Heiress of the Sea

Chapter 29

WARNING: FAN GIRLS.  JUST...YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I explained what happened with Goridian. I explained how he'd brought up memories of my time in captivity. How the power had somehow grown within me, and hadn't stopped until I unleashed it upon him.

"Hades was trying to tell you that you are the trident all along," Soren grumbled. "That's so like him. To know such a critical piece of information, and dangle it in front of us. I should have been more alert to what he was saying to you." Soren's muscles went taut as we both processed the idea...I was the embodiment of the trident.

How—I had no idea. I assumed it had been molded into my soul at some point when I was too young to remember, but I did not know when or by whom.

I truly was the perfect hiding place, as well. I wondered, thinking back to all the time Triton spent with me, if he'd known.

I laid a hand on Soren's arm, trying to calm him down. "It's okay that you didn't recognize that he meant it on a literal level. I didn't either," I said to him. "And I'm glad I found out when I did. It was so meaningful; the ability to overpower the man who tyrannized me for so long."

He shook his head, taking me in his arms, holding me close to his warm body. "I continuously feel like I'm failing you, Ailith. Every time I try to help you, I feel as if it backfires. I don't want to hurt you anymore, as long as I live."

I reached up and slowly ran my hand through his soft, soft hair.

"You have to stop blaming yourself," I told him. "This is war. Things will go wrong, things will be discovered, and we'll have regrets...lots and lots of regrets. But we can share the burden together."

The corners of his mouth tugged upwards. "Marry me."

I blinked for a few moments as he bent forward to kiss me, saying it again, the words brushing my lips. "Marry me, Ailith."

I felt a small laugh escaping my mouth. "I thought I already agreed"—

"You agreed before...," he said, securing his arm around my waist. "You agreed before you ever actually loved me. You agreed because you thought you had to, for the prophecy. But now I'm asking, as a man who loves a woman, if she loves him back, and if she will agree to be his."

Slowly, I nodded my head. "Of course I will marry you."

I could see sparks in his eye as he brushed his lips against mine, speaking the words into my mouth. "Let's go now."

I felt my eyebrows raising. "To—to get married?"

He nodded. "Let's forget this damned war for a few minutes. One hour of our absence will distract Goridian; keep him from controlling his army so closely. Plus, I want to marry you before I have the chance to create another regret," he explained.

I smiled. "One hour?"

He nodded. "You don't even have to put on high-heeled shoes."

I eyed him. "Or a dress?"

"Or a dress." His smirk was more of a playful expression than a means by which to tease me.

I shrugged my shoulders, letting out a pleasant little sigh. "Well then I suppose there's no reason I cannot marry you right now. But, Soren, you do remember your statement about your judgement going to hell a few hours ago?"

He grinned. "It's getting there. But, I promise. We'll only be gone long enough to become husband and wife. Not a minute more."