If the position is still open for your hand in marriage, we have a son.Lilli beamed at me as her voice floated through my head.
Caspian patted her hand.We will not be bidding off our son but if it’s a match then I don’t see why not.
I appreciate your enthusiasm at the thought of a marriage proposal but the position isn’t open at the moment. Maybe one day I will entertain suitors, but recently I lost the man I loved and I don’t think I’m ready to open up to someone new just yet.
Lilli’s brows lifted on her forehead.I think we might be too late anyway. It seems the Shadow Elf King would like to throw his hat into the ring.
I ran my hands down my cheeks and made a face I hoped came off as entertained.Yes, he has certainly been trying hard for my hand as of late. But I’m not ready for anything now.
Lilli’s expression turned sinful.There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying a man’s company even if you don’t plan on settling down. They always talk about how men have needs, but what about us women?
Caspian didn’t seem phased by his wife’s words.Now, now, Lilli, we don’t want to make the gods angry.
She gazed up at the ceiling and scowled.Can they even hear us down here?
Caspian shot her another look and she rolled her dark blue eyes dramatically. I knew then that I was going to like her. She reminded me of my other friends. Surrounding yourself with strong women was important and I knew that we would become quick friends but before I could suggest it, my mouth started to dry and the urge to breathe hit me square in the chest. My eyes widened as I looked between the two.
You only used one? Oh no.Lilli’s eyes grew wide as she swam over to me and grabbed my hands in hers.We will have to swim you to the surface or you won’t make it in time.The two guards that were posted outside came barreling into the room. They grabbed Alric and Jesper while Caspian took care of Reva. My head went in circles as we were yanked to the surface. I broke through the top of the water with a gasp. Lilli swam beside me in the little lagoon as I grabbed onto the side of the pool
“I have a feeling we will be close friends,” She grinned as the others joined us. “Don’t be a stranger.” Her next words were inside my mind. “You are welcome to visit whenever you need an escape but maybe only come with one of your friends. We like our secrecy or we would’ve invited Jesper a long time ago. One snail for every hour you plan to stay. They can survive being packed in the water. I’ll send you a care package soon enough.” She winked before she disappeared beneath the water.
Caspian smiled softly at me. “My wife can be a lot but she means well. I do hope to see you again soon.” Then he was gone.
Reva pushed up on the side of the pool and hauled herself out of the water while I searched for the snail on the inside of my lip. Much to my displeasure, it was gone, which meant my body absorbed it. The only thing that kept me from throwing up again was that it got me down to meet mermaids and see their underwater kingdom. Lilli said they were full of minerals and vitamins, maybe that was a good thing.
Jesper ran his tongue along the inside of his lip and made a face. “Well, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
Alric spit a few times into the snow and began to put on his clothes. Reva crossed her arms over her chest and pouted as she watched. Jesper lounged against the side of the lagoon like he had all the time in the world. Maybe he did. It was strange to have his company around us so often. I enjoyed it but I also wished it was Ryven instead.
With that thought, I realized a lot about myself. I didn’t think I would ever be over Ryven. If I did get married, it would have to be a political alliance. It wasn’t fair to Jesper for me to continue on with whatever this was knowing that I still loved someone else, even if he was dead. One day I would eventually get over Ryven, but that day wouldn’t come any time soon.
Slow as the snail that dissolved into my body, I swam to the Shadow Elf. He grinned at me with all of his teeth and I was struck by how beautiful he was. But his beauty wasn’t meant for me.
“I really appreciate having you as an advisor,” I began as I pushed my wet hair from my face. This probably wasn’t the best place to have this conversation but I couldn’t let this be drawn out any longer. If Caspian and Lilli were correct about the way he looked at me, I needed to nip this quickly. He couldn’t jeopardize my standing with my subjects. “But I cannot give you what you need.”
One of his brows lifted. “Oh?”
I let out a sigh. “I don’t know if you’re interested in me romantically.”
“I am,” he clarified.
“But my heart belongs to another.”
He hummed in the back of his throat. “The dead lover.”
I winced. “Yes. I don’t know if I’ll ever truly be over him. I think of him when I shouldn’t. My focus isn’t there and you deserve better than that.”
He nodded his head. “Yes, I do. But I also really like you and I’m willing to wait but I’ll cool it down a bit for you. I understand there’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders at the moment.”
“You will wait even if I choose to marry because of a political alliance?”
It was his turn to wince. “If that’s truly what you want, no. I will give up the chase for another. But I won’t go down without a fight.”
Alric snorted from behind us and I rolled my eyes as I hauled myself out of the water.
“Do you ever show off your mark?” Jesper asked as he eyed my covered back. Out of all the things that weren’t covered on my body, the gods made sure the back of my swimming attire was high enough. I didn’t know how I felt about that just yet. Were they purposefully trying to keep it hidden? There was no way to know or guess the agendas of the gods.
“No, she doesn’t,” Alric sniffed.
