Page 23 of The Stolen Kingdom

Feeling the dip of the bed and the harsh press of a furry head, Valda acknowledged Cerberus’ presence with a chin scratch. The animal’s purrs vibrated on her fingertips, and she smiled.

“I miss her too, girl,” Valda whispered, only for Cerberus to hear. “I miss her so much I can barely breathe.” She bit her lip to stop a sob from escaping. “But I will not abandon her. I will try to find her, even if it is in my dreams, even if I have to beg Morpheus to allow me to have her.”

5

Maris turned to creating a routine she could follow easily in her new home. Yet, the first weeks in New Agenor were the hardest ones. Melvian tried to ease her symptoms but at the end of the day, it came down to the fact her body was reacting to being away from her only source of peace, Valda.

When she went outside, she couldn’t help but fear that she was being watched, that at any given moment Arwin’s soldiers would come. In fact, Maris was worried that it had been two weeks, and she hadn’t heard a thing from outside of New Agenor. She didn’t even know how Valda was doing. Then again, every night since she arrived at New Agenor, she tried her hardest to detach herself from the bond, to block it.

She could try to force herself not to think of her lover, but it was almost impossible to do so, and it was driving her absolutely insane. Everything reminded her of Valda…

The lakes, where she showed Valda how she could bend water to her will. The square, where they danced amongst her people, how Valda clumsily stumbled with her feet, struggling to dance with Maris, to make her happy and feel loved. House of Arago, where they shared their first meal with Eyphah, where Valda’s confidence shattered, unsure of how to eat something she didn’t know, and how she had helped her.

Then there was the bedroom…

Though it wasn’t House of Proteus, the layout was the same, and every morning when Maris woke up from her restless sleep, she imagined Valda walking out of the garderobe, looking down at her with adoration.

Each night, the feeling of the soft sheets against her skin awakened a sense of loneliness that could only be brushed away with the feeling of Valda’s skin on hers. With warm lips on her neck and chest, skillful hands holding her down, begging for submission. Maris wanted to be underneath her again, feel the tall and strong body ushering her into the height of pleasure. Some mornings she cried; some mornings she woke soaked in her own arousal.

If she didn’t block the bond’s relentless pull, she would lose herself. Yet, the bond was the only thing that assured her Valda was alive. She could feel the yearning, the tug on her very soul, and the muffled whispers that came with each thread of connection.

Come back.

Can I find you?

Are you well?

I miss you.

I miss you…

She wanted to give in, to allow herself to be swallowed up by the bond and surround herself with everything that was Valda. She wanted to open her eyes and see the other woman there, with that smile, thatfuckingsmile. Perfect, warm and honest.Her smile.

But still she resisted.

Some nights, Maris was blessed with dreamless sleep, but there were others when the nightmares suffocated her, waking her in cold sweats and with tears streaming down her face.

The nightmares replayed the day her father left, mixed in with the night she found her mother’s body…

Her stomach turned within itself each time she woke up. The images still fresh in her head, the pain as if it was the same day those tragedies occurred. She didn’t tell anyone about her restless nights. There was no use in doing so. Melvian already knew about her parent’s tragedy, telling her about the nightmares would make her friend try to push her to go back to Valda as a way of alleviating everything.

But how could Maris even think about going back to her mate when she was the one that caused all the pain and suffering?

Telling Eyphah would only make the other woman’s hatred towards Valda grow, and Marisdid notwant to hear her.

It was better to keep busy. She read the book of Asclepius Melvian had given her. She had read it so many times she had memorized most of it. If Melvian wanted to give her a test, Maris could pass it with no problem.

Maris felt confident enough in doing some real healing.

Closing her book, Maris jumped from the couch and rubbed her chest. She couldn’t feel Valda which to her surprise saddened her. Although she was detaching from the other woman, she always felt at peace knowing that Valda was alive and well. Today, she couldn’t feel much except frustration.

She went out of House of Argo and waved at Cai.

“Again, at my door?”

The teenager smiled awkwardly. “It’s Eyphah’s orders. She always wants me near you.”

“And what if I don’t want you near me at all times, Cai?” Maris asked, stopping by Melvian’s cabin. “My orders hold more weight than Eyphah’s.”

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