Page 121 of The Stolen Kingdom

“I will head out first and lead the way. You can stay here with Melvian and the rest,” Valda suggested. “I know you want to be near the babies and oversee Eyphah’s injuries.” Valda jumped onto her horse and then pointed at Cerberus. “Keep her safe, fur ball.”

Cerberus lifted her head and meowed at Valda before snuggling closer.

Maris leaned to her side, grabbed Valda’s shoulders, and pulled her into a soft kiss. “Be careful.”

“She will,” Isen interrupted, his horse coming to stand next to Valda’s. “I will keep an eye out with her.”

Maris nodded at Isen and patted Valda’s cheek before releasing her and allowing her to lead with Isen. Maris then turned around and spotted Melvian casually talking to Eyphah. The two seemed to get along better now than before. Melvian was showing off the small characteristics of each baby as she pointed at Struan’s dark hair and then touched Ciel’sblue curls. Melvian’s smiles spread across her youthful face. A proud flame burned in her dark eyes. Maris couldn’t help but also smile as she approached both women.

Eyphah was still injured, and it would take her a couple of days to recover fully, but she looked happy, calm, and overjoyed as she held her nephew.

Maris grinned at her back before saying, “Gorgeous, are they not?”

Eyphah let out a raspy breath and nodded. “They truly are. Who would’ve thought my brother would produce such perfect creatures?”

Melvian arched an eyebrow playfully and huffed. “Excuse you.” She scoffed. “He didn’t produce them alone, you see. I did a lot of pushing and producing, too!”

Eyphah laughed, but quickly regretted it. She hissed and held her side, careful not to disturb Struan sleeping on her lap. “I am sorry. You are right.”

“Of course I am,” Melvian declared, settling against the wagon and closer to Eyphah.

Maris watched contentedly as both women accommodated the other, sharing their warmth and the comfort of the babies. It wasn’t long until Melvian quieted into a peaceful slumber as Eyphah looked upon the infants.

Well into their journey, Maris saw Valda galloping towards her. There was no worry in their bond, so Maris smiled brightly as her lover stopped nearby. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes. We are stopping to rest here. We will leave in two hours,” Valda said before jutting her chin towards Eyphah and Melvian. “They should stretch their legs and you should get off that horse.”

Valda gracefully jumped off the saddle and onto the dense sand beneath her. Maris didn’t want to wake Cerberus. She was sleeping soundly on her lap. It would be cruel to disturb her, but Valda nudged her pet and patted her shoulder for her to jump on. Once she stretched her front paws, Cerberus jumped on Valda and accepted a piece of dried meat. Valda then turned to Maris and held her hand as she jumped off the horse. After opening her saddlebag, Valda pulled out more meat rations and handed them to Maris, ordering her to eat.

“Should we bring something to Melvian and Eyphah?” Maris asked as she turned to look at the wagon. To her surprise, Isen was already helping Melvian down from the wagon and ensuring she had some food in her hands.

“Isen will take care of them,” Valda mumbled before stopping and looking at Maris. “Eat.”

“You should too. You are looking slimmer,” Maris joked, patting Valda’s toned stomach and then her bottom.

She had changed back to her cotton attire after her talk with Kenna and she swore never to dress as a Vulcanian again. Although they wore less clothing, Valda still said it was suffocating to wear fur.

The deep chuckle from Valda made Maris shiver. She pressed her lips to Maris’s temple and inhaled deeply before pulling away. “It is quite nice how much you care for me.”

“It’s your ass I am worried about,” Maris said before sneaking her palm to pat Valda’s left ass cheek. Her lover released a warning groan, which prompted Maris to pull her hand away and securely rest it on Valda’s lower back.

“You need a wagon for yourselves?” Melvian asked from behind them. Her friend had walked to their side when Isen allowed her to move about while he cared for his sister and children. The healer took a bite of her jerky before her face contorted in disgust. “What is this?”

“Dried meat,” Valda answered before taking a huge bite of her jerky and then bumping Maris’s side, egging her to do the same before giving another piece to Cerberus.

Sighing, Maris rolled her eyes and ate the food Valda had given her. She wasn’t a fan, but it was easier to carry around dried meat than to build a fire to cook. If they were going to be moving again, they needed a quick meal, some minutes to stretch their limbs, drink water, and continue.

“How long until we reach Prospero?”

“We will make it there by nightfall,” Valda answered, taking another bite of the meat and turning to inspect the caravan.

Everyone seemed happy to be out of the wagons and off their horses, conversing and sharing a meal. Maris was pleased. Her focus landed on Valda, whose features turned uneasy and cautious.

“Valda?” Maris reached absently to touch her lover’s bandaged hand. “Is something wrong?”

Valda’s hand immediately moved to the hilt of her sword. Cerberus, who had been chewing happily nearby, froze mid-bite. Her ears perked, swiveling side to side, before she dropped to the ground and bolted under a wagon.

“Valda—” Maris began, but her words caught in her throat as Valda turned sharply to her, her honeyed eyes wide, her mouth slightly agape.

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