Page 6 of The Stolen Kingdom

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Maris! The whole reason you wanted to go inside Oberon Castle was because you wanted to ask Arwin about your father’s disappearance, now it turns out it was… Valda?” Melvian flailed her arms. “How do you—”

“I can’t be around her. Not now. I know—” Maris scratched the back of her neck and growled in frustration. “I know she is hurt, but she is in excellent hands with you, Melvian.”Right?

“Can you at least wait until she is out of danger?” Isen asked while Melvian arched her brow at him.

“I am not a monster, Isen.” Maris pressed the meaty part of her palm to her temple.

“I will go with you to New Agenor,” Melvian said, earning a grunt from Isen. She patted his arm and shook her head before he could protest. “Listen, Isen. If Maris is leaving her…” she eyed Maris. “For a short while…” She cleared her throat and continued. “Then you must take her somewhere safe. You are the only person she can trust right now. We can always meet back in New Agenor.”

“I cannot leave you alone. Not when you…” Isen hesitated, shooting a glance at Maris.

Maris tilted her head in confusion. Before she could ask, Melvian wrapped her arms around her abdomen protectively.

Maris’s eyebrows shot up almost to her hairline.Holy Ouranos…

“You are pregnant?”Maris asked in disbelief.

Melvian nodded. “I need to stick with you. There are no other Asclepius worshipers around… that I know of. If something were to go wrong with the pregnancy, I will have you around to heal me.”

“I am not—”

“You prayed to Asclepius hours ago, Maris. You took the first step. What harm can come from having more of us around? I can teach you the way. I am sure you can be an excellent healer in eight months’ time.”

“You have a lot of faith in me, Melvian.”

“As do I,” Isen added, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself rather than Maris. “I will allow Melvian to go with you to New Agenor only if you promise you will become an Asclepius worshiper. It… will give me peace of mind knowing whatever happens, you will help her.”

“I haven’t decided to take Melvian—”

“You will,” Isen said, his voice low.

Maris opened her mouth to protest, but Isen’s unwavering gaze shut her up in an instant. She looked at Melvian, whose hopeful gaze held hers firmly.

“I love Melvian like my sister, Isen,” Maris said, her gaze dropping to Melvian’s abdomen. Her hand shot to rub her friend’s flat stomach. “And now that she is with child… I—” Maris swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. Maris followed none of the god’s teaching. It wouldn’t be hard for her to do so now. “Yes. Fine. I will become an Asclepius worshiper.”

Isen nodded in agreement and smiled brightly before hugging Melvian’s shoulder. Behind him, Lasmeer cleared his throat, reminding everyone he was still there.

“We still need to let Kayden know Valda’s whereabouts. It might be our only chance of getting some leverage if he believes us and doesn’t side with Arwin or with the new queen of the Vulcan Kingdom.” The old man rubbed his bald head again and shrugged. “I could be the messenger.”

“I guess this is somewhat a plan,” Maris said before taking a deep breath.

“A plan I am not too keen on,” Isen said, rubbing his hairy chin. “Abandoning one’s mate is not without side effects. Sickness even…” He muttered that last part, eyeing Melvian with a shadow of worry.

“Do you think it is easy for me to make this decision? I finally have her only to discovereverything.I need time, Isen. Please understand,” Maris said.

“I am trying to understand, but time is what we do not have.”

“I will be fine, if that’s what you are worried about, Isen,” Melvian quipped.

“Of course, I worry about my mate, who just happens to be carrying my child.” Isen huffed before crossing his arms over his chest.

It wasn’t fair that Melvian wouldn’t experience her pregnancy with her mate. Maris wasn’t sure she could take that away from her. “You can always stay with Isen, Melvian. I don’t want to cause you two any harm.”

“Maris,” Melvian grabbed Maris’s hand. “We are taking this trip together. I will not leave my best friend alone, not in New Agenor, not in the Sea Kingdom or Sky Kingdom. Isen will be safe, he can take care of himself. We can communicate through the bond. You… You need someone and— Damn it, you have me.”

“But—”

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