Page 27 of Married By Wind
Ulika
After an evening of food and drink, and meeting the delightful people of Leban’s tribe, I collapsed in my tent, fully intending to fall into a deep sleep. Instead, a light breeze blew, bringing the faint perfume of flowers. There in the dark, my eyes opened, and my heart skipped a beat as I thought of Vinn. Where was he now? We hadn’t had a chance to say a proper goodbye, but that was probably for the best. I nestled my head in my arms and closed my eyelids, determined to get some sleep, when the tent flap rustled and a presence joined me inside.
I bolted upright, reaching for my slingshot.
“Ulika, it’s me.”
“Vinn? What are you doing here?” I asked, breathless.
In response, he swept me into his arms. His thumb brushed over my lips, and his voice was deep and husky with emotion. “I made a promise to show you the world, and I’m going to keep that promise.”
My body melted into his despite the words of protest that rose on my lips. “What about the gods? What will they do?”
“Damn the gods. I want you.” Vinn snorted and whirled me away.
Resting my face in the crook of his neck, I breathed in his scent and held tightly while we flew. Sweet whispering of wind surrounded us and Vinn’s heart thumped in my ear, leaving a thrill of anticipation.
“Open your eyes.” Vinn whispered, gently turning me in his arms.
I clung to him as he pressed my back against his chest and held me upright. Slowly I cracked open my eyes, staring down. We were in the starry sky, and below us, clouds drifted lazily, and fire creatures winked, creating dots of light that lit up the blackness. We stood in a sea of stars, both below and above us. Awe and wonder stole my breath away and I held out my palms, letting the fire creatures land on my skin before buzzing away.
“What is this place?” I gasped.
“We’re in the gardens of the west,” Vinn explained. “Where the lands are verdant and the gardens are beautiful. I’ve wanted to show you them for a long time. Here’s where I find rare spices and herbs, and I want to show you the roots you can dye to create bright colors for your paintings. It’s too dark, but when dawn comes, I’ll show you everything. There’s a cave I’ve taken shelter in to watch the rainstorms. They are beautiful and dangerous; pellets of ice fall out of the the sky and flatten everything, and the sky roars as though the gods are furious. And when you’ve seen what’s here, there’s more, so much more, to show you. The craggy mountain heights, the deep blue sea, the volcanos off the southern coast, and forests thick with trees as far as the eye can see. I’ll show you the wild jungles and steaming pools, and cascading waterfalls.”
Yearning and gratitude collided as I pivoted to face Vinn. We landed on solid ground and the fire creatures danced around us, giving me a glimpse of his face. I sucked in a deep breath, desire growing as his lips curled into a smile. Lips I very much wanted pressed against mine. His fingers moved up my back, drawing my hips against his as he claimed my mouth with his. He tasted like hope and even though a warning about the gods poked into my mind, I banished the thought and focused solely on him, and the delightful sensations his touch created.
After a long, delicious moment, he broke the kiss, lips brushing mine as he spoke. “Ulika, I want you to hear this from me. When I married you in front of your tribe, I meant it. I love you, not because you are young and beautiful, but because of your heart. Your presence fills all the hollow places in my soul, and the way you care about the lives of others more than you care about yourself is admirable. You insist on putting the needs of others first and yourself last, but you deserve so much more. It would be an honor to live a lifetime with you, even if it means giving up divinity. I went to the hall of the gods, and all they did was pass judgment on one another. There is no joy, no celebration, only a battle for worthiness, and I do not want that to be my legacy. Even if they find us and punish us, your love will be worth it.”
“Vinn,” I gasped, a tear sliding down my cheek. “Every word you say is beautiful, and if only it were possible. You don’t understand the guilt I’d feel if the gods took away your magic, your divinity. I’ve loved you for so long, especially when I assumed you were mortal, and it makes me heartsick to know that this cannot be. The years of your life are everlasting, and one day, you might resent me for the future you lost.”
“That’s not possible.” Vinn wiped away my tear with his thumb. “Don’t you understand that a life with you isn’t a loss, it’s a gain? We can travel and have children, and your tribe will be blessed.”
Doubts still rose in my mind, but I let him kiss me, wishing time would stand still, just for tonight and tomorrow while we basked in the gardens.
But a dry female voice jolted us apart.
“I see you did not heed the words of the gods,” said Justice.
She strode out of starlight, and a strange glow hovered about her as she frowned at us. “Vinn, the gods were clear when they said you should stay away from the mortals, yet here you are, flagrantly disobeying.”
Vinn held me tight, his hand protectively around my waist. “Leave her alone,” he ordered roughly.
Justice waved a hand and huffed. “I did not come to harm you but to explain what happens next.”
I stiffened, my cheek pressed against Vinn’s chest. I willed myself to breathe as I threaded one of my fingers through his.Please, don’t let the gods take him away and leave me stranded in the gardens. Please let us be.
And then the words burst out of my mouth. “Just give us one night and one day together before you rip us away, please.”
34
Vinn
The longing and hope and pain in Ulika’s voice almost broke me. It was the same as when she’d come to Fae Mountain, begging for help against the sand devils, at her wit’s end, to save her people and sacrifice herself. Again, it was her selflessness, her heart, that drew me to her, how willing she was to protect me, to ensure nothing was taken away that would drive us to resent each other.
“I have watched both of you,” Justice went on. “And I wondered if your love would be pure and true. Whether you would succumb to the will of the gods or forget all and act of your own accord. It is clear that no matter what we say or do, you shall not be kept apart. As a result, Vinn, you shall be the god of wind no more, nor welcome in the hall of the gods. Instead, you will be the king of wind, known as a jinn. If any asks where you come from, you will explain you come from the fae, those are your people now, not the gods. You will retain your wind magic and the ability to teleport across the world as you do now.
“As for you, Ulika, you are a fire mage, and shall keep the magic of fire. You also have the ability to teleport across the known land using the power of fire. But be warned, with each blessing comes a curse. Your family line will be tied to the fate of the lamp, and if your offspring are not careful, they might become trapped in it. When that happens, they will be forced to grant three wishes, and may not escape their fate unless someone wishes them free. Keep watch for those who seek to entrap your magic, and do not come to the hall of the gods again. You have chosen your path, and a day will come when your long life will end and you will die. Such is the way of mortality.”
