Page 74 of I Married Amreth

“The evidence so far doesn’t point towards any of Jacobs’ actions leading to direct deaths,” Amreth said. “He wasn’t present or responsible for what Noah did. He promptly treated the Kreelars as soon as he realized they were infected. His crime was not reporting it to the galactic Medical Order. But that was under duress when they had little reason to think the disease would return. And in fact, the cause was a completely different source that he had couldn’t have suspected and had no idea existed until the Kreelars’ friends helped them send him a message.”

“And he reported immediately to Typhoon, requesting that they go public,” I completed for him. “He just might get away with it, or at least with only a pretty harsh slap on the wrist. Time will tell. Still, the downfall of Typhoon is the best possible punishment. Hopefully, it will send a chilling message to other corporations and conglomerates that use these types of immoral tactics to enrich themselves.”

“Hear, hear,” Mehreen said.

“But the hour is late,” I said at last. “I could use a shower, a good meal, and some rest and relaxation.”

“Oh I’m sure you willrest,” Mehreen said, wiggling her eyebrows.

I glared at her while the other two chuckled.

“Actually, you are indeed going to rest,” Amreth said with a mischievous expression. “I believe someone has earned herself a spa day on my ship, which conveniently happens to be parked just a short stroll away.”

“Oh hell yeah!!” I exclaimed, prompting my companions to laugh again.

We bid our friends good night, and I didn’t balk when Amreth whisked me up in his arms and flew me to the ship. Then again, he remained close enough to the ground that I didn’t get queasy with my silly fear of heights.

This was my first time truly getting a proper tour of the ship. Not only was it state-of-the-art, but it also struck me that it was definitely on the higher end of the spectrum as far as luxury went. Although we frequently spoke of what our future would look like once all of this was resolved, we never really discussed petty things such as finances.

I wasn’t rich, but I lived very comfortably and sat in the upper half of the middle class. Aside from the generational wealth inherited from my parents, my role as an epidemiologist earned me an enviable income. But it was clear that Amreth belonged to a much higher bracket. After all, he was a Lord.

It always felt funny to think that once we were married, I would officially become Lady Ciara. That made me want to cackle in a very unladylike fashion. Considering how pompous I found most people during events such as the symposium where I got abducted, such a title was somewhat wasted on someone like me. I was just grateful that Amreth didn’t seem to be stuffy or a stickler for hierarchy and acknowledgement of his rank. That definitely would have been a problem.

However, I did feast my eyes on the color palette and the decor of the large vessel. I suspected it reflected his own aesthetic at home. For some reason, I had expected a lot of dark colors from varying shades of gray to deep reds, and darkbrowns. Instead, the interior was mostly white with light beige and the occasional sharp obsidian accents. There was something very Zen and peaceful about it.

“I like this color palette,” I said as he led me to the back section of the ship which had four bedrooms, two of them with their own hygiene rooms, and the other two sharing one.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Amreth said with a grin. “My home shares a similar color palette. I love how spacious and relaxing it makes the space feel. We have a lot of huge windows, with massive terraces on all three floors of the mansion. I cannot wait for you to see it. Obviously, you will be free to make whatever modifications you wish to make it more appealing for you.”

“Judging by what I’m seeing so far, I doubt that will be necessary,” I said in all sincerity. “But I definitely cannot wait to see it.”

“Well, here’s the first glimpse,” he said while opening a door on what turned out to be an impressive bedroom.

My jaw dropped at the sight of the massive bed, which occupied at least a third of the space. It looked almost wide enough to allow Amreth to lie on it with his wings spread open. Bedding and pillows in earthy tones added some warmth with a nice splash of color. I barely looked at the comfortable couch in dark wood with plush beige cushions across from a giant vidscreen. To my surprise, there was no breakfast table or work desk in the room. But it was the large abstract paintings adorning the walls that held my attention.

I’d never been the type to be able to drop famous artists’ names or invest in outrageously expensive collector art. But I had a genuine appreciation for the work of those who could convey a feeling or stir an emotion with their creation, from a simple drawing to a sculpture or a song. I wouldn’t be able to put it into words and didn’t think it was necessary either. To me, itwas just about embracing whatever emotions it awakened in us. And these pieces resonated with me.

“Yep, I really think I’m going to love your house just the way it is,” I said wistfully while admiring the art pieces.

He smiled, kissed my temple, then led me by the hand to an adjoining room.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I stepped inside the hygiene room. He had not been kidding by saying he had a literal spa. The room was bigger than most cabins on common cruise ships. The humongous, recessed tub instantly drew my attention. Amreth didn’t exaggerate when he boasted about its size. I squealed like a schoolgirl and clapped while he laughed.

I then noticed the even more massive shower that ate up almost an entire wall. On top of the shower heads hanging from the ceiling, a series of body jets lined the wall. Judging by their number and angles, they’d were specifically designed to handle the wide span of an Obosian’s wings. No wonder my man had been so miserable without his creature comfort. In the corner, long strips resembling vertical air vents on the wall, and a square one on the ceiling, appeared to act as some sort of dryer.

Across from the shower, a long counter with a double sink sat in front of a mirror that ran up to the ceiling. At the other end of the shower, separated by a privacy wall, a toilet was propped on top of a small platform raising it. Considering the large gap between the toilet and the back wall, I realized the distance and elevation were to accommodate his wings and tail.

“This is an almost perfect replica of the en suite hygiene room in the master bedroom of my home,” Amreth said before approaching a swirling pattern on the wall near the entrance with a luminous stone next to it. “And in here, you will find clean towels and other toiletries needed. Just wave your hand in front of the stone.”

I gaped as the swirling pattern seemed to turn into a thick liquid, the pattern unraveling to reveal the shelves within.

“Okay, that’s super cool,” I said, impressed.

He gave me a smug smile. “It is standard for doors on Vargos, and by extension on Molvi. If you ever need to open a door, just wave your palm in front of the stone. To lock it, wave the back of your hand in front of it instead.”

“Noted,” I said, excited at the thought of all the other wonders I would discover on his world.

“Good. Now take off your clothes, and let’s get you wet,” Amreth said in a suggestive voice that instantly had my toes curling.

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