Page 63 of The Stolen Kingdom

Gods, Maris, pleasehold on.

“Shewhat?”

Maris groaned as she rubbed her temple. Her head was pounding, her stomach was in knots, and she was seconds away from vomiting.

A hangover.

She never thought she would actually get one in her life. She hated drinking a lot, knowing damn well how people can get when they were drunk.

Melvian offered a remedy, Maris said it was too nasty-smelling to drink it. There were days when Melvian and Maris had breakfast together, talked about new healing methods, and reviewed old ones. Today wasn’t any different, besides the revelation that Eyphah kissed her.

“Melvian, please. I don’t want to be rude, but lower your voice. I swear my head will crack open and rocks will fall out.”

“She kissed you!” Melvian was flabbergasted. “I know that woman is insane, but she knows about you and Valda and—”

“Valda and I are not together…” Saying that sentence alone made Maris’s stomach turn. Even now, as the words came out, she didn’t believe them herself. Last night, she could’ve thought that she saw Valda in the square, dancing and reaching for her. For a split second, she saw a pair of honey-colored eyes staring at her.

But it was the alcohol; Valda wasn’t there, and she just accidentally kissed Eyphah thinking it was Valda…

“Either way! You are mated!” Melvian scrunched up her nose in disgust before barking. “Did she pour the drinks for you?”

Maris opened one eye and stared at her best friend. “What are you suggesting?”

“What in Tartarus do you think?”

“She wouldn’t…” Maris sighed and closed her eyes again before Melvian grabbed the glass of her medicinal mixture and wrapped Maris’s hand around it. “Melvian… this smells horrible.”

“It will help. Drink. I won’t leave until you do.”

“Gods, you remind me of my mother…” With a grunt, Maris pinched her nostrils shut and swallowed the stinky mixture in two large gulps. Maris set it aside once the glass was empty and shuddered in disgust. “Goodness! What’s in that?”

“I don’t know,” Melvian said with a smile before wrapping one arm around her friend. “You tell me.”

“I can taste ginger and a bit of mint. But also…” She smacked her lips. “Licorice?”

“Wow. You are getting better. You passed your botanical lessons.”

“Melvian…” Maris groaned again, but still accepted the compliment with a pained smirk. “Thanks.”

“Of course! Don’t mention it.” She sighed and sat down near Maris.

Her hand moved to lie lazily over Maris’s forearm. Maris was grateful for the small physical contact. It grounded her. Besides, Melvian being close to giving birth had made her anxious, even more since Isen was not around.

“Now what? Are you going to let her roam free like nothing happened?”

“Nothing happened, Melvian.”

“If the deed goes unpunished, she will think she just has to get you even more drunk. Holy Asclepius, what if she knocks you out and tries something else?”

“I think you are overreacting with that one.”

“Am I?” Melvian scoffed and squeezed Maris’s forearm. “I never trusted her.”

“She is dealing with some things.”

“Aren’t we all? I am pregnant. My mate is not a mile in sight. You are also dealing with your own things, and you are not going around doing as you please! You are training, learning, getting stronger!”

“Melvian—“

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