Page 47 of The Stolen Kingdom

Isen pursed his lips and dropped his arms, his gaze shifting from Valda to the wooden houses around them. His hands balled into fists.

“You need to see her too, don’t you?”

He nodded, as if he didn’t trust himself to speak.

“Let’s go to New Agenor! I will stay away from Maris. I’ll hide. I’ll make sure she doesn’t see me if I feel she doesn’t want to.”

Isen took a deep breath, shaking his head as if trying to convince himself to argue. But finally, he exhaled sharply and nodded. “You’re putting me in a bad situation, Valda,” he began. “You’re my queen. I serve you, your army. But Maris is also my queen, and Melvian is my mate. If Maris finds out you were there, after she specifically said she didn’t want to see you. She’ll be furious. And so will Melvian.”

“But—”

“But I also have to follow your commands.”

Valda swallowed hard. “I will see my mate, Isen. With or without you.”

“I know…” Isen’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “We leave first thing in the morning.”

9

Maris couldn’t believe she was holding a new Sealian. The baby’s cries seeped through the house’s wooden walls and into the afternoon air.

Staring down at the tiny life in her arms, Maris marveled at the soft, dark blue curls crowning the baby’s head. Melvian worked quickly beside her, patting the baby down with a clean towel. In front of them, Coral’s elated sobs broke her concentration, and she was reminded that she needed to give the baby back to his rightful parents. Next to Coral, her mate smiled with tears streaming down his face just as Maris placed the newborn in Coral’s arms.

Immediately, Melvian helped the new mother and showed her the proper way to help the baby latch on to her nipple.

Maris took a couple of steps back and allowed her best friend to do the rest of the work. It had been gratifying helping Melvian and Coral bring a new Sealian into the world. Holding the baby had lodged something deep within her chest that she hadn’t been able to explain. She wanted to protect that baby with every fiber of her being.

Maris wanted to protect them all…

Her thoughts were interrupted when Melvian gently took her hand and led her out of the room, quietly closing the door behind them.

“They need some privacy,” Melvian whispered. They moved into the small kitchen, where Melvian released a shuddering sob, one hand rubbing her own round stomach.

Maris didn’t ignore the silence. She walked up to Melvian, pulled her in for a hug and squeezed her tightly. Dropping the towel she was holding, Melvian leaned into the hug, her breaths shuddering against Maris’s shoulder.

Melvian missed Isen, Maris could feel it in the desperation of her hug. Maris didn’t let go until Melvian patted her back and loosened her grip. Even as Melvian pulled away, she kept a hand on Melvian’s shoulder, unwilling to fully let her go.

“I can’t wait to live that,” Melvian said, her gaze glued to the floor.

Maris tried so hard to give her an honest smile, but the rueful curve of her lips betrayed her unease. She wasn’t ready, not emotionally, mentally, or in any way—to be the one to deliver Melvian’s baby.

“We are getting closer every day to that beautiful meeting,” Maris said, her hand touching the roundness of Melvian’s stomach.

Melvian squeezed her fingers to get her attention. “Do you know what I’d love to do, Maris?”

Arching her brow, she silently egged her to continue. “Don’t get me wrong, I am happy being with you and teaching you all about being a blessed Asclepius worshiper, but I would love to see the Sea Kingdom, with you, Isen, the baby…” Melvian closed her eyes, as if imagining the picture-perfect scene. “Could you find it in your heart to take us there?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice, Melvian. I would gladly take you there. I am sure Isen would love for you to meet his homeland.Iwould love to see it as well.”

“It would be magical, wouldn’t it?” A soft grin stretched across her features before her brown eyes fell on Maris. “Soon. Right?”

“Soon,” Maris said, nodding and pulling her hand and kissing her knuckles. Melvian’s eyes softened, the same hand Maris was holding unfolded to pet her cheek. It was natural for them to show affection to one another, yet the past four months together had strengthened their friendship more than ever.

Maris couldn’t see a future where Melvian wasn’t in it.

“We better leave before they kick us out,” Melvian said, walking out the door.

“They are going to need all the rest they can get,” Maris said, walking down the stairs until a certain Sealian waved at her from the alleyway connecting to the center square.

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