Page 9 of Bride of the Sea King

At least one of them cared.

“Aria,” I said. “And I never agreed to be his bride.”

“In our world, accepting a kiss seals a mating bond. It’s far more powerful than the human version of marriage. Look at your arm.” She gestured toward me, and I looked down at my tattoos.

They looked normal.

“Here.” The king lifted a hand to my shoulder and tapped my skin lightly.

When I looked, I nearly jumped. There was a large, pearly white marking on my skin, and whatever energy it contained seemed to swirl within it. “What the hell is that?”

“The mark of the sea’s throne. Triton has it too.” The woman gestured toward the king. When I turned, I noticed his tattoo was on the opposite shoulder from mine.

“We can explain more later. Right now, we need to get you inside, where it’s safe.” The woman waved me toward the castle, but Triton didn’t start moving again.

“Breathe, Rayna. Even the selkies won’t make a move against me on my own beach.” He sounded amused.

Rayna made an exasperated sound. “Do you really want to test that theory?”

“What’s a selkie?” I checked.

“If my brother doesn’t get you off this beach, you’re going to find out soon.” Rayna glared at the king. Triton, if she had used his name rather than a nickname.

I hoped it was a nickname, because I wasn’t sure I could handle knowing I’d accidentally married myself to a mermonster named Triton. Wasn’t that the name of Ariel’s dad inThe Little Mermaid?

Yikes.

“They’re like us, but their other forms are seals,” the king explained, finally starting to move forward again.

“They’re more dangerous than they sound,” Rayna cut in, falling into pace beside us.

“I don’t want to come face-to-face with a seal any more than I want to meet a whale with teeth up close,” I said bluntly.

“I’m more dangerous than they are,” the king reminded me again.

“You keep saying that, but it keeps not being true. The scariest thing about you is the massive erection against my spine,” I tossed back.

Rayna choked on something. Probably spit.

The king chuckled, but there was no humor in his voice. “I’m the king for a reason, Sweetheart. I rule and control the ocean. There is nothing beneath the waves as deadly as me.”

“Okay,” I said.

I didn’t really believe him.

He had a big-ass tail, but he didn’t look like he could take down a pissed-off whale or even an angry seal.

I started walking faster. He must not have noticed, because he held my pace.

“Triton can protect you,” Rayna said. Her insistence that I was in danger and her delayed statement were far from convincing. “But the selkies are a risk. We?—”

“Will figure everything out after I’ve had a chance to make my bride comfortable.” He cut her off smoothly.

Rayna made a sound of frustration. “I’ll inform the others.”

“Thanks.”

Rayna’s hand caught my arm, and Triton and I both stopped. When I looked at her, I found an expression on her face that I couldn’t read.

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