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She hooked an arm around his neck and tugged his mouth to hers, her tongue tracing the seam of his lips.
Pulling back slightly, he said, “We’re in public.”
She knew she was grinning like a fool, but she didn’t care. Just like she didn’t care that they were in public, not this time, anyway. “I’ll allow it,” she said, giving him what she hoped was a regal nod. She was going to be his queen, after all.
He grinned back at her. “I love you, Astra Jacobson.”
“And I love you, Desburchù Ulfmar. Now kiss me, you ridiculous Merrow.”
“As you wish, your majesty,” he said before tightening his arms around her and kissing her until she was breathless.
EPILOGUE: SIX MONTHS LATER
The crowd gathered in the cove was bigger than on Bright Night. A lot bigger. Adding a thousand humans to a population of just under twenty-two thousand scattered over eighteen inhabited islands would do that.
Des and Astra stood together on the bottom steps of the stairs leading to the beach, her hand resting in the crook of his arm. A warm late summer breeze swept across the cove, small waves rippling over the surface of the stormy blue-gray water.
“Remember the last time we stood here, my lovely mate?” Des asked, his voice a low burr in her ear.
She shivered, warmth coiling in her belly. “I remember you trying to romance me with a particularly bloody tale. Lots of singing, dancing, drinking.” She wrinkled her nose. “This time, however, I plan to go a little easier on that Merrow ale.”
“Are you sure? Because I rather enjoyed your drunken attempts at seduction.”
She rolled her eyes. “If I recall, you had to put me to bed like I was a child. I’m kind of hoping for a different outcome tonight,” she said, looking up at him through her lashes.
“Really?” He stood taller. “Care to enlighten me about your plans?”
“Well, I was thinking I’m a little dirty. I might need a shower.” She discreetly traced a finger over the underside of his bare forearm. “Maybe some more experiments with temperature? I really liked your use of a frozen toy last time.”
“Mate,” he growled. “We are in public. Many eyes are watching us, including your siblings.” He tipped a chin towards two tall, blond humans standing near Gunnar, recyclable pints of ale in their hands. They raised their drinks, returning his chin-tip greeting.
“Buzzkill.”
He snickered and had to quickly compose himself as the crowd quieted and turned their attention towards their king and queen. “Tonight, we gather here to welcome new citizens to our shores.” His voice boomed out over the sand, the power of it capturing and holding everyone’s attention. “These humans have experienced hardship the likes of which would test the bravest amongst us. To survive, they boarded a generation ship and flew to the stars, not knowing when or even if they would ever find a new planet to set down roots.
“Luckily for them, when they found Sanos, they were smart enough to send a capsule filled with intelligent, resourceful women to negotiate with our planetary leaders for a safe place to call home. Included in that crew was my gorgeous mate. You may know her,” he said, placing a hand on the small of her back and nudging her forward. “Astra Jakobson.”
She gave the crowd a little wave. “Hi. Welcome to the Merrow Islands,” she said. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
“You’re getting better at the whole ‘addressing the crowd’ thing, sweetheart,” Des whispered in her ear.
“Oh, shut up and finish your speech, Mr. Big Fish,” she grumbled.
He gave her a wink before turning back to the crowd. “We’ve done the formal welcome ceremony: solemn, decorus, courtly. But tonight, we welcome you in true Merrow style. So, eat, drink, and let us dance upon the waves.”
Cheers erupted as he gestured towards the band, who struck up a spirited jig.
He held a hand out towards Astra. “Dance with me, love?”
“Always and forever.” She squeaked as he swept her into his arms and spun her across the sand and out over the water. She tightened her grip on him, the surface shimmering beneath her feet. “So, how long do you think we need to stick around?”
“Astra,” he said with a laugh. “We’re supposed to be setting a good example here. You know, since we are the king and queen. Besides, I believe your humans would be more comfortable having you around since this is all still relatively new to them.”
“Des, they’ve been here a week. We’ve wined them and dined them. Set them up in those cute little houses the Merrow built. I’m pretty sure they’re ready to let their hair down and have a good time.” She stroked the little curls at the back of his neck. “Besides, they’ve got Gunnar. Remember him? Your former bodyguard, now an official member of the council?” She pointed towards the tall Merrow chatting up a woman with curly black hair who stood no taller than his chest. The human put her hand on Gunnar’s forearm and threw back her head with a laugh.
He swallowed hard as her fingers massaged the base of his skull. “I suppose they won’t really miss us if we leave early.”
“I mean, just look at them.” She tipped her head towards the humans intermingling with the Merrow. Everyone was hanging out, dancing and wandering from group to group, food and drink in hand as they chatted and got to know each other better. The first week with humans had come with a few hiccups, and she had no doubt there would be more but right now, they were all getting along. “They’ll never even notice.”
“You are such the temptress, my love.” He spun her through the crowd to the edge of the glow cast by the small campfires and solar lights.
“Well, I try my best.” she said, giggling as he dipped her low, his lips hovering over her neck.
“My stunning mate.” He breathed deep, inhaling her scent. “I love you. I need you. I need to fuck you until you come screaming around my cock.”
With a tsk, she put a finger over his lips. “I love you, too, and that sounds lovely, but you know the rules.”
“I do,” he said, the tip of his his tongue darting out to taste her salty skin as they danced into the dark. “Which is why I waited until we were out of sight to do this.” He kissed her and, with a whoop of triumph, scooped her up into his arms and took off towards Coral Cottage, the sweet sound of Astra’s laughter ringing out over the sands.
Pulling back slightly, he said, “We’re in public.”
She knew she was grinning like a fool, but she didn’t care. Just like she didn’t care that they were in public, not this time, anyway. “I’ll allow it,” she said, giving him what she hoped was a regal nod. She was going to be his queen, after all.
He grinned back at her. “I love you, Astra Jacobson.”
“And I love you, Desburchù Ulfmar. Now kiss me, you ridiculous Merrow.”
“As you wish, your majesty,” he said before tightening his arms around her and kissing her until she was breathless.
EPILOGUE: SIX MONTHS LATER
The crowd gathered in the cove was bigger than on Bright Night. A lot bigger. Adding a thousand humans to a population of just under twenty-two thousand scattered over eighteen inhabited islands would do that.
Des and Astra stood together on the bottom steps of the stairs leading to the beach, her hand resting in the crook of his arm. A warm late summer breeze swept across the cove, small waves rippling over the surface of the stormy blue-gray water.
“Remember the last time we stood here, my lovely mate?” Des asked, his voice a low burr in her ear.
She shivered, warmth coiling in her belly. “I remember you trying to romance me with a particularly bloody tale. Lots of singing, dancing, drinking.” She wrinkled her nose. “This time, however, I plan to go a little easier on that Merrow ale.”
“Are you sure? Because I rather enjoyed your drunken attempts at seduction.”
She rolled her eyes. “If I recall, you had to put me to bed like I was a child. I’m kind of hoping for a different outcome tonight,” she said, looking up at him through her lashes.
“Really?” He stood taller. “Care to enlighten me about your plans?”
“Well, I was thinking I’m a little dirty. I might need a shower.” She discreetly traced a finger over the underside of his bare forearm. “Maybe some more experiments with temperature? I really liked your use of a frozen toy last time.”
“Mate,” he growled. “We are in public. Many eyes are watching us, including your siblings.” He tipped a chin towards two tall, blond humans standing near Gunnar, recyclable pints of ale in their hands. They raised their drinks, returning his chin-tip greeting.
“Buzzkill.”
He snickered and had to quickly compose himself as the crowd quieted and turned their attention towards their king and queen. “Tonight, we gather here to welcome new citizens to our shores.” His voice boomed out over the sand, the power of it capturing and holding everyone’s attention. “These humans have experienced hardship the likes of which would test the bravest amongst us. To survive, they boarded a generation ship and flew to the stars, not knowing when or even if they would ever find a new planet to set down roots.
“Luckily for them, when they found Sanos, they were smart enough to send a capsule filled with intelligent, resourceful women to negotiate with our planetary leaders for a safe place to call home. Included in that crew was my gorgeous mate. You may know her,” he said, placing a hand on the small of her back and nudging her forward. “Astra Jakobson.”
She gave the crowd a little wave. “Hi. Welcome to the Merrow Islands,” she said. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
“You’re getting better at the whole ‘addressing the crowd’ thing, sweetheart,” Des whispered in her ear.
“Oh, shut up and finish your speech, Mr. Big Fish,” she grumbled.
He gave her a wink before turning back to the crowd. “We’ve done the formal welcome ceremony: solemn, decorus, courtly. But tonight, we welcome you in true Merrow style. So, eat, drink, and let us dance upon the waves.”
Cheers erupted as he gestured towards the band, who struck up a spirited jig.
He held a hand out towards Astra. “Dance with me, love?”
“Always and forever.” She squeaked as he swept her into his arms and spun her across the sand and out over the water. She tightened her grip on him, the surface shimmering beneath her feet. “So, how long do you think we need to stick around?”
“Astra,” he said with a laugh. “We’re supposed to be setting a good example here. You know, since we are the king and queen. Besides, I believe your humans would be more comfortable having you around since this is all still relatively new to them.”
“Des, they’ve been here a week. We’ve wined them and dined them. Set them up in those cute little houses the Merrow built. I’m pretty sure they’re ready to let their hair down and have a good time.” She stroked the little curls at the back of his neck. “Besides, they’ve got Gunnar. Remember him? Your former bodyguard, now an official member of the council?” She pointed towards the tall Merrow chatting up a woman with curly black hair who stood no taller than his chest. The human put her hand on Gunnar’s forearm and threw back her head with a laugh.
He swallowed hard as her fingers massaged the base of his skull. “I suppose they won’t really miss us if we leave early.”
“I mean, just look at them.” She tipped her head towards the humans intermingling with the Merrow. Everyone was hanging out, dancing and wandering from group to group, food and drink in hand as they chatted and got to know each other better. The first week with humans had come with a few hiccups, and she had no doubt there would be more but right now, they were all getting along. “They’ll never even notice.”
“You are such the temptress, my love.” He spun her through the crowd to the edge of the glow cast by the small campfires and solar lights.
“Well, I try my best.” she said, giggling as he dipped her low, his lips hovering over her neck.
“My stunning mate.” He breathed deep, inhaling her scent. “I love you. I need you. I need to fuck you until you come screaming around my cock.”
With a tsk, she put a finger over his lips. “I love you, too, and that sounds lovely, but you know the rules.”
“I do,” he said, the tip of his his tongue darting out to taste her salty skin as they danced into the dark. “Which is why I waited until we were out of sight to do this.” He kissed her and, with a whoop of triumph, scooped her up into his arms and took off towards Coral Cottage, the sweet sound of Astra’s laughter ringing out over the sands.