Aqua Coral's Arc

Chapter 16 of 16

The wedding filled the castle with light. Blue and white banners hung from every tower. Aqua stood at the altar in her sea-blue gown, her scales glowing bright along her arms. The officiant tied silver ribbon around her wrist and Alden's, binding them. Half the kingdom watched a human king marry a half-fish woman. No one turned away. When Alden kissed her, the whole hall cheered. Now the doors of their chamber shut behind them. The noise of the feast faded to a hum. Aqua pressed her back to the carved wood and breathed. She had crossed the shore and the sea to reach this room. She had faced guards who stared at her scales. She had faced a kingdom that did not know if a fish-woman could be its queen. Tonight none of that mattered. Alden crossed the room and set his crown on the table. He did not soften his voice. "You are my wife now." "I am," Aqua said. Her scales caught the candlelight and shimmered. "Say it again." "My wife." He took her hand and turned the ring on her finger. "My queen." She stepped into him. His hands found her back, warm through the gown. Her scales flared blue where he touched her arms, then brighter along her thighs, until the light filled the room. He did not flinch from them. He never had. That was how she knew this was real. They moved to the wide bed together. The candles burned low. Outside, the sea hummed against the castle walls, and for once Aqua did not listen for it. She listened only to Alden's heartbeat under her cheek. She had wanted this man since he pulled her from the sand. Now he was hers, and she was his, and the whole castle knew it. Later she lay against his chest in the dark. Her scales still glowed faint blue. She traced the line of his jaw with one finger. "I have no more to search for," she said. "The stone is safe. My brother gave his blessing. The kingdom saw us married." She let out a slow breath. "I have everything." Alden was quiet a moment. Then he spoke, calm as always. "Not everything." Aqua lifted her head. "What do you mean?" "A kingdom needs an heir." He looked at her steady. "The council spoke of it at the feast. They watched you all night. They are counting the months already." Aqua sat up. The glow of her scales dimmed. She had won the king. She had won the crown. She had not thought past this night. A human king and a half-fish queen. No child like theirs had ever been born. "Can we?" she asked. Her voice came small. "A child of the sea and the land. What would it be?" Alden caressed her cheek and smiled as he spoke softly, “Maybe both baby.” Then he kissed her hard and she kissed back.