Page 13 of The Stolen Kingdom

Isen let out an annoyed sigh as he pulled on the reins and turned to look at Valda. “Again? This is the fourth time in less than two hours. You need to find a way to control this.”

Valda lifted her gaze to Isen. “Did I stutter?” Before Isen could answer, Valda jumped off the horse, braced herself on her knees, and soiled the ground with her breakfast.

“Withdrawal,” Isen murmured, keeping his back to Valda as she coughed and hacked. “I told Your Highness you were going to get sick. Also, moving on that horse will make it worse.”

“Shut it.” Valda spat and wiped her lower lip with the back of her hand before standing upright.

She grabbed the horse’s reins, ignoring Cerberus’ uninterested eyes on her. The cat was snug inside a backpack, safely attached to the saddle. Valda had made sure her dear pet didn’t bounce as much. The cat yawned before licking her whiskers. Valda grimaced, taking slow steps that sent jolts of burning pain through her. She shouldn’t have left the comfort of Lasmeer’s house in such a hurry. Isen was right when he said she wasn’t ready to travel, yet the need to do something rather than sit down and mope was motivation enough to get her off the bed and on a horse.

Now, she was puking her insides out, as if her body was punishing her for being away from Maris. She breathed out, dizzy and nauseous. She had already puked four times. Everything was sore…

Was Maris feeling the same thing as she was? Was she suffering just as much? If she was, why wouldn’t she just come back? Gods, Valda would give anything to talk to her face to face, but she also would do anything Maris asked and if that meant giving the other woman space, she would do so, even if it meant her suffering.

Another mouthful of bile surfaced, and Valda vomited on the ground again. She rubbed her sour stomach before tilting her head enough to notice Isen giving her a condescending smile.

Valda brushed sweat-damped hair away from her forehead.

“I wish there was something I could do to help with the sickness, but unless Maris changes her mind about seeing you—”

“Maybe she changed her mind already. Maybe she wants to see me?”

Isen pursed his lips. “She was very specific about not wanting you near her. She needs space, and as her mate, you should accept her wishes, even if it means it will make you both sick.”

“I don’t want her to be sick.”

“I know you don’t.”

“I want to protect her.”

“Then protect her from yourself.”

Valda rubbed her face in annoyance before hooking her hand to her neck. A waterskin appeared before her. Isen had gotten off the horse and offered it to her with a tired nod. She grasped it, took the lid off, and drank.

“We cannot stay out in the open like this,” Isen said.

“Umbriel is far away.”

“That’s if we find what we are looking for at the border. If not, our trip could turn into a twelve-hour journey. You remember how enormous and unforgiving the desert is. Your body will not stand a ride as long as that one in this heat. I need to check your wounds, and I need to reapply the salve.”

“I needto getto Umbriel.”

“You need to stay alive, Your Highness.”

Isen’s words were final, and Valda couldn’t control the warning growl that escaped her chest. “You are running your mouth a lot.”

“Maybe.” He pushed the waterskin to her chest when she attempted to give it back to him. “We are an hour away from Cressida City. If we head there now, we can stop at the inn and gather ourselves. We can get something to eat, some clothes and equipment, and then we can set out to Umbriel the next day.”

Valda nodded as she swallowed a mouthful of water. “Fine. You lead, for now.”

Isen patted her shoulder a little too hard, making Valda grunt in pain. “Let’s get going then. Try not to puke again.”

Grabbing the saddle horn, Valda struggled to pull herself up. She also made a conscious effort not to kick poor Cerberus, though she’d already done so more than once. Valda was certain her pet would bite her ankles by the end of the night. She straightened her back, biting her lower lip as if it would prevent her from showing weakness. She felt worse than the first time she woke up blind in her room… At least she had Maris back then.

“You know there are other ways to help your dilemma.” Isen pulled her away from her self-loathing. He clicked his tongue and pressed his heel to the horse’s flank to get going. “You are not completely cut off from her.”

Valda was too busy looking for a way to sit up to ease her pain to understand what Isen was saying. “What do you mean?”

“You can communicate through the bond. It is hard at first, but once you get the hang of it, you can both know how the other is doing. It requires a certain degree of openness and—”

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