A Bride for the Water God (Divine Dragons 1)

TWO MONTHS LATER

Great, towering waves surged and leapt toward the vibrant blue skies. The frothy white surf crashed, mingling with the howling sea winds to create a cacophony, a song. Wispy white clouds sailed in front of the sun, heavy and round with golden light.

Calder’s essence had gradually seeped into my body. The dragon’s divinity filled me, creeping into my blood, my bones, into every visceral part of my being. His strength, his power, bolstered me—morphed me.

On the outside, I was the same as I’d always been. Brown skin darkened by years in the sun, light brown eyes that glinted like amber in the sunlight. My tight, curly hair was currently twisted into thin braids and threaded with little shells that clicked together when I moved.

Inside, in the place where my soul connected to Calder’s, everything was different. I wasn’t immortal yet—to become divine was a gradual process. But I was more connected to the sea than I knew a person could be.

I heard each slap and crash of the waves as if they were gentle kisses of air on my skin. I felt the tide pushing and pulling as if it was the blood coursing in my veins, mapped out like all the rivers in the world. I smelled rain coming from a distance, further than I ever thought possible. Those pattering droplets could have been pouring down across the world, and yet my skin tingled with awareness.

I could go into the sea on my own. Even without Calder, gills would sprout on my neck each time I slipped into the water. I explored further and deeper into the sea than ever before.

And the rusalka gave me a wide berth, sensing the growing power within me. They knew that I was no longer their prey.

The growing bond with Calder was nothing short of amazing. Each day, we learned something new about one another. He taught me about being a god, told me stories of his brothers, and showed me how intense his devotion could go. And I cherished him with every ounce of my worship.

My god. My love. My soulmate. He was my everything.

When enough time passed, our bond had settled into place, and Calder could control his dragon urges better around me. He came to me to fulfill his promise. On a brilliant sunny morning, I stood on the shores near my village with the towering god by my side.

Calder wore a one-shouldered toga of rich blue, threaded through with gold silk. With every movement he made, the material shimmered like a sea mixing with liquid gold, and I wore a halter dress of the same fabric. In the back, the fabric dipped between his brilliant wings and around the spot for his tail. His dark blue-green hair was tied half up and studded with shells that matched my own. Every beautiful blue scaley inch of him made him appear as if he’d stepped right out of the water and onto the sand.

In reality, he’d flown us over the sea. A terrifying sensation to get used to. Not entirely unpleasant after a few times, and the views were astounding.

“Are you ready?” he asked, banding an arm around my waist.

I sucked in a shaky breath, every part of me shaking. My insides coiled tight with nerves. I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, almost hard enough to bruise it worse than Calder’s hungriest kisses.

“They must think I died that day. I went into the sea and never returned. Even if they’ve had rain since then, even the crops grew back and their bellies were filled, their thirst quenched… they would have grieved. They might still be mourning. I worry how my return will affect them,” I admitted.

His thumb smoothed over my side, easing a mere fraction of the fraught tension binding my insides. “I’m sure they know in their hearts that you survived, Marilla. When their prayers were answered, they would have known.”

“I’m not so sure. Even I believed I was barely a bride and mostly just a sacrifice. I thought that even if I drowned and sank to the bottom of the sea, it would be the answer to getting rain.” My shoulders dropped. “People can be a bit silly, I think.”

Calder turned me to face him, cupping my cheek in his oversized palm. “The world never would have had another drop of rain if you’d drowned. Even without seeing you, my soul would have known I lost something precious that day. I would have come for you eventually—we were destined.”

“You’re right.” I smiled, holding his wrist. “I was always your fate, wasn’t I?”

“You were.” He bent down and lightly kissed my forehead. “Now, let me show you how well off your people have been since they gifted you to me.”

“Gifted,” I scoffed. With our arms looped together, we padded through the sandy shore toward the village. “They picked a name at random and sacrificed me.”

His head tipped down, and one brow arched at me. “Do you resent their decision?”

I sighed, then nuzzled my face into his arm. “No. I’m the damn idiot who willingly got into the boat, aren’t I?” Then I laughed. “Though I suppose it worked out in my favor. I’m pleased enough with my fate.”

“Pleased enough?” Calder sucked in a sharp inhale, sounding mock insulted. “It seemed more than enough when you were screaming last night and coming on my co—” A grunt punched from his lips when my elbow jammed into his stomach, effectively shutting him up.

“Shut up, you big horny fish. I don’t want anyone to overhear you.” The first line of houses at the edge of my village came into view. My heart sped up, racing faster and bouncing behind my ribs.

Laughter drifted on the wind; the sounds of children playing. They shouted in glee, and it was a glorious sound I hadn’t heard in ages. Adults were laughing and conversing. The bustling sounds grew louder, and my breath came faster.

We crested the hill that led to the sea, and the entire village came into view up ahead. My sandals crunched in the plush, vibrant grass. I paused there, stunned and watching the scene before my eyes.

The lane of the market was colorful, overflowing with fat stacks of fruits and vegetables. Villagers were smiling and chatting, cheerful with flushed, healthy faces.

A long shadow speared over the village; Calder’s frame was drawn long by the sun at his back. Wide wings spread, casting the village in sudden darkness.

A bright, glossy apple fell from a frozen hand. It tumbled over the cobblestone lane, rolling as loud as thunder in the sudden silence.

Every set of eyes turned our way. Mouths dropped open, unabashedly gaping. The first few to unfreeze dropped to their knees, heads bowed in veneration for the god in their midst.

“Marilla.” Others whispered.

“It’s Marilla.” Their voices were sighs in the wind. “She survived.”

Nearby, the river ran, gushing and nearly overflowing. Heavy, brightly colored freshwater fish leapt through the rippling current. The fishermen were poised with their nets and spears in midair as they looked our way.

They were stunned to see a dragon god, and I was thrilled to see the river bustling with water and life once more. Not only that, but the fields were taller than I’d ever seen them in my life.

“You did it,” I murmured, gripping Calder tighter. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over.

“Of course, rabbit.” He tugged me tighter against his side as we walked through my village. His free arm waved over the thriving state of the land, drawing focus to the renovated buildings in every direction.

“The crops are so big,” I said.

“I might have enchanted the water for rapid growth,” he shrugged out, pretending it was no big deal. It was an easy thing for him to do, to manipulate his power. But he’d done it for me.

“Even so, how did it change so much in two months?” I was awed.

Calder smirked, puffing up at how impressed I appeared. “Well, it rained the morning you woke up in my bed. While it rained, I sent water spirits to the shore with water, food, medicine, and supplies to repair the damage that befell the village in the drought.”

Overcome with joy, buzzing with electric happiness, I leapt at Calder. I threw my arms around his shoulders, holding him tight as I slammed my mouth to his. His arms curled around my ribs, crushing me to his chest as he returned my sudden passion.

A villager gasped, dropping her basket at the sight. I only smiled into the Water God’s mouth, not caring if everyone thought I was mad.

“Rilla?” a soft, youthful voice called out.

I yanked away from Calder’s mouth, head whipping around. He kept his hold on me as I searched for that voice.

“Willa,” I sighed. The leashed tears escaped, freely falling down my cheeks.

Standing nearby, in a new dress and new pins in her wild curls, my sister lifted her small hand and waved. Her lips split into a wide grin, showing off the new gap of a missing tooth. There was a new doll hanging from her other hand, being shaken as her little feet kicked off into a full sprint.

“Marilla!” My mother’s voice followed. “Honey, our daughter!”

Mother and father were exiting a newly constructed, massive house at the edge of the village. Two floors with a garden, wide windows and a sprawling balcony.

“You did that for them?” I whispered to Calder.

“I did this for you,” he answered.

“Marilla?” Father finally spotted me. His eyes rounded, and his face blanched of color when he spotted the Water God beside me.

“Go on,” Calder urged, nudging my back. “Your family is expecting you.”

I whirled on him, grabbing his wrist. Calder’s brows arched up and a gentle smile split his lips.

“Come on, you big fish.” I tugged him along with me, dragging him toward my family. “I have to introduce them to my husband, don’t I?”

“Aye,” he answered, returning his arm around my waist. “Aye, love. Let’s meet the family.”

THE END

A/N

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Next in the Divine Dragons series - A Bride for the Mountain God (out now)