Chapter 23 #3
“Do you even have to ask me? I would throw myself into the very ocean and follow you into its depths despite my limitations if it meant one more moment with you. Death won’t stop me from finding your scales and loving them no matter how cold they may become.
Your enthralling determination and ethereal spirit won’t get rid of me even when the worms devour our bones.
” Tears glittered along her eyes as the words whispered from her grinning lips.
Thrasik reached for her arm, knocking his forehead against hers as he slid one of the silver bands over her elbow and up to her bicep until it sat firmly in place.
As though she knew the method of his people, she took a band for him and repeated the same on his arm.
He noticed she lingered along his scales as her fingers danced over the plated backing of his arm.
They repeated the process for their other arms.
The very moment they were done, cheers and yelps suddenly erupted from the crowd of naga. Thrasik raised his head and stared in surprise. He didn’t expect them to accept this situation so open and willingly.
At the same time, a mass of naga raised their arms and chanted, “Until the sun and moon join as one and sink the ocean itself. Become one and show devotion, our King! Become one and raise commotion, our Queen!”
Laughter spun through the crowd as the naga scattered and began gathering things from multiple caves. A moment like this hadn’t happened in quite some time for his tribe, and it seemed they were about to go all out for a new ceremony.
Thrasik turned to Griselda, unsure how she would feel about such a sudden change of events. Instead, a joyful grin was spread across her face. Her hands ran along the silver bands on her arms as she looked up at him.
“Well, never thought I’d be married or accepted so openly.” The words almost sang from her between her laughs.
“Neither did I. This is quite a surprise and makes me wonder how long my people have been under a spell.” Thrasik turned to look for the elder, seeing him coiling up and sitting on a flat platform in the sunlight with a satisfied sigh.
“I still have a worry, Thrasik. We can’t forget about the Strangle and Lazarus. We’ll have to go back to Mistveil and reveal everything we can to them.” Her gaze softened to concern for a brief moment.
Thrasik turned and grabbed her shoulders, clinking his claws along the bangles on her arms and enjoying the chime they made.
“We won’t, Griselda. Let us enjoy a night of celebration after the past week we’ve had.
I’m sure neither of us have had a night that will be as entertaining as this will be in quite some time.
I promise, after tonight, we’ll make plans to fix these lands and save as many of your people as will listen. ”
A sly squint crossed her face. Thrasik tilted his head at her in confusion.
“They’re not my people anymore. Or did my loving husband already forget?” Before he could react, she planted a kiss along the side of his maw.
She was right. Both by what they now knew about her own lineage and her new marriage into the tribe. Thrasik let out a laugh before swiping his tongue along her cheek in response.
“Well, what is the first wish of my new angelic wife?” He nosed into the side of her neck, forcing a giggle to rise from her writhing form.
“Hm, how about agreeing to a night where I enjoy being called both wife and Queen for the first time?” She broke free from his nuzzle and squinted at him.
“Oh trust, I’ll make sure you enjoy the night with both terms being lavished into your decadent flesh.” Thrasik snarled his lip as his tongue slide between his fangs.
He had an idea of a location they could go for some privacy once the celebration died down to a manageable level.
A specific spot in the woods where the trees turned a gorgeous blue with the glow of lichen that grew on them.
In all honesty, he couldn’t wait to see the light dance off her skin and eyes when she first sees them.
“Thank you, Thrasik.”
His thought broke as her words pierced through. He turned and cocked his head at her in question.
“You saved me from a hellish life and introduced me into a new one where I’m loved and cared for. I couldn’t ask for a better gift. So, thank you.” Her hands folded along her belly as she beamed a smile up at him.
“Thank you, too, for giving me a reason to keep fighting, Griselda.” He nosed back into her, breathing in her hair as their bodies closed in on each other.
Griselda’s eyes peered up at him through her heavy snowy lashes. Like two pure emeralds crested by white satin. She grabbed both sides of his face and pulled his forehead down to hers.
A sudden kiss on his snout forced his eyes open as she continued to stare at him.
“I love you, on purpose.” The words weighed heavy on the air between them.
“I love you, on purpose, too.” He responded, warmth spreading through his body at a blinding pace.
A giddy excitement danced through them both at the very real possibility of starting a new life together without the worries of their past impeding it.
FIN.