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B lood soaked Maris’s hands while she fought through the excruciating pain in her broken arm. They had taken refuge in Lasmeer’s modest home in Ophelia, their only sanctuary amidst the chaos. Melvian’s father was gone, a victim of their pursuers, and Maris couldn’t shake the dreadful feeling that they would come for Lasmeer next.

Lasmeer was the only person Maris could trust other than Isen and Melvian. His kindness towards Valda gave her a glimmer of hope that he wasn’t a traitor. She held her breath as they arrived at his doorstep, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. If Lasmeer had betrayed them, if he laid a hand on Valda…

Isen pounded his open palm against the door while Melvian hurried to assess Valda’s injuries. Maris couldn’t tear her gaze away from Melvian’s face, searching desperately for a flicker of hope or reassurance. But Melvian’s expression remained unreadable, fueling Maris’s growing desperation. She needed to feel Valda’s presence, to know she was still alive. Her anger did not pull away from the fact that she was petrified that the other woman was on the brink of death. She could feel it. The bond flickered in and out, a fragile thread of fear and silence pulling at her.

When Lasmeer answered the door, weariness and confusion etched across his face. Recognition flickered in his eyes as he saw Isen, a genuine smile lighting up his tired features as he pulled him into an embrace—a gesture of goodwill that eased Maris’s apprehension for a moment. But as Lasmeer’s gaze shifted to Valda’s lifeless body, confusion morphed into shock .

“By Ouranos, what happened to her?” Lasmeer exclaimed.

Tears cascaded down Maris’s cheeks. “They betrayed her,” she choked out between sobs. “Arwin... he killed all the soldiers who refused to turn against Valda, and...” She bit her trembling lip, struggling to articulate her anguish. Valda was injured, unresponsive, and Maris’s broken arm had grown cold.

Lasmeer gestured for her silence, his hand moving through the air urgently. “Quickly, come inside! We mustn’t let them know she’s here.”

Isen nodded at Lasmeer, cradling Valda in his arms as he brushed past him into the house. Melvian placed a comforting hand on Maris’s thigh, her voice filled with urgency. “Come, Maris. Let’s get you inside.”

“I’ll tend to the horses. Go,” Lasmeer interjected, already taking charge of Isen’s horse and reaching for Melvian’s.

Maris leaned heavily against Melvian’s shoulder, dismounting from the horse with a mix of desperation and grit. Isen gently laid Valda face down on a long dining table, his brow furrowed with worry as he ran his hands through his mussed hair. Maris took in his disheveled appearance—dirt, blood, and exhaustion were evident in his clothes and untrimmed beard. He bore the scars of a battle she couldn’t comprehend. Had Arwin harmed him? The thought sent a shiver down Maris’s spine, evoking memories of her own suffocation, and her mother’s tragic end.

“Melvian, time is running out,” Isen’s voice boomed, piercing through the small living room. The worry in his tone mirrored Maris’s own.

Melvian approached Maris, cupping her face and grounding her in the present. “I need to attend to Valda, Maris. Can you hold on for a little longer?”

Maris’s focus shifted from Valda to her friend. She had never witnessed the concentration and determination shine through her best friend’s eyes. Melvian had slipped into the important role of a healer and Maris wouldn’t trust anyone else with such a role. She nodded, gently pushing Melvian away without a second thought. “Go.”

Melvian sprang into action, positioning herself near Valda’s flank. Closing her eyes, she moved her hand over Valda’s back, arms, and legs. Maris watched, captivated by the young healer’s intense concentration as she worked her magic. Suddenly, Melvian stopped, opened her eyes, and turned to Isen.

“Punctured lung, three broken ribs. ”

A lump formed in Maris’s throat as she hurried to Valda’s side, her trembling hand brushing against Valda’s dark hair for the first time. She noticed, with a pang of dread, Valda’s laborious breathing.

“I will need towels, water, a knife and a makeshift tube,” Melvian announced just as Lasmeer walked inside the home.

“I will fetch them for you,” he said as he turned to another room. “I have a couple of wooden straws that could work.”

“Yes, please,” Melvian replied, nudging Isen with her elbow. The handsome Sealian nodded, reaching behind him to produce a flask.

Maris furrowed her brow, glancing at the metal container and then at Melvian and Isen. “This isn’t the time to be drinking—“

“Maris,” Isen interrupted, his tone firm and commanding. “It’s Sealian water. It will accelerate the healing of your arm. Drink.”

Melvian nodded in agreement, her gaze steady. “But first, I need to align the bones. If I don’t, your arm may heal improperly, and you could lose use of it.” It dawned on Maris then, the reason behind Isen’s slightly battered appearance. Perhaps he carried the flask with him wherever he went. It made sense.

“It’s going to hurt... a lot,” Melvian warned.

Who cared if it was going to hurt or not? Maris wasn’t paying attention to that. She wanted Melvian on Valda; she needed to see a hint of hope that Valda was going to survive this. She had been stabbed in the back! She took a heavy blow when they fell Ouranos knows how many feet! Valda was broken because of her, because she put Maris’s safety before her own. And now she was breathing as if every gasp might be her last.

“I don’t care! Just hurry so you can tend to Valda,” Maris responded, turning to Isen, who promptly opened the flask for her, his hands finding her shoulder and supporting her injured arm. Maris winced and clenched her teeth as Melvian grasped her wrist and elevated her limb.

“When I tell you, drink.”

Maris nodded, placing the flask’s mouth against her lips. Her hand trembled with anticipation, fully aware of the impending pain.

“Take a deep breath,” Melvian instructed.

Maris tightened her grip, following Melvian’s guidance, and looked away.

“And...”

The sickening sound of bones snapping together made Maris’s stomach churn.

“Drink!”

Maris let out a pained scream, momentarily drowned out by the forceful intake of Sealian water. She swallowed, preparing to pull away, but Isen tilted the bottle higher, urging her to drink every last drop.

The healing properties of the water took immediate effect on Maris’s arm. The pain gradually subsided, leaving behind a faint burning sensation from her elbow to her shoulder. As Maris cautiously tested her arm’s mobility, Lasmeer entered the room with the requested supplies and Melvian set to work.

Maris watched in silence as Melvian washed her hands in the basin and took the small knife in her grasp. Isen removed Valda’s torn blouse, tossing it aside. Maris hovered nearby, her hands clasped to her chest, helpless.

“Why isn’t she healed yet?” Maris asked, eyeing Melvian. “You are a blessed worshiper. One touch is all you need, right?”

Melvian’s eyes met Maris’s for a moment before focusing back on Valda. “I don’t know, but I need you to trust me.”

Before Maris could utter another word, she noticed Lasmeer pulling out two chairs, silently urging her to sit. Everything inside Maris screamed at her to stay near Valda, to look over her mate, to make sure that she was being taken care of. If she could fix her mate herself, she would’ve done it by now.

She felt useless, as useless as the day she came back home, opened her mother’s bedroom and saw her dangling from the roof. It took a moment, but Maris acquiesced, trusting that Melvian and Isen knew what they were doing. She had never witnessed Melvian’s skill and was awed by her friend. Isen stood steadfast beside her, no words needed as he moved with purpose, making it difficult for Maris to comprehend the intricate procedure taking place.

Melvian positioned several towels beneath Valda, grasping the sharp knife before plunging it into Valda’s flank.

Valda reacted to the fresh wound. Baring her teeth and moaning in guttural pain. Maris felt it deep within their bond. She stood again as if her body forced her to appease the pain Valda was in. Before she could take a step towards Valda, Maris felt Lasmeer’s firm grip on her wrist, pulling her back as Isen extended his hand, urging her to stay put.

“Stay where you are and let us work,” Isen commanded, his eyes blazing .

Maris’s outburst went unnoticed by Melvian, who widened the wound with her finger before replacing it with a straw. Within moments, a thin stream of blood flowed through the straw, and Valda took a deep breath.

Maris felt a feeble tug in their bond as she, too, inhaled. Valda’s chest rose steadily, and tears welled up in the corners of Maris’s eyes.

“Isen, come,” Melvian instructed, placing his large hand against Valda’s flank, holding the straw firmly. She then walked over to Maris, taking hold of her face, staining her features.

The smell of blood filled Maris’s nose. Valda’s blood…

“She will be fine, won’t she?” Maris asked, her voice low and strained. Her gaze shifted from Valda to Melvian.

“Kneel,” Melvian said, lowering herself to the floor and pulling Maris down with her. She clasped Maris’s hands tightly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “Repeat every word I say, Maris.”

Maris glanced back at Valda, watching her lover grow paler by the second, feeling the bond weakening once again. Just as she reached out to return to Valda’s side, Melvian’s grip tightened, anchoring her in place.

“Asclepius, God of medicine, hear our plea. Bless our hands and minds. Send forth your sons and daughters to aid us. Help us heal, help us restore. Help—”

“Melvian...” Maris called out, her blunt nails digging into her friend’s skin. “I... I can’t do this. I’ve never been a follower of Asclepius.”

Opening one eye, Melvian gazed directly at Maris before responding, “Then today is a good day to convert, don’t you think?”

Maris released her breath and cast one last glance at her lover. With a nod of understanding, she closed her eyes and whispered, “Asclepius, God of medicine, hear our plea,” Maris’s words echoed with Melvian’s as their prayer drifted into the chilly night air.

***

Maris laid Valda on her back and cleaned her face. She brushed her hair back and made sure she was warm under the covers Lasmeer gave her.

Valda was unconscious, her breathing was somewhat regular, but her skin was pale, so unlike her usual sun-kissed tone. She looked as pale as the day Queen Rionach appointed Maris to care for her …

That day felt like ages ago…

After Maris made sure that Valda was comfortable, she sat down next to the bed, staring at her as if at any moment her condition would change. But as the minutes passed, and Valda seemed to be stable, Maris fought with the decision if she should leave her and rest herself.

Melvian told her it would be a while until Valda opened her eyes. Maris still worried she wouldn’t wake up at all. Hunger was the one thing that made her walk out and leave her mate alone.

As she stepped out of Lasmeer’s spare room, she found Melvian going over Isen’s back. She was rubbing an ointment over his burnt flesh while he leaned on his knees. His breathing was even and deep and could be mistaken for sleeping.

Melvian darted her eyes to Maris, a silent question which Maris answered with a dip of her chin. Her arm burned, but other than that and the emptiness in her stomach, physically, she was fine. Maris walked to the couple, pulling a chair and sitting in front of Isen.

“What now?” Maris asked no one in particular.

Isen lifted his face. He didn’t answer right away, as if he was calculating their next move. “The smart thing to do is to wait for Valda to heal enough to move her,” Isen said. “We will draw a lot of attention if we walk around with an injured woman laying on a horse or carriage.” He patted Melvian’s hand when she was done rubbing the ointment on his back.

We . Maris swallowed hard, turning to the door to Valda’s resting place. Could she travel with Valda again? Could she follow her or take her where she needed to go? There was no doubt in her mind that she would stay by her side until she was out of danger. Leaving her now felt like treason…

Executioner: Valda Aither, Princess of the Sky Kingdom.

Maris closed her eyes. The red ink in the paper that detailed her father’s execution burned in the back of her mind. She pressed the meaty part of her palms to her eyes. With all the commotion, she had forgotten what happened in Valda’s chamber back in the castle. She forgot about the papers, and the reports, but most importantly, she forgot about the fact that Valda killed her father…

A shiver went down her spine.

Maris wanted to leave. She needed to leave.

“What in Tarta— Get out! You are not coming in, you stupid cat! ”

Lasmeer opened the front door to his home, all the while shooing away something by his feet, while uttering a myriad of curses. A black ball of fur ran inside the house, meowing up a storm. Maris stood from her chair, wanting to make sure it wasn’t what she thought it was. A pair of round and beautiful yellow eyes looked back at her and meowed loudly.

“Cerberus?”

The cat shook her head and ran to her, rubbing her black fur all over her legs.

“How in the world did you get here?” Melvian yipped while crossing her arms and staring incredulously at the cat.

“Must’ve run out of the room in the chaos. Maybe even followed us or got in one bag. You know how cats are,” Maris mumbled before kneeling and scratching the large cat under her chin. Cerberus pursed her lips and closed her eyes, enjoying the caress.

“Maybe she knows her owner is injured,” Isen added before rubbing his temples tiredly.

“So, it’s Valda’s?” Lasmeer asked, his eyes watering just as he turned his face away and sneezed loudly.

“Yes, it is. I am sorry, Lasmeer,” Maris said just as Lasmeer sneezed again.

“Just get it out of here.” Lasmeer waved his hand away while Maris picked the cat up.

She looked around the small home, wondering what in the world was she supposed to do with the animal. She couldn’t throw her outside; Valda would never forgive her if she did. She couldn’t keep her inside, either. Clearly, Lasmeer was allergic to poor Cerberus.

Another loud sneeze echoed in the living space. Maris turned to the closed door leading to the room Valda was in. She was breathing well at least, but now and then, a pained moan would escape her.

Maris’s grip on Cerberus grew painful, and with a hiss, Cerberus jumped from her arms and ran towards Valda before Maris could stop her. The cat first sat down, as if inspecting what was wrong with her owner. After calling out to Valda with long low cries, Cerberus jumped gracefully to the bed, sniffed Valda’s face and lay down at her feet. The cat seemed worried, her tail flicking from side to side, staring at Valda intensely. For a second, Cerberus did not move from Valda’s feet until standing up again. She nudged Valda’s hand with her large head, shoving her palm, until Valda’s hand lay on her forehead. The purrs ensued and the cat finally lay next to her owner, licking her wrist now and then.

Maris swallowed the knot forming in her throat and closed the door before going back to Melvian and the others .

Lasmeer rubbed his bald head before his shoulders slumped. “I have news,” he announced, grabbing Maris’s chair and sitting down.

Isen stood up straight, his broad shoulders squaring while Maris’s gaze narrowed on the burly man. “What happened, Lasmeer?” she asked.

“There is an uproar outside of the castle. Ophelia is buzzing with confusion, and so are the neighboring cities. General Arwin has crowned himself king, and he is being backed up by high-ranking officials of the army. Anyone who opposes him is being killed for treason.”

Maris nodded. “Hence the mountain of corpses outside.”

Melvian shuddered and rubbed her arms. “I was lucky to get out before he got me. I felt Isen’s distress and knew right away Arwin had something to do with it.”

“I would not let him touch you, Melvian,” Isen said, his jaw as taut as his fists.

“You don’t know what that man is capable of, Isen. He is a monster,” Maris tried her hardest to hide the quivering in her voice. She rubbed her neck as she remembered the feeling of the air being dragged out of her lungs. “What else do you know, Lasmeer?”

Lasmeer shook his head. “It is not pretty, my friend.”

“What else, Lasmeer?” Maris pushed, fighting the need to step forward and demanding him to tell her everything.

Lasmeer ran the palm of his hand through his thick beard before answering, “They found the heiress of the Sea Kingdom. Her name is Nerea Thalassa. She and Arwin— King Arwin ,” Lasmeer groaned in disgust. “I guess they will marry soon. I’ve been informed they will turn New Agenor into an official Skylian City, instead of just a settlement.”

Maris’s jaw dropped. She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all, while her temples throbbed with a mounting headache. Finally, she sat on the floor, her world crumbling around her.

“That woman... she’s not the heiress,” Maris uttered, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and desperation. “She’s not even a mortal.”

Lasmeer, taken aback by Maris’s outburst, ventured cautiously, “And how can you be so sure?”

“Because I am the heiress of the Sea Kingdom,” Maris confessed, her words tinged with regret and self-recrimination.

How could she speak those words so freely now when hours ago she couldn’t find the strength to utter them? Anger had stopped her, and now, because of that, Valda lay unconscious.

Silence consumed the room, except for Isen’s surprised gasp. A wide grin spread across his face as he turned to Melvian. “I told you! She is my queen.” The tall man dropped to one knee, bowing low to Maris.

“Isen, don’t—”

“Queen Maris, I swear my eternal loyalty to you and the Sealian crown—”

“Stop. I—”

“You have my word and my sword. I will go to the end of the world for—”

“I said stop!” Maris yelled, tears rolling down her face.

Melvian grabbed Isen’s arm and pulled him up, and his face contorted with hurt.

Maris shook her head, raking her fingers through her hair. “I am no queen. I had my chance to proclaim the truth, and I didn’t.”

“Wha—” Melvian frowned. “Maris—”

“How can we be sure you are the real—” Lasmeer’s voice died out as Maris raised her hand, and gathered water from dirty and bloody pails. The red water floated in front of Lasmeer before splashing across the floor. Eyes wide, Lasmeer bowed his head low before begging for forgiveness.

“That woman is not the heiress, and she is not human. She is the goddess Eris.” Maris stood up. “And she can fucking shapeshift.”

Lasmeer’s mouth formed into a perfect circle before he nodded. “That explains why she looks like a Sealian.”

“Arwin wants the Sealians to swear loyalty to Nerea , and subsequently to Eris. If they don’t, they will be killed for treason,” Isen said.

“Why is she here, though? Wasn’t she supposed to be gone along with the others after The Great Disappearance?” Melvian asked.

“Not all of them left,” Isen answered before turning to Maris. “What worries me is that a goddess as herself, hiding out waiting for her chance to take in whoever would have her, is dangerous.”

“Arwin is the only one that knows she is Eris.”

“True, but as king, I am sure he will make everyone bend their knees and worship Eris if it means a better life. That’s what he is promising. ‘Queen Valda is not a fit ruler; I am the one that should be in charge. Swear your loyalty to me and worship her.’ ” Isen shook his head and rubbed his tattooed forearm. “Imagine if he turns Oberon Castle into her temple.”

“So, what if he does?” Melvian asked, shrugging. “Why does it matter?”

“She will have more power. A place to call her own after centuries of not having so. If she has a place for worship, she can be stronger,” Lasmeer said.

Maris ran her fingers through her hair. “What worries me is that he wants to commit genocide. He won’t say it out loud, but he knows Sealians will not bow to this Nerea , knowing I am here,” Maris released the breath she was holding before turning to Melvian, eyes wide as if she figured out what was about to happen to her people. “I have to warn them!”

“And leave Valda?” Melvian asked, eyebrows arching in surprise.

“I am not done with the news,” Lasmeer interrupted, clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention.

“There’s more?” Melvian scoffed and gripped Isen’s hand for comfort.

“The Vulcan Kingdom has declared war on the Sky Kingdom and King Arwin is blaming it on Valda. Supposedly, she was the one who killed their king to avenge Queen Rionach’s death.”

“That’s a lie!” Maris snapped.

“I do not doubt it. I truly believe this is all the work of Arwin,” Lasmeer said.

“We can forget about going to Harmonia,” Melvian said, pressing her forehead to Isen’s shoulder.

“Why? Kayden might help us, though! If he knew—”

“We won’t be able to even make it to Harmonia’s shores,” Isen said, interrupting Maris. “Vulcanians know of Valda and Kayden’s friendship, they would guard every border. Also, I doubt Kayden wants to be killed for treason and throw Harmonia and the Vulcan Kingdom into a civil war because of what is happening here.”

Maris looked at the floor. Silence consumed them once again. There was no way out of this. Standing up and dusting her hands, Maris started for the door. “I am heading out to New Agenor. I need to tell them. I will not stand seeing them get hurt.”

“Wait. Now? What about Valda?”

The question itself felt like a cold dagger in Maris’s chest.

“You can stay with her and keep her safe as well as heal her. I need to head to New Agenor.” She looked at Melvian and then at Isen. “Alone. ”

“Alone? You will leave your mate now that she needs you the most?” Isen asked just as Melvian’s eyes widened.

“Wait, wait, wait! Mates?” Melvian stared at Maris incredulously.

“It is plain as daylight they are mates, love,” Isen said, grabbing Melvian’s elbow and steading her.

“I know they were fooling around but… she, I—” Melvian laughed nervously. “She is blind. There is no way you can tell—”

“She was blind,” Maris added.

“Was?” Melvian drew in a deep breath and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Oh boy, there are too many things happening at the same time.”

“We don’t know how she got her sight back. We were celebrating the Night of the Nymph, and the symbol of Poseidon appeared on my forehead,” Maris touched her hairline before eyeing Isen, whose smile could illuminate the entire room. “Do you know something I don’t?”

“Theories, of course. The Night of the Nymph is a ceremony to celebrate the heiress’s birthday. That night marked your twenty-first birthday. If you weren’t the real heiress, you wouldn’t have had the symbol. Not to mention, you were intimate with Valda, I assume?”

“Isen! Stop!” Melvian covered her red cheeks.

“I was,” Maris said, without a hint of embarrassment.

“You didn’t need to lock eyes with her to create the bond. It was already there, latent, deep withing you. The bond healed Valda.”

“It would explain why you couldn’t stay away from her in the first place,” Melvian said, trying to alleviate the tension in the room.

“And how beautiful is it that the connection of your souls is strong enough to dissolve a curse?” Isen’s chest rose with joy. “It is a miracle…”

Maris wringed her hands and bit her lower lip before looking up at the ceiling. Gods . Isen was right. She couldn’t leave Valda, but if she stayed at Lasmeer’s, her people were in mortal danger.

“Soulmates, right?”

“Yes.”

Melvian let out a happy squeal, her hand finding Isen’s and squeezing it. “Maris, that’s wounderfu—”

“My soulmate killed my father.” Saying it out loud… Maris’s stomach turned in itself .

Melvian snapped her jaw shut as a dead tense silence settled around them. “She did what?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Maris! The whole reason you wanted to go inside Oberon Castle was because you wanted to ask Arwin about your father’s disappearance, now it turns out it was… Valda?” Melvian flailed her arms. “How do you—”

“I can’t be around her. Not now. I know—” Maris scratched the back of her neck and growled in frustration. “I know she is hurt, but she is in excellent hands with you, Melvian.” Right?

“Can you at least wait until she is out of danger?” Isen asked while Melvian arched her brow at him.

“I am not a monster, Isen.” Maris pressed the meaty part of her palm to her temple.

“I will go with you to New Agenor,” Melvian said, earning a grunt from Isen. She patted his arm and shook her head before he could protest. “Listen, Isen. If Maris is leaving her…” she eyed Maris. “For a short while…” She cleared her throat and continued. “Then you must take her somewhere safe. You are the only person she can trust right now. We can always meet back in New Agenor.”

“I cannot leave you alone. Not when you…” Isen hesitated, shooting a glance at Maris.

Maris tilted her head in confusion. Before she could ask, Melvian wrapped her arms around her abdomen protectively.

Maris’s eyebrows shot up almost to her hairline. Holy Ouranos…

“You are pregnant?” Maris asked in disbelief.

Melvian nodded. “I need to stick with you. There are no other Asclepius worshipers around… that I know of. If something were to go wrong with the pregnancy, I will have you around to heal me.”

“I am not—”

“You prayed to Asclepius hours ago, Maris. You took the first step. What harm can come from having more of us around? I can teach you the way. I am sure you can be an excellent healer in eight months’ time.”

“You have a lot of faith in me, Melvian.”

“As do I,” Isen added, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself rather than Maris. “I will allow Melvian to go with you to New Agenor only if you promise you will become an Asclepius worshiper. It… will give me peace of mind knowing whatever happens, you will help her. ”

“I haven’t decided to take Melvian—”

“You will,” Isen said, his voice low.

Maris opened her mouth to protest, but Isen’s unwavering gaze shut her up in an instant. She looked at Melvian, whose hopeful gaze held hers firmly.

“I love Melvian like my sister, Isen,” Maris said, her gaze dropping to Melvian’s abdomen. Her hand shot to rub her friend’s flat stomach. “And now that she is with child… I—” Maris swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. Maris followed none of the god’s teaching. It wouldn’t be hard for her to do so now. “Yes. Fine. I will become an Asclepius worshiper.”

Isen nodded in agreement and smiled brightly before hugging Melvian’s shoulder. Behind him, Lasmeer cleared his throat, reminding everyone he was still there.

“We still need to let Kayden know Valda’s whereabouts. It might be our only chance of getting some leverage if he believes us and doesn’t side with Arwin or with the new queen of the Vulcan Kingdom.” The old man rubbed his bald head again and shrugged. “I could be the messenger.”

“I guess this is somewhat a plan,” Maris said before taking a deep breath.

“A plan I am not too keen on,” Isen said, rubbing his hairy chin. “Abandoning one’s mate is not without side effects. Sickness even…” He muttered that last part, eyeing Melvian with a shadow of worry.

“Do you think it is easy for me to make this decision? I finally have her only to discover everything. I need time, Isen. Please understand,” Maris said.

“I am trying to understand, but time is what we do not have.”

“I will be fine, if that’s what you are worried about, Isen,” Melvian quipped.

“Of course, I worry about my mate, who just happens to be carrying my child.” Isen huffed before crossing his arms over his chest.

It wasn’t fair that Melvian wouldn’t experience her pregnancy with her mate. Maris wasn’t sure she could take that away from her. “You can always stay with Isen, Melvian. I don’t want to cause you two any harm.”

“Maris,” Melvian grabbed Maris’s hand. “We are taking this trip together. I will not leave my best friend alone, not in New Agenor, not in the Sea Kingdom or Sky Kingdom. Isen will be safe, he can take care of himself. We can communicate through the bond. You… You need someone and— Damn it, you have me.”

“But—”

“No buts. You are stuck with me.”

Maris pursed her lips. Isen moved uncomfortably, his eyes locked on Melvian. He was worried, she didn’t need a bond to know the man was dying inside, but she knew Valda would be safe under his care. The Sealian would gladly give his life for either kingdom, and that calmed her nerves.

“I am sorry, Isen.”

“Don’t be. My mate is… hardheaded like any other Skylian.” He muttered something about gods and their tricks while rubbing his eyebrows. “I will visit any chance I can.”

“New Agenor will welcome you with open arms.” Maris gave him a rueful smile before she turned back to the closed door leading to Valda. “All I ask is that you don’t let any harm come to Valda,” Maris said, her throat burning with unshed tears.

“You know where my loyalties lie,” Isen said, a slight curve forming on the side of his mouth.

“Then it is settled,” Maris said, as a heaviness settled on her chest. “I will leave for New Agenor once Valda is out of danger.”

A heavy pressure settled on Valda’s chest, while a soft purring made her eyelids flutter open. A pair of yellow eyes stared at her. She quickly recognized Cerberus and wondered if she was back at the castle, sleeping in her chamber. She felt tired, unable to move at all. She closed her eyes once more just as Cerberus moved to lie by her feet.

She wasn’t sure how long she was asleep for, but she could make out the door opening and closing and soft lips brushing against her. Warm hands touched her cheeks as the scent of the sea enveloped her. A whispering voice said goodbye just as she was about to reach out and stop her.

Her.

Callused hands grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping Valda. A pair of clear blue eyes looked down at her with a hint of regret and a wave of unbearable sadness. Cerberus pressed to her chest again, the pain in her side unbearable, but as the man tried to get her pet off her, Cerberus hissed and lashed at him.

When he cursed, Valda recognized his voice. It was Isen.

Why was Isen with her? Maris should be the one tending to her. She was always there when she woke up each morning. Where had her mate gone off to? Without being asked, Isen pressed a glass to her lips, and she drank water greedily until she could talk.

“Where is Maris?” Her voice was hoarse and cracked, her hand clutched to Isen’s forearm as she turned to look inside the chamber. This wasn’t her chamber, or the House of Proteus in New Agenor.

Isen’s gaze faltered for a brief second. He lowered his eyes, hiding the answer she dreaded. “She is not here.”

Valda tried to sit up but hissed in a breath, the pain on her side running through her like a hot spear. “Where is she?”

“She left.”

Valda bared her teeth, pushed Cerberus off her, and grabbed his shirt. “Obviously. Where is she?”

Clutching her hand, Isen steadied her movements. “She doesn’t want you to go after her, Your Highness.”

“Tell me.”

Isen hesitated. “She is going back to New Agenor.”

Valda exhaled and closed her eyes as she leaned on the headboard. “Alone?”

“Melvian is with her.”

Valda shook her head again and pushed the bedsheets away from her body. “Get my horse ready.”

“Your Highness, no. I will not allow it.”

“That’s an order, Isen,” Valda stumbled, pushing herself from the bed.

“You are not healed.” Isen groaned, trying to stop her.

“My mate is not here.”

“She doesn’t want you to go after her.”

“Isen!”

“Valda, she doesn’t want to be near you!” Isen gasped as soon as the words came out.

Valda froze. She searched deep within Isen’s face, trying to find a scrap of a lie.

Maris… left?

Her face twisted in pain as she pressed a hand to her side, the wound on her back burning as the stitches pulled at her skin.

But, in New Agenor, she promised she wouldn’t.

“I am not leaving you…”

Valda shook her head. Isen was lying.

“I am not…”

Maris’s broken, and heated voice surfaced from her memory.

“I’m not, I love you so much. I can’t, I won’t…”

“But she…” Valda whispered. “She said—”

“She did,” Isen murmured, his hand patting Valda’s knees. “She waited until you were out of danger and… left.”

Swallowing hard, Valda touched the center of her chest, frantically searching for something… anything. But there was nothing but silence, and a hard block of coldness that she couldn’t shake. Maris was there, but just beyond her reach, and there was nothing Valda could do to pull her back.

Maris was gone. Not because someone took her away, but because she didn’t want to be near Valda.

Her mate didn’t want her.

Valda leaned on her left arm as her legs dangled from the edge of the bed. Cerberus lay on her lap, in a silent request to rest. Her head dropped, and her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Pain jolted violently through her chest and back. It was hard to breathe…

And still Valda screamed.