by Kelly Risser
“You can fry the bacon and brown the sausages,” Paddy said. “I can’t believe how much pork you brought back from Scotland. You may be spoiling us. How will we go back to fish after the wonders of bacon?”
“You’ll manage. Plus, I’m sure we’ll go through this. There are a lot of mouths to feed.” She shrugged and took out two large, cast iron skillets. The meat was already out on the counter, so she turned the heat on medium and filled the pans, waiting for the telltale signs that the browning had started and she needed to flip them over.
As the food was finished, more Selkies came to carry it into the great hall. Ula helped them. The savory smells filled the large hall, mixing with the scents of burning candles and freshly cut evergreen. It couldn’t get much more festive.
Families gathered into the space, taking their place at tables, oohing and ahhing at their surroundings. Instead of Arren’s band, some of the more traditional Selkie musicians played lively music, which woke everyone as much as the coffee did.
“You did all this?” Meara smiled when Ula sat next to her.
“With help,” she said.
“Don’t be modest.” Vesh leaned down to kiss her cheek before taking the seat to her right. “It was all Ula’s idea and mostly her doing.”
Eyes shimmering, Meara squeezed Ula’s hand. “Thank you.”
Ula felt her own eyes watering in response. “Of course. Merry Christmas!”
They ate, sang, danced, and generally celebrated the day away. After an even larger dinner feast, the family retired to the private hall to exchange gifts. Ula bought something for everyone, and she smiled as they unwrapped the presents with delight.
This was what she wanted. The best gift she could ever receive. Family, friends, and her boyfriend all together. She sighed happily and leaned into Vesh’s side.
“I wasn’t sure about this when you suggested it,” he said softly in her ear. “But you were right. This was just what Meara needed, and probably everyone else too.”
Ula nodded. “Love and joy go a long way to healing pain.”
Vesh tightened his arm around her. “We’re very lucky to have you as our queen.” Lowering his face to hers, he murmured, “I’m lucky to have you.”
“No luckier than me,” Ula said. It sounded cliché but she meant it. The Blue Men gave her a purpose that she didn’t have in Ronac. While she loved visiting with her family, sitting in the hall, she realized this was no longer home to her. Vesh was home, and Azuria was home.
“Tomorrow, we’ll go home,” she said, adding, “If you’re ready.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Vesh teased.
****
Saying goodbye was not that hard this time around. For one, Ula knew she would see them all again. For another, Vesh was coming with her and he was quickly becoming the most important person in her life.
After the others went to bed the night before, Ula had stayed up with Meara, making plans for the wedding. They agreed that Meara would plan the private Selkie ceremony with Kieran, while Ula would work on the larger celebration that would include human guests. The event would take place on July 18 at the house in Aberdeen. That meant Ula would need to spend time on land making purchases, hiring various services, and mailing invitations, but she was confident she could manage.
“There is the whole World Wide Web, yes?” she said to Meara, who rolled her eyes at Ula’s funny phrasing. “I’ll find my way. Don’t worry.”
“I have no doubt you can do it, Ula,” Meara said, and then leaned close and whispered. “Maybe we’ll be planning your wedding next.”
Ula didn’t respond. She’d learned to take it one day at a time. Now, as she hugged Meara goodbye, it was the first time her eyes filled with tears. She loved her niece very much. “Will you be staying here or are you going back to Alkana?”
“We’re staying for a while.” Meara looked at Kieran, who nodded. “I think Tyrese is staying too.”
“Does your dad mind?” Ula asked Kieran. She knew how long Stephen had tried to find someone for his daughter. He would be picky about her suitor, no doubt.
“He couldn’t be more pleased,” Kieran said.
Meara’s face filled with adoration. “After Kieran made it clear that there was no braver, stronger, or smarter Selkie than Arren for his sister.”
“What can I say?” Kieran shrugged. “The kid grew on me.”
He hugged Ula next. “Take care of yourself. Keep Vesh in line.”
“Him and the rest of my men,” Ula said with a grin. “We’ll see you again soon.”
She boarded the boat. Vesh and Nuaim were already onboard, preparing the ship. They weren’t taking much back with them, but they planned to return the boat to its garage before heading back to Azuria. She was looking forward to going home.
The months passed quickly as Ula filled her days with wedding plans and running a kingdom. All the Blue Men were invited to attend the ceremony as long as they came in human form. Only a handful decided to go, guard their queen, and pay respects to the Selkie couple. The rest chose to stay behind and protect their home. The fear they lived with under Ken’s reign was taking a long time to fade. Slate offered to stay behind with the men. Ula didn’t want to ask him to, but he insisted. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe he agreed to it on his own. Some of the Sirens were coming to the wedding, and Slate appreciated their beauty. Typically, he wouldn’t miss the chance to flirt with one or a dozen. More than likely, Vesh talked him into staying. Vesh could smooth talk a whale into flying. His tongue was gilded, but as Ula was often the recipient of his beautiful words, she wouldn’t complain about his gift.
They arrived at the house in Aberdeen a month before the wedding. There were repairs to make, cleaning to be done, and guest rooms to prepare. Vesh and Ula had stayed here on and off over the last six months when she needed to make wedding arrangements. She worked with a wedding planner, so most of the work could be done even if she wasn’t around to assist. The woman—Destiny, of all names—was a godsend, and a talented one at that. Nearly everything was in place with the exception of preparing the house. A week beforehand, Destiny would be sending over a crew to decorate, set up chairs and tables, and generally prepare for the ceremony. Until that time, Ula wanted the house to themselves.
Quite a few humans would be there. Darren, Lydia, and Katie Mitchell; Meara’s grandparents, Jamie and Mary; Kim Greeley, Meara’s childhood best friend; and Evan and Deanna, who wasn’t technically human, but was living as one. The only people who declined were friends of Meara’s mom and a few of Meara’s high school friends who couldn’t afford the trip. Overall, Ula thought her niece would be pleased with the turnout. That meant, however, that Ula needed to provide guest rooms since she offered them all a place to stay. She would share the master bedroom with Vesh, and the Blue Men could camp out in the parlor of their room or on the makeshift bunk beds they put in the basement. The other guest rooms would go to the humans staying at the house. That still didn’t leave enough space. Katie and Kim needed to share a room, and Ula hoped they wouldn’t mind.
“The bedrooms must be cleaned. Dust and vacuum,” she told the men. “Wash the linens. Make sure the bathrooms have plenty of clean towels and soap.”
With a nod, a group of men left to follow her orders. There were definite advantages to being queen. She went to check on Vesh. He was doing yard work with another group of their men. She stepped outside and paused to admire the scene before her. Vesh was shoveling mulch from a trailer into one of the flowerbeds. His shirt was tucked into his back pocket, and his skin gleamed with sweat. It was fascinating to watch his muscles move under his skin. Wow, did he have muscles.
“Are you thirsty?” she called to him.
“Are you serving?” he called back, wiping the sweat off his brow. “I could use a drink.”
“Be right back.”
They had stocked the fridge and pantry this trip. She pulled out a pitcher of lemonade and took a stack of glasses from the cabi
net. Once outside, she lined the glasses up and filled them. The men hurried over to empty the contents, and she refilled a few before the pitcher was empty.
“Thanks.” Vesh leaned in and gave her a kiss that tasted tart like the lemons. Once she agreed they should not hide their relationship, he had become very open with his affections. The men were all used to it, but it still felt precious and new to Ula. “In about an hour or so, we’ll be leaving to pick up more flowers.”
“It’s looking great.”
They had already weeded all the beds, trimmed the overgrown bushes, and spread mulch in about half the gardens. The last step would be filling the yard with flowers of all shapes and sizes to add color and fragrance. Destiny had provided a list of all the plants she wanted, and she even arranged with a local garden center to supply the stock. All Vesh had to do was take the rented trailer and pick them up. Oh, and plant them all, of course. There was a benefit to surrounding yourself with strong, capable men.
The inside was being taken care of, the outside was being taken care of, which meant Ula could focus on her vision for Meara’s gown, add a few finishing touches to the house, and then contact the caterer to finalize the menu.
That night, well after sunset, while the Blue Men were either watching television (a new favorite pastime) or training (an old favorite pastime), Ula and Vesh went for a walk around the grounds and down to the cove. When they reached the water’s edge, they sat, removed their shoes and socks, and dipped their feet in the water.
“Do you want this someday?” Vesh asked her, gesturing toward the house. She knew he wasn’t talking about the house, though. He was talking about marriage.
“Yes,” she answered honestly. It might scare him and it might not, but ever since she was a young pup, she dreamed of finding her mate and having kids. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to have a baby; the Blue Men were immortal and considered themselves infertile and finite. At the same time, she was a new breed, a cross between Selkies and the Blue Men. Who knew what the future held for her?
He shifted his body to face her, his expression making him look vulnerable and hesitant. She reached out and touched his cheek. “What is it?”
Her heart gripped with fear. Was he breaking up with her? She remembered a similar expression on Kieran’s face when he suggested they should no longer be together. She couldn’t take it if Vesh left her. She wasn’t sure she would survive the breakup this time.
Swallowing hard, he removed her hand from his cheek and held it between his own. “Ula, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. We’ve been together less than a year, but I can tell you are the one for me.” With those words, the bands around her heart loosened a little and she found she could breathe. “What I’m trying to say is that I want this too. I want to commit to you in front of our kingdom and your family. I want to spend the rest of my eternity with you.”
“Oh, Vesh.” In planning Meara’s wedding, Ula never expected to be proposed to, but she loved Vesh. She loved him so much. He was the first thing on her mind when she woke up and the last thing she thought of before she fell asleep. He had become her rock, and she could think of no one else she wanted by her side, helping her to run the kingdom.
Vesh grinned, clearly pleased with her reaction. He reached into the pocket on his cargo shorts and pulled out a small box. “I picked this up when I was in town last week.” He seemed a little embarrassed by his admission. “Blue Men don’t have a commitment tradition, because historically, we have never married. I don’t know the Selkie traditions, although I’m happy to abide by them if you like. I got this because I saw how much you admired Meara’s ring, and well, I thought it was pretty.”
He held it out to her. She took the box in her shaky hands and lifted the lid. “Wow.” The one word came out in a rush of air. The ring was gorgeous. A princess-cut emerald set in white gold, surrounded by pearls and diamonds.
“I know we’re the Blue Men,” he said while she continued to stare at the ring. “But green brings out your eyes. It’s the color I think of when I think of you, which is pretty much all the time.”
Taking the ring from the box, he slipped it on her finger. “Will you spend the rest of eternity with me?”
“Yes!” Ula threw her arms around his neck. “I will.”
****
Like the beginning of their relationship, they decided to keep their engagement private, at least until after Meara and Kieran’s wedding. Ula wore the ring, but she didn’t say anything about it to anyone. The men didn’t ask or even seem to notice. After the wedding, they would tell the Blue Men first, and everyone else later.
“Should I wear the ring?” Ula asked Vesh two days before the wedding. Guests were arriving that morning, and she didn’t want to draw attention to herself.
“Wear it,” Vesh said. “How will anyone else know what it’s for? It doesn’t look like a typical engagement ring, does it? The jeweler tried to talk me out of it. She said girls prefer diamonds. I told her, not my girl.”
“I love this ring.” Ula raised her hand to look at it. She did that at least a dozen times a day. Her obsession with it alone was bound to raise questions, but she also wanted Vesh to be happy. If she took the ring off, it could hurt his feelings.
“Good.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. They were finally alone. The first time in days. Planning a wedding was a lot of work.
“Maybe we should just elope.”
“Elope?”
“That’s when the couple goes somewhere to get married. Humans go to the beach or Las Vegas.”
“Las Vegas. That’s in the desert, right?”
“Yes.”
Vesh shivered slightly. “I think we can skip that one.”
“Okay.”
Resting his chin on her head, Vesh wrapped himself around her. She loved when he held her like this. Sighing, she relaxed into him. “Would you really want to elope?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter to me. Honest.” She looked up into his serious face. “The important thing is that I get to be with you. Forever.”
“Why not have the minister marry us then?” he asked.
“What?” Ula’s eyes widened. “When would we do that?”
Nonplussed, Vesh shrugged his shoulders. “He’s coming tomorrow evening for the rehearsal. What if we asked him to stay after for a few minutes and marry us?”
“And take the day away from Meara? No.” She would feel terrible if Meara felt that her day wasn’t special because Ula was busy making it her own.
“Do you think Meara will mind? Don’t you think she wants you to be happy as much as you want her happiness?”
“When you put it like that—”
After a quick peck on her lips, Vesh stepped back and released her. “Ask her. She arrives today. Let her tell you no before you decide for her.”
“Okay,” Ula agreed. “I’ll ask.”
The first to arrive were Meara’s grandparents. They were enchanted with Scotland. After saying hello and settling their bags into their room, they excused themselves and went for a drive in their rental car. Ula didn’t mind at all. In fact, she was hoping all the guests would be that self-sufficient. There were plenty of last-minute details to finish.
The Mitchells arrived, sans Evan, and Katie’s eyes bugged out comically at all the buff men working around the house who appeared to be only a few years older than she was.
“What’s your secret, Ula?” she asked. “And will you share?”
Laughing, Ula showed them their rooms. “They’re just friends of my boyfriend, Vesh.” The lie slipped easily off her tongue. “They offered to help, so I let them.”
“I can see why.” Katie swung her suitcase up onto the bed and sat next to it. “Does this house have a pool?”
“No, but some of the guys are about to take the yacht out, if you’d like to go along.” Ula crossed to the window and glanced out. The group was just starting to make their way to the stairs that led to the pier. �
�I can tell them to wait for you.”
“Please.” Katie’s voice bordered on begging, which made Ula chuckle, but she kept it to herself.
Opening the window, she called down, “Wait for one more.”
“Okay, boss!” Dex called back with a grin.
By the time Ula turned around, Katie had already changed into a bikini top and tiny denim shorts. “Is this okay?”
Inwardly, Ula prayed the men would behave themselves. She knew Katie would be in no harm, but even lighthearted flirting and kissing could lead to a crush and bruised feelings. Ula had to trust her men. To Katie, she smiled and said, “You look great.”
Evan’s parents decided to take a nap and recover from their jet lag. So far, all guests were accommodated, and they were only waiting for three more: Evan, Deanna, and Kim.
“Hello?”
Make that only waiting for Kim, since Ula recognized Evan’s voice as the one calling out a greeting in the foyer below.
“Coming!” she called as she ran down the stairs and launched herself into his arms. Evan was very special to her.
He laughed and swung her around. “I missed you too.”
After he set her back on her feet, she hugged Deanna, who looked beautiful in her human disguise, not to mention happy and in love. Upon closer inspection, Ula noticed Evan’s eyes were still silver. “Never got the contacts?”
“I tried them.” He shrugged. “They irritated me. The color isn’t that obvious, so I just let them be.”
“I like his eyes,” Deanna said as she slipped her arm through his and gazed up at him. “I find them very sexy.”
“Your parents and sister are already here,” Ula said, which was like throwing a bucket of water on the couple. Evan straightened, and Deanna moved slightly away. “Katie went out on the boat with some of my men, and—”