Page 75 of The Stolen Kingdom

Valda let out a ragged breath. “It wasn’t at all. I would say it was—”

“Torture.” Both women said simultaneously before locking their eyes.

Valda chuckled softly. “It made me want you more,” Valda whispered. “It was a constant reminder of how much I desired you and missed you.”

“I do not regret the dreams,” Maris blurted out. “I never did. I looked forward to them…”

“Likewise…” Valda slanted her head. “What about you? What have you been up to?”

Maris scoffed. “Me? I have been very busy.”

“Oh?” Valda’s eyebrow arched, and she theatrically got more comfortable by crossing her legs underneath her and resting her chin on her knuckles. “Do tell!”

“I am officially an Asclepius worshiper,” Maris began.

“A queen who follows the way of the healing god, that has never happened before.”

“There is a first time for everything.”

Valda nodded. “Of course.”

“I’ve also been training a lot. I’ve become quite deadly with the trident.”

It was Valda’s turn to scoff. “I wouldn’t use the word deadly.” A smirk painted over Valda’s features, and Maris could feel the tension melting away. “Who have you been training with?”

Maris opened her mouth to answer, but knew mentioning Eyphah’s name would place a sour note on their somewhat playful conversation. She huffed and shook her head.

“You don’t want to tell me?”

“I don’t want to get you in a bad mood, if I am being honest. Besides, don’t play dumb. You know who it was.”

Valda grunted, nodded, and let the conversation go. Maris was grateful for that. She was tired and didn’t want the mood to sour.

Valda then turned to her bag. She pulled another shirt and placed it on the dirty ground next to the fire.

Maris frowned. “You are not sleeping on the floor, Valda.”

“I am. Don’t worry.”

“That wasn’t a question,” Maris said, her voice commanding and firm. Valda’s intense gaze pierced through Maris, and for a moment, she could’ve sworn she saw Valda smirk. “I am not joking, Valda. You are not sleeping on the floor when there is more than enough space for both of us to sleep here.”

“We haven’t been together for more than a day, and you wish for me to jump right back into your sheets?”

Maris scoffed. “These are not sheets. They are fur, and they are not mine,” she replied. Trying to hide the amusement in her voice was impossible, and she was pleased Valda picked up on it.

The other woman placed her hand on her waist and stood over the fire. “You know what I mean, Maris.” The playfulness that Maris had missed for so many months trickled into Valda’s words.

“I don’t want you sleeping on the floor,” Maris muttered, her eyes never leaving Valda’s playful glare.

Valda arched her eyebrow.

“Please?”

Sighing, Valda stood up straight, grabbed the shirt and made her way towards Maris. “Scoot over.”

Maris did so immediately. Something inside her was still used to taking orders from her. She grabbed Cerberus and placed her at her feet as she moved farther back, closer to the wall, allowing Valda’s large form to take up most of the space of the makeshift bed. Her breath hitched as she was enveloped in Valda’s soft scent. Valda let out a tired sigh before crossing her arms behind her head and closing her eyes.

“Good night, Seashell.”

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