Page 146 of The Stolen Kingdom

“Kayden!” Valda screamed, happiness pouring from her voice. Her chest swelled as soon as she recognized her best friend.

Kayden’s hands trembled as a drop of blood dripped from his nostril to his chin. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted amongst the bodies.

Before running to Kayden, Valda gathered Maris in her arms and looked down at her, wanting to make sure she was fine. Maris nodded and pushed her towards her friend. Valda walked over the dead, reaching Kayden.

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Valda picked Kayden up and dragged him to Maris. His head rolled from side to side, his breath uneven as Valda settled him on the ground. Grabbing his chin, Valda inspected his face. He didn’t seem to be harmed, other than his bleeding nose. His already pale skin didn’t tell her much.

Gods.She was so happy to see him… She wanted to throw her arms around him and squeeze him.

After a while, he slowly came back to. His eyes sparked the moment his gaze landed on Valda.

“I thought you were dead,” Kayden said, clutching to Valda’s blouse, releasing a shuddering breath. “Gods, I prayed you were safe all these months.”

Valda released a laugh and pressed her forehead to Kayden’s. “I thought Kenna killed you, but then she said she captured you and kept you locked up,” Valda said, her throat bobbing as she swallowed hard.

“She released me not so long ago. She sent a letter for me to come and join you in taking back the castle.” Hissing, Kayden sat up and touched his forehead. “I didn’t think she would destroy it, though. I can smell the Vulcanian powder from a mile away.” With a huff, he pressed his palms to his head and then wiped the blood from his nose. “I used too much power,” he mumbled, turning to look at his handy work.

“You sure did,” Valda replied, swallowing hard. The Harmonians didn’t rule the world simply because they didn’t want to. With Kayden’s power alongside his mother’s, they could disarm an entire army in seconds.

“When did you get here?” Maris asked, helping him up.

“I just went through the docks,” Kayden answered, before turning to Valda. “I was inside the castle. The chambers are empty.”

Valda gave Maris a quick glance. “That leaves the throne room,” Valda snarled, standing just as another explosion shook the castle’s grounds. “How are you holding up, Kayden?”

Kayden held his head. Grimacing, he took a step forward but was stopped by Maris’s hand pressed to his chest.

“You don’t look so good.”

“Neither do both of you,” Kayden said, prompting Cerberus to hiss at him. Kayden looked down at the cat in astonished relief.

Valda knew he was never fond of Cerberus, but for a slim second, she could see that he was happy her pet was alive.

“I can keep watch here, make sure he doesn’t get away like the coward he is. You should go.” Kayden grabbed Valda’s arm. His tight grip was more worried than affectionate. Swallowing hard, he pulled her in for a hug. Valda reciprocated the hug tenfold, holding on to him as if he would disappear.

Before they pulled apart, Kayden clutched Maris’s tunic and pulled her into the embrace as well. It took Maris a second to wrap her arms around Valda and Kayden and squeeze them both.

Taking a step back, Kayden regarded Valda and Maris before shooting his gaze to the castle. “Kill him. That’s the only way to stop him.”

“That’s the plan,” Maris said while Valda pulled her sword out. Maris took the trident in her hand and turned to the crumbling castle entrance.

With a stern gaze, Valda focused on Maris, whose entire demeanor faltered the second they locked eyes. There was fear and restraint in her chest. The silent question hung in the air and before Valda could reel her in, Maris shook her head.

“Let’s end this.”

Valda nodded as the worry within Maris washed away. Her knuckles turned white around the hilt of her sword. The anticipation gnawed at her, as she didn’t know what she would find in the interior of the crumbling castle.

As they walked through the halls, the grim devastation left in the wake of the merciless bombs came into view. Corpses were strewn across the ruined corridors, and shattered walls loomed as if they would crumble with just a touch.

As much as she tried to still herself, Valda couldn’t keep from reacting to the destruction. Her chest tightened with the urge to mourn the place she had called home all her life.

Even as the hall crumbled around them, she could still see the ghosts of the memories embedded in its walls.

Maris trailed behind her, silent and steady, while Cerberus darted ahead, as if leading them toward something unseen. A part of Valda couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that the cat knew more than she let on—that she was weaving a dangerous path toward the inevitable.

With every step, Valda’s heartbeat pounded against her ribs. The weight of what was coming pressed down on her, thick and suffocating. Maris could sense it too; she was sure of it.

She was about to face the man who had taken her father’s place. Memories flooded her, one after the other, drowning her.

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