Page 61 of The Sea-Ogre's Eager Bride

Vali lets out a scream of rage…that she ruins by coughing. “I don’t understand you, Ranan! If we’re not here so I can prove myself to your people, then why are we here?”

She clings to me, even as she argues, and I don’t mind that with every cough she’s spraying my face. I welcome every ragged breath she takes. Even though I’m furious, I’m starting to grow angry at myself, too. Vali thinks that I brought her here to see how she’d fit in with my people? Doesn’t she realize I don’t care if she fits in with them or not?

“We’re here,” I say, rolling onto my back so I can let her rest her upper body on my stomach as she shivers and quakes, “because I am proving myself toyou. I am going to marry you in front of all of my people so you will no longer think I am trying to get rid of you. So we’ll have truth between us and you won’t feel the need to pretend out of fear that I’ll give you away. So you’llrealize what I’ve been trying to tell you all along. That you are mywife, now and forever.”

She stares at me as she clings to my abdomen, and I anchor my arm tighter around her waist. I can’t help but notice that she’s still wearing the foolish dress she insists upon, though now it is bunched and gathered at her waist, stuck around the belt. Her magnificent breasts heave against my chest, and she sputters. Her hand slaps against my chest, though it doesn’t hurt. “You…idiot! Are you serious?”

“Very.”

Vali bursts into tears and holds onto me tighter.

I…hope that’s a good sign. I run my knuckles along one cheek even as I continue to backstroke the long way back to the flotilla. “You’re not hurt, are you? I can’t bear the thought of you hurt.”

“I’m fine,” she sobs, even as I continue to swim us to safety. “You could have told me.”

“I’ve tried. I’m terrible at this. At us. At telling you how I feel. You deserve better.”

Vali just shakes her head and holds onto me tighter. “I don’t want better. I want you. I thought you hated me. That I embarrassed you in front of your people.”

“Never. And…I don’t care what they think. I just want you to realize that I want you.”

“Even if I’m a bride and not a bribe?” She sniffs hard, lifting her head.

“You are the greatest prize I’ve ever pulled off a boat. I didn’t realize I wanted you at first, but now I’m glad I have you.” I give her another little shake, still terrified at the sight of her disappearing under the water, tugged along by the thunderfish. “And for the love of all the gods, do not go fishing without me!”

“Oh no, your leg!” she blurts out, her hands moving frantically over me and nearly causing me to dump her back into the water. “Is your leg all right?”

“I’m fine. I’ll live. It doesn’t matter. All that mattered was saving you.”

She clings to my wet chest and gazes up at me with dark, aching eyes. “Please tell me this isn’t you misspeaking. Tell me the truth, Ranan. I can handle it, I swear.”

Exasperated, I roll forward and grab her in all four of my arms, holding her tight. My leg throbs and aches, but I ignore it so I can look her in the eye. “Woman, I am going to drag you in front of my people and marry you because I love you. Will you be my bride, Vali? My wife?”

She squeals and flings her arms around my neck.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

VALI

My wedding day is a magical one. Even though I have yet to give Lord Vor his fish, it feels as if the gods are smiling down upon myself and Ranan. The weather is beautiful, the sun shining and a light breeze making the warmth pleasant. Ranan’s mother Ajinai is in our tent with me. I’ve placed my tiara in my hair and woven the ribbons Ranan gave me through my curls. Ajinai helps me dress in the traditional garb of a woman of the seakind—several long, thick necklaces made of shells and pearls, and a long, pearl-lined wrap skirt made of fish leather. She has made these garments in anticipation of Ranan’s future bride, and so they’re all a bit oversized. The skirt is so long it drags on the ground behind me, made for a much taller woman. I don’t care. Ajinai looks at me with approval and happiness, and I feel beautiful.

“You will keep these,” she says to me. “Use them as an example so you can make them for your daughter when she is old enough.”

I’m not sure if we’ll want children, but I like that this is mine to keep. I give her the cobweb of gold collar because I’ll never wear it, and she smiles with radiant happiness, immediately putting it on.

Now we’re both adorned for my wedding, and I feel a little closer to Ranan’s mother.

We emerge from the tent to the gathered flotilla’s occupants, and everyone looks happy to see us. I don’t even mind that I’m topless under the necklaces—I feel like I fit in. Ranan devours me with a hot look as I come to his side, and a few steps away, his father stands behind him. Lakos has never said two words to me, his expression as impossible to read as Ranan’s. Lakos says he’s shy and suffers from the same tongue-twisting his son does, so he rarely speaks in the presence of others. Today he gives me a small nod of approval as I put my hand in Ranan’s.

And then I stop looking at the crowd and pay attention to my bridegroom, because he looks magnificent. There are no bandages on his leg, only an ugly, jagged, bright-pink scar. He leans on a crutch that has been decorated for the ceremony, and he wears several necklaces that match mine. Instead of a wrap at his hips, though, he wears a slender fish-leather loincloth decorated with seashells. His skin has been rubbed with oil and he gleams in the sunlight, all gorgeous muscles and shining skin. More attractive than any of that is the smile that curves his mouth as he looks down at me, his expression flicking between happiness and possessiveness.

I could float away with the joy I’m feeling right now.

I put both of my hands in his, and since I only have two of them, he double-holds each one. As tradition dictates, the priest of Belara is bribed with a pouch of money, and then the vows are said. I practically float when Ranan declares to honor me as his bride for all eternity, as is tradition. But then he adds another line that takes my breath away. He looks me in the eye,his thumb skating over the back of my hand. “My Vali. You have always said that you want to belong, that you never have a home. But I need you to know that your home is with me, at my side. Your place is in my arms. You are my home, and I hope I am yours.”

I lift our joined hands and kiss his knuckles, tears of happiness threatening to brim over.

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