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Maris opened her mouth to object, but Melvian was right. She wasn’t paying much attention to what she was doing.

“I thought so.” Pointing with her chin, Melvian ordered Maris to follow her through the throne room entryway. “Let’s go!”

The music faded into the back of her mind as she concentrated her gaze and studied the woman’s features. The woman smiled, and Valda’s brows knitted together, confused.

“Happy birthday, Your Highness,” the woman purred teasingly.

Valda softened her expression and cocked her head to the side as she admired the woman’s beauty. A Sealian, through and through. Yet, as she looked at the woman’s eyes, she took a step back, blinking as a distinctive irritation surfaced in the center of her eyes.

“The Oracle spoke. You will meet your mate today.” The woman tilted her head, her smile spreading sweetly. “Have you met her, Your Highness?”

Valda kept her eyes locked with the woman’s, expecting something to surge through her. She waited for fulfilment, for the spread of fire, but all she got was a feeling that something wasn’t right, and that she shouldn’t be standing before this stranger.There was no connection, no bond. There was nothing. This woman was not her mate.

“You are not her,” Valda whispered, as the burning in her eyes increased.

“No, I am not. And I am so sorry you will never get to see her. Blessed birthday, Valda Aither. May your god heal you.”

Confusion racked over Valda. Squinting, Valda moved to grab the mysterious woman, but before she could, pure liquid pain split through her head. Covering her eyes, Valda faced away as her breath hitched. Taking steps back, she bumped into someone. Glass hit the floor and a soft voice begged for forgiveness. But Valda couldn’t answer back. The pain was unbearable and wouldn’t be lessened by the press of her palms to her eyes.

Suddenly, a hand came to her back. Although the pain continued, the fear in her chest waned. Peeking through, she saw long red hair and caring eyes. Leida.

Valda moved her hand to the smaller woman’s shoulders, struggling to speak past the pain. “Help,” Valda mumbled, not wanting anyone else to hear her. “Something’s wrong.”

Leida frowned and moved closer. She cupped Valda’s face. “I can’t stop it,” Leida said. “I can keep everyone calm but…”

Valda’s grip grew tighter as she bared her teeth, her vision faltered as the corners darkened around her.

“Help!” Leida yelled, capturing the attention of everyone in the throne room, including Kayden and Rionach. Horrified gasps rolled through the room as people gathered to see what was wrong with Valda, yet no one dared intervene.

Valda fell to her knees. The sound of bone colliding with the marbled floor echoed throughout the throne room. She pressed the heel of her palms to her eyes, squeezing again. Howling in pain and unable to understand what was happening, Valda felt Leida’s hands on her shoulders, as she tried to steady her now erratic movements.

“Help! Somebody please! We need a blessed Asclepius worshiper now!” Leida called out again.

The shooting pain tore through her face. Throwing her head back, Valda screamed at the ceiling as whiteness consumed her. She heard the gasps and shocked yells coming from the attendees. The blinding light ruptured the darkness until it dissipated into nothingness.

As the light resided, Valda pushed herself from the floor and walked aimlessly. She needed to stop the pain, she needed to get help. Where was the healer? Hands clutched her suit, holding her in place, and just like a wounded animal, Valda flailed her arms, trying to escape the unknown clutches.

“Valda!” She recognized her mother’s voice, far from her.“Stop!”

“It hurts so much!” Valda yelled, her hands coming to cup her eyes again. Warm liquid poured out, drenching her hands. The drops hit the marble floor and she feared the worst.

Blood?

“Valda, you need to stop!” Kayden was closer. His voice quivered with emotion. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, his powers coursing through her. But Valda wouldn’t yield.

She pulled away from the embrace and slammed her fist to Kayden’s jaw. He hit the ground with a pained groan.

“Valda, you need to calm down,” Leida spoke and once again, the ebbing waves of comfort washed over her, but it didn’t work.

Valda stood alone in the vastness of the throne room, her body wracked with agony and her mind clouded with despair. As she heard footsteps approaching, Valda gritted her teeth and braced herself. She knew that they were coming to help her, but the pain was too much to bear. She didn’t want to be touched; she wanted all to stop. With a fierce cry, Valda unleashed her power. Her body became a conduit for the winds, and gusts of wind exploded from her body with a force that shook the room to its very foundations.

The wind tore at the tapestries on the walls, flung chairs and tables across the room, and sent the people who had dared to approach her reeling backwards.

Despite the distress that wracked her body, she refused to back down. She screamed with all her might, calling forth the very power of the winds themselves.

Her heart beat inside her chest like a war drum, muffling the cries of those trying to help. The power of Ouranos filtered through her vain, as tornado thickened around her. This wasn’t happening, not now, not during her birthday, not when she was supposed to meet her.

As she continued to unleash her fury upon the throne room, her body convulsed with pain and her mind was consumed by a tempest of emotions. She barely registered the sound of approaching footsteps.