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V alda released a tired sigh as she looked down at the two sleeping babies in the makeshift crib. She had stopped their crying by wrapping them up into a tight bundle. They needed warmth and security more than anything. Putting them to bed was easier than putting Maris to sleep.

The guilt weighing down Maris’s chest sometimes proved too much for Valda. And yet, she never stopped holding her. She allowed her to cry and cling to her all night if she needed to. Now with the babies warm and asleep, Valda went back to the room she shared with Maris. She found her on the bed, covered in a thick fur blanket provided by the Vulcanians.

Valda could tell how puffy her eyes were from where she stood by the door, and her heart broke a thousand times again.

Swallowing hard, Valda walked to the bed, pulled on the covers and slipped under them, cradling Maris in her arms and hugging her tightly from behind. Maris shuddered, grabbed Valda’s arms and brought it to her face. She pressed her wet cheek to it before kissing it and leaning on Valda’s chest.

“You are awake,” Valda said, pulling away enough to allow Maris to turn to her.

Maris pressed her nose to her shoulder. “I can’t sleep.”

“You have to,” Valda whispered back, her lips brushing Maris’s hair. “You need rest, Seashell. You can’t take care of anyone if you’re not well. ”

“I can’t,” Maris said, her voice trembling. “Every time I close my eyes… I see them. Alive. Smiling. Holding the babies. And then—” She broke off with a shudder. “They’re swallowed by darkness… just like my mother was.”

Valda winced, her chest tightening painfully. She didn’t need Maris to elaborate; she could almost see the nightmares herself.

“Asclepius didn’t bless me, she wanted me to be blessed so badly, she wanted to teach the babies to be worshipers, to be blessed and…” Maris shook her head. “I denied help to Kenna when she needed to be healed. I was angry at her for hurting you and hurting me, for being hardheaded, and Melvian told me—” A hiccup interrupted her ranting, but Maris took a deep breath, pressed her eyes closed, and continued. “Melvian told me that’s not the way of the Asclepius worshiper. We don’t pick who to save, we just do, and I didn’t care—”

“Maris, don’t do this to yourself.”

“But I have to! Because every time I close my eyes, I see them and then I see you,” Maris continued, her grip on Valda’s blouse tightening. “Drenched in blood. Hurt. Crying for help… and I can’t do anything to stop it.” Her voice cracked, and she shook her head against Valda’s chest. “I see you fighting with Eris, and she takes you from me. She takes you, Valda.”

Valda closed her eyes tightly, burying her face in Maris’s hair as she struggled to suppress the lump in her throat. She inhaled deeply, but the sharp sting of her own emotions was impossible to ignore. Maris shifted in her arms, pulling away just enough to meet Valda’s gaze.

“Did… you fight Eris?” Maris’s voice was barely above a whisper, her blue eyes searching Valda’s with quiet desperation.

Valda froze, her breath catching as the weight of the question pressed down on her. There was no point in lying. Not when Maris was looking at her like she already knew the answer.

Valda sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of Maris’s gaze. Her eyes softened as she reached out to brush a stray strand of blue hair away from Maris’s damp cheek. “I did fight her alongside Kenna,“ she confessed. “But I’m here. I’m alive, Maris. She didn’t take me.”

Maris’s breath hitched, her brows furrowing as her eyes darted over Valda’s face, her neck, her shoulders—searching for something, anything. Her lips trembled, as if struggling with what to say .

“Seashell,” Valda murmured, cupping Maris’s cheek with a large, callused hand. She could feel the jumble of emotions within the bond. The last thing she wanted was Maris to become agitated. “Look at me. I’m fine.”

But Maris wasn’t looking into her eyes anymore. Her trembling hands darted up to Valda’s blouse, her fingers fumbling with the buttons as though the fabric itself were burning onto Valda’s skin, as if Valda’s very own life depended on Maris removing her clothes.

“I need to see you,” Maris choked out. “I need to feel you.”

Valda’s breath faltered as Maris tugged desperately at her clothing, her fingers trembling, her movements clumsy and frantic. Valda caught her wrists, stopping her enough to get through her, to calm her down. “Hey… hey, slow down. I’m not going anywhere.”

Maris shook her head violently, tears spilling over her cheeks as her hands twisted against Valda’s grip. “You say that now, but—Valda, please! What if I am dreaming? What if this is a dream and…” She shook her head again, her eyes trialing to their room. “Where is Cerberus?” Her voice cracked, and her chest heaved as she struggled to contain her sobs.

Valda’s heart clenched painfully as she let go of Maris’s wrists. “Maris. I’m here. This is real,” she said, sitting up on the bed. Valda pulled her blouse over from her shoulders. She ignored the fact that her skin automatically prickled with the cold night air.

Her mate needed to see and touch her, then she would do just that. “I’m right here, Seashell. Touch me.”

Maris’s hands moved immediately, tracing over Valda’s broad shoulders, down the length of her arms, and over the faint scars littering her chest. She pressed her palms against Valda’s warm skin, almost as if she needed to assure herself that it was real.

“I can’t lose you too,” Maris whispered, her fingers splaying over Valda’s heartbeat, over the thrumming, pulsing connection.

Valda swallowed hard, her arms wrapping around Maris as the smaller woman buried her face against her neck, inhaling deeply. “You won’t, Seashell.” As Valda’s hands rubbed slow, soothing circles against her back, Maris pulled away just enough to look into her eyes.

The desperation in her gaze had shifted into that distinctive fire Valda knew too well. Maris’s hands slid up to cradle Valda’s face, her thumb brushing over the scar on her cheek. “I need you,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “Please, darling. ”

Valda blinked, her heart hammering as Maris leaned in, her lips brushing against hers. The kiss deepened, Maris’s hands roaming over her skin with a desperation that made Valda’s chest ache.

“Valda, I need to feel something other than… this.” Maris’s trembling hand hovered near her chest, her pain radiating in waves that Valda could feel.

Valda’s heart clenched. She nodded, her gaze dropping to Maris’s lips. When Maris’s hand rose to touch her shoulder, her soft thumb brushing over sun-kissed skin, Valda leaned into the caress. She pressed her lips to Maris’s forehead, letting the kiss linger over the dormant Sealian symbol. Then her mouth brushed across Maris’s nose, her cheeks, and her jawline.

“The gods manipulated every star in the galaxy to bless me with you as my mate,” Valda murmured. Using her index finger, Valda tilted Maris’s face closer, their lips a hair’s breadth away. “How could I live knowing your heart aches when it belongs to me to protect?”

Maris’s grip on Valda grew taut, her face contorting almost in pain as she pressed herself closer to Valda. “Please,” she whimpered, and Valda’s control diminished further.

“No need to beg,” Valda whispered, her tone husky, her resolve slipping away entirely. Her bandaged hand slipped beneath Maris’s tunic, fingers brushing against fevered skin. Maris inhaled sharply, her breath trembling as goosebumps followed the path of Valda’s fingertips. “I’ll take away the pain.”

A feverish kiss sealed the promise.

Valda could feel Maris’s heart hammering against her chest. The desperation doubled Valda’s effort in calming her down.

While Maris’s touch was desperate, Valda took her time in discarding her clothing to the floor. She allowed Maris to touch her, to grip onto the flesh of her arms and shoulders, searching for that reassurance that she was there, she was alive, and it wasn’t a dream.

Valda concentrated on her lover’s face as she fought with herself, wanting to devour her with the same lust as the first day, but also undoing her with tenderness. Just like Valda liked it, combining love and desire all in the same moment, whispering the dirtiest thing while trailing love over Maris’s skin.

Valda’s hands undid her, touching every part of her body, making sure to replace her pain with pleasure. Her lips traced a line from her jaw to her neck while Maris’s mouth opened, gasping for air, releasing everything that held her down. Her cries echoed in the small house while Valda looked at the door separating them from the rest of the survivors .

Maris’s hand pulled her gaze back to her. Their mouths met for a second before Valda trailed down her neck and chest once more. The soft moans melted into the noises of the night creatures, dissolving into nothing. All the while, Valda stoked the fire inside Maris, grazing her core, her mouth praying to the deity that Maris had become. Her goddess, her adoration, her creed, her everything. And to think in a blink of an eye, that connection could be undone...

Knowing that Maris could feel her desperation, Valda looked up as tears ran down Maris’s temples. As if ashamed, Maris moved her hands to cover Valda’s eyes.

With a soft scoff, Valda moved her face away from Maris’s hands. It was not the time to cry. It was the time to enjoy her mate, have her, love her, and consume her.

“Let go. Feel me,” Valda said, her fingers plunging deeper. “Feel how I stretch you. Feel me…” She sighed, her mouth resuming the act of adoration on Maris’s breasts, her lips writing prayers that would endure until they met in the afterlife.

Maris let out a sob, her hands pulling Valda’s face to hers, her gaze clouded with tears. However, Valda never stopped. Her hands redoubled their efforts to make her come, to make her feel pleasure, to make her feel alive.

Alive .

They were both alive.

“Val—”

Valda swallowed her cry in an imposing kiss, just as Maris’s hand tightened around her hair as her body tensed in her release.

And then there was silence except for the heavy breathing and the thumping of her heart. Valda pulled Maris to her, cradling her body, wrapping her arms around her, hiding her away from everything and everyone. If only Valda was able to pull out the sadness lingering inside Maris’s heart. But she couldn’t, and she hated herself for it.

“I can’t lose you,” Maris whispered.

“You won’t,” Valda vowed, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Maris’s breathing evened out, her exhaustion finally taking over as she fell asleep against Valda’s chest. Valda held her tighter, her eyes misting as she pressed another kiss to Maris’s hair.

“I’ll always be here,” Valda whispered into the stillness of the night. “Always.”

Maris bit down on the piece of buttered bread Valda had given her, her stomach tied in knots. But she knew the discomfort was more from the lack of food over the past few days than from her nerves. She took a sip from her coffee cup and closed her eyes reverently. She needed that, and she needed the good rest she had the night before.

She was grateful for Valda, grateful for the bond and that she didn’t need to say much for the other woman to know exactly what she needed. It didn’t take long for Valda to wake up, look at her, and know she needed breakfast.

She slipped from the covers, got dressed, and left to get them both something to eat. While she waited for her, she walked to the room where the twins were and watched them as they slept. It was a quiet morning, and although she felt the heaviness of what had happened on her shoulders, she could still appreciate the blessing of a quiet morning with newborn babies…

“I got us some eggs,” Valda announced, walking into the room holding a plate with scrambled eggs and more toast. “You should get some protein in your body,” she muttered, not before taking a piece of bread and gathering a handful of eggs in it and shoving it in her mouth.

Maris watched her eat as if she hadn’t had a proper meal in days. But then chuckled when Valda frowned at the egg plate. “I see Vulcanians still hate to season their food…” Valda said, taking another piece of bread, stuffing it with egg and handing it to Maris.

With a rueful smile, Maris took the proffered bread and took a bite before nodding at Valda. “Gods, you are right.”

“We’ve been spoiled with Sealian and Skylian food, it seems…” Valda joked, her muscles visibly relaxing when Maris laughed. “I ran into Coral on the way here. She said she will visit us soon to feed Struan and Ciel.”

Maris nodded before releasing a heavy sigh. “I am not sure how this will play out. Coral has her own child to deal with and—“

“We will figure it out when the time comes. For now, she is more than happy to help us. Besides, whatever happens to us, or to Eyphah, these two,” Valda paused to look at both Struan and Ciel. “They are loved and they will be loved no matter what happens. ”

“I promised Melvian I would take care of them,” Maris said before Valda raised the cup of coffee in her hands and made her take another sip.

“And we are, and we will. They are the future of our kingdoms. We will not abandon them,” saying that, Valda stood up once more and walked to the makeshift cradle.

Looking at the babies and Valda, a fluttering feeling invaded Maris. The idea of keeping the babies as their own warmed her heart to no end. Maris knew Valda would shower them with affection and teach them to be proud of their cultures, both Sealian and Skylian. The more Maris thought about it, the warmer her chest felt.

Leaning on the edge of the crib, Valda rested her face on one arm before stretching the other. She rubbed the back of her hand against Struan’s chubby cheek and then moved a lock of blue hair away from Ciel’s forehead.

They could be wonderful parents… Right?

A smile spread over Maris’s lips before a name rattled her body.

Eyphah.

Their aunt.

Although Isen and Melvian had wanted Valda and Maris to care for them in their absence, Eyphah might want to keep them both. She was in her right, being the children’s only living blood relative.

Maris swallowed hard.

When the war was over, would Eyphah take them away?

Would she leave with them?

“If this thing bites me, I am eating it.”

Maris straightened and turned to the door while Valda released an annoyed sigh and called for Cerberus.

The cat stared up at Kenna, licking her maws and hissing once the Vulcanian queen walked past her. Now standing by the crib, Kenna looked at the babies and then at Maris.

“I suppose I should give you my condolences as well. Eyphah told me you and Melvian were close.”

Maris simply nodded before her breath hitched as Eyphah walked into the room. The dark circles under Eyphah’s eyes were all Maris needed to know that the woman was just as broken as she was. The two of them locked eyes for a heartbeat before the other Sealian walked over to the crib.

Valda stood straight and took a couple of steps away from the crib, allowing Eyphah to have her moment with her niece and nephew .

“I do not wish to put more pressure on your shoulders, Survivor of Storms, but we must plan our next move now and make haste,” Kenna said, her hand landing on her ax while her gaze jumped from Maris to Valda.

“Goddess Eris is wounded, this is when we attack…” Valda said, locking her eyes with Maris.

A subtle grin curved on Kenna’s lips, her attention falling on Cerberus, then on Maris. “What do you have in mind?”

***

Maris pushed the goblets and plates off the wooden table as Valda unrolled the Sky Kingdom map. The four women gathered around while Valda placed chips and tokens over the map. She marked the castle, New Agenor, and the towns near Oberon.

After she was done, Kenna pushed her aside and grabbed a red chip and placed them around Oberon and on Prospero. Valda frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

“You’ve been close to Oberon all this time?”

“Of course. I must keep an eye out on your army’s movement,” Kenna said with a shrug. “When I noticed you were not coming in and out, I wondered where you were, that’s when we started rummaging through some towns and Umbriel Desert.”

“Why didn’t you attack when you had the chance?”

“Because I was after you, not Arwin,” Kenna answered.

“Yet you attacked any Skylian you found.”

“Can we focus?” Eyphah said, throwing an angry glare at both Valda and Kenna.

Kenna scoffed before clearing her throat. “I may look like a barbarian, but I am not one. I think and prepare and prioritize attacks.”

“You do know that Arwin’s army has taken hold of your artillery. That’s the only explanation for their attack,“ Valda said.

Kenna waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing compared to what we have.”

“Weapons like those killed my best friend,” Maris said, her tone harsh .

“And my brother…” Eyphah whispered before glancing at Kenna. “A bomb killed him…”

Kenna opened her mouth, but stammered for a moment. She seemed disappointed, almost embarrassed. “We all lose when there is a war. Even if you reign victoriously, the souls of those who had to perish will haunt you every day for as long as you live. If the souls of the fallen, don’t haunt you, then it will be the memory of who you were before grabbing your first weapon. Hopefully, this will be our last fight.”

“Hopefully,” Valda added before patting the map. “How many troops do you have outside of Oberon?”

“Many are hidden in Ophelia awaiting orders. We can create a distraction while you sneak inside, just like you snuck into Prospero.”

Valda frowned, staring at the map as Kenna placed a couple of red chips around Oberon and Ophelia. “Do you have any soldiers without a thick Arevulcan accent that could join my men? They might play Skylian soldiers. Maybe bounty hunters?”

“How sure are we that Arwin and Eris are in the castle?” Eyphah asked, her attention falling on Valda. “What good can an attack on them be if they are not there? We will lose people for nothing.”

“After every battle, Arwin rushes into the castle to recoup. It has been his way since I can remember. With Eris hurt he—“

“He must be using the castle as a temple for Eris…” Kenna interjected, rubbing her chin. “Unless they have a blessed Asclepius worshiper, there is no way for Eris to heal unless she is in her temple. And for what I can see, her most faithful worshiper is Arwin, am I correct?”

Valda and Maris nodded at the same time.

“She is recuperating,” Kenna muttered, grabbing a chip and placing it over Oberon Castle. “To kill a god, you must use a holy weapon.” Kenna patted the ax on her waist and then pointed at Valda’s Heaven Sword. “But you must destroy everything related to them as well.” Kenna’s purple gaze shot up to Valda. “Everything.”

Maris arched her brow and turned to Valda. “What is it?”

Valda didn’t answer. Her jaw tensed as her fingers squeezed a large rock, her eyes glued to the drawing marking Oberon Castle on the map. Hesitation weaved itself through the bond, and Maris could only move her hand to touch Valda’s forearm.

The question still hung in the air before Valda swallowed hard and exhaled as she placed the rock on top of the red chips on Oberon.

“Only the castle,” Valda said, finally glancing at Kenna. “Ophelia will not be touched or harmed. I’ve lost too many people already…”

“I understand, but as leaders, sometimes we must make harsh decisions.”

“I know, Kenna,” Valda said, her voice lower than usual .

“What is it, Valda?” Maris asked again before Valda turned to her. Her harsh expression softened for a second. Maris couldn’t understand the reason for the sudden sadness creeping through her chest.

“We will act as if we have been caught by Arwin’s men. We could march in with some Vulcanian weapons.”

“Bombs,” Kenna added. “Lots of them.”

“What for?” Eyphah asked, her voice laced with concern. “You are not blowing the place up, right?”

It was Kenna’s turn to tense. “Oberon Castle is no longer the crown’s home. It is Eris’s temple. If we were to destroy it alongside Arwin, his men and Eris…” Kenna paused to give Valda an apologetic glance. “Her existence will cease. Every remnant of her will be erased.”

“She will disappear…” Maris whispered. The Great Disappearance . The gods didn’t leave, they were eliminated. “That’s what they wanted to do with my kingdom, wasn’t it?” Maris asked, her eyes now glued with Kenna.

“We have no proof, but we cannot deny it.”

Maris released her breath, looking at the map, focusing directly on Oberon Castle. A deep pang of pain shot through her chest. Her eyes shot at Valda, who kept her own gaze on the map. “Are you agreeing with this?”

“Oberon Castle was built centuries ago by Ouranos worshipers… They built it out of love for our god and as a place for the recipients of the gift to live. It’s where I took my steps, where I learned everything I know.” Valda’s throat bobbed as she touched the map, her fingertips grazing over the back courtyard of the castle. “Where my parents are buried and countless other rulers. How can I simply allow it to be destroyed?”

Maris looked at Kenna. The fire queen’s body seemed tense, yet her face showed nothing more than empathy. Maris could’ve sworn she saw her hand twitch, as if wanting to comfort Valda. Instead, Kenna exhaled loudly and shook her head.

“I wish I could give you a moment to mourn your castle, Valda. But that place is no longer your own. It has been stained, stolen and taken by a goddess who is not the one you worship.” Kenna took a deep breath and finally placed a hand on Valda’s shoulders. “We will help you restore what was taken from you.”

Valda closed her eyes and nodded. “I just can’t believe the bastard took everything I used to know away from me. My mother, my father, my kingdom, my home.” She swallowed hard, her lips pursing as she struggled to keep her emotions at bay. “He turned my home against me. She paused and turned to Maris. “The place where I met you.”

“That is a beautiful and fond memory that I will cherish until I draw my last breath. But now, we need to make space for newer fonder ones.”

“This is all nice and beautiful, but we need to get back to what’s at stake here,” Eyphah interrupted, patting her fingers on the map. “Arwin has countless troops who are currently Eris worshippers, but I am sure there are some who are not. What are you going to do with them?”

Valda shot a deadly glare at Eyphah before patting Maris’s hand. “They will be spared, of course. I know a lot of them simply went with Arwin to spare their own lives. I will not hold it against them. I am not a monster like Arwin.”

“We can get them out. We have many people on our side; we just need to get in, blow the place up and take everyone out,” Kenna said before turning to pat Eyphah on her back.

The other woman almost recoiled from the touch. She took a step back and allowed the Vulcanian queen to move closer to the map. Yet, it seemed as if either Kenna didn’t notice Eyphah’s reaction or she ignored it, but Maris saw it.

She never thought Eyphah, the one that wanted a mate so badly, would act as if she didn’t want Kenna.

“Are there any Sealians willing to fight?” Kenna asked, her attention fully on Maris now.

Maris nodded. “A few, including myself.”

“You are to stay and oversee that everyone makes it safe to the Sea Kingdom,” Valda almost snarled.

“No, Valda. We’ve already discussed this—“

“I will take them and the twins with me,” Eyphah interrupted, her throat bobbing as she tried to contain her emotions. “I need them to be safe. I can’t…” She swallowed hard. “If I lose them too, I—“ Her voice cracked and her head hung low, trying to hide her tears.

“You will have my men to keep you safe, Eyphah. No one will put a hand on you or your nice and nephew,” Kenna said, her hand falling on Eyphah’s back.

Instead of recoiling like before, Eyphah’s stance relaxed. She nodded at Kenna’s words before straightening and wiping her tears. “If my queen allows it,” Eyphah began, turning her attention to Maris. “May I be excused so I can set everything in motion? ”

As Maris nodded, Eyphah bowed and walked out of the small room. When she was gone, Kenna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“I’ve never heard of a mate refusing to create the mating bond,” she murmured, her frustration bleeding through her words. “But my hafmeyja, wants nothing to do with me.”

Maris’s brow furrowed in concern. “Has she told you why?”

Kenna shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “No. We haven’t had the right moment to discuss it. She barely lets me get near her, let alone talk.” Her voice softened, but the undercurrent of hurt was unmistakable.

“Maybe she needs more time to adjust,” Valda said, glancing briefly at Maris before allowing a faint smile to tug at her lips. “They come around eventually.”

Kenna let out a quiet sigh, her gaze lingering on the map. “I hope she does soon. There’s a war to win, and I want to return to her free of conflict, to live my life by her side.”

“That’s what we all want, Kenna,” Maris said, her hands rubbing against her tunic. Her own uneasiness and sadness palpable while they planned.

Scoffing, Kenna waved her hand dismissively before straightening. She touched her ax and jutted her chin towards Valda. “Let’s continue.”

“So, the Vulcanians create the distraction, you waltz in, then what, Valda?” Maris asked.

“Then we kill the goddess and her pawn. Together.”