Page 134 of Midnightsong
“I was careful, wasn’t I?” Kaden brushed a hand over her flushed cheek.
“Never doubted you.” She dropped a kiss on his collarbone.
Beside them, a pod of mer swam past, each cradling bundles of red algae, kelp, seaweed and eelgrass from the light zone in their arms. It must be time to replenish the kitchens’ stocks.
“Your Majesty, Angie.” They greeted Angie and Kaden in unison as they passed.
“You know, with all the algae and seaweed you all eat, no wonder your skin is gorgeous.” She ran her fingers down his forearm, sending electric jolts through him, making him self-conscious about the way he looked.
“My skin has seen better days. As has the rest of me. I wish I could heal faster.”
“You’ll get there; it takes time.” She ran her fingers down his arm. “Besides, you are beautifully imperfect.”
“Using my own words on me, I see,” he said with a low chuckle.
“Did it work?”
He pulled her to him and pecked her temple. On their way back to the palace, he produced the item in his pack, a ring sized for her studded with rare seaglass and jewels.
“For you, my love.”
Her eyes and expression alight, she held out her left hand, and he shook his head. “Your right hand. Mer custom dictates items meant for bonding are to be placed on the right hand or wrist. It’s a symbol of giving. I pledge to give myself to you, as you give yourself to me.”
Angie held out her right hand, and he slipped it on her index finger, before raising both her hands and pressing his lips to her knuckles.
She was beautiful, radiant, and brave. A fighter. Tenacious and yet, a calming presence.
He couldn’t wait to call her his lifemate.
Fifty-Eight
Angie
Angie waited with Bàba fifty feetfrom the shoreline, her hand resting in the crook of his elbow.
Kaden awaited her where the sand kissed the sea, and she couldn’t quiet her frazzled nerves at the thought of being married to him in front of the mer, whom they’d been at another war with not months ago.
Six months passed after the banquet and Kaden’s proposal, and it was closing in on eight months she had been home.
Today was a bright Saturday evening on August the eighth, the sun was hanging high and luminous.
The shaobing yóutiáo—sesame flatbread with a fried cruller sandwiched within—, lingonberries and Alaskan blueberries churned in her stomach from her meal this morning.
“Are you ready?” Bàba asked, placing his cane down on the soft sand and steadying himself. He left the mer infirmary a week after the banquet, and while they succeeded in healing his back and diminished most of the pain in his leg, his leg was still weak.
The mer weren’t experienced with healing legs, but they did the best they could, and Angie and Bàba were forever grateful to them.
With a deep breath to calm herself, Angie nodded.
She moved one foot in front of the other, her long crimson dress flowing behind her. Her bare feet met with the sand, soft and cool, molding to her arches.
The beach was empty, save for the handful of their wedding guests. Underneath her dress was a red and golden qipao-style outfit Kaden had made for her with soft woven seagrass fibers, for the second part of the wedding undersea. It kept her warm enough, so she didn’t need a jacket.
Her family and friends were on one side: Mia, Rosie, Jack, Reesa, Dr. Williams, Aleena, and Tiana. Beau and Emily were also present. Stefan and Ken sat beside them, and Ken turned to meet her gaze, waving one arm over his head in a wide arc with a beaming smile.
On the other side of them was Kaden, seated on a chair and tailfins brushing the sand, his hands resting on his lap, positively radiant. He was adorned with radiant jewels around his wrist, neck, and waist, and a bejeweled clear seaglass circlet decorated his head. He showed Angie the regalia several weeks ago, customary for mer to wear on their bonding day.
Cassia and Aiereka sat beside Kaden, sunbeams lighting up their iridescent tails. Though the Mer-Queen wore a subdued smile, a profound sense of loss haunted her expression. Angie’s heart went out to her, her own gaze flickering to Kaden. He cast a long glance at Cassia every few moments with an expression of care. Seeing Kaden’s lingering concern for his aunt made Angie’s heart skip a beat, and she fell in love with her kindhearted husband-to-be all over again.
