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“And Maris is running after you? Who is helping who?” Kayden laughed before patting Valda harshly.

“I had a skirmish with Arwin.”

Maris scoffed. “Skirmish? You almost killed—”

“You will talk when addressed to,” Valda ordered.

“Hmm. I also heard you killed a man.”

“He wanted to fuck a child. He claimed she was his mate who died nine years ago.”

“I’ve never heard of the mating bond forming after sleeping with someone younger than twenty-one.”

“Neither have I. Yet, he claimed it was his right to take her to his home.”

A short silence fell on them before Kayden laughed again. “You did him a favor. He will be reunited soon enough, hopefully.” He grabbed Valda’s forearm and gave it a firm squeeze. “In any case, I believe you did the right thing, not in the right way, though. I would’ve captured him and killed him somewhere else.”

“I need to make a stance. I don’t want others to think I am weak.”

“They know you are not weak, but are you judicious?” Kayden asked, squeezing her forearm again and patting her shoulder.

Valda was taken aback by her friend’s words. She hadn’t thought about that. Like Arwin, she had gone about her life doing first and asking questions later. Maybe she should start listening instead of moping.

“Either way, my dear friend. I came to say my goodbyes. I will be heading back to Harmonia, and I will contact my cousin to see how we will come up with a blessed Asclepius Worshipper for you. I haven’t forgotten about you. We will fix this.”

Valda sighed, conceding. She was already getting used to the darkness, she didn’t care if she was able to see again. She would have to do with what she had and get used to using her other senses rather than her sight to fight. “May Ouranos guide you, Kayden.”

“He won’t. Aphrodite will.” Kayden chuckled and patted Valda’s face a little too hard for her liking. “Write to me. If you need me here, you know I will come running.”

“Thank you, Kayden.”

“Maris!” Kayden chirped while Maris said goodbye to him. His footsteps receded until there was nothing but silence in the hall. Maris’s soft hands touched her waist and gently guided Valda to her room.

As Maris closed the door, Valda could make out Cerberus welcoming meows and soft pads of her paws. The large cat rubbed herself against Valda’s leg until she picked her up. Another bump to her head and a loud purr confirmed that the cat had missed her owner.

“Your Highness?”

Valda hugged her pet tightly, slowly walking to the large sofa and sitting there. “Yes?”

“Are you all right?”

Valda could hear Maris’s worry. She was probably as nervous as Valda was. She licked her lower lip and nodded her head. “I got angry.” That was an understatement.

“I see,” Maris whispered.

When Maris’s hands landed on her back, she flinched at the sudden touch and pulled away quickly.

“Valda.” Her name was soothing when Maris said it, bringing a sense of peace, compared only to when Kayden used his power. However, this peace was not artificial. It was real and that terrified her. She wanted Maris, there was no doubt in her mind, but what if Arwin was right? What if she was making a horrible decision in wanting to make Maris her heart mate when there was a possibility that she was the enemy?

“Should I be worried?” Valda asked.

“About?”

“What Arwin said, about you…”

Silence consumed the room, except for the cat’s purrs.

“Do you trust your general, Your Highness?” Maris asked, her voice closer than what Valda predicted.