saying! What are you looking for?” Kayden asked, turning to follow Valda’s gaze. “You saw something?”

“I did, but now it’s gone. I swear I saw another Sealian that wasn’t the one Mother invited.”

“Well, I am sure they won’t leave just yet.” He grabbed Valda by her arm and turned her towards the dais. “Let’s go.”

Valda approached the throne, and the attendees quieted down as her mother took notice of her. She stood up, folded her hands in front of her while Arwin bowed low. Behind him, another guard proffered a long wooden box. The seal of the Sky kingdom was printed on top. Arwin took the box and stood next to the queen.

Valda’s stomach dropped. She knew what was inside the box, and she never thought she would be the recipient of such a gift. With widened eyes and parted lips, she turned to her mother, who gathered her in her arms and hugged her tightly.

“I’ve been meaning to give you this for quite some time now, Valda,” her mother said, pulling enough to cup her cheeks and lower her face to kiss her forehead.

“I know your father would’ve wanted to give this to you himself, but in his absence, I will do as I must.”

Valda bit her lower lip, trying to stop its quivering. She hooked her hands together to keep them from trembling. She turned to Arwin, whose stoic façade did little to appease her excitement.

“Princess Valda Aither. As the future queen and protector of the Sky Kingdom, I give you the weapon your father wielded.”

Arwin took a step forward and Rionach undid the latch, opening the great oak chest. A wave of anticipation and reverence rippled through Valda. Inside, resting atop a bed of red velvet, lay the legendary Heaven Sword. Passed down from generation to generation, the unbreakable weapon had been wielded by the direct descendants of the chosen mortals.

The hilt bore the mark of Ouranos, whose power and might were said to imbue the blade with its legendary strength. It was common knowledge that only the ones that bore the mark of the gods on their forehead could wield the Heaven Sword. If anyone else tried to touch it, they would burn their hands.

Slowly, Valda approached the chest, her hand shaking with anticipation. She knew that she had been chosen by Ouranos to wield this mighty weapon because she bore the mark on her forehead since her twenty-first birthday, a day she would always remember for the reality of her responsibility and the accompanying weight.

With a deep breath, Valda reached into the chest and grasped the hilt. As her fingers closed around the grip, a surge of power coursed through her veins.

The attendees cheered as Valda raised the weapon high above her head, its blade gleaming.