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The King of the Vulcan Kingdom. Why was Kayden contacted by them? What did her mother have to do with him?

“Your mother was found dead on arrival on the royal ship.”

Valda’s eyes widened. “What? But? How? That doesn’t make any sense! She was going to Harmonia with you!” Valda bellowed, her voice thundering in the throne room.

“It is true, Valda.”

Valda winced, as Arwin’s voice joined in. She turned to where she thought he was, the sound of his heavy boots echoed inside the throne room before feeling his heavy hands on her shoulders. “I was summoned by Vulcan. I arrived and took her home…”

“But how! Why was she even there?”

“I don’t know, Valda. But know this.”

His calloused hand cradled her face and wiped away the tears that spilled. “Whoever did this will pay the consequences.”

“This is an act of war,” Valda snarled, tearing her face away and turning to Kayden. “There will be blood. Friend or foe, I will spill their blood.” Valda whispered, her trembling hands cupping her mother’s face before she leaned forward and pressed her sweaty forehead with the corpse’s cold one. “I will avenge you; I will have the head of whoever did this to you. I swear it, Mother.”

A hand clutched her wrist and pulled her away. Strong arms enveloped as a rugged bearded face pressed to hers. “My girl, I am so sorry,” Arwin began, cradling Valda’s head on his shoulder and squeezing her to him. “But as I said many years ago, I will take care of you. I will not let you do this alone. You must rest. I will start the preparations for your coronation.”

Valda tensed. Coronation? Me? Queen of the Sky Kingdom? “No. No, wait. It’s too fast. We can’t just—”She slipped from the embrace, her hand moving to touch the cold corpse next to her. It was too soon. Too fast. too much all at once. Panic set in her stomach and chest, she could barely breathe as she thought about wearing her mother’s crown. It was preposterous! She couldn’t rule, not like this! She envisioned herself ruling when she was well in her fifties, maybe forties, never this young!

“The Sky Kingdom must have a Queen,” Arwin whispered. “You are the next in line.”

“I… I can’t do this, Arwin.”

“Go, leave everything to me,” Arwin said, still touching her forearm. “Kayden, take her to her room.”

Kayden’s steps sauntered closer, and just as Arwin released her, Kayden touched her waist. “Let’s go.”

“I can’t– I can’t leave her here. She needs to—”

“She will be taken care of, Valda. The only thing you must worry about is yourself. You need to rest.”

Valda nodded, lost inside her own mind and darkness. She was pulled away, ushered through the long hall until she was in her room again. The smell of the ocean hit her at full force, calming her nerves somewhat. Or was it Kayden?She heard Maris ask what had happened. Kayden answered truthfully. Hearing it made it worse. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes. The wind died down around her, tired, quiet, useless.

“Princess?” Maris’s voice sounded just as tired as she felt, yet the pang of sweetness was enough for the wind inside of Valda to pick up again. “Let’s get you to bed.”

8

It wasn’t easy to put Valda to bed…

Sudden sobbing outbursts hit her twice before Valda finally fell asleep. Before Kayden could leave, the soon-to-be queen of the Sky Kingdom grabbed hold of him and begged him to kill the sorrow, to stop her from feeling all together. But of course, that would go against so many things. It would anger the gods, and who knew, perhaps even bring forth more curses.

Kayden declined as sweetly as he could saying he could only calm her enough to rest and Maris was glad he did. Valda needed to mourn the death of her mother.

As Valda begged Kayden, Maris wondered if it would be wise if she stepped in to tell her that everything would be all right. After all, Maris knew what it was like to lose a mother and even if she wished to deny it, she still carried that open wound.

Maris’s hands hovered over Valda’s body, wondering where she should touch to calm her. She didn’t want to be the focus of her anger. As she decided what to do, Kayden stepped in, shaking his head. He would take care of this for the time being. The man pulled Valda into a tight hug, whispering something in her ear that Maris couldn’t quite make out. Somehow it calmed the princess enough for her to stop crying and cling to Kayden for dear life.

“Everything will be all right,” Kayden repeated, cupping Valda’s cheeks and moving away enough to look at his friend’s tear-covered face.

Maris silently watched as he eased Valda into the bed. Maris then locked her blue eyes with Kayden’s.

“You should rest,” Kayden commanded as he took one final look at Valda before addressing Maris. “You have been on duty way too long. When was the last time you went to your chamber and actually slept there?”

Maris opened her mouth to answer, but Kayden interrupted her.

“She is drained. I don’t think she will need you this evening. Go. Rest. Take a warm bath. I will stay with her for a few minutes, make sure she is fine. I need to stay and overlook the preparations for the coronation.” Kayden moved a chair and placed it near Valda’s bed. “I know you are worried; everyone is.”