But as they slipped outside into the bright streets of Alindale, Liora quietly crossed her fingers behind her back.
Please let this work.
If everything went right. If the elders listened. If they accepted the explanation, then by this time tomorrow…
She wouldn’t be married anymore.
Chapter 5
Liora
Liora wasn’t sure what to expect, meeting with Maldenis’s mother. Not that she ever thought she’d meet her, much less as her new mother-in-law.
Whatever she expected, it wasn’tthis.
“So,” the tall, imposing basilisk said. “You are my son’s wife.”
From the emerald scales to the golden eyes, it was obvious who she was. However, where Maldenis had that confident air and swagger, Melora simply hadmore. More confidence, more power. Everything more, turned up to eleven.
Even now, as they sat in the living room of her sumptuous home in the most exclusive neighborhood of Solkaris having tea and cakes, she seemed impossibly formidable.
“Yes,” she managed to reply without her voice shaking. “I’m Liora Chura.”
Her golden eyes roamed up and down Liora’s form. “Not the type of female I pictured my son would choose.”
“Mother,” Maldenis warned. “Don’t?—”
A single raised eyebrow silenced him.
A brief flash struck Liora like lightning.
The disapproval.
And disappointment.
A young basilisk boy, his tail shaking.
Liora cleared her throat. “Surely I didn’t come all the way so you could judge my looks. We drove through the night to get back here. So, why don’t we cut to the chase?”
Melora’s head snapped back to her. Liora saw the tiniest twitch at the corner of her lips. “Let’s do that.” She picked up a delicate tea cup and took a sip, her slitted golden gaze peering over the rim. “You know why you’re here, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you leave Solkaris?”
The question came from nowhere. Liora thought Maldenis’s mother would interrogate her about her background, her family, her accomplishments and what she would bring to this marriage. But this was the one question she didn’t know how to answer. At least, not in a way that would not displease Melora.
So, she decided on the truth. “It all sounded like bullshit to me,” she said. “And we really didn’t know what we were doing. We just wanted to uh, cool off.” Memories from what happened moments before they were caught flooded her brain. Her face must have given away what she was thinking, because there was a look of recognition on Melora’s face, one that saidI know what you were doing and it wasn’t just cooling off.
“I see. But as it stands, it doesn’t matter whether or not you two knew about the marriage ritual or the ancient laws. The spring does not differentiate between ignorance and intention.”
“As we’ve been told repeatedly,” Maldenis said under his breath. “So, what do we have to do now?”
“Abide by the laws. Stay married—a real marriage, not one in name only—for a year and day.”
“There’s really no way out of this?” Liora asked. “What if…what if we declared ourselves divorced now and then take a rain check for later?”
“Do not be smart with me,” Melora warned. “And definitely don’t try it with the elders.”
