race will once more thrive.”
This was the vision that had united the warriors of Atlantis. The delegates glowed, touched.
As the others left the Life Tree, King Kadir rested his palm on Gailen’s biceps. “Thank you for opening your ceremony. They will remember this longer than the platform destruction. Especially once our brides return and show the true strength of the soul connection.”
His chest lifted again. Not just because he could marry Starr, but because it often seemed like nothing he did mattered, and yet, he’d finally done a lot. “Yes, my king.”
Queen Elyssa swam close. “Congrats again, Starr. I wish we could hang out, but you know how things are.”
Starr faintly smiled.
“We’ll help you make your fins and figure out your queen powers. Do you know what they are yet?”
“No.”
“Well, they could be anything. Healing or pushing or shielding. Sometimes people have a guess, but sometimes it’s a surprise.”
“I love the Life Tree and the gardens.”
“Wonderful.” Queen Elyssa glowed and pressed her hands together. “Gailen’s battling a mighty weed right now at the ruin. Maybe you can figure out how to win. At the very least, you’ll be surrounded by plants.”
“I would like that.”
“Oh, it’s like you were meant to be together.” Queen Elyssa grinned. “Soul mates.”
“Queen Elyssa.” Lieutenant Diras vibrated for her amid a group of other warriors. “They await your instructions.”
She wished them well, and the royalty departed.
“I’d like to see this plant,” Starr told Gailen.
Gailen rested his forehead against hers. “Can I tempt you to see your castle first?”
The water heated, and her body turned to his. Her lids half-lowered as she nestled against him. “Yes.”
His heart sang.
He covered her mouth with his kiss.
She melted into him, opening her lips, and stroked his mouth eagerly with her tongue. She wanted this wedding night just as much as he did.
His cock hardened against her soft body. The temptation to take her here before the Life Tree thudded with urgency.
But, as generously as he had shared their wedding, he greedily did not wish to share her passion.
He cut off the kiss and kicked with full power across the city to his bobbing green castle.
Through the long entrance into the interior of the sphere, he swam into the lush courtyard and ducked down a side tunnel. He gave her no time to look around at the gardens he had planted or all the details that he had imagined showing off to his new bride when he’d spent so much time creating them. Now that they were married in front of the Life Tree, all he wanted was to unite their bodies and fully meld their souls.
Starr’s fingers brushed his back in feathery little movements. She explored his lower back and his sensitive gills. Shudders of arousal zipped up and down his spine. Her lips teased his neck with experimental nibbles along his flexing shoulder to his collarbone. Heat flooded his cock with pounding arousal. Once, she had been afraid to kiss him in case it triggered her illness. Now? She fearlessly tasted his body, curious and demanding.
He reached his safe hollow in the tunnel. Beyond this wall was the castle’s heart chamber. Their union would open it, and then the castle would truly become theirs.
She covered his mouth with her kiss.
Their souls and bodies ignited.
She was gorgeous and slippery, sweet and bouncy, and oh so vividly alive.
He kissed down her chest, filled his palms with her soft breasts, chasing her moans of pleasure. Her desperate mewls led him to pinch her hard nipples between his rough knuckles, and she arched with need. He put each in his mouth and sucked until she cried out, shuddering, with the first blinding flare of a bride’s release.
His heart pounded with accomplishment. Even a warrior such as him could pleasure his bride.
She wrapped around him like a starfish containing a mussel, boring into the hard shell of his fears, embracing him with all her hunger.
He gripped her hips, struggling to contain her. “With this union, we will open our heart chamber. My release may even plant the seed in you for our own young fry.”
She wiggled. “I’m not afraid of that at all.”
“No? Are you not afraid that you could end up with a father who cannot hold his young fry?”
“You would be the kindest, most loving, and most supportive father even if you had no arms whatsoever.” She stopped trying to hook his legs. Her hands descended and curled around his hard cock.
Pleasure spiked in his brain, and he thrust into her grip.