Turbulent Waves, page 10
Her future mother-in-law was someone she was happy to have as a friend. She’d made her laugh with stories about Kai, and about her life with Hadley. She’d accepted Galen’s help with her wardrobe for the big day, since aside from Kai and her family, she had very little support here. It was a reminder, however small, that she was an outsider. Would it always feel that way?
The dress she was getting married in had belonged to Galen, and she hoped it brought her the kind of luck Galen had been gifted with Hadley. After dinner the night before, Kai had dropped her off at her room and promised her a lifetime of happiness after kissing her until her knees were weak.
She was sitting thinking about that as a way of trying to calm her stomach. A mixture of nerves and morning sickness made her crave Kai’s presence. It never stopped her from throwing up, but she felt better with Kai close by. A few more hours and she’d get her wish.
The comm unit chimed, and she smiled when she saw it was Kai. “I have to get dressed, and then I expect you in the throne room. You’d better show up.” She put her hands on her stomach and tried to breathe through the nausea. “Your daughter’s making my morning interesting.”
“If you throw up on me while we’re up there, it’ll be memorable,” Kai said, and she could imagine the smile on Kai’s face.
“Don’t worry. I’ll try to hold it until the honeymoon. My father probably thinks that’d be apropos since I’m pregnant and single.” Damn, though, if she didn’t miss her father today. Hanging on to him as she walked the aisle would’ve been nice.
“You won’t be single for long, and you can throw up on me anytime.”
“Neither will you,” she said, teasing. “All those pretty women trying to get your attention last night will be sad when you say I do.”
“If I owned bells, I’d be putting them on. See you soon, love.”
Kai had explained where some of the wedding rituals had come from, and she wasn’t surprised the traditional human wedding ceremony was born here. It had evolved on Earth since then, but it made her wonder what other customs humankind had clung to from those early lessons of the people of Atlantis.
For the ceremony today she was going to have to walk alone, which made her melancholy in a way. Except for Frankie, she’d been alone for most of her life, but her parents had tried their best to make amends. This was the first of the two weddings they’d have, and she was looking forward to the one her mother was planning. Starting her own family made her see how important her parents and brother were to her life, even if it hadn’t always been perfect, and she wanted to share this incredibly pivotal moment with them too.
She smiled at Edil’s and Isla’s partners, who’d come to help get her ready. “I never thought I’d get married,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror. She’d been told a silver gown was the traditional wedding attire, but she was marrying royalty. Her gown was mostly gold with bits of blue beading that matched Kai’s uniform. The A-line with a bateau neckline and court train was beautiful. It was backless, and Galen had teased her about how quickly that little design would get her to the honeymoon once Kai saw it. “Now I can’t wait.”
“Hopefully some of that excitement has to do with the girl who’s waiting for you,” Galen said as she entered quietly.
They all bowed, and she smiled at Galen. “It has everything to do with that, Highness. She was infuriating at first, but she woke me to everything I’d missed before her.”
Galen nodded and laughed. “Yes, the tadpole is a carbon copy of the one who wakes all sorts of things in me.” They all laughed when Galen winked. “I wanted to come to congratulate you as well as be the first to welcome you into our family. The life you’re about to embark on will not always be easy, but I know my child will love you through all of it.”
“I love her just as much.”
“That we know from the way you look at her.” Hadley joined Galen and handed her wife a box.
“We also know the customs of your world,” Galen said, taking her hand. “I believe it’s something old, new, borrowed, and blue.” Vivien nodded. “The dress will count as borrowed and blue.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Thank you for letting me use it.” She hadn’t gone wedding-dress shopping and she knew her mom was probably looking forward to it. With only a week before they’d decided to come to Atlantis, she hadn’t had a chance to think about what she’d wear for the ceremony, but Kai had assured her they’d find something in the city. Right now she had a connection to Kai’s past by using her mom’s dress, and it felt special in a way nothing store-bought ever could.
The dress had been altered quickly, as it’d been Galen’s from her wedding day. “I’m honored you accepted my offer. I also wanted to deliver this for Kai. It will count for something old since she found it in an old shipwreck.” The box contained a necklace that was strung with diamonds and sapphires. “It was a seventeenth-century ship that went down in a storm close to here on its way back to Spain. Kai researched it and this was meant for the queen. She said it was fitting for the woman who’d be her queen.”
“It’s beautiful.” She turned so Galen could put it on her. “Thank you both for your welcome and for getting all this done so quickly.”
“You’re welcome, and I promise to always do my best to guide you through all this.”
“I promise to always do my best,” she said with her hand to her throat. The moment felt beautifully surreal.
“You’ll be fine. Let me go take my place.” Galen took Hadley’s hand and smiled at her.
“I’ll see you out there.”
“And we have a surprise for you, to honor another one of your traditions.” Galen nodded, and the door opened to reveal Frankie. His suit was much different than anything she’d ever seen him wear, and he appeared unsure what to do as he smiled at her and gave a little shrug. It was like Kai’s uniform in the cut but without her adornments. The navy pants and jacket set off Frankie’s blond hair that matched her own in color, and the white of the shirt underneath made his tan stand out. “This one time I’ve given permission to allow a topsider to visit because he has an important job to do. It’s good to be queen sometimes.”
Frankie bowed as the royal couple left and then hugged her. “You look beautiful, and this place is off the chain. I only caught a glimpse of it when I was down here before, and this is so much better.” He let her go and stared out the windows. “I’m having trouble believing all this, and I’m sorry Marsha’s missing it.”
“Just remember that Kai will probably rip your tongue out if you ever tell anyone.”
“I know. She already threatened me,” he said and laughed. “You really do look like royalty, sis.”
“We’re ready to begin, ma’am.” One of the attendants motioned toward the door.
“Let’s go,” Frankie said as if he suddenly knew what he was doing. “Don’t worry—Kai told me what I have to do. Once we’re done, there’s plenty we need to talk about.”
“Is everything and everyone okay?” She took his arm and followed the attendants out, her stomach flipping.
“Everything’s fine, and it’s nothing bad. Right now, smile and concentrate. From what I understand, everyone in the realm is watching this thing, and you don’t want to screw up.”
“Thanks so much for putting me at ease.” She put her hand on her stomach and told her daughter to behave.
They stopped outside the throne room and waited for the music to begin. She’d always known in the back of her mind that this was going to be broadcast throughout the realm, but right now it was front and center. She took a deep breath and gripped Frankie’s arm. The aisle ahead seemed endless, and the place was packed.
“Don’t let me fall on my face,” she whispered. Frankie laughed, and they started walking.
The people present stood and bowed as she and Frankie walked by. From what both Kai and Galen had said, some of the women in attendance went back and forth between the cities of Atlantis and the outside world. A very few who considered themselves purists had never set foot on land, so Frankie was the first man they’d ever seen in person. Those were the women who appeared the most upset that Kai was marrying her, as if the taint of having a male relative would somehow rub off on the crown. But at the moment, she couldn’t bring herself to care.
At the dais, Kai waited halfway down the stairs. That wasn’t where she’d said she’d be standing, and her smile widened when she felt her shell warm. Kai’s thoughts came to her gently, and it was enough to make her let her nerves go and enjoy the moment.
“Beautiful.” Kai’s compliment made her ears warm. Her attention flicked to Oba momentarily as she stood to the left of the throne. Her robes were gleaming white, and she was holding a water orb that was crystal clear.
“Today we gather for our future.” Oba’s voice echoed in the now silent room. “Lady Palmer will join with Princess Kai. Who brings her forward?”
“I, Franklin Winston Palmer, would like to present my sister, Vivien.” Frankie bowed over her hand. He walked her to the dais but didn’t place a foot on it.
Kai walked down the rest of the steps and shook Frankie’s hand. “Thanks, I’ll take it from here,” Kai said softly. She took Vivien’s hand and escorted her up.
Oba went through the ceremony, and she tried to pay attention to every word, but Kai in that uniform was distracting. Leave it to her to wait until her late twenties to start noticing things like that. She stopped daydreaming when it came time for the vows and all the things she had to say to Kai. Once that was done, the last thing they had to do was kneel before Galen and Hadley.
“You have made your vows and have chosen each other,” Galen said and raised her head to the people. “The goddess has blessed Kai’s choice by making Vivien a true sister. Today we crown a new princess and future consort.” The crown in Galen’s hand was a smaller version of the one she wore as queen, but it matched Kai’s. “I give you Princess Kai and Princess Vivien.”
The cheers went up, and Kai lowered her head and kissed her. “Forever, my love,” Kai said.
“Forever,” she said and smiled out at the people. This time no one appeared reluctant to participate. Maybe whatever had happened to her at the temple had turned the tide. There hadn’t been a general announcement about her transformation, but the news had obviously made it through the capital. Or maybe the people who weren’t happy about it hadn’t attended. She took Kai’s arm on the way down, and Frankie followed them out. There was going to be a reception in an hour to give the staff time to set the room again, so Kai led them to the part of the castle that overlooked the ruins. More seats had been added, and there were refreshments waiting for them.
“When you said you were the heir to Atlantis’s throne, I wasn’t expecting this,” Frankie said. “I guess I didn’t know what to expect really, but this is something. You did the impossible for me, and the rational part of my brain realizes your people had to be advanced, but the part that needs a reference to something familiar is in awe.”
“I’m glad you came, so you could see Vivien will be safe here.” Kai put her arm around her when she sat and kissed her cheek.
“I trust you with that, but there’s something else.” Frankie sat across from them and reached up to open his collar. “I was going to a meeting a few days ago, and I thought I was having a stroke when a laser beam came through the window straight into my neck.” He took his shells out and showed them to them. “They’ve both changed, and so has what was etched into the original one.”
“Wow,” she said.
“That’s not the only thing that’s different.” Frankie seemed nervous as he tapped his fingers on his knees. The bouncing leg was new and strange. “It actually freaks me out.”
“Gills?” Kai asked.
“I thought the light was a dream, but the gills in the shower were hard to ignore.” He laughed but stared at them as if looking for answers.
“Let me tell you a story,” she said, and Kai nodded. She told him what happened in the temple, and he seemed to relax. “The same thing happened to our shells, but Kai already had gills. I found out when we took a swim.”
“What does all this mean?” Frankie asked.
“We’re not really sure, but Oba and her priestesses are working on it,” Kai said. “I’m not sure about Viv, but your transformation might’ve happened because of your connection through the shells I gave you.”
“We have time enough to think about that,” Galen said when she joined them. “Tonight’s about celebrations.”
“Yes, ma’am, and thank you for allowing me to come along for the ride.” Frankie bowed over Galen’s hand and kissed it.
“Oba will want to see you all tomorrow, so come by, and I’ll escort you.” Galen took Frankie’s arm and went back to the reception. “There are some people who’d like to meet this one.”
Vivien smiled at the people who came and wished them well. Kai had told her a cross section of the community had been invited to the event, along with the royal court, only limited by space. Their realm was based on equality and openness, so they had to be accessible to all their people.
“Thank you,” she said to a young girl. She crouched and accepted a small bouquet of flowers the girl presented her. “I love your dress.”
“Thank you, Princess.” The little girl bowed her head, but it seemed to be more from shyness than protocol.
The small girl made her think of the baby that wasn’t that far in their future. She glanced up at Frankie when he came and stood beside her. This was a one hundred and eighty degree turn from her life, and she took a breath to settle herself in the moment. This wasn’t dealing with roughnecks and oil executives, and it was going to take time to adjust.
“You’re doing great,” Frankie said, taking her hand. “This is what you were born to do.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’m not giving her up.” She looked across the room and saw Kai talking to a group of older women. It took a second for Kai to turn her head and make eye contact. That was proof enough that Kai would never leave her to deal with any of this alone.
“Would you like to dance?” Kai asked a minute later. “I don’t think we’ve ever done that together.”
She followed Kai to the dance floor and smiled when Kai bent a little and pressed the side of her head to hers. “I’m thinking we’ve never danced because you got my clothes off the first chance you got. We didn’t take time for the dancing part.”
Kai laughed. “You love me and skinny-dipping as much as I do.”
“There’s plenty of this and skinny-dipping in your future.” The future was one she never could have imagined, and it stretched ahead of them like an undersea yellow brick road. “This has been a good day.” She put her hands on Kai’s chest and moved one hand over Kai’s shell. “You are the best-looking thing I’ve ever seen, and you’re hot in this uniform.”
“You’re the one everyone’s staring at.” Kai kissed her, and they smiled at the applause it caused.
“You’re blind if you think that, but thank you.” She followed Kai around the floor and felt the happiness that consumed Kai’s whole being. It seemed to radiate out of her and put to rest any sense she’d had of rushing Kai into something she might not have wanted. Of course that had most likely been all in her head, but right now she couldn’t dredge up a negative thought.
“Listen to me, okay,” Kai said.
She had a way of forgetting that when she got lost in her thoughts, she was easier to read. “I’m sorry,” she said and smiled. “Today is a special day, and not the time for my craziness.”
“You’re the one being rushed, if anything. I know kids weren’t in your plans, and I should’ve been more careful.”
“Honey, listen. Children weren’t in my grand plan, true, but I’m happy. We made this kid—you and me—and I’m happy with the fact that we did. At the time I didn’t realize what I do now.” The middle of a huge party wasn’t the best time to have this conversation, but with Kai she always felt she could say anything.
“What’s that?” Kai’s smile was like a gift wrapped promise.
“I’ve belonged to you from the day we met. It was right there, and I didn’t want to admit it because of what that would mean. Then I thought you’d been killed, and I couldn’t deny it.” She squeezed Kai’s shell and closed her eyes. “I love you. I always have, and it made absolutely no sense. At times it’s made me crazy that I couldn’t shake it.”
“What’s that?” Kai repeated her question about what Viv had come to realize.
“That no matter who I spent time with, was intimate with, it wasn’t you. That day when we were children, it was like you branded me, and I couldn’t get past it.”
“It had the opposite effect on me,” Kai said and appeared chagrined. “It wasn’t until the day I saw you outside your parents’ home. I went from not thinking of that day to not being able to think about anything else. Our connection was strong enough that after our first disagreement, when you came searching for me, I was able to lead you right to me by mentally showing you the way. I couldn’t have done that if there was nothing there, and I’m sorry I didn’t know it then.”
“Don’t do this, baby. I love you, and as much as I am yours, you’re mine. All this that happened was supposed to, and I’m as happy about it as you are.” She put her hands behind Kai’s head and kissed her again. “You and I are going to be a team and have great sex.” Her teasing made Kai laugh.
“You dominate my thoughts and dreams. Thank you for marrying me.”
“Of course I married you after you asked me so nicely.” She studied every feature on Kai’s face and smiled. Kai was so good-looking it made her burn. “You’re the most handsome thing, and I love you.”
