Page 79 of The Stolen Kingdom

As she left to retrieve them from the impaled Vulcanian and the horse, Valda moved her hand to Cerberus. “I take back what I said about you being useless, girl.”

Cerberus released an anxious sound before bumping her head into Valda’s hand and sitting next to her.

“I’ve heard of dogs doing that, never a cat,” Maris commented, walking back to them and placing Valda’s sword in her scabbard.

“She is our guardian,” Valda said before touching her cheek again.

“Let me look at that,” Maris mumbled before grabbing Valda’s wrist and dragging her back inside the cave while Cerberus followed like the perfect shadow that she was.

Maris sat Valda on the makeshift bed and then went to grab the bag from the horse’s saddle. She pulled out a clean cloth and salves to prevent infection. She worked quietly, cleaning the blood from Valda’s cheeks first and then applying the cream.

“Why do you think the Vulcanians are attacking everyone, regardless of if they are Sealians or your people?”

“Anyone in this kingdom is guilty of what was done to their late king.”

“Do you think they will attack Sealians?”

“Your people pledged a fake alliance to Arwin, am I correct?”

“True…” Maris stopped applying the salve and softly lifted Valda’s face. “Are the Vulcanians with Arwin? Is that how they are getting in? Prospero seems like a small city.”

“They are not. Arwin’s men have met their death fighting off the Vulcanians.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Arwin is welcoming Vulcanians with open arms, regardless of if they are here to kill every single person who resembles you. Sure, sounds about right.” Valda grunted and pulled away from Maris’s hands. Maris shrugged and added, “Don’t look at me like that. He is full of wonders.”

“Yes, yet you sound as if you were making fun of me.”

“A bit. It is hard to understand how the queen of the kingdom knows so little of what is happening around her.”

“I would know more if it wasn’t for him. You must remember, he was behind the entire kingdom when I was a child. If I had known before, I would’ve not let him do as he pleased, Maris.”

Maris’s upper lip twitched as she moved the long strands of black hair away from Valda’s face. Valda found the curve of her waist and held tightly as she looked up at her. “I will fix all of this. I will rule again. You will rule your people. We will be in power again.”

“I just find it so hard to believe. Things are… complicated.”

“They are, but at the end of it all, we are together again. With that alone, we have started to right some wrongs.”

Maris bit the inside of her cheek, her thumb brushing underneath the gash on Valda’s face. “I am sorry, but that will leave a scar.”

Valda sighed, knowing that the change of topic was just a way for Maris to protect herself. Good. She would let her do that for now.

“Another one for the collection.”

“Let me look at your thigh,” Maris ordered, avoiding Valda’s gaze as she concentrated on moving away, yet Valda held her in place. “Valda…”

“Look at me, Maris.”

Maris’s shoulders slumped, but she did as she was told. Not even the cave’s darkness could stop Valda from admiring the flickering of love in her eyes. Maris tilted her head back, her hands moving to cup Valda’s face tenderly.

“Kiss me.” Valda’s heart slammed inside her chest and she worried Maris could hear it echoing in the dark cave. “Please, we have tortured each other enough. Do not deny me or I will truly go mad.”

“You think you are the only one that has suffered.”

“I know you have done so too.” She squeezed Maris. “I know you wish to kiss me too, Seashell.”

“I am dying to kiss you, Valda.”

“Then do—” Her words died in her mouth as Maris crashed her perfectly plump lips to hers.

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