But now, as he looked at her, he knew that wasn’t true. Now, he was more alone than he’d ever been before.
Maybe it was all a lie. Maybe she didn’t want him. Maybe her body had just been feeding off his to survive.
“Maybe I’m a fool for even trying to make this work,” he whispered. But then, with his heart on the line, what else could he do?
“What?” Bridget looked up at him, walking faster to catch up with his longer stride. They were heading back to the palace. She only agreed to go after he’d promised to take her to the borderlands with him. Perhaps seeing them for herself, she’d finally accept her fate, her future.
“Nothing.” It wasn’t like the borderlands themselves were dangerous and he did have a house in the country. No, Caderyn was more worried about the journey to the borderlands. For him it was safe. He was Merr. But, there was a small faction that lived within the forest, away from their society, who wouldn’t welcome Bridget to their underwater island.
The Olympians, as they called themselves after the gods of Mt. Olympus, didn’t want the humans brought to Ataran, for they looked at the Merr curse as a blessing. They believed themselves to be gods below the waves, blessed with immortality and power. Before the caves at the palace were sealed, the Olympians had been caught luring humans to their deaths for sick pleasure. It had been a rough time for the Merr people. Loyalties had been divided. Some to this day still blamed the Olympians for the Merr curse lasting so long without reprieve. There were those, who still believed that one day Poseidon would come down and forgive them, lifting them up into the sunlight once more. Caderyn had his doubts, but it was a nice dream. Though, he was luckier than most, as he was a hunter. He was allowed to go up. He had seen the sunlight through the watery surface, had seen the mystical colors of magenta and gold on the waves above him. Still, it wasn’t the same as feeling the warmth of the sun on his face, seeing land and the starry heavens above him as he rode his horse through the wind.
So long, and still those small sensations of memory stayed with him. When he looked at Bridget, he saw the chance to make new memories. She would be his sun, his wind, his stars.
That was if the Olympians didn’t hurt her first. Even if she didn’t love him, he would admire her from afar. If anything, he’d learned that centuries can change everything. But, he’d also learned that they can sometimes change nothing.
If the Olympians found Bridget, he wasn’t sure what they’d do to her. It had been so long since anyone had even seen them. Rumors had surfaced that they were dead. Even more rumors circulated that they were alive and plotting revenge. Only time would tell the truth of it, but Caderyn had no wish to learn it by sacrificing his wife.
He walked faster, all too aware of the stares they received from his people. Some of the married men smiled kindly at him, nodding in what looked like understanding. Were they trying to tell him all women, all wives, were like this? If so, it was a wonder any race survived.
“So you’re not talking to me now?” Bridget asked, a small pout in her soft tone.
Caderyn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Now she was pouting? Did she get off on making his head spin? First she ran away and now she was upset that he wasn’t talking to her? The woman made no sense! And yet, he couldn’t blame her one bit for her fear and confusion.
They had reached the palace gate and were afforded a little privacy. Bridget looked at him expectantly. Caderyn glanced around. They could be seen from below, but not heard. Turning back to her, he put his fists on his hips and demanded harshly, “Are you always this aggravating?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice was weak. “Are you always this irritating?”
He didn’t answer. There was no point. He’d only say something he’d regret.
“How soon can we leave for the borderlands?”
Is that all the woman could think about? The borderlands? Caderyn tried to remind himself that she was a woman of facts and that she was also going through a hard time. The reminder didn’t help his aggravation. She had to learn to trust him, and she had to learn that she was not the boss in their relationship. It was a partnership and he would not be dictated to.
“The king has a banquet planned to celebrate our wedding,” Caderyn said. “Tonight.”
“Do we have to go?” she asked. “I don’t want to go to a banquet. I want to leave tonight.”
Caderyn forced a deep breath of air back into his lungs to steady his temper. His mouth tight, he said, “We cannot refuse this.”
It was a lie. They could refuse it and the king would only re-plan the celebration for another time, but she needed to be taken down a few notches if they were to have a happy marriage.
“We’re not actually married, so we can,” she said.
“We are married. The vows are done. All heard you.” Caderyn took another deep breath. It wasn’t helping. Anger mixed with irritation until it practically oozed out of his pours. So much for not fighting.
“No, they heard me say I didn’t want a guardian,” she reasoned. “I didn’t say I wanted a husband. You can still get out of the marriage, Caderyn, with your honor intact, or whatever it is you’re worried about.”
“It’s the same thing.” Caderyn moved to follow her as she walked under the front arch to the palace courtyard.
“No, I want no guardian and no husband.” Bridget frowned. She shot him a sidelong glance. Despite her words, he caught a glimmer of doubt in her expression.
“What is this about?” Caderyn stopped, touching her arm. “Is there something you need to say to me?”
Bridget swallowed nervously. She looked like a small fish cornered by a shark. The hero in him wanted to rescue her and let her off the hook. The man in him refused to move. “I’ve been talking, haven’t you been listening? I do not want to be your responsibility or your duty. I want no husband and no guardian. And, if I’m reading your expression right, you’d rather not be married to me.”
“Get this straight, wife. We are married. The words were said and the blessing given. It cannot be undone.”
Her face paled slightly and her big eyes welled with tears. Caderyn was instantly sorry for his hard tone.
“I never asked to be saved or to come here. You remember that.” Bridget sniffed, swiping her eyes. “Whatever creature you were hunting that destroyed my ship, maybe it was meant to destroy it. Perhaps it was my time to go. Who are you to decide this fate for me? I had a life up there. Here I am nothing. I have nothing.”
Caderyn couldn’t move. A life with him was nothing. What more was there to say? The words carved a hollow pit where his heart used to beat, strangling the breath from his soul. Slowly, he nodded. What else could he do? If she truly believed that a future with him, a life with him was nothing, then it was over. He’d tried words and they hadn’t worked. Now it seemed the only option left was to try time. Without saying another word, he turned his back on her and walked into the palace.
Chapter 17
The banquet hall was filled with well-wishers. Bridget tried to smile at them, but it was difficult with her preoccupation. Caderyn didn’t talk to her, didn’t say anything to answer whether or not he wanted to be married to her. She didn’t want to be his duty. Watching him for a sign of what he was feeling, she was disheartened when he barely even looked at her. Ever since their fight, Bridget had felt horrible. She really wasn’t mad at him for saving her life. It wasn’t as if she’d wanted to drown. But, she didn’t want to be a wife just because there were no other women to choose from either.
She wished he would have said something to her. Anything to try and convince her that life with him would be more than what it seemed. Was it foolish to hope that he’d give her a reason, beyond some declaration made, as to why she should be with him?
The feast that was laid out for them was larger than the first night she’d come to the hall. Plates were piled with crab cakes and roasted fish. There were gigantic shell fish, ten times as big as any lobster she’d ever seen. It
tasted wonderful, drizzled in a cream sauce.
The only drawback was that the fish looked as if they’d been caught in the Abyss. Their skin was translucent and they had long, sharp fangs. There were anglerfish and viperfish, with their lures still attached to their head. In deep sea, these fish used the glowing lures to attract other fish. If she remembered correctly, viperfish were believed to only grow to about a foot long. The one on the serving dish was nearly twice that size. Studying it, she poked it with her finger. Caderyn gave her a curious look and she quickly drew her hand away.
Bridget had to admit that she missed such foods as butter and cheese. There wasn’t much for dairy products, at least not as she knew them. They did have a cheese paste for the flatbread. It was slightly green in color. It reminded her of mold, so she skipped it. It was no wonder the Merr looked so healthy. All they ate was fruit, nuts and seafood. Looking at the table, she knew she’d give anything for a fast food cheeseburger loaded with grease and ketchup, and a side of deliciously fattening fries. Ah, and a chocolate milkshake with little chunks of brownies in it.
Mm, brownies…
Small rectangular bowls of pudding were set out, blended with nuts and fruit. The man at her side told her that it was a delicacy they only had maybe once or twice a year for special occasions. Bridget thought she would gag on the bittersweet taste of the dish. She gently pushed it toward Caderyn’s plate, switching it with his empty bowl when she thought no one was looking. When he saw it, he glanced at her in surprise. Bridget gave him a guilty look. A small smile crossed his face, the first since coming to the hall. Without a word, he ate hers as well.
“Good, was it not?” the man to her side asked, grinning as he nodded down at the empty bowl she’d taken from Caderyn.
“Mm,” Bridget said, nodding slightly.
“I want you to meet someone,” Caderyn said, interrupting her halfhearted lie. He gazed deep into her eyes. It wasn’t fair that he was so cute and that his eyes were so ravishing a color. He searched hers and she did her best to keep her expression blank. “Lady Lyra. She is like you. Rigel saved her the same night.”
That caught her attention. “We didn’t have anyone on our boat named Lyra.”
“She was from the other wreck,” Caderyn said. “There were two scylla we hunted that night. The first one hit her boat. She was the only survivor besides a man who Lord Brutus pushed away on driftwood. Most likely, that man drowned as well.”
Bridget thought of the man she’d pulled from the ocean. He’d been wearing period clothing and the boat had been nothing but wood and canvas sails, at least from what she’d seen of it floating in the water. Eagerly, she glanced around the hall. “Is Lyra here?”
“There, by the entryway,” Caderyn nodded. He stood. “I’ll introduce you.”
Bridget followed Caderyn across the hall. The woman had dark blonde hair down to her waist and wide green eyes. She was beautifully dressed in a Romanesque tunic that pinned over the arms to create gaping sleeves. Lyra glanced briefly at Bridget before staring down at the floor.
“Rigel,” Caderyn said to acknowledge the man next to Lyra. Rigel was built like Caderyn. He had kind gray eyes, but he didn’t readily smile as they approached. “May I introduce my...” Caderyn glanced at Bridget and she could see the worry on his face. After a brief pause, he said, “Lady Bridget.”
Rigel arched a brow at that. Then, bowing politely, he said to Bridget, “My lady, welcome to Ataran. I was hoping to meet you. I would’ve come sooner but my team went back out to track.”
Lyra snorted in disgust. Bridget wondered at it. The woman didn’t look up.
“Anything?” Caderyn asked. Bridget saw a slight tension run through him. She wondered if he was upset about the king’s order keeping him from the water.
“No, false alarm,” Rigel answered. He turned to the blonde at his side. “This is Lady Lyra of the Explorer.”
“The Explorer?” Bridget asked, studying the woman, desperate to discover who she was and what they’d been doing out on the water. “Is that a ship?”
Lyra glanced up, but didn’t answer.
“She’s not talking at the moment,” Rigel said. He gave Lyra a hopeful look, one she didn’t appear to see. “Lyra, Lady Bridget was also on the water that night but on a different boat.”
“Ah,” Lyra said, her jaw hard. Her deep voice sounded bitter, as she said, “Then you killed her family as well.”
Rigel’s lips pressed tightly together, but he said nothing.
“I came and now I’m going,” Lyra glanced at Bridget. The poor woman looked miserable as she turned away, despite her rude tone and actions. Bridget could well understand the feelings of helplessness and frustration at their situation.
Rigel sighed. “Excuse me. I should go with her.”
Caderyn nodded. When they were alone, he asked, “What is wrong with her?”
“How should I know?” Bridget stared after Rigel and Lyra. He ran to catch up as the woman walked ahead of him. “Were there any others rescued that night besides the three of us?”
“No. Just you, Lady Lyra and Lady Cassandra. Rigel was hoping that since you were like her, you could tell us what was wrong with Lady Lyra,” Caderyn admitted. “She doesn’t speak much and hasn’t been eating. Rigel is very worried about her.”
“How would you feel, Caderyn, if you were dragged to the surface and tossed onto land?” Bridget took a deep breath.
“I wouldn’t feel anything. It would kill me.”
“Well, then maybe this is killing her just a little bit, too,” Bridget answered, her tone soft as she tried to make him understand. She sighed. Lyra had disappeared around a corner with Rigel right behind her. Finally, looking back up, she said, “I’ve made my appearance and am tired. Please, may I just go lie down and rest now?”
He stared at her for a long moment before nodding.
“Let me know as soon as we can leave for the borderlands” Without waiting for his answer, she left the hall.
Chapter 18
Caderyn kept his word and took Bridget from the palace early the next day. Traveling by foot toward the borderlands, they walked through the city to the forest. It was only the two of them and Caderyn didn’t say much. He appeared to have a lot on his mind.
The night before, he’d slept on the couch. Bridget had stayed awake, waiting for him to try coming into the bedroom. Of course, she would have refused to have sex with him just to prove she knew the word ‘No’, but she was still disappointed that he didn’t at least try. Apparently, he knew the word as well. Damn him for taking away her chance to be the one to show restraint! Still, as she lay awake, ‘No’ was not what her body was saying.
Bridget wore a sturdy wool tunic gown, nothing like the fine sari of the day before. It was warmer, perfect for traveling. A long rectangular cloak of red wool wrapped around the tunic. She was told it was for sleeping outdoors. Though, she was tempted to order some of those pants Aidan had. Dresses were not always the most practical of outfits.
Caderyn had left his short tunic behind and she was secretly glad for it. Seeing his naked legs, knowing that he didn’t wear underwear beneath his garments was pure torture—a torture she could do without at the moment. He wore a tunic shirt, draped with a long piece of red wool. Too many times she caught herself staring at the hem of his toga, wishing she was brave enough to lift it up and explore the wonders of his magnificent body. She’d have to remind herself that she was mad at him and was going to deny him sex the next time he tried.
I have a point to prove, after all. I am not a whore. I have self-control. Bridget suppressed a groan. But he does have such a great ass.
The trees of the forest weren’t really any different than those she’d seen on the surface. The ground was rocky, covered with patches of tall grass and the occasional dotting of wild flowers. The only difference was the darker blue of the sky. Looking up, she studied the heavens through the tops of the trees and asked, “Where does your daylight come from?
There is no sun and we’re beneath the ocean. By all rights, it should be dark in here and you should have light bulbs growing out of you, to see by, like the angler fish.”
Caderyn grimaced but answered, “By the will of the gods. It has always been this way.”
“And what happens at night?” she wondered aloud, realizing she’d yet to be outside during the night. “Does it change? Get darker?”
“Aye.” The word was clipped, short and a little rude.
So much for small talk. Bridget made a face at his back. Grumbling, she said, “You don’t have to be so short with me, mister grumpy butt.”
At that he stopped. “Tell me. Why ask me these things when you don’t believe the words I say? Is it to test me? To aggravate me? Some sort of self-amusement?”
Bridget swallowed. She motioned weakly with her hand and made a move to continue past him. His arms shot out, stopping her.
“Or is it you do believe me,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. She saw the subtle coloring of purple scales along his temples, the same as when he made love to her, the same as when he’d shifted into his merman form. Anytime he was passionate about something, they showed, whether it be anger or fear. “You do believe me, don’t you? Then why are we out here? What’s going on? What is this all about?”
“I…” Bridget sighed heavily in annoyance.
“Well?” he demanded.
“Oh, fine! I believe you. Are you happy? I believe you. I’ve believed you for a long time now. Too many things can only be explained by this being a lost island cast beneath the sea. Though I’m having a hard time swallowing the whole cursed by gods bit, I believe you.”
Caderyn grinned, appearing very satisfied with himself.
The Mighty Hunter Page 11