Mina couldn’t believe Addanos blessed their marriage. She was still looking at her left wrist when Jayden cupped her cheek with his hand, turning her head towards him; his thumb stroked her skin.
Her heart beat viciously in her chest, and her knees felt like jelly.
Jayden dipped his head. “Little lamb, you are my wife now,” he whispered against her lips.
Mina closed her eyes and felt his lips on her, kissing her softly. While Jayden kissed her, the others congratulated them.
Jayden lifted his head, and Navin undid the string that was still around their left wrists. “May Addanos, the God of Equilibrium, bless your marriage!” the Water Mage said. He looked at Jayden. “Take care of her, Son of the Land or the Water God will take his blessing back!”
Mina frowned. She had never heard of someone being called Son of the Land before. For the first time since Mina met Jayden, she wondered if he was more than just human. She remembered how fast he moved when her uncle came to the house or how his eyes kept turning golden.
Jayden looked at Navin. “Thank you, Son of the Water! If you ever need my help, look for me!” The Water Mage gave him a curt nod. Still having his fingers interlaced with Mina’s, Jayden looked at his men. “Let’s go home and celebrate that Addanos gave his acceptance of my union with Andarra!”
Hugo’s eyebrows went up. He looked at Jayden and Navin as if they were crazy. “What in the name of the Gods are you talking about? I never heard of—what did you call Mina? And what is supposed to be a Son of the Land? Or Water?”
Jayden rubbed the back of his neck. “For my people, Andarra is the title of the wife of the tribe leader. A Son of the Land it’s a person who has a deep connection with the soil and lives in the mountains or close to them. The Son of the Water is close to the water. Navin is, after all, a Water Mage.”
Mina made a mental note to go to the Public Library and to read everything she found about the Sons of the Land and those of Water. Also, about Andarra and Uzgaia.
Hugo narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to say you are not human?”
Jayden chuckled. “I am what you see, Hugo. Nothing more and nothing less. Well, if you are not returning with us at the house, we will get going.” He looked at the Water Mage, took out a little satchel with coins, and put it on the altar. “A donation for Addanos’ shrine. Or whatever you need the money for.”
Jayden guided Mina outside the shrine. His men followed him. They were close to the lake when Hugo came after them. “Jayden,” Hugo said. The Commander stopped walking. “Could I have a word with you?”
“Whatever you have to say, go ahead. I don’t have a habit of keeping things hidden from my men,” Jayden said.
“It’s personal,” Hugo said. “It will take just a few minutes.”
Herron cleared his throat. “The others and I will wait for you next to the Gardens. Andarra?” he asked when Mina was still standing next to Jayden.
“It is alright, Herron. Mina remains with me. I am sure that whatever Hugo has to say is for Mina’s ears as well.”
Jayden’s men left, leaving Mina alone with her husband and cousin. A soft breeze blew, fluttering Mina’s dress and the red ribbon. She usually wore her hair let loose, but for the wedding, she braided it around her head.
The ribbon would remain around her waist until she arrived home, and Jayden would take it off.
Hugo looked at the lake for a few moments. Still looking at the water, he spoke. “We don’t know each other well,” he said to the Commander, “and I know it is not my right to stick my nose in your marriage, but could you be gentle with her?” Mina wondered what her cousin was talking about. Hugo looked at Jayden. “She doesn’t know about—there was no time to—” he stopped talking.
Mina looked at the grass. She understood what Hugo was trying to say. Perhaps it was for the best that Jayden knew about her lack of knowledge.
Jayden nodded. “I understand, and I promise I will be as gentle as I can. I am not into hurting women in any way.”
Hugo let out a breath he was holding in. “Thank you! Well then, I will go speak to my father. Mina, I will visit you as soon as possible,” he said before leaving.
Hugo went in the opposite direction, as Jayden and Mina were.
“Let’s go home, little lamb,” Jayden said.
As they started walking, Mina thought about how much her life had changed in the last few days. She went from being single and without hope she would ever have a family to being married. For the first time since Rosalyn’s curse, Mina thought maybe she would be happy with the Commander.
“Jayden,” Mina said, drawing his attention to her. “I know we haven’t talked about children, but do you want to wait until we have one, or do you want a son as soon as possible?”
Mina knew men usually wanted a son—an heir—before they had daughters.
Jayden was silent for a while. They were close to the end of the Gardens when he spoke. “I think we are young and have enough time to have children. How about we enjoy each other for a while before we have little ones? And, Mina? I don’t care if you only give me daughters. I would love them as much as I would love a son.”
Mina felt disappointed. She dreamed of being a mother. Her thoughts went to Nolan, her nephew, or the children from the sewers. “As you wish,” she said in a sad tone.
“What’s wrong?” Jayden asked.
“Nothing.”
Jayden tsked. “You sound upset. Why?” Mina didn’t reply. “Mina?” he insisted. Jayden stopped walking. He put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. “If you don’t tell me what I said or did to upset you, I won’t know how to fix it.”
Jayden stared at her, waiting for her to talk. “I just hoped we would have children soon,” Mina finally said.
“The mansion is not ready. My men are taking care of it, but it will take a little longer than I expected. And then there are .... things that I need to resolve.” He looked around the Garden. “While I was born in this city, I never liked it. We might move soon if things go as I want them to.”
“Move? Move where?” Mina asked.
“To Ora Dorei. The journey would be long, and having you pregnant during that time will make me—restless.”
It was the first time Jayden had mentioned moving from Athea. “We can’t move!” Mina said. “I have my family here. Besides, I don’t know anyone in Ora Dorei!”
Jayden snorted. “Mina, I am not doing it because I want to take you away from your family. And I would not consider Rosalyn and Duke Tedric as family. They don’t deserve you! Be honest, do you want to raise our children in this city, where they will be judged for what they are?”
Jayden was right. Their children will be hated by everyone. Those from the upper and the middle class would look with disgust at them, while the poor class would crave their money and position. At least Ora Dorei was different. “I suppose you are right,” Mina said.
“Also, as Uzgaia and Andarra, we have a duty towards our people. This city is not good for those like me. We need to feel the grass beneath our feet while we run through the forest. I feel caged in this city, Mina, and it drives me crazy. The estate has land, but not enough.”
“What are you?” Mina asked.
“A Son of the Land,” Jayden replied without hesitation.
“You are not human, are you?”
“Half. Does it matter what I am?”
Mina bit her lip and shook her head. She didn’t care if he was an Elf or something else. “And the other half?”
“You will find out during the Trial of the Land,” Jayden said softly.
“Why then?”
“You are human, Mina, and there are things you need to know before I can claim you before the Gods. You need to learn how we came to be.” Jayden’s eyes turned golden.
“Why do your eyes keep changing color?” Mina wanted to know.
“It’s from the half that is not human. My ocxoa.”
“Your dark side?” Mina asked, and Jayden nodded. “Will it hurt me?”
Jayden kissed her forehead. “No, Mina. My ocxoa claimed you as his mate.”
Mina sighed. “Each time you talk about your ocxoa, you leave me with more questions than answers.”
Jayden chuckled. “I am sorry, little lamb. During the Litha festival, the Wise Woman will tell you everything you need to know.”
Mina frowned. “Who is the Wise Woman?”
“She is the one that all the history of the Gods and of my people, among other things. I am sure you have more questions, but the others are waiting for us,” Jayden said before starting walking.
Herron and the others were waiting for Mina and Jayden next to two carriages. Mina got inside the same carriage as Jayden, Caesar, and Aksel while the others took the other carriage.
The men tried to talk to Mina, but her mind kept thinking about what Jayden had told her. About moving from Athea. With Jayden not being entirely human and with her gypsy heritage, their children would suffer the cruelty of the people. Ora Dorei was different. The city welcomed those like Jayden and her. Their children would not suffer as she did. As Jayden did.
Mina looked out the window while the men talked about the estate and the reparations. She wondered if it was wise for Jayden to spend money on the mansion if he had plans to move from Athea.
She would miss Hugo and Ivy. At least Ivy had family in Ora Dorei, and Mina would see Ivy each time she would be in the city, but Hugo was another story. He would have to find a wife soon and start a family of his own. Mina’s heart ached. She would miss Hugo the most.
When they arrived at the house, Mina asked Jayden to take her to her room. Inside, he took the red ribbon off and kissed her for a while. “Caesar will have the food ready soon. You can rest or join me and the others in the Drawing Room for some tea and refreshments,” Jayden said.
“I’ll rest,” Mina said. “I am not hungry, anyway.”
Jayden frowned. “Are you feeling well? You have been awful quiet on the way home, and now you look a little pale. If you don’t want to come into the Drawing Room, I will ask Caesar to bring something for you to eat.”
Mina nodded. “That would be perfect! Thank you!”
As soon as Jayden left, Mina went to the chests Hugo had brought earlier. She opened them and started looking inside. She threw all the dresses she had received from Rosalyn to a side. While Mina wanted to burn them, an idea came to her. She would give the clothes to the women living in the sewers. When Mina found what she was looking for, she rushed to the bathroom and prepared the bathtub.
While Mina was in the bathroom, Caesar brought her a tray of food and tea. He left it on the coffee table before leaving. Mina locked the door to her room, ate, and spent the remaining of the day in the bathroom.
Mina washed her body and hair properly. Each month, Mina would remove the hair from her legs and other body parts using creams she purchased from an alchemist. When her skin was as soft as that of a newborn, she put on some lotions before getting dressed for dinner.
Jayden and the others were already seated when she entered the dining room. The chair left to Jayden was empty. The Commander stood and helped Mina with her seat. Caesar served Mina food, but she picked it absently. She was thinking of the dance she would perform for Jayden later. Half an hour later, she excused herself, claiming she was not feeling well. The men looked at her, some with concern in their eyes, others with curiosity. Mina felt bad for retiring early from the feast, but she was very nervous about the dance.
Mina went to her room, took her mother’s clothes, and went to the bathroom. She changed, sat on the bathtub’s edge, and stared at the door.
Minutes or hours later, when Mina mustered the courage she needed, she stood, covered herself with a bathrobe, and left her room.
The Sun had set hours ago. It was dark outside, and the house was quiet when Mina crept to Jayden’s room as silently as she could.
Jayden was lying on his bed, wearing only a pair of pants. His hands were under his head, and he was staring at the ceiling. Or perhaps he was asleep. From where she stood, with her back pressed to the door, she couldn’t tell. Mina had never seen a semi-naked man before, and she looked at Jayden for a while. His body was so different from hers. She wondered how his skin would feel under her touch.
Suddenly, Jayden sat on the bed. “Mina? What's wrong?”
Mina was silent as she took the bathrobe off and remained in a chiffon and a long, flowing skirt. The chiffon was red, with short sleeves and some little silver coins along the neckline. Her shoulders were bare. The skirt had the same color as the chiffon.
“Just as your people have traditions for the wedding night, so do the gypsies,” Mina said, looking at Jayden.