Page 119 of The Stolen Kingdom

“They took me to Prospero. They kept me locked up in one room for further questioning.”

“I never saw her until you tried to get her out of Prospero,” Kenna said. “If I had known—“

“Never mind that.” Maris interrupted before touching Eyphah’s shoulder. “You are fine, you are with us.”

“And you are an aunt,” Isen added, kissing his sister’s temple and hugging her a bit too tightly. Eyphah opened her mouth to whine, but he relaxed his hold before she could.

“Are you serious?” Eyphah asked, looking at Isen and then at Melvian, noticing that she was no longer round. “I have to see my nephews.”

“When you get better. Now rest, keep drinking water and we will get you something to eat.” Maris placed the waterskin within Eyphah’s reach before turning to Valda. She patted her lover’s lower back and walked out of the cabin, followed by Kenna and Melvian.

The Vulcanian woman’s head dropped almost in shame. “I didn’t know my people had hurt my mate so. If I had known—” She sighed and rubbed her face before hissing. She looked down at her own thigh, the wound from Isen’s arrow still intact.

Melvian gave Maris a look before touching Kenna’s hip. “Let me take a look at that.”

She pulled Kenna to a campfire with Valda and Maris trailing behind. The other four Vulcanian sat on the outside of the improvised settlement, keeping a close eye on Kenna. Melvian set her down and touched the infected wound.

“It is a shame other races cannot benefit from healing with Sealian water,” Melvian said, cleaning up the surrounding area of the wound with water and a cloth. “Luckily, you warrior women can take a punch,” Melvian said, wrapping up Kenna’s thigh. “Speaking of Sealian water, we are running out of it. If we could return to New Agenor for longer, it would be great. I understand if we can’t because of time limitations.”

“Thank you for healing me,” Kenna said, bowing her head at Melvian.

“No problem. We are sort of family now. I am Melvian; Isen is my mate.” She gifted the woman a genuine smile before turning to Maris. “And that’s how you heal someone, regardless of if they tried to kill you or not.”

Maris rolled her eyes at her best friend and accepted the healing kit once she moved away from Kenna.

“Valda’s hand doesn’t look that well. I think you should look at it,” Melvian said, jerking her chin at the tall Skylian.

Nodding, Maris thanked her friend and watched her return to the cabin where Eyphah and Isen were.

“Will Eyphah be all right?” Kenna asked, her face doused with worry.

“She will be fine. She just needs to rest,” Maris said, grabbing Valda’s elbow to inspect her arm.

“Why did you beat her in the first place?” Kenna asked, her attention falling on Valda.

Sighing in exasperation, Valda shook her head and pointed toward the cabin. “You don’t know this woman. She is hotheaded, imprudent and—”

“She is perfect,” Kenna said, cutting Valda.

“She… She kissed my mate, knowing she was already mine. I don’t know how things are in the Vulcan Kingdom, but here, once you know someone is mated, they are off limits.”

Kenna arched her brows and faced Maris. “Is this true?”

“That’s not important right now,” Maris said, tying a last knot in Valda’s hand. Another mark and scar on her body. “What’s important is that we need your help, QueenKenna,” Maris said, sitting now next to her. “We have to take my people back to the Sea kingdom and we need Prospero’s pier to do so.”

Kenna listened intently, her eyes wandering away from Maris to the sandy ground. She frowned. “I was to join you in battle, not help you transport Sealians,” Kenna said to Valda.

“You are in my kingdom, using my cities, my piers to bring weapons from yours. And you want me to do nothing while you deny me entrance to my land?”

“I took over.”

“It is still mine!” Valda snarled, taking a dangerous step towards Kenna. “Where are they?”

“Who?” Kenna asked, arching a dark brow.

“The people of Prospero.Mypeople.”

Kenna scoffed and waved her hand dismissively. “They are in Caliban. I moved all those willing there and took over the city as well.”

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