Page 114 of The Stolen Kingdom

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 openingher 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.

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