Page 42 of The Kraken's Queen

Despite being surrounded bywater, my throat goes dry. By his words alone, this man has unwound me. He saw something that not even I could see and believed in me.

“Allarick?” I whisper.

“Yes, Erin?”

“Marry me.”

Chapter 24

Allarick

Erin is a vision in her dress. She stands out like the goddess she is. I’ve only ever heard stories of the ceremonial dress, once worn by my mother and many queens before her. To think that Erin is now part of that history fills me with fierce pride.

The white skirts swish around her, giving the dress a more ethereal look. She wears a crown similar to mine, looking like the queen she was always meant to be. The carnal desire to see her in nothing but that crown as she writhes in pleasure underneath me hardens my body. Ever since our kiss from last night, I can’t get the thought of her body against mine out of my mind.

This woman has wrapped herself around my heart and consumes all my waking thoughts.

The kiss wasn’t enough. I want more. Need more. But I also don’t want to push her until she’s ready. I will wait for Erin for centuries if I have to.

Erin looks around, scanning the faces of our people. After she recovered from her panic attack, I brought herout to the balcony. A crowd has formed, which I expected, but my guards create a barricade. I can tell that Erin is still uncomfortable with so many eyes on her, so I squeeze her hand to try and provide some comfort.

“Tetria! We are gathered here today to celebrate the union between our faithful king, King Allarick, and his human bride, Queen Erin!” the spiritual advisor booms, getting the attention of the crowd.

Erin fidgets with a piece of her hair, eyes darting everywhere but to me. Her body is stiff, and she looks like she wants to bolt. She probably would if I wasn’t holding her hand. Not exactly how I pictured my wife would react to me on our wedding day, but I know Erin’s reaction isn’t because of me. It’s being the center of attention. In time, she will learn to love it.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I whisper just low enough for her to hear. The spiritual advisor drones on about commitment and expectation. It is all part of the ceremony and easy enough to tune out.

Erin turns her attention to me, biting her lip. Her chest rises and falls faster than normal, and I need to calm her.

“It’s just me and you,” I say. “Look at me. It’s just us.”

“Just us?” she whispers softly.

“Just us. Allarick and Erin. Husband and wife.”

At the mention of “husband,” a red tint colors her cheeks. My sweet girl likes that title, and it feels like an accomplishment. Three words play at the tip of my tongue, but Erin doesn’t need to hear those words yet. She needs to see them in my actions. She needs to knowthat, no matter what, it’s her and I, and I’m not giving up on us.

“…the sacred oath. The goddess-bound promise that connects you in this life and the next,” the spiritual advisor continues. This is an extremely condensed version of the ceremony, but I don’t want Erin to stand here any longer than she has to. No matter how beautiful she looks in her wedding dress.

She’ll look even more beautiful with it off.

The thoughtcrosses my mind and travels straight to my cock. I’m thankful I’m in kraken form so Erin and the others won’t notice my raging hard-on. I pride myself on being a gentleman, but Erin is my ultimate test.

The spiritual advisor produces a golden rope and begins to wind it around our clasped hands. This part of the ceremony is symbolic as much as it’s necessary. “The rope, blessed by the sea goddess herself and used since the start of our people, connects kraken and human. Let the blessing of our goddess tie these souls together.”

It is said that the golden rope forms a bond of the souls. Many married mates have attested to feeling a connection snap into place, but I have always been skeptical. It was simply the words of two lovers who have experienced heightened emotions.

The spiritual advisor waves his hands over our bound hands, muttering words in ancient Tetrian. My chest grows tight as a jolt sparks through my body. Erin lets out a low gasp, eyes growing wide.

She felt it too.

Invisible threads form between us, knotting so nothing can sever the new connection. Emotions not myown assault my brain. I feel and sense Erin better than I have ever felt anyone before. The feeling is all-consuming and fills me completely.

“To bind you in eternity in this life and the next, we will end this ceremony with a kiss,” the spiritual advisor booms. I gauge Erin carefully, using our newly formed connection for signs of uncertainty or discomfort.

I find neither.

Instead, with her free hand, she tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear almost shyly. “Well, you heard the man. You gotta kiss?—”

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