smiles, but quickly sobered as though they were worried Gailen really might be boring his bride, and only Endi was brave enough to make a joke about it.
Starr focused completely on neon nudibranchs and rainbow crustaceans weaving among the coral.
He answered, “She likes exploring.”
“Are you sure? You do not want her to think rooting in the ground is all you do. You are a mighty warrior!” Endi and the rest of the patrol swam away.
Starr rested her hand on a bare patch of curved bone. “Fascinating.”
He kicked to her side in one stroke. “Is it really? I once accomplished many more interesting feats as a warrior. I could tell you about them.”
She took a long time to respond because she was thinking carefully. “I am so happy right now, it scares me.”
“Scares you?” He pulled her closer needing her touch. “You are scared of joining with me instead of with a more capable warrior?”
“No.” She rested her hand against his chest. “I’ve always wanted to walk through a field of wildflowers, lie back on the grass, rake leaves into a pile and jump into it, simply be outside on top of a mountain surrounded by nature. I wanted to have this experience”—she gestured to the vast coral forest —“my whole life. And these corals look like the most exotic wildflowers. These long rib bones make an amazing tree. This has been my dream for my whole life, and you’ve made it possible for me. Getting what I wanted after so long is scary because I’m afraid it will be taken away. I can’t really have it.”
Ah.
His sweet bride. He loved her even more now, and he’d loved her more than anything before. She validated everything about him. He wanted to give her everything right back.
Whatever she needed, he would provide it.
From now until they swam together in the blacknight sea.
“You can.” He rested his forehead against hers. “This is only the beginning. I promise I will show you everything, even though I am not the most capable warrior.”
She swallowed hard and hugged him so tight. “There is no more capable warrior. I want to experience everything with you.”
His throat tightened.
A commotion electrified the city above, and warriors swam down to let them know that the other delegates had arrived.
Gailen grinned at her. It was time.
Lieutenant Diras was vibrating quietly to King Kadir and Queen Elyssa outside the Life Tree enclosure as they swam near. “My king, my queen. Do we have time for this wedding? The All-Council blankets our region, and we must also guard against sabotage by the visiting dignitaries. If anyone attacks during this ceremony, we will struggle.”
“Lieutenant Diras, you are experienced in mer warfare.” King Kadir squeezed his arm. “But you do not realize uniting warriors with their brides is an excellent battle strategy. Each union strengthens our city. Accepting her connection to Gailen will unlock Starr’s queen powers, making her equal to a hundred All-Council warriors. So it is wise to hold a wedding even in the middle of the fiercest raid.”
“It can’t be any worse than giving birth during a megalodon attack,” a very pregnant Queen Lucy vibrated as she swam close, glowing, with her husband, Warrior Torun, and her mischievous twin young fry.
Behind her trailed several kings, and Queen Elyssa and King Kadir formally welcomed them to Atlantis.
It was so hard to believe that all these important warriors were going to watch him, ordinary Gailen, wed his bride. And yet they all queued up to congratulate him. Like he was really someone. Even their gazes didn’t seem pitying, and they didn’t linger over his damaged thumbs. He could barely swallow his amazement and vibrate normal replies.
Starr was a centering presence at his side. She glowed, unaffected by the audience.
Queen Lucy stuck out her hand in a human handshake. “Congratulations, Gailen, Starr. I wish you a long and happy union and kids who are great sleepers.”
Their female, Tory, grabbed her twin brother’s hair and yanked. He screamed and attacked her. Torun sighed and separated them.
Queen Lucy raised her glowing fingertips. “This is going to be a nice wedding. Don’t make me put you in time out.”
The twins fussed. Torun calmed them with quiet competence.
Queen Lucy winced and rubbed her belly.
“Uh, is everything okay?” Starr asked.
Everyone was suddenly acutely attentive to Queen Lucy’s state.
“Yeah. Just…” Queen Lucy rubbed harder. “I swear he or she is already taking the kids’ side.”
The Atlantis warriors chuckled. Even the visiting kings cracked a smile.
The visitors swam to the Life Tree