“She looks overwhelmed, brother,” one of the two men said and I made another turn.
Bad idea, I was now dizzy on top of everything else.
The red-skinned one leaned toward the other and whispered something to him that I didn’t hear. The purple one nodded and took a step forward before stopping in front of me. My vision started to blur around the edges. “My name is Khegon,”he said softly, lifting his palm up. “I am the leader of our people on Vallad. I am happy to welcome you among us and looking forward to calling you my sister.”
Sister. Calling me hissister.
I blinked slowly, fighting the urge my legs had to just give out, and turned my head toward the one that stayed behind. The red-skinned one. Thelargerone.
Of course it was him. I’d been too busy freaking out to think aboutallthe clues I had been given.
Khegon waited, his palm still up. My damn heart needed to calm down. Tegha pulled on my hand and leaned closer to me. “Our father is waiting to greet you the way of our people.”
Shit. Right, the hand on the stomach thing.
Like I wasn’t already overwhelmed and overstimulated enough…
My throat bobbed but I gave him my approval. He smiled and then, slowly and carefully placed his hand on my stomach. He did not give me the time to do the same before he stepped back and extended his arm for me to take it.
Oh dear.Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
I slid my hand in the crook of his arm and followed after him, my eyes now trained on the man we were walking to.
Filbur. The giant who was, according to his nieces, also a sweet healer. Whose skin and eyes were bright red. Whose ginormous hands looked like they could cover my whole damn head and wrap around the whole length of my forearm.
When we stopped next to him, Khegon smiled and gently picked up my hand.
“Welcome to our family. Tamara.”
6
A good sign for the future of your relationship.
Filbur
Behind her striking beauty, she looked terrified. Khegon placed her small, delicate—shaking—hand in mine and took a step back.
My bride’s eyes were wide as they met gaze and I couldn’t help but feel hurt. She was scared of me. Maybe just disappointed…In any way, she looked ready to bolt.
I smiled anyway, hoping to reassure her.
“It is nice to finally meet you,” I said, bending my head in respect. “My name is Filbur.”
She did not blink. Did not move, even to acknowledge my words. Shame washed over me when my body reacted to her proximity. I mentally thanked myself for tying the knot of my belt at my front instead of my side like I usually did.
I cleared my throat and brought her hand to my lips. “I will do everything in my power for you to feel safe and comfortablehere,” I said, a slight alteration of one of our partnering promises that fitted our current situation.
Her gaze suddenly softened, going from wide and terrified to curious and—tired.
My bride was exhausted.
And yet, when I pulled her hand away from my lips, she slid it away from mine to place it on my chest. She was still shaking, but for some reason, she did not look as scared as she did when she first spotted my brother and I.
I returned the gesture. Warmth bloomed in my chest at the tentative smile pulling at her lips. I did not care if she only did that because she had been told to. She understood the meaning. Understood what it meant for our people.
Once she would be more comfortable here, I would make sure she taught me everything aboutherpeople so I could return the respect and affection.
“Will the ceremony take place here?” Maxwell asked from a few feet behind her, studying the area.
