I extended my arms, letting her see the patterns fully. “Royal bonding markings. They tell our story.”
Her fingers traced one of the spirals on my forearm. “Our story? I’m in these patterns?”
“Here,” I guided her finger to a series of interlocking waves. “This represents the surface meeting the depths. And here---“ I showed her another pattern near my shoulder, “---this is the symbol for a queen from distant shores.”
She traced the patterns with delicate touches, sending ripples of pleasure across my skin. “They planned for someone like me?”
“Not exactly. Veda adapted ancient symbols. Our people have legends of surface dwellers, though few believed them truth until you arrived.”
Lucy stepped back, taking me in fully. “You look... regal. Different.” A teasing smile played at her lips. “Should I bow or something?”
I pulled her close instead, my hands at her waist. “I prefer when you’re close enough that bowing would be impractical.”
She laughed, resting her hands against my chest, careful of the fresh markings. “Tomorrow we’re going to be married. Or bonded. Or whatever your people call it.”
“Bound for life,” I translated. “More permanent than marriage as your people define it.”
“That’s... intense.” She met my gaze. “But I want it. I want you.”
I held out my closed fist, opening it to reveal my mother’s pendant. “This belonged to my mother. The queen before you. Tradition holds that I give you something personal before our bonding.”
Lucy inhaled softly. She touched the pendant with reverent fingers. “It’s beautiful. Are you sure?”
“It belongs to my queen. That’s you.” I lifted it, placing it around her neck. The silver gleamed against her collarbone.
She touched it, then reached into her pocket. “I made something for you too. It isn’t as beautiful or meaningful, but...” She pulled out a small device, placing it in my palm. “It’s a modified communicator. I’ve been working with some of your tech specialists. It should reach farther than anything you currently have.”
I turned the device over, noting how she’d incorporated our ancient materials with her own knowledge. “For searching for your team?”
She nodded. “After the ceremony. I still need to find them, Thalassar. If they’re alive...”
“We will search,” I promised. “Together. This kingdom’s resources will be yours to command.”
“Thank you.” She stepped closer again. “There’s so much we don’t know about each other yet. So much to learn.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “We have time. Years. Decades.”
“Decades,” she repeated, wonderment in her voice. “I still can’t believe I’m staying. That this is real.”
“It’s real.” I traced the line of her jaw. “Tomorrow, it becomes official.”
She rose on her toes, pressing her lips to mine. The kiss was gentle at first, then deepened with hunger that made my blood surge hot beneath my markings. Her hands slid up my chest to my shoulders, careful of the fresh patterns.
With reluctance, I broke the kiss. “Tradition demands we spend this night apart. I’m to watch over your sleep until dawn, when the ceremony begins.”
Lucy’s eyebrows rose. “Watch me sleep? That’s... a little weird.”
“Many of our traditions might seem strange to you,” I acknowledged. “As yours do to us. But this one symbolizes my pledge to guard you, even in your most vulnerable state.”
She considered this, then nodded. “Okay. But one more kiss before tradition separates us.”
I pulled her close again, losing myself in her warmth, her uniquely human scent. Her body pressed against mine sent desire coursing through me -- desire I would need to control until after our bonding.
Finally, regretfully, I guided her to her bed. “Sleep well, my almost-queen.”
Lucy slipped under the covers, her dark hair spreading across the pillow. “This feels like the night before everything changes.”
“It already changed the moment you fell into my ocean,” I told her, settling into the ceremonial guardian’s chair beside her bed.
