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V alda watched Prospero’s arched entrance from a safe distance. She hid behind a rock, hoping the darkness of the night would keep her and Isen hidden. She was still shaken up by her argument with Maris. Her mate had wanted to come with her to Prospero, but it was wise if she stayed with the rest of the Sealians if something happened. She had already proven that she could take care of herself by fighting Kenna, of all people. Even though Valda was petrified of losing Maris, she had to accept that this war was Maris’s as well, and she had a role to play.

Before leaving, Maris told her that since she had already attempted to have a civil conversation with Kenna, then maybe she might get through with her if she tried a second time. But Valda would hear none of it. Maris was staying with Melvian and the rest.

From what she could see from her hiding spot, the Vulcanians had completely dismantled the small town. They were moving crates inside the city using the small pier. The same pier Valda wanted to use to move the Sealians back to the Sea Kingdom. Compared to the large port in Ophelia, this pier was small, quiet, and used mostly by anglers, but close enough to the east Agenor Islands surrounding the mainland in the Sea Kingdom. It was perfect.

“They sure took over the place,” Isen said, standing next to Valda and keeping his head low. Both their faces were covered in dark shawls that blended into the shadows. Cerberus walked around them, her black fur helped her camouflage better than Valda and Isen .

“They must be bringing in a lot of weapons. Arrows, bombs, swords, you name it,” Valda said, taking a deep breath to drown out the anxiety in her chest. “With that much weaponry, I am more than sure that they are planning a big attack.”

“Where are the people of Prospero, though?” Isen asked, looking at Valda with worried eyes.

Valda shook her head, not liking the answer. “I need to go in and investigate.”

“I’ll go with you,” Isen said, moving to stand before Valda grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to hide while Cerberus jumped on his lap.

“No.” She pointed at his blue hair and beard. “They will know you are not one of them in a heartbeat. I am taking Cerberus.”

“Oh, the cat won’t alert someone at all?” Isen asked sarcastically.

“She knows how to be sneaky, don’t you, girl?” Valda asked while Cerberus smelled the cold air.

Isen pushed the animal off him and shook his head. “What about your clothes?”

Valda worried her lower lip until she noticed a male Vulcanian walking past the entrance. “There is our chance,” Valda whispered.

She clicked her tongue to get Cerberus’ attention and pointed at the Vulcanian man. Cerberus shook her head, her long ears and dark fur fluffing up, as if getting ready to look as beautiful as she could. After rubbing her face against Valda’s knee, the cat walked over to the man, getting his attention as soon as she stepped into view.

Cerberus meowed at the man, who leaned down to touch her head. She allowed him to pet her once, then walked back to Valda, her tail high and thick. The man followed her, but stopped to look back at the town’s entrance.

He said something in his native tongue, maybe something about not wanting to leave the entrance unguarded, but Cerberus meowed at him and kept walking. The Vulcanian sighed and followed suit. As he got closer, Valda could see him better.

He was bulky and tall, almost as tall as she was. He wore leather trousers and heavy fur-lined boots. His chest was bare, and long, leather bracers covered his forearms while his bald head shone with sweat. The black paint on his face dripped down his cheeks and neck. He was dirty and seemed exhausted. Valda deduced he had been moving some boxes and decided he needed a break.

Once far from the entrance and closer to Valda and Isen’s hiding spot, Cerberus rolled on her back, showing her soft, grayish stomach to the man while he pulled a cigar from a bag strapped to his waist. He lit it up and inhaled, filling his mouth with smoke and exhaling as he laughed at Cerberus’ adorable antics.

Valda scrunched her nose at the smell and looked at the bag on his hip. She glanced at Isen, who nodded at her. Valda placed her hand on the handle of her sword and dragged it out of the scabbard as quietly as she could. She then jerked her head at Isen and towards the Vulcanian. Isen took a deep breath and walked toward the barbarian, keeping his stroll as confident as possible.

Valda moved closer to the man as she circled around the rock. Isen waved his hand at him, grinning from ear to ear while the Vulcanian exhaled a cloud of smoke, tilting his head confused. When he noticed the long blue hair, he dropped the cigar, and reached for the blade strapped to his thigh, but Valda was faster. She caught the Vulcanian’s head with one hand, forced it back, and cut his throat with the Heaven Sword.

Valda gathered the Vulcanian’s body and pulled him behind the boulder. Cerberus followed suit, jumping on the dead man’s stomach as he was dragged.

“I can’t believe this,” Isen muttered, waving his hand at Cerberus to get off the corpse, but the cat swatted his hand away and hissed at him.

Valda ordered Cerberus to jump off, and once she did, she untied the bag from the dead Vulcanian’s waist. She pried it open and looked through it, pulling out a medium-sized flask with black powder inside. Valda emptied a bit of the dust on her fingertips and smudged it over her eyelids, temple, and the bridge of her nose. She then pulled the forearm bracers from the corpse and measured them to her arm. They were going to be a good fit if she tied it tighter. The boots were slightly bigger, but the pants were an exact fit.

Isen watched their surroundings while she quietly undressed and exchanged clothing with the corpse. She couldn’t wear her blouse since Vulcanians rarely wore cotton. Unlike Skylians, who wore cotton and linen to stay fresh regardless of the temperature, Vulcanians always wore leather and animal skin, or as little clothing as possible. With a sigh, Valda mixed the black dust with water again and poured it over her chest wraps, darkening the color and making it look dirty.

Perfect.

She gave the Heaven Sword to Isen, asking him to keep it safe before she strapped the Vulcanian’s blade to her thigh. Staring in awe, Isen nodded in approval of her disguise. “You look like one of them. ”

Valda ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. “Too bad I can’t change my eye color…” Valda groaned and rubbed her temples. Bright honey differed from purple way too much.

“Keep your gaze on the ground. They would be too busy to notice,” Isen suggested.

Valda blew an anxious breath, checking herself over before facing the town entrance. “All right. I am heading out. Cerberus will come to you if anything happens.”

Isen scoffed, shaking his head before looking down at Cerberus. “You put a lot of trust in this cat.”

Cerberus hissed and swatted at his leg. Isen hissed back, but Cerberus skipped to Valda, hiding behind her. Valda pointed at the corpse, and Isen knew what to do with it right away. He hooked his arms under the body and dragged it further into the desert.

Valda pressed her hand to the flatness of her stomach and took a deep breath. She swallowed hard and rolled her shoulders before she walked towards the small town.

Nothing could’ve prepared Valda for the intense bustle and screaming. Vulcanians were loud and slightly obnoxious. There wasn’t one Skylian in sight, and it seemed the Vulcanians had been settled there for a long time. Valda picked up their conversations, knowing a bit of Arevulcan herself, thanks to Kayden. The conversations ranged from senseless banter and stroking of egos to working instructions. They were using the small structures, once used as houses and stores, as storage. Valda blended in as she walked the narrow streets, keeping her eyes low as she watched the buildings being filled with wooden boxes covered by canvas tarps and carried in by large wagons.

Valda’s stomach turned as she wondered what could’ve happened to the Skylian population. Anger overtook her, dissipating her nervousness. While she couldn’t blame Kenna for her actions, she couldn’t ignore the fact that she was causing harm to her people, and above all, hurting Maris.

Strolling by the houses, Valda noticed a Vulcanian sitting in front of one of the open boxes. Valda looked around, making sure she wasn’t being followed. Only Cerberus was within a safe distance, jumping over the houses, hiding among the streets and wagons, always close and present, but not close enough for anyone to determine she was her pet. Turning her attention to one window, she watched the man pick up a black, rounded object. He examined it then set it back inside the box before sealing it.

Just as Valda feared…

Bombs .

There could be hundreds in the box he was inspecting. Valda drew a deep breath before continuing her walk. She made it to the pier, where dozens of ships were stationed. Vulcanians moved more crates filled with more boxes, barrels, and food.

“ You there !”

Valda froze at the rough accent behind her. She swallowed hard, calming her fast-beating heart before shifting her posture as she turned to head back to town. The person called her out again. This time, they sounded annoyed.

“ Hey! You! The one with the short hair! I am talking to you !“ Arevulcan was such a rough language. It made anyone who spoke it seem angry, or annoyed.

Valda closed her eyes, bit the inside of her cheek, and turned around. A female sitting on a steed looked down at her. She propped her fist on her hip, showing off her hatchet in the process as she sneered.

“ Yes? “ Valda asked, trying her hardest to mimic their dialect.

“ What are you doing? “ The Vulcanian asked, pestered by Valda’s obliviousness. “ Everyone is helping with the cargo. I see you staring out, daydreaming. ”

Valda’s upper lip twitched. She peered over her shoulder to see the crates entering the town.

“ Well? ”

“ My wagon broke. I need a new one. ”

The female soldier huffed. “ A wagon for what? Who gave you that instruction? ”

Valda shifted her weight from one foot to the other and slanted her face, hiding her gaze. “ I don’t remember his name. ”

The Vulcanian grabbed her belt as she tilted her head. “ Look at me when I am talking to you! ”

“ If you like, give me another assignment! “ Valda snapped, closing her eyes, gritting her teeth.

“ Everyone has their assigned positions. I cannot just give you a new one. “ She pulled on the horse’s reins. The animal shook its head in annoyance. “ I said look at me when I am talking to you! ”

Valda’s hands tightened into fists as the sounds of short gallops moved towards them. Another horse, this one black as the night, stood next to the female Vulcanian.

“ What’s all this commotion? ”

Valda froze as she recognized the other woman’s voice .

“ Your Highness, I’ve noticed this woman has been pacing around town. She isn’t engaged in her labors, and I am trying to figure out where she is supposed to go. ”

Valda raised her gaze high enough to confirm her suspicion. Kenna Hagan. She waved the female soldier off and turned to Valda, who quickly looked back down.

“ Where is your position? ”

Valda excused herself in broken Arevulcan, praying that what she was saying was correct. She cleared her throat anxiously. From the corner of her eye, she watched Cerberus jumping over a moving crate, then a rooftop, and finally running away. She waited for a reply but only heard the horses scuffing and moving from side to side.

After a quiet minute, Kenna finally said, “ Look at your queen when she is talking to you .”

Valda knew there was no way out of this situation. As soon as she looked up, Kenna would know who she was. And knowing Kenna, chaos would ensue. With a defeated sigh, she tilted her head upwards enough to connect with the war queen’s dark purple eyes.

Kenna tilted her head, her gaze penetrating Valda’s honey eyes before her curious features sank into surprise and anger. “Valda,” she whispered the name as if muttering a curse.

Baring her teeth, Valda saw hatred lighting a flame in the young woman’s eyes. Kenna opened her mouth, letting out a loud cry and a thick lick of fire from deep within her throat.

Valda evaded the fire, using the protective leather on her forearms. The material disintegrated on her skin, burning her arm. The smell of burnt flesh made her stomach knot as she remembered how Kenna had hurt her mate the same way. Hauling to the side, Valda waved her uninjured hand, blowing a gust of wind towards Kenna. The woman’s steed stood on its hind legs, losing its footing, and falling to the ground with Kenna still holding onto the reins.

The female soldier pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back, raised her bow, and aimed at Valda. The arrow whistled through another burst of flames, but Valda was fast enough to grab it mid-air with her injured arm. She unstrapped the dagger from her thigh and threw it at the soldier, striking her under her jaw, killing her instantly.

“Valda Aither!” Kenna bellowed, baring her teeth like a rabid animal. She raised her hand, pointing at Valda with her index finger and middle. “You have a lot of guts coming here alone. ”

Valda scrambled and pulled the dagger from the fallen soldier’s neck. She turned her attention to Kenna and swallowed hard when she saw the woman peering over her. Within seconds, dozens of soldiers gathered around them.

“I’ve come to talk to you, offer you…” What the fuck could she offer to this woman? What could make her yield to the anger? “—a peace treaty.”

Kenna scoffed, her eyes widening in disbelief. “You and your mate are just as delusional.”

Valda snarled, “I did not kill your father, Kenna!”

“How can you stand there and lie? I saw you kill him with my own eyes!” Kenna shuddered, rage consuming her. “His blood splattered all over me, and you just stood there and laughed!”

“Kenna! You know me! I would never hurt your family.” Kenna’s conviction dimmed as she visibly recalled their past interactions. The opportunity to explain wouldn’t last, and Valda didn’t waste the chance. “Why would I even be here if I was guilty? Why would I come here alone? To face my death?”

“You dress as one of us, Valda. Makes me think you were hiding to kill me.”

“Eris, she is walking around the Sky Kingdom proclaiming she is the heiress of the Sea Kingdom, she is making people bow down to her. She bears the mark of Poseidon on her forehead; she can even control water.”

“As a goddess should, Valda.”

“She is the goddess of discourse, Kenna. Please.” Valda opened her hands, easing her hold on the dagger. “I don’t want to hurt you. I’ve already suffered enough. I want to join you to avenge your father. Let us join forces.”

“I will not join forces with a liar.” Kenna took a step back, her fists tightening as she inhaled deeply, ready to spit another flame from her throat.

Valda shuffled back to her feet and evaded the hungry flames spilling from Kenna’s mouth. Once close enough, Valda slammed her open palm to Kenna’s lips, ignoring the smell of her flesh burning. With the momentum, Valda clutched Kenna’s face, lifted her from the ground, and slammed her body against a crate, breaking the wood holding the bombs inside.

The strike knocked the air out of the fire queen, and when Valda removed her hand, the black-haired beauty gasped for air. Valda took a moment to inspect her hand and noticed the flesh peeling back. She hissed, clenched her fist, and took a step back. As she peered down at Kenna, the warrior sat up again. Her purple eyes focused on Valda before opening her mouth again. Valda ducked, grabbed a bomb that had escaped from the crate, and threw it at Kenna, just as the flame escaped her body.

The explosion sent Valda flying, knocking over a group of Vulcanian soldiers, who gathered to watch. As the smoke cleared, a charred Kenna strolled toward Valda.

“You forget heat, blasts, and fire cannot harm me, Valda.”

Valda hissed as she put some weight on her injured arm and stood up. “The explosion could’ve left you slightly deaf.”

Kenna scrunched her nose and tilted her head. “What?”

“Exactly… slightly deaf.” Valda scoffed and pointed at her own ear.

Kenna spat at the ground and stood, spreading her legs wide and hunching. “Shooting position!”

The soldiers surrounding her pulled their bows.

“Nock!” Kenna bellowed.

The soldiers anchored the arrow with the bow.

“Aim!” Kenna yelled, pulling the ax free from the scabbard. Holding it with both hands, Kenna reached back, ready to throw the weapon.

Valda let out a loud sigh, closed her eyes, and swallowed hard. Maris was about to feel the severed connection… and she couldn’t do anything about it.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle drowned Kenna’s last command. An arrow dug into the ground while another arrow lodged itself in her right thigh. Kenna fell to one knee, grabbed the arrow, and pulled it out.

The throng of Vulcanians looked around them, as if trying to figure out where the arrow came from. Then they moved away just as a wild horse charged through.

“The cat said it’s time to go!” Isen said, Cerberus peeking her head from his lap and looking down at Valda. He stretched his arm and Valda took it, pulling herself on the horse.

“Go, go, go!” she screamed, wrapping her good arm around Isen’s waist just as he lit up one bomb with a cigar. Isen threw the rounded bomb to one crate and fled, just as chaos and explosions ensued.

Valda turned on the horse just in time to watch Kenna take control of the fire. Creating a whirlwind, the woman conducted the fire, dragging it up to the sky until it disappeared. Valda was completely mesmerized by the woman’s power .

Suddenly, Valda slammed her face against Isen’s shoulder as he pulled on the horse’s reins. Before Valda could ask what was wrong, Isen jumped off the horse and pressed his face to a dirty window. Cerberus didn’t leave the horse, turning to look at her owner.

“Isen! What are you doing? We have to go!”

“It’s Eyphah.” Isen’s breath shuddered.

“Eyphah?” Valda asked, grabbing the horse’s reins and turning to look behind them.

Already Vulcanians were heading their way, ready to finish what Kenna started. Narrowing her eyes to the window, Valda saw Eyphah lying on a platform. She had a bloody cloth on her head and her face appeared bruised. Her breathing was shallow. But she was breathing. She was alive.

Valda gritted her teeth, trying to make the right decision as gallops and angry barbarians headed their way. “Isen—”

“I can’t leave her here! She is my sister, for Poseidon’s sake!” Isen said, his voice breaking as he ran to the broken-down door. He pulled his sword from the scabbard and slammed the handle. He kicked the door open and marched right in.

Valda cursed under her breath, jumped off the horse, patted her shoulder, and Cerberus hopped on her instantly. The thunder of the gallops was upon them, deafening.

Isen looked down at his sister, his hand cupping her cheek. He breathed out, relieved to find her breathing. “Eyphah!” He called to her, tapping her face a bit too aggressively.

Eyphah opened her eyes, her mouth parting to release a distressed whimper. Isen grabbed her arm, making her holler in pain.

“Stop! Stop!” she begged, her eyes widening as Isen tried to wrap her arm around his shoulder.

“We must get you out of here, Eyphah! You are not safe here!”

“Where—” Eyphah turned to Valda, just as she moved to the other side and grabbed her other arm.

Cerberus jumped off as she settled Eyphah’s arm over her shoulder. Holding onto Eyphah’s belt, Valda pulled her to a standing position. “We are in hostile territory, and your brother wants you out. Let’s go!” Ignoring Eyphah’s anguished yell, Valda and Isen pulled her to the house entrance.

But the vibration in the ground was too loud, the sounds and angry snarls were upon them. As they left the house, Valda came face to face with Kenna’s ax.

The barbarian stood before her, the charred garment still aglow with small embers around her chest and boots. Her hair was a mess, and her face smudged with her dark, dusty makeup. Behind her, a group of over twenty warriors waited for their order with their swords drawn and arrows pulled.

“I should kill you right now and declare myself the ruler of this kingdom…”

Valda swallowed hard, her grip on Eyphah’s arm tightening. Her gaze shifted to the ground, looking for Cerberus. Just as she was about to call for her, a Vulcanian guard walked out, holding Cerberus by her neck and another wrapped her up in a bag, subduing the animal in a fit of snarls and yowls.

“After I am done with you, I will set my eyes on the Sea Kingdom, and then all that’s left to rule over this fucking world will be Rhea and that peace loving bitch king of theirs won’t stand a chance against my fire.” Kenna snarled, stepping closer to Valda. A surprised gasp sounded between them. But it wasn’t Valda’s or Isen’s, or even Kenna’s.

The barbarian queen’s eyes fell on Eyphah, who stared at her with an incredulous look.

Kenna lowered her weapon, her eyes widening as well.

Valda turned to Eyphah, whose lips quivered, unable to control her emotions.

“I found you,” Eyphah whispered, one tear rolling down her dirty and swollen cheek.