Page 74 of Alien God

What he’d said seemed impossible – a miracle. Something I’d fantasized about as a child, a half-forgotten dream. A dream that quickly faded when I realized, “Oh, but the sontanna? I didn’t hear anything...”

“Sontanna are notoriously quiet creatures,” Wylfrael replied. “They communicate more by scent, and body language, than sound, which makes the webbing largely useless. It doesn’t work for all animals, only those intelligent enough to communicate distinct ideas using complex sounds.”

I nodded eagerly.

“Yes! We have animals capable of that on Earth. Dolphins, whales.” I couldn’t stop a disbelieving laugh from escaping my parted lips. “I can’t believe I’d be able to understand a dolphin now! I mean, if I ever saw one again, anyway.”

“It’s not the same as the way you and I understand each other now. You won’t usually hear long sentences, and of course, they won’t understand anything you say. But it’s possible to pick up certain words.” His mouth pulled into a grimace. “Most often, those words revolve around food. Or are variations of, ‘Get away from my nest.’”

This made me laugh again, harder this time. And then I laughed even more, gasping and giddy, when I considered just how absurd this whole situation had become. Wylfrael, my alien captor, wanted to marry me, and was now telling me I’d be able to hear animals talking to me? That, coupled with the image of Wylfrael striding powerfully through his forest only to be told off by some territorial, squawking mama bird had me doubling over, tears forming.

“Why are you suddenly laughing so much?” Wylfrael asked suspiciously as I wiped my streaming eyes. “Keep your wits about you. I can’t go presenting a half-mad human as my wife.”

My wife.

The laughter died instantly. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out, knowing that what I was about to say would change everything.

“I accept this bargain. I’ll... I’ll marry you.” I placed my empty cup down on the floor, then stuck out my hand, ready for him to shake it like we’d just closed some sort of business deal.

Wylfrael reached forward and clasped my hand in his huge, warm one. Obviously, he didn’t know about shaking hands. Instead, he rose to his feet, pulling me along with him until we stood facing each other, our palms sealed together.

“Oh, my little human bride,” he murmured, his words sliding like cold satin down my spine as his eyes caught mine in a tunnel of blue fire. “You speak as if you ever had a choice.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Wylfrael

After escorting Torrance back to her chamber for the remainder of the night, I did not sleep. I paced the room, making plans. The first thing will be to tell the Sionnachans the glorious news, I thought with a grim smile. Their lord is engaged to be married.

As soon as dawn warmed the walls, I left the room, knowing Aiko and Shoshen would be awake. I headed for the kitchen, assuming they’d be there.

I was right. I heard Aiko’s trilling voice as I crossed the entry hall towards the kitchen.

“Where in the merciful snows of Sionnach have those knives gotten to?”

“I don’t know! I haven’t touched them.”

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