“These are the docks and central warehouses of House Merimydion,” Dilys said, pointing to the neat rows of large, aesthetically pleasing buildings gathered along the water’s edge. “Half of all shipments in this hemisphere pass through this port. And thanks to many improvements my father and the other males of House Merimydion made over the years, a full third of that traffic travels on our ships and through our warehouses.”
“You are telling me I’ve married into a House full of canny businessmen.”
He smiled, revealing that creased dimple in his cheek. “Tey.Wealthy, too.”
She laughed. “And modest.”
“Most especially that.” He lifted her hand for a kiss. The ship had come to a halt. Dilys’s crew threw mooring ropes down to the waiting dockworkers. “Come,moa liana.My mother awaits.” A swimmer had brought word earlier thatMyerialAlysaldria had arranged a formal gathering at the palace to greet them. “To be honest, I am surprised she hasn’t already sent a dozen couriers asking what’s taking so long.”
Mostly just to tease him, she said, “Maybe she isn’t looking forward to meeting me quite as much as you’ve led me to believe.”
“That’s not true. I think she was even more impatient for me to claim alianathan I was.”
Gabriella’s brows lifted. “Oh, really?”
“Tey.She wants me settled, happily mated, with a family of my own.”
“Even though I am anoulani?”
He smiled down at her with such tenderness it made her heart ache. “My mother was the one who insisted that I sail to Wintercraig to claim you even when others wanted me to wait for animlanidaughter to come of age.” He smoothed a swooping lock of hair off her face and brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheek in a gentle caress. “I think she is glad, actually, that you areoulani.As such you become a daughter of House Merimydion, and I remain its son rather than joining the House of myimlanibride.Nimaalways wanted a daughter of her own, especially after losing my unborn sister after my father died. I am joyful that in wedding you, I can provide her the daughter she has always longed for.”
Summer could hardly remember what it was to have a mother. She’d been so long without one. “Do you think she’ll like me?”
He laughed, then scooped her up in his arms, sweeping her off her feet and kissing her soundly. “Like you? Oh,moa kiri,she will love you. Of that, I have no doubt. You are a woman of compassion and fire. You are brave and strong, but also gentle and understanding and good with even the most difficult of people.” He set her back down on her feet and kissed her again. Then he straightened, puffed out his chest, and added, “And, of course, she will also love you because you have the good sense to love me, her only son.”
Gabriella smacked him on the chest and rolled her eyes. “Arrogant.”
He pretended to look wounded. “I but speak the truth. Or do you not love me after all?”
“Oh, I love you all right. In spite of the arrogance.”
“Confidence.”
“Arrogance.”
He laughed. “Come now. Admit it. You already love me beyond all reason, just the way I am. You could not possibly love me more.”
Her own smile faded. “Tey,” she agreed seriously. “I do love you,moa akua.Beyond all reason. Just the way you are. I always will.”
He kissed her again, thoroughly. He didn’t pick her up this time; instead he bent down from his great height to meet her where she stood. His fingers thrust through the upswept waves of her hair, dislodging pins. He kissed her as if she were the essence of life and without her he would die. And to him, she was.
“As I love you, Gabriella Merimydion,moa liana, moa haleah, moa fila.” My wife, my love, my life. The words felt like a sacred vow, whispered against her lips, breathed into her very soul. Her arms twined around his neck, holding him fast.
She stood up on the tips of her toes. Her back arched, body strained, as she met him kiss for kiss, vow for vow, love for love. “Moa akua, moa haleah, moa fila,” she whispered back.
When Dilys lifted his head and straightened once more, it was to find all the Calbernans gathered on the docks watching him and Gabriella. They were grinning like thieves who’d just discovered a lost dragon’s hoard. Dilys grinned back, and the crowd burst into raucous cheers, clapping and pumping their fists in the air.
Gabriella turned a deep rose beneath her brown Summerlander skin, but she didn’t shrink back against him. No, his sweet, bravelianalifted her beautiful chin and gave them all a regal—albeit very rosy—nod.
Still grinning, Dilys put a hand to the small of her back and started to usher her towards the end of the dock only to stop again at the sight of his uncle Calivan standing there, his shell-pink-and-ivoryobahfluttering about him in the breeze.
“Uncle, there you are.” Dilys smiled warmly.
Instead of returning the greeting or the warmth, his uncle’s cool golden eyes swept over Gabriella and Dilys, settling on the silky whiteobahDilys’s men had made for him to celebrate his union.
“You spoke your vows? Without a priest? Your mother will not approve.”
Dilys felt Gabriella stiffen at his side, and his own body drew tight with rising aggression. In a quiet voice, he said, “Uncle, you forget yourself. Do you not give welcome to myliana,Mystral’s first Siren since the Slaughter?”
