Page 104 of The Stolen Kingdom

She argued with Maris, asking her why she hadn’t come back to ask for help when Kenna arrived, and how Maris being alive was a miracle that might not repeat itself.

Maris ignored her best friend’s scowl as she jumped off the horse, walked inside the cabin, and dropped a large bag of clothes near the makeshift bed.

“You and the babies need to rest,” Isen mumbled as he untangled a heavy cloth from Melvian’s body and exposed her to the chilly night air.

Maris walked around the cabin, acting as if she wasn’t hearing the interaction between the two lovers.

“I know that! But I can’t wrap my head around the fact that this woman—” she pointed at Maris. “FacedKenna alone!”

“She did, and she won.” Isen sneered before taking his baby daughter in his arms. “We need to celebrate, don’t we, Ciel?” He smiled down at the baby, kissed her tiny forehead, and turned back to Melvian.

Maris’s heart leaped at the name. They had already named their kids. Her curiosity piqued with the baby boy’s name. She watched from the inside of the cabin as Melvian stood from the wagon, and with Isen’s help, descended to the ground. Her friend’s strength took her aback. Any other woman would’ve taken days to recuperate after birthing twins. Melvian only took a couple of hours.

“Oh, we will celebrate,” Melvian said, snuggling close to Isen and unfolding the cloth she used to cover her baby boy. She pressed her lips to his dark locks and inhaled. “Struan probably wants a meal after all this ordeal.”

Isen laughed and guided Melvian inside and up to the bed. “We can do whatever you wish, but first you need to rest,” he ordered, using his free arm to usher Melvian to lie on the bed while Maris watched. His gaze shifted from his mate to Maris, who gave him a tired smile. “You should also rest.”

“I am fine.”

“When you arrived at the inn, you looked like a burnt casabe,” Isen said, arching a brow at Maris.

“I need to make sure everyone settles down.”

“They will. They are Sealians, they are resilient, and this whole settling down thing is their specialty.” He chuckled and turned to Melvian, who was undoing the top of her blouse.

“We need to be quiet and careful,” Maris whispered as she touched her wrapped-up shoulder.

Isen nodded. “Rest, Your Highness. We all need rest. Even those blessed by the gods.”

The Sealian water helped with her injuries, but the tiredness of using her gift for such an extended period, and in such a powerful way, still dragged her down. She was weak, and even if she wouldn’t admit it, she needed to rest. Walking to the other side of the cabin, Maris sat on the ground and leaned her head against the broken wooden wall. Her eyes drifted shut until she heard Isen and Melvian talking again.

“He is a hungry one,” Isen muttered.

Maris opened her eyes as Isen turned to Melvian, who had settled on the broken-down bed with her son. Isen grinned, walked to her side, and somehow fit his formidable formon the small bed. Although he was shoulder to shoulder with his mate, he looked the most comfortable out of everyone inside the rundown home.

Isen petted his son’s hair as Struan snuggled to Melvian’s breast.

“Reminds me of someone.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. He is just like his daddy. He doesn’t know when to stop.” Melvian chuckled before letting out a tired sigh, leaning her back against the headrest and closing her eyes.

“It is amazing how we can already see their personalities shining through.” His adoring eyes fell upon his daughter, Ciel, who slept in his protective embrace. “This one loves to sleep every chance she gets. Just like her mother.”

Melvian arched her brow and opened one eye to look at Isen. “I think that also applies to you.”

Melvian feigned being mad at Isen just as Struan yawed. She dragged him from her breast and traded with Isen. Ciel woke up, fussing at being moved, her honey eyes opening and shining under the light of the moon filtering through broken wooden panels.

Like his sister, Struan opened his eyes. He raised his tiny fists, demanding his mother’s warmth and comfortable touch.

“She is busy,” Isen whispered, undoing a couple of buttons from his shirt, and laying his son face down over the exposed skin of his chest. It wasn’t long before Isen snuggled the baby’s chubby cheek, humming, so the vibrations of his voice lulled the baby boy to sleep.

“I see you read my notes…” Melvian said, her voice a soft hush, not wanting to disturb the quietness in the cabin.

“Skin-to-skin contact makes the connection between parents stronger,” Isen recited, his eyes sparkling with a peculiar playful glint.

The corner of Melvian’s lip twitched as she snuggled to her mate, holding her girl closer.

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