Page 136 of The Stolen Kingdom

Maris arched her brow and turned to Valda. “What is it?”

Valda didn’t answer. Her jaw tensed as her fingers squeezed a large rock, her eyes glued to the drawing marking Oberon Castle on the map. Hesitation weaved itself through the bond, and Maris could only move her hand to touch Valda’s forearm.

The question still hung in the air before Valda swallowed hard and exhaled as she placed the rock on top of the red chips on Oberon.

“Only the castle,” Valda said, finally glancing at Kenna. “Ophelia will not be touched or harmed. I’ve lost too many people already…”

“I understand, but as leaders, sometimes we must make harsh decisions.”

“I know, Kenna,” Valda said, her voice lower than usual.

“What is it, Valda?” Maris asked again before Valda turned to her. Her harsh expression softened for a second. Maris couldn’t understand the reason for the sudden sadness creeping through her chest.

“We will act as if we have been caught by Arwin’s men. We could march in with some Vulcanian weapons.”

“Bombs,” Kenna added. “Lots of them.”

“What for?” Eyphah asked, her voice laced with concern. “You are not blowing the place up, right?”

It was Kenna’s turn to tense. “Oberon Castle is no longer the crown’s home. It is Eris’s temple. If we were to destroy it alongside Arwin, his men and Eris…” Kenna paused to give Valda an apologetic glance. “Her existence will cease. Every remnant of her will be erased.”

“She will disappear…” Maris whispered.The Great Disappearance. The gods didn’t leave, they were eliminated. “That’s what they wanted to do with my kingdom, wasn’t it?” Maris asked, her eyes now glued with Kenna.

“We have no proof, but we cannot deny it.”

Maris released her breath, looking at the map, focusing directly on Oberon Castle. A deep pang of pain shot through her chest. Her eyes shot at Valda, who kept her own gaze on the map. “Are you agreeing with this?”

“Oberon Castle was built centuries ago by Ouranos worshipers… They built it out of love for our god and as a place for the recipients of the gift to live. It’s where I took my steps, where I learnedeverythingI know.” Valda’s throat bobbed as she touched the map, her fingertips grazing over the back courtyard of the castle. “Where my parents are buried and countless other rulers. How can I simply allow it to be destroyed?”

Maris looked at Kenna. The fire queen’s body seemed tense, yet her face showed nothing more than empathy. Maris could’ve sworn she saw her hand twitch, as if wanting to comfort Valda. Instead, Kenna exhaled loudly and shook her head.

“I wish I could give you a moment to mourn your castle, Valda. But that place is no longer your own. It has been stained, stolen and taken by a goddess who is not the one you worship.” Kenna took a deep breath and finally placed a hand on Valda’s shoulders. “We will help you restore what was taken from you.”

Valda closed her eyes and nodded. “I just can’t believe the bastard took everything I used to know away from me. My mother, my father, my kingdom, my home.” Sheswallowed hard, her lips pursing as she struggled to keep her emotions at bay. “He turned my home against me. She paused and turned to Maris. “The place where I metyou.”

“That is a beautiful and fond memory that I will cherish until I draw my last breath. But now, we need to make space for newer fonder ones.”

“This is all nice and beautiful, but we need to get back to what’s at stake here,” Eyphah interrupted, patting her fingers on the map. “Arwin has countless troops who are currently Eris worshippers, but I am sure there are some who are not. What are you going to do with them?”

Valda shot a deadly glare at Eyphah before patting Maris’s hand. “They will be spared, of course. I know a lot of them simply went with Arwin to spare their own lives. I will not hold it against them. I am not a monster like Arwin.”

“We can get them out. We have many people on our side; we just need to get in, blow the place up and take everyone out,” Kenna said before turning to pat Eyphah on her back.

The other woman almost recoiled from the touch. She took a step back and allowed the Vulcanian queen to move closer to the map. Yet, it seemed as if either Kenna didn’t notice Eyphah’s reaction or she ignored it, but Maris saw it.

She never thought Eyphah, the one that wanted a mate so badly, would act as if she didn’t want Kenna.

“Are there any Sealians willing to fight?” Kenna asked, her attention fully on Maris now.

Maris nodded. “A few, including myself.”

“You are to stay and oversee that everyone makes it safe to the Sea Kingdom,” Valda almost snarled.

“No, Valda. We’ve already discussed this—“

“I will take them and the twins with me,” Eyphah interrupted, her throat bobbing as she tried to contain her emotions. “I need them to be safe. I can’t…” She swallowed hard. “If I lose them too, I—“ Her voice cracked and her head hung low, trying to hide her tears.

“You will have my men to keep you safe, Eyphah. No one will put a hand on you or your nice and nephew,” Kenna said, her hand falling on Eyphah’s back.

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