Page 126 of The Stolen Kingdom

Eris’s form flickered, her features warping intosomeoneelse. The blood that dripped from her shoulder sizzled on the ground, black and reeking of sulfur.

Kenna stood firm; her ax still embedded in Eris’s shoulder. “I did not take you as a sentimentalist, Valda Aither,” Kenna said, her grip on the ax growing taut. “You have a mission.Wehave a mission!“ Placing her boot on Eris’s back as leverage, Kenna yanked her ax free, more black blood spraying as she took a step back. “I should apologize. It seemed your mate was telling the truth.”

Valda snapped her eyes from the bleeding goddess to Kenna, a scoff surfacing from her chest. “Now you notice?”

“We are both two hotheaded women.” She shrugged. “In another life, we would’ve been sisters. Now, take your sword. Let us be remembered as the ones that killed the goddess Eris.”

Valda stretched her hand out, palm upward. From beneath the sand, the Heaven Sword burst forth, slicing through the air before landing firmly in Valda’s grasp.

The black blood pooled at Eris’s feet writhed as if alive. The blood shot to Eris, who still was disguised as Rionach. Black tendrils swallowed Eris, taking her body and engulfing her into a tight cocoon. Valda’s stomach twisted as the shape within the black cocoon changed. Eris’s figure grew, her jagged features hardening. When the tendrils finally receded, another familiar figure stood where Eris had been.

Kenna froze, and her eyes widened.

King Vulcan stood before them, his barbarian garment was battered and bloodied, the crimson streaks soaking into the furs. He clutched his side as if trying to stem the flow of an unseen wound, his breath shallow and labored.

Valda’s heart lurched as she glanced at Kenna, who seemed to be rooted in the sand. Her lips parted as if trying to form words. Her chest heaved, the ax in her grip trembling slightly.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Valda bellowed. “Kenna, it’s not him!”

King Vulcan’s form stumbled forward, his wounded frame sagging as though he could collapse at any moment. “Please, Kenna. Lay down your weapon. Don’t make this worse.“ If Valda didn’t know any better, she would’ve believed the disguise, especially with the perfectly spoken Arevulcan.

Kenna’s lower lip quivered, her eyes staring up at the figure of her father. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. “Father,”Kenna called.

“Kenna, step back. She is not getting away!”

“No! Don’t!” Kenna screamed, her voice raw as Valda thrust the sword forward, the blade piercing through King Vulcan’s back. The sound of steel cutting flesh rang out, and the figure let out a strangled gasp, its body crumpling forward.

“And you call me sentimental!” Valda snarled, pulling the sword out from Eris’s body. “That’s not your father! It’s Eris. You know it is!”

“Fuck this!”Kenna screamed in Arevulcan. She dropped her ax, running toward the fallen man. She skidded to his side, her hands trembling as she cradled his face.

“I know it’s Eris. I know, but…” Kenna shook her head. “You don’t understand.” Her grip tightened on his face.

Before either of them could say another word, a deafening boom tore through the air, and Valda was thrown back by the force of the blast. Fire and heat surged around them,followed by a choking cloud of sand and debris. Kenna reacted instantly, throwing herself over Valda to shield her from the worst of the explosion.

“Stay down!” Kenna shouted, her voice muffled by the storm of sand that erupted around them.

Valda could feel the surrounding fire, burning flesh and hair and clothing. The smell was nauseating. Within the fiery explosion, a sandstorm formed, swirling violently around them.

Kenna tightened her grip on Valda, while the whipping sand stung their skin and filled their lungs. The sand cut at Valda’s exposed skin, and the wind threatened to knock her off her feet. But she gritted her teeth and pushed her palm outward.

A burst of air emanated from Valda’s hand, forming an invisible shield around them. The sand and wind slammed against it but couldn’t break through. Valda stood firm, her other arm wrapping around Kenna’s shoulders, holding her steady.

“I’ve got you,” Valda muttered. She planted her feet, her focus entirely on keeping the shield intact as the storm raged around them.

The storm finally settled, the sand falling away along with the debris of broken wagons and forgotten weapons. The dune was eerily silent now, save for the faint whistle of the wind. Kenna straightened, brushing sand from her face, and looked around.

Eris was gone.

All that remained was a patch of blackened sand, stained with Eris’s blood. Valda stared at it as rage bubbling deep within her.

“She’s gone,” Kenna muttered before closing her eyes and raising her hand. Seconds later, the ax flew to her hand, her knuckles white as she gripped it.

Valda’s gaze lingered on the black sand. “That explosion… that storm, that wasn’t Eris,” she breathed, her grip tightening on the Heaven Sword. “Arwin was here. I just know it.”

Kenna let out a shaky breath and turned to Valda. Her face was streaked with sand and sweat, her makeup smudged. “Where are the rest of his men, then?”

Valda didn’t reply, her focus shifting to the faint rumble of hooves in the distance.

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