Page 167 of The Princesses of Ruin
“As a…diplomat?” Reina asks, and I nearly laugh at her naivete.
“As a prince, for your princess,” Vek’ihr says. “I would give you the first two males, or three, if you wanted. If that seems appropriate.”
I shake my head. “We won’t have our people marrying into yours.”
Reina turns a shrewd gaze on me. “And why not?”
Suddenly, I’m at a loss for words. Why, indeed?
Because his peoplekilled mine. Because we’d been at war for centuries. Because he’s so…alien.
“How could they ever copulate?” I ask.
Reina tries to repeat the word a few times with questioning lilts. I switch to Fynish.
“How would they make babies?”
She clutches her chest and looks between me and Vek’ihr.
“Isn’t the purpose of an arranged marriage to make offspring that force kingdoms together?” I ask.
Vek’ihr dips his upper body. “We can…change. One of us could become more like one of you. Enough, I think, to copulate.”
The idea turns my gut with fire. It’s too soon. It’s too much. And also…
“With our princess?” I ask, eyeing Vek’ihr carefully.
His colors blossom and flare. “Yes…?”
I look at Reina. “Ourprincess?”
“Yes,” he says.
Reina doesn’tlookpregnant.
She shakes her head.
“Can you not hear her heartbeat?” Vek’ihr asks.
I quiet my monologue and tune my ears, listening hard to the vibrations of the sea. I sense my heart, and Reina’s, Vek’ihr’s two hearts, the fish flitting by…and a fluttery thing that beats so quickly.
I place my hand over her belly. “Rei, you’re…”
Her eyes are wide in horror. “I can’t be. We’ve been taking the fertility blocker!”
“My senses don’t lie,” I say.
Her shoulders heave as she tries to pull in more water, to breathe deeper. She covers my hand with hers and stares off into the deep.
“It’s too soon, I’m too…I’m not ready.”
Fuck, I’m not ready either. But that doesn’t matter. We’re compatible. We’re compatible enough to have children! I’m going to be a father. I’m going to have a child to raise with the woman I love.
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of the bad news,” Vek’ihr says, reminding us of his presence.
I turn to the ga’hanoi and grin. “No bad news here, friend. I’m going to be a father!”
Reina looks at me with deep fear in her eyes. I rush back to her and pull her against my chest.
