Page 5 of Wed to the Bullman

I choose from the vegetables and the meats I recognize. I even like the boarius since Auryn and Vrakius brought us some when they visited. Vozak glances behind him and sees the slice on my tray and snorts.

“You like boarius?”

“I do,” I say dryly.

He sits at a table and starts shoveling the food into his mouth. “Mmm.” He truly enjoys his food.

I pick at my food. My nerves have the best of me. I wish the honeymoon, such as it is, were over, and I knew what to expect. I can’t imagine it will be anything tender, like lying in each other’s arms, kissing, and saying sweet nothings. Too many romance novels from the days of old have ruined my perception.

“You like your food?” He nods at my tray.

“It’s okay.” I force myself to eat it, though my belly churns with anticipation.

“You’re a minotaur of few words. The silence is deafening.” I look at my new husband, searching for some semblance of affection or happiness.

He grunts. A small amused smile stretches across his face. “It’s loud in here. Are you going deaf?”

I laugh. Our differences in language are great. “It’s a figure of speech.”

“Oh yeah. I forget humans often say things that aren’t real. It’s weird. What do you mean? Silence is deafening.”

My head tilts as I study his face and try to read his expression. “I mean, you aren’t talkative, at all. We just met and we should talk to get to know each other. It’s quite different from when Vrakius and Auryn married.”

Laughter disguised as a grunt comes from him. “I’m not Vrakius. He came here ready to find a wife, ready to marry. I’m not acclimated to this planet yet. Minotaurs do things differently on Tariat.”

“This isn’t Tariat, and I’m not a minotaur.” My eyes bore into his. I’ll fight for my happiness if that’s what it takes.

“Clearly. And we have a lot to learn from one another.”

“Yes. Yay, you agree on that. It starts with conversations. Being so silent all the time isn’t getting the job done.” My brow lifts.

“I don’t talk much. I work, I do what I’m supposed to do. I eat, sleep, and work.”

I giggle nervously. “That’s good and all, but now you have a mate, a wife. There’s no need for just working and eating."

“What are we supposed to do then?”

“Well, we get to know each other. Enjoy ourselves. Discover what makes us tick. Have fun in the process. Maybe take up hobbies, visit family and friends. I don’t know, Vozak. We just met, just married. I know nothing about you except that you don’t like to talk, and you feel everything you do is your duty. Like, do you even enjoy life?”

He shrugs. “I’m trying. Is that good enough? I’m trying to learn the ways here. It’s a new place, a new way of doing things. I tested for a DNA match because I thought I was ready for a wife. And Auryn was also pressuring me. I’m trying, Agnes. Maybe you and I will get along as the days go by. I’m sorry if I’m not what you expected.”

Oh boy. “Let me ask you this, am I what you expected?”

“You are more than I expected. I’m trying to figure out how to do this. It’s new to me, just like it is for you.”

Maybe I’m being too hard on him. I reach across the table and touch his hand and smile. “Then we’ll figure this out together.”

He smiles and nods. “Yes. Are you ready to move on? We have a long trip.”

Outside the golden sun sinks low in the west, casting long shadows. It’s been a long day. I’m growing weary after sleeping on the train the night before.

“Will we stop for the night or drive straight through?”

CHAPTER 5

Vozak

“We can stop if you need the rest. Otherwise, I’m good to drive through.”

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