Page 109 of The Stolen Kingdom

“Pants off too?”

Maris chuckled, looking at the tent’s entry before returning to Valda’s mischievous smile. “Let me close the tent… Just in case.”

Valda raised an eyebrow. Her eyes followed Maris as she untucked a leather roll tied to the tent’s entrance, giving them more privacy. As Maris walked back, Valda stood and hooked her thumb to the edge of her pants.

As she turned to the bucket with clean water, Maris worked with the same efficiency, taking great care when using her powers to clean between her legs. She noticed the goosebumps covering Valda’s powerful thigh and the soft moans that emanated from her parted lips. Before she moved away, Valda grabbed her jaw and halted her movements altogether. Water splashed at their feet.

Maris could feel Valda’s want. She could feel the small turmoil of emotions coursing through her. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something was bothering her.

Before she could move her face away from Valda’s grasp and ask her what was wrong, Valda said, “I could’ve lost you.”

Maris’ stomach dropped. “Valda…”

“I could’ve felt the sudden cut of the bond and there was nothing I could’ve done to prevent it.”

“But it didn’t happen. I am here. You arehere—”

“You fought Kenna.”

“You’ve fought more than I’ve ever done in the last eight months,” Maris rejoined, her eyes locking with Valda’s. “We were both in danger. We’ve both done reckless things,” she whispered, smoothing her voice.

Valda let out a soft huff, leaned closer, and pressed her forehead with Maris’s. “Promise me our bond will never be severed.”

Maris sighed, closed her eyes tightly, and gripped Valda’s forearm. “Darling, you know I cannot promise that. We are at war. Anything can ha—”

“Promise me…” Valda lowered her voice, not wanting anyone else to hear her beg. This side of her was for Maris and Maris alone.

Maris swallowed hard and nodded against her. “I promise.”

She knew Valda wasn’t happy with her hesitation. Yet that didn’t stop the other woman from tightening her grip and mashing their lips together. At first, the kiss was soft, but it turned desperate and eager. Liquid heat sluiced from her chest, down to her lower stomach, and finally between her thighs. She clutched Valda’s taut shoulders as she pried her mouth open and slipped her tongue inside.

Groaning with need, Valda released Maris and wrapped an arm around her waist before sitting down and settling Maris over one of her thighs. Maris clung to her shoulders, her eyes flickering at the tent entrance before looking down at Valda’s darkened and hooded eyes.

“What is it?”

“Someone might walk in—”

“Let them,” Valda grunted, “I don’t mind an audience.”

“Valda!” Maris playfully slapped her shoulder, but the other woman didn’t even flinch.

“Understand; we could’ve lost each other. I could’ve lost you.” Valda’s voice quivered. “I was never afraid to lose anything in my life until I met you. You are everything to me. The most important person in my existence, and if I lose you, Maris, I will burn this planet whole, and tear open the ground itself to look for you in the Underworld.”

“But Valda. You will not find me there. I will already be reborn.”

Before Maris could finish her sentence, Valda was already shaking her head.

“Before we are reborn, our souls are floating in the Underworld. You, Maris Era, your very soul is etched into mine. I will not allow you to leave. Iwillgo to the Underworld to claim you back if I have to and if I lose my life there, then Iwillmake it my next life’s mission tofind you.”

Maris cupped her lover’s face. Valda’s stern features sent a chill down her spine. “If I didn’t know you like I do, I wouldn’t have believed you. But I know you would tear open the ground itself to look for me.”

“I will swim through the River Styx to get you, I will push Charon off his fucking boat to have a taste of you,” Valda said, her eyes hazy with uncontrollable lust and love. “For you, Maris, I will do anything. and everything to be by your side.”

Maris stared at Valda, her hand going over the slight scar on her cheek, brushing over her eyebrows and then her plump lips. This woman… this woman had been chosen centuries ago to be her mate, even so, Maris couldn’t believe she was hers. Her eyes wondered over her parted lips, then her eyes before she leaned closer and planted a chaste kiss on her mouth.

Valda’s grips tightened, her need growing with the slight touch.

Maris made a surprised noise when Valda pulled off her remaining clothing, throwing it on the ground.

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