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M aris had fallen asleep after some minutes in her lover’s arms, and Valda had brought her inside the cave to shelter her from the cold wind. When Maris woke up, Valda was there with the food she had declined earlier and the waterskin. This second time, she took the proffered items without a fight.

She shared her meal with Cerberus, against Valda’s wishes, of course. Valda kept saying she needed to eat, and that Cerberus was already fat enough to endure a couple of days without food. How could Maris deny anything to those yellow eyes?

She had missed them both and was happy to know Cerberus was safe and healthy.

Maris didn’t speak to Valda after their last discussion. Instead, they basked in each other’s company in complete calmness. There was still something bothering Valda, Maris could feel it in their bond. The older woman was restless, and she noticed that tension when Valda handed the trident back to Maris. Valda must trust her completely if she was returning it.

Valda wouldn’t face her, and although Maris was grateful for the space she’d been granted after their heated conversation, she still wanted to know what was wrong.

“We should get some sleep and head out first thing in the morning.” After feeding the fire, Valda broke the tense silence and finally raised her eyes to meet Maris.

Maris nodded, her hand playing with Cerberus’ fur. The cat refused to go with Valda now that she was back in the picture, and if Maris was being honest, she loved the attention she was getting .

What happened outside was cathartic, to say the least, but had all been truthful. She missed Valda. Even if she loved that they met in her dreams, she was still resentful, but deep down, she wanted things to go back to the way they were.

Maris was aware it would be awkward, and it would take time, even though her body was practically begging her to run to Valda, kiss her and quench the thirst she had been holding for so many months. Seeing her by the fire, with only the pop and crackling of the wood as background music, with the light of the flame accentuating Valda’s beautiful yet handsome features, was proving to be distracting.

Maris bit her lower lips and turned her attention back to Cerberus. “What have you been doing, Valda?”

Valda took a deep breath, as if thinking about all the things she wanted to say. “A lot. Too much, if I am being honest.”

“I am all ears.”

“Other than missing you, Isen and I have been forging an army. I have no idea if it is strong enough to take on Arwin and Eris, but as I could see back in New Agenor, it was strong enough to hold our ground.”

“Where have you set camp?”

Valda scoffed and brushed the hair away from her face in frustration. “Anywhere away from Ophelia and New Agenor. My biggest camp is at the south deep of Umbriel, Cressida and Titania have also secretly joined us as well as Perdita. They give us sanctuary, food, shelter, and information.”

Maris arched her brow. “You said you wouldn’t lie to me, Valda.”

“I am not.”

“Lia saw Cerberus by the lakes,” Maris said, picking up Cerberus and waving her paw at Valda. “Why were you at the lakes, Valda?”

The older woman hooked her hand behind her neck and rubbed the tense muscle there. “I needed to know you were all right. I couldn’t bring myself to concentrate on any task if I didn’t know you were safe.”

“I was always safe.”

“I could sneak into New Agenor with no problem. You were not safe. Also, you shut yourself to me. I needed to know!“ Valda’s tone was desperate. Maris watched as Valda chewed on the inside of her cheek before rubbing her face and talking again, this time more calmly. “I needed to know, and you cannot blame me for wanting to see you. ”

She didn’t. If she were as courageous as Valda and knew where she was, she would’ve done the same. But Maris had hurt them both in her stubbornness. “When did you go to New Agenor?”

“Time is a blur, Maris…” Valda mumbled as she fed the fire again. “Might have been the third month, or fourth.” She shrugged.

It must’ve been the same time as Isen’s first visit. Maris could still remember her disappointment when she saw him and not Valda. “I remember.”

Valda frowned. “Do you?”

“Isen came to visit. He was alone, and I was downhearted when I noticed you were not with him.” She bit her lower lip again. “I wanted to see you again, Valda. I thought seeing you in my dreams would’ve been enough. It clearly was not.”

Valda let out a ragged breath. “It wasn’t at all. I would say it was—”

“Torture.” Both women said simultaneously before locking their eyes.

Valda chuckled softly. “It made me want you more,” Valda whispered. “It was a constant reminder of how much I desired you and missed you.”

“I do not regret the dreams,” Maris blurted out. “I never did. I looked forward to them…”

“Likewise…” Valda slanted her head. “What about you? What have you been up to?”

Maris scoffed. “Me? I have been very busy.”

“Oh?” Valda’s eyebrow arched, and she theatrically got more comfortable by crossing her legs underneath her and resting her chin on her knuckles. “Do tell!”

“I am officially an Asclepius worshiper,” Maris began.

“A queen who follows the way of the healing god, that has never happened before.”

“There is a first time for everything.”

Valda nodded. “Of course.”

“I’ve also been training a lot. I’ve become quite deadly with the trident.”

It was Valda’s turn to scoff. “I wouldn’t use the word deadly.” A smirk painted over Valda’s features, and Maris could feel the tension melting away. “Who have you been training with?”

Maris opened her mouth to answer, but knew mentioning Eyphah’s name would place a sour note on their somewhat playful conversation. She huffed and shook her head.

“You don’t want to tell me?”

“I don’t want to get you in a bad mood, if I am being honest. Besides, don’t play dumb. You know who it was. ”

Valda grunted, nodded, and let the conversation go. Maris was grateful for that. She was tired and didn’t want the mood to sour.

Valda then turned to her bag. She pulled another shirt and placed it on the dirty ground next to the fire.

Maris frowned. “You are not sleeping on the floor, Valda.”

“I am. Don’t worry.”

“That wasn’t a question,” Maris said, her voice commanding and firm. Valda’s intense gaze pierced through Maris, and for a moment, she could’ve sworn she saw Valda smirk. “I am not joking, Valda. You are not sleeping on the floor when there is more than enough space for both of us to sleep here.”

“We haven’t been together for more than a day, and you wish for me to jump right back into your sheets?”

Maris scoffed. “These are not sheets. They are fur, and they are not mine,” she replied. Trying to hide the amusement in her voice was impossible, and she was pleased Valda picked up on it.

The other woman placed her hand on her waist and stood over the fire. “You know what I mean, Maris.” The playfulness that Maris had missed for so many months trickled into Valda’s words.

“I don’t want you sleeping on the floor,” Maris muttered, her eyes never leaving Valda’s playful glare.

Valda arched her eyebrow.

“Please?”

Sighing, Valda stood up straight, grabbed the shirt and made her way towards Maris. “Scoot over.”

Maris did so immediately. Something inside her was still used to taking orders from her. She grabbed Cerberus and placed her at her feet as she moved farther back, closer to the wall, allowing Valda’s large form to take up most of the space of the makeshift bed. Her breath hitched as she was enveloped in Valda’s soft scent. Valda let out a tired sigh before crossing her arms behind her head and closing her eyes.

“Good night, Seashell.”

Maris bit the inside of her cheek as she noticed that maybe letting Valda sleep with her wasn’t such a great idea. “You are taking up all the space. Can’t you—”

“Do you want me to sleep here or not?”

The amusement was plain in Valda’s voice. Maris inhaled deeply, then turned to lie on her side, her back to Valda. She could make out Valda’s low chuckle, and then the soft exhale she always did seconds before succumbing to sleep. It didn’t take long until she heard Valda’s quiet breathing. Maris turned around to watch the other woman sleep.

Eight months…

For eight months, Maris had woken up to an empty bed, cold sheets, and pillows, to gasps of pleasure followed by the silence of the night. To damp thighs and emptiness, and yet, here she was. The queen of the wind, all battered and broken and undone, dirty and unconventionally handsome, laying next to her as if not one day had gone by apart.

Her lips were parted, releasing soft snores that echoed in the dry cave. Her brow was relaxed, not showing the tension from moments ago. Her chest rose and fell with each soft breath she took, and Maris was enthralled. She couldn’t look away. Her hands twitched with the need to touch her mate again and feel the softness of her skin.

Valda must’ve been exhausted from their ordeal. Goodness knew how long she had ridden to get to New Agenor. Maris pursed her lips and softly caressed the other woman’s dirty cheek. The delicate touch was not noticed, prompting Maris to be bolder. She continued her exploration, touching Valda’s parted lips, the strong, thick column of her neck, her jaw, and finally, the exposed skin of her chest, which was darker with sunburn.

Valda twitched under the touch and turned her face away from Maris, making her freeze. Maris held her breath until she heard the soft snores again. As much as her brain told her to move away, sleep elsewhere, or turn away from Valda, her body begged her to be closer, and for once, she wanted to listen to her body instead of her brain. With a sigh, Maris scooted closer, pressed her nose to a broad, taut shoulder, and inhaled the soft scent.

Regardless of how she looked, this woman was still Valda, her Valda, and for the time being, Maris wanted nothing more than to mend things and go back to how things were.