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Maris was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted in her existence, and she wanted more.

Rubbing her hand over Maris’s arm, goosebumps spread across her skin. Valda kissed them without hesitation. The show of affection came naturally to Valda, as well as the need to make Maris more comfortable.

She wasn’t going to allow her to leave her chambers. If she wanted Maris to move into her chamber, now was the moment. This could be the opportunity she needed to make Maris accept that maybe, just maybe, she was the mate the Oracles spoke of. If she needed to fuck Maris into accepting her offering, Valda would gladly do so.

Taking advantage of the fact that her lover was asleep, Valda cautiously stood, and clumsily made her way to the living quarters, stumbling on the forgotten clothes. She needed to find a way to move about her room freely…

Nude, she opened the door and called out to a guard. She instructed them to bring in Maris’s belongings and to leave them by the door. The guard agreed and their footsteps receded down the long hall. Closing the door, Valda walked back to bed. Maris’s breaths were still deep and even; still asleep. She patted the bed, finding the sheet and covering Maris’s body with it before pressing against her back and wrapping a possessive arm around her waist. If she was going to enjoy every second of Maris’s company, she needed to keep her warm, taken care of, and healthy.

Valda had no way of knowing if Maris was her soulmate, but for now, getting the other woman to accept they had some connection was crucial. She could get Maris to change her mind about being her heart mate. She could later think about how to reveal her relationship with a Sealian to her kingdom, to Arwin…

Sighing against Maris’s shoulder, Valda squeezed her to her taller frame and allowed her overthinking mind to rest for the time being.

Maris woke as the bed shifted underneath her. Her eyes fluttered open to darkness and the rustle of bed sheets behind her. Dawn was approaching; she could tell by the nightly creatures’ hushing. It was still dark and cold, but soon, the light of the sun would snake in, warming the room.

Feeling small steps by her feet, Maris looked down to find Cerberus pawing the thick comforters, her purrs loud enough to reverberate to the bed. “You were here this entire time?”

Of course, Cerberus didn’t answer, instead, she continued kneading the bed until she created the perfect spot for her to curl up and continue her nap.

Finally awake, Maris stared at the stone ceiling before turning her head, only to find Valda. The queen’s parted lips and soft snoring indicated that she wasn’t going to wake up soon. The weeks spent looking after Valda helped familiarize her body and mannerisms… last night more than ever.

Blue eyes trailed over her strong body, taking her in as memories came rushing back. Maris sat up as she took in her hard lines and soft curves. That was when she realized she had slept wrapped in the sheets while Valda slept uncovered. She frowned at that. Maris’s chest wraps had come undone while sleeping, leaving her bare to closed, blinded eyes.

Sighing in frustration, as a distinctive burn settled between her legs, Maris slipped from the covers and out of bed. She shouldn’t stay. She could still feel Valda’s hand gripping her thighs, holding her steady while her mouth brought her the most intense orgasm she had ever felt. It wouldn’t be right for her to stay in bed, to wake the queen, to demand more. Closing her eyes and brushing her fingertips over her neck, Maris remembered how the large, callused hand felt, squeezing her, demanding attention.

Don’t forget who I am.

The words strangled her more than Valda’s hand, and yet she couldn’t help but look upon Valda’s sleeping form. The queen never seemed at peace except when she slept, and it brought Maris’s heart solace.She wanted Valda to be at peace, with no worries, but her position in the kingdom, and having a peaceful life didn’t exactly go hand in hand.

Maris drifted to the bathroom, then washed the wetness between thighs then her face and mouth. After she was done, she moved to the room’s living area, where she found her things settled in a corner. She swallowed hard and hoped that whoever brought those items didn’t see her and Valda in bed.

Her bag and worn-out violin case seemed untouched, but she opened them regardless, hoping all her things were still inside. Unlatching her violin case, she opened to find the instrument unscathed, strings still missing. She closed the case, set it aside and opened her bag. Her old clothes were still there, along with a pair of shoes and a makeshift-sewing kit. She used to mend her clothing a lot, not having enough money to purchase new clothing, Maris had to make do with what she had. She moved a ball of strings and yarn aside before she thought of something.

She turned to face the bed and saw the tall woman moving. The queen would wake soon…

Maris dressed in a hurry, putting on the usual maid attire, and making sure that her parents’ rings were hidden under her clothing. Holding the ball of yarn, Maris walked back to the bed, and tied pieces of strings to the bed post, she unraveled the ball, made a path to the garderobe, another to the living space. She connected the yarn to the door, the large sofa, the table where they ate and finally to where Valda kept her liquor.

It wasn’t much, but if Valda was able to follow the yarn string to move about, she would get some of her independence back, something that Maris was sure she missed more than anything.

Happy with what she had done, Maris put the ball away, just as Valda woke up.

“Maris?”

Gasping, she closed her eyes tightly as she tried to control her nerves. She never thought she would be intimate with the queen, let alone sleep in the same bed. Now, as Valda awoke, the anxiety of interacting with her was settling in her chest, squeezing it.

“I am here.”

She heard Valda sigh in relief. The towering woman sat up on the bed, nothing covering her, hair disheveled. She looked beautiful.

“What are you doing?” Valda asked, her hands moving to comb her hair, brushing the strands away from her forehead.

“I was looking at my stuff. They brought them here. I didn’t notice,” Maris said as she turned back to grab her suitcase and her violin. “I don’t know where to put them.”

“In the closet, where else?” Valda said as she pushed herself off the bed, touching the bedpost, her fingers made contact with the yarn Maris had tied moments ago. She frowned in confusion before pulling it. “What is this?”

Maris smiled, proud of herself but still unsure of how Valda would take what she had done. “It’s a string,” Maris said and took Vada’s hands and lead her to touch a second line. “This one leads to the living space.”

Valda’s frown slowly disappeared, replaced with a soft smile. “Oh.” She stood straight and chuckled. “I don’t want to get rid of you, Maris. Not after last night.”