Page 95

As the melody shifted, the music grew darker, and Maris’s playing became more intense. The notes were haunting, filled with longing and sadness as the happy memories of her mother invaded her mind. All those afternoons where her mother would teach her how to hold the bow, how to settle the violin on her shoulder. The feeling of her hands on hers as she guided her through the notes.

Memories of her father weren’t far behind. Him seated in the living area of their home, staring as she played with a proud smile on his face. The tempo picked up, and the music took on a sense of urgency. Maris’s fingers moved with incredible speed, the melody rising and falling like waves crashing against a rocky shore.

With a final flourish, Maris brought the music to a slow stop, the last notes fading into the air. She lowered her violin, her eyes meeting Valda’s open gaze. Her haunting white eyes seemed to look upon her, glimpsing into her deepest memories. And just like that, Maris pulled back, looking away, hiding from the queen. She felt seen, exposed, and she wasn’t ready to be so vulnerable, not with Valda.

Valda patted Cerberus’s back before she stood from the table and took a couple of unsure steps towards Maris. Wanting to avoid Valda was impossible. She reached out, grabbed her forearm, and led the queen to her. She expected Valda to say something, she never expected her to wrap strong arms around her and pull her into a strong and much needed hug. Maris’s hand rested on her back, eyes wide open as Valda squeezed her shorter frame to hers. Maris melted, pressing her lips to her taut shoulder.

Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she swallowed hard and willed them away.

“That was beautiful,” Valda whispered against her temple.

Her cheeks warmed at the praises. She looked up at the queen and blushed as Valda pressed her forehead with hers while her large hand moved to grasp her waist intimately. Not wanting her emotions to get the best of her, she patted Valda’s back and pulled away.

“You told me you were going to take me to the pool today,” Maris said, moving back a step and brushing Valda’s hand away. “We better finish our breakfast. If we keep this up, we might as well stay in for the entire day.”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

“Valda…” Maris pouted and gave Valda’s hand a firm squeeze.

“All right, all right.”Valda released her with a conceding sigh and slowly made her way back to the table.

Maris took the chance to put the violin away and finally dressed. Maris pulled on a flowing, floor-length dress made of a lightweight, airy fabric. The dress had long sleeves that were loose and billowy, draping down to the wrists. The bodice was fitted, accentuating her curves. The dress was not adorned with intricate patterns and designs, but it had a worn out, blue-ish color. It wasn’t eye-catching, but it was comfortable, and that was what she needed. As she walked to the breakfast table, Maris combed her fingers through her long, wavy hair and finally sat down to enjoy her breakfast.

For a while, they kept to themselves until Valda broke the silence with a question.

“You never take off your necklace,” Valda said, dunking a piece of bread in her coffee. “Sentimental value?”

Maris licked crumbs of bread and honey from her lips before she touched her neck and then her chest, finding rings dangling from necklace. “Yes.” Maris didn’t plan on explaining, but the silence between them was expectant. “They are my parents’ wedding bands,” Maris said and took a long sip from her coffee.

“Heart mates?” Valda asked, grabbing a piece of bread and holding it for Cerberus.

“Soulmates,” Maris corrected, swallowing hard. She dunked a piece of bread in honey and took another bite.

The silence was deafening until Valda spoke again. “Why don’t you want a mate? Do you have one somewhere, Maris?” The hesitation in Valda’s voice was evident and Maris couldn’t help but smile.

“No heart mate, no soul mate. Then again, I am not twenty-one yet, so I haven’t met my soulmate.” Her eyes shifted to Valda, who petted Cerberus’s head after she took the bread. “I don’t think I could handle being someone’s heart mate, and then having that person leave for their soulmate, or vice versa.”

Valda nodded, yet her jaw tensed.

“I guess you haven’t met your soulmate.”

The subtle upturn of Valda’s lips took Maris by surprise. She hid a pout by biting on her lower lip. “Apparently.”

“I could’ve sworn you and Sir Kayden were close to heart mates.” There, she finally said it. She just hoped she didn’t sound like she was about to puke with jealousy.

Valda chuckled deeply and shook her head. “Gods, no.”

Maris released the breath she was holding.

“Kayden is my best friend. Nothing more,” Valda said before reaching for her coffee. “The man can be annoying as fuck sometimes, though.” She scoffed. “I would never mate with a person like him,” she muttered more to herself than to Maris. “Not to mention he is a man. I am not attracted to men.”

Of course. Maris shook her head. Why was she worried about that? Why was she worried about Valda being mated at all? Maybe because, in her heart even if they weren’t soulmates, there was a slight probability they were heart mates and that terrified her.

The smile that absentmindedly painted her lips disappeared when she caught herself thinking about being mates with the woman in front of her. Valda was a queen, strong, important. She was… someone.

“Have you had a lover?” Valda asked, eyes closed, cleaning up her plate by popping one last strawberry into her mouth.

Maris pouted and twisted her lips, mulling her answer. “I’ve—I’ve had lovers before. Nothing serious.” Kind of like now, right?