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“I see you are slowly getting your strength back. You can already take a couple of steps by yourself.”

Valda chuckled. “Clearly you don’t know me. I bounce right back after every fight.”

“This wasn’t a fight, though,” Maris said, placing the clothing on the bed.

Valda’s upper lip twitched, her jaw muscles straining before saying. “All I need is a blessed Asclepius worshiper. I will be fine. I can manage.”

Maris smiled at Valda and nodded at her words. “And I will be here until you are healed. This is only temporary,”Maris announced, crossing her arms, and watching a sneaky grin forming at the corner of the princess’s lips.

“You want to get rid of me already, Maris?” The playfulness in her tone was there, even after the pain and fatigue, Valda still managed to display a playful nature Maris didn’t know existed.

Arching her brow, Maris chuckled. “It is not like that, princess. It was your mother’s order, and by the looks of it, you are the one that is in a hurry. You don’t need my help moving around your chamber.”

“I do, Maris. I can still stub my toe against a table’s leg… or smash my knee against a kid’s head. Danger lurks every corner.”

“That would be a tragedy, poor kid.”

“Whoa, now. I need my knees. Skylian children are hardheaded.”

“I would never doubt that.” Maris leered.

“Are you already flirting with me, Maris? Taking advantage of someone in my situation is rather horrendous and punishable by the Skylian law.”

Maris laughed and quickly covered her mouth. “Forgive me, princess. Skylian law is no laughing matter.”

“It is not. I take my job very seriously.” Valda chuckled and the tension in her shoulders slowly receded. “Anyhow, you are forgiven. No law will be put to use today.”

“Thank you for being so merciful, Your Highness.” Maris smiled, watching Valda face her. If it wasn’t for the bruises around her eyes and the fact that she didn’t have any iris, Maris would’ve thought she was looking directly at her. Slowly, Maris made her way to the still naked princess, touched her wrist, and guided her to the side of the bed where her clothes were. She handed one piece of clothing at a time, making sure that when Valda put it on, it didn’t look untidy.

The quietness of the room was rather calming.

Until Valda spoke….

“You may use my towel, Maris.”

Maris frowned, as she fixed the collar of Valda’s shirt. “What for, Your Highness?”

Valda chuckled. “Weren’t you wet?”

6

Nine years…

Nine fucking years waiting for nothing!

The Oracle lied. Valda found neither her soulmate nor a heart mate. What she did find was that she had been cursed. Because she was blind, even if the Oracle spoke the truth, she wouldn’t be able to recognize her soulmate by sight or form a bond with them.

The eyes are the windows to the soul…

And her windows were shut.

As much as she wanted to say she didn’t need anyone. She did. At least until the blessed worshiper came and healed her. The darkness wouldn’t feel suffocating if Valda knew when the new Asclepius worshiper would arrive. She wouldn’t jump at every sound. She would go about her day, trying her hardest to pull through. But the healing wound in her arm was a simple reminder that the worshiper was gone, and it would be a while until her mother found another one… if she found someone.

For now, she would have to deal with this the best way she knew how. Ignoring it.

Now, she lay in her bed in the wee hours of the morning. Although she heard shuffling outside her room, Valda refused to open her eyes. If she did, she would be reminded of what had happened.

“I know you are awake, Cerberus told me.”Maris’s voice pierced through her darkness.