Page 6

Now, they both looked at each other as if neither had seen or heard of what a baby was, despite being the one thing they had longed for since the moment their life together began.

“That’s a baby, all right,” Saha exhaled, rubbing her hands against her loose cotton pants. “Are… weren’t…” She scratched the back of her head next and turned from Maris to Raan. “I…”

“I found her outside the Triton Castle,” Raan began, walking closer. “General Arwin had said there were no survivors after the castle collapsed, but…” he stretched his hand, his finger brushing against Maris’s own. She quickly grasped it and held on tightly. He chuckled at the baby’s strength. Who knows? Maybe she would be a great soldier one day.

He swallowed hard at the thought. Maybe he was getting ahead of himself.

“She was by the shore, surrounded by water. As if Poseidon himself was keeping her safe. I couldn’t leave her there. The boats were already leaving, so I tucked her in my jacket and left.”

“And her parents? Did anyone claim her?”

Raan explained everything, how no one had claimed they had a missing baby, and that the orphaned kids would be taken care of. He knew they would mostly be placed in a temporary home. It would’ve been better if he took the baby in. After all, wasn’t having a child one of their biggest desires?

No, Maris wouldn’t be from their flesh and blood, but Raan already felt he loved her.

“So… we keep her until someone comes forward?”

“If they do,“ he mumbled, their gazes glued to the beautiful baby.

A dead silence fell upon them, and the only thing that could be heard were Maris’s happy squeals.

“She has a beauty mark,” Saha said, her fingertips brushing over Maris’s left cheek, right under her eye. “Kind of like me, look.” Saha exclaimed, pointing at the mark on her chin.”

Raan chuckled, grabbed Saha’s face, and kissed her jaw. “If it wasn’t for the blue hair, I would say she is yours already.”

Saha’s chuckle disappeared. She bit her lower lip and turned away from Maris and Raan. “If they come looking for her, I will be devastated, Raan.”

He nodded. He didn’t want to admit it, but he would be heartbroken as well. Clutching Saha’s waist, he shifted her to face him. He already knew what she felt before she could utter a single word. The bond allowed them to know what the other felt without the need to talk. Sighing, he squeezed her smaller frame to his and pressed his lips to her temples.

“No one will claim her.”

“How are you so sure?” she asked, her hands clutching the back of his shirt.

“Because I will not allow anyone to take her away from you. I promise.”

Saha pulled away enough to turn towards the baby. With trembling hands, she reached her.

“I named her Maris.”

Saha’s lips spread into a wide smile as she picked Maris from the table. “Maris Era…” She pronounced the name with pride.

Feeling warmth spread through his chest, Raan sighed in contentment and wrapped his arms around his mate and their new daughter.

2

Valda’s bloody hand curled into a tight fist as she walked down Oberon castle’s great hall. Warm blood dripped from her fingers to the pristine floor. Hours ago, she’d thrust her dagger one last time into a traitor. It was the fifteenth kill of that day. Her enemy’s blood mingled with her own from a wound on her upper left arm.

She’d come back from Umbriel to get her arm fixed by the castle’s doctor, a blessed Asclepius worshiper who’d worked for the family for years. She didn’t mind the pain or that she was bleeding profusely. One touch from the man and she would be healed.Many healers were Asclepius worshipers and began their studies in medicine from an early age, hoping that by showing determination and discipline, the god would bless them.

In the great hall, caged in wooded frames and old paintings, the eyes of past rulers and bearers of the god sign gazed down at her as she made her way to the throne room. She always wondered if they regarded her with awe or disapproval. Their burning gazes were heavy on her shoulders, judgmental.

“Still with me?” Arwin’s voice pulled her from the heavy gazes. His firm hand fell on her broad shoulders, shaking her slightly. She turned to face him, her height matching his, her eyes darkening at the sight of him.

“I am here,” she answered as he pushed the doors to the throne room open for her. Inside, her mother’s surprised gasp filled the empty silence.

“Valda!” Rionach shrieked, climbing down the dais, and running towards her. She wrapped her arms around Valda, bringing her down with her. Valda hugged her mother tightly with her uninjured arm, squeezing her smaller frame and pressing her face to her shoulder.

She was home. She was in the castle. She was alive.