Divine Dragons Book 1: A Bride for the Water God

“Crap. I just smacked the Water God in the face with a book.”

The same Water God who was now my husband. My heart was bouncing around in my chest like a scared bird. Each breath I took was a struggle, squeezing through my tight throat.

Fear made my skin taut, and my tongue felt thick and parched. He could devour me, shred me, rip me apart. Whatever he fancied, really.

And judging by his intimidating appearance, I knew he could easily snap me in two. Worse still, he might want to consummate our marriage. His towering size alone made me pause.

He could definitely snap me in two.

“I’m…I’m sorry I hit you, Your High—Your Majesty,” I stammered. His eyes widened, and his smile faded into a look of mild surprise.

“No need for formalities with me. As my wife, you can call me by my name, little rabbit.”

“Ah, I see.” His gentle tone and the relaxed vibe he gave off calmed the nerves prickling under my skin. If he wanted to harm me, he would have done so by now.

“So, what is your name?”

He blinked at me. “You don’t know my name?”

I shook my head.

“How do you not know my name? I’m the God of Water, the King of the Seas, yet you don’t know my name.” He seemed genuinely baffled. It almost made me smile.

“Yes, but people usually just refer to you as ‘Water God’ or ‘God of Water.’ No one in my village knew your actual name.” I clamped my mouth shut. Maybe that was why we were suffering a drought.

We’d forgotten a god’s name.

“I suppose that makes sense.” He shrugged, stroking his chin. “I haven’t visited the mortals in a few hundred years.”

My jaw dropped, and I stared at him in disbelief. “So, you’re not punishing my people for forgetting your name?” I asked.

His expression twisted as he turned to me. “What? Heavens no. I’m not that petty, little rabbit.”

“Hm, well without names, I guess we’re just the Water God and the little rabbit then. What a successful marriage we’ll have,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

His deep, gravelly laughter echoed around us. It was entirely inhuman and rich, but the sound of it made my skin tingle in a pleasant way. I had to admit I liked it.

I wouldn’t tell him that after seeing his smug smirk earlier. His eyes locked onto me, suddenly serious and intense, making me gasp. His voice was as smooth as a flowing river as he said, “I am Calder, wife. And what is your name?”

“Marilla,” I squeaked out.

His eyes closed, and I saw his impossibly long tail curling behind him. An almost purring noise started in his chest. “Marilla,” he repeated, as if savoring my name on his tongue.

My cheeks flushed at the suggestive sound.

“Would you like to see your new home, Marilla?” he asked, as if he was just a polite host and hadn’t been sniffing my underwear moments ago.

I looked around the room again, noticing more details. The structure seemed almost made of marble, but with a pearlescent sheen to the surface. It was a large room designed to accommodate a very large dragon man with a massive bed I was currently in the middle of, and various pieces of furniture made of pearly-white wood.

There was a chandelier on the ceiling made of sea glass, crystals, pearls, and seashells. It caught the early morning light coming through the pillars and reflected it on every surface. Through the open pillars, I recognized the familiar smell of the beach and salty ocean air in the pleasant breeze.

He extended one giant hand toward me. I hesitated, considering my situation and the dragon god offering me his hand. With no other option in sight, I accepted and slid off the bed.

The floor was a smooth mosaic of ocean glass and broken shell pieces formed into swirling, looping patterns. It was beautiful and warmed by the sunlight. It felt good on my bare feet.

The room was larger than the house I’d grown up in. I couldn’t imagine myself living in a place so divine or luxurious.

“My new home?” I mused aloud.

“Yes, of course. I haven’t taken a bride before, so I’m sure this is new for both of us. But I do intend for you to live with me,” he answered, keeping his hand on mine.

Our connected hand pulled me to look at him up and up. He was so damn tall I was in his shadow. He was wearing some sort of white and gold toga that tied over one shoulder and stopped just above his knees. My face came up to his sternum, and I had to crane my head back to meet his eyes.

Were all the gods monstrous giants?

I knew he was a dragon, but even the humanoid dragon form before me was massive. The space between my thighs twirled as I contemplated the intense size difference.

Using our bound hands, Calder led me through the pillars. There was a natural, confident swagger in his steps. He knew he was powerful and strong, and something about that confidence made me tingle.

As I suspected, the room that we exited was only one part of a massive palace. The structure rose from the world with twisted, colorful spires that mirrored colossal spiraling shells. Various sea-glass windows and balconies were scattered over the shell-like towers.

And I was going to live here? For how long? Was I a real bride or just a temporary plaything for the god?

Calder waited patiently as I stood in awe of his palace. A delighted expression settled over his face as I sighed wistfully at the gorgeous structure. He was proud of his home and pleased with my reaction to it.

The beach we stood on was equally gorgeous. Somehow it was prettier than the ocean I’d grown up near—the very ocean I’d been released to.

Where the sea near my home was tumultuous, dark, and unforgiving, the ocean surrounding the Water God’s home was as still as glass and as blue as the sky on a bright summer day. The water was so clean and clear that I swore I saw fish and other creatures swimming under the surface.

“You’ve never taken a bride before?” I asked the question that had been nagging at me. Even as we walked around his impressive island, that statement lingered with me.

Calder eventually released my hand while pointing out various places and objects throughout the island. His hands moved a lot when he talked, as did his wings and tail. It was like all his extremities had to be involved when he talked, matching his emotions and words with draconic flair.

His wings twitched and his tail flicked as he glanced down at me. He regarded me for a moment before nodding.

“No. You’re the only one to ever make it through the rusalka,” he answered, clearly impressed.

I felt my cheeks flush.

“Just barely,” I admitted. “If you hadn’t emerged from the water, my boat would have been history. Those sea-witches don’t know when to quit.”

He threw his head back, his shoulders and wings shaking with laughter. It was as if he hadn’t laughed in years.

Even with the sand beneath my feet, I felt like I was floating. I had made the Water God chuckle.

“They sure are persistent,” he agreed, his laughter subsiding. His smile lingered, revealing a single sharp tooth.

“Speaking of which. You’re free to explore the island as you wish. You can swim in the clear shallow waters, but never venture into the dark bay. It’s deep there and the rusalka love to hang out.”

“Got it,” I said.

“You fought the rusalka with everything you had. I watched you fend them off with that tiny oar and something in me stirred. I’d never chosen any of the brides sent to me before, but when I saw the fire in your eyes, that unyielding will to survive, I knew you were the one,” he confessed. His voice was smooth and enticing, like warm, sweet rum.

“I had to live.” I paused, drawing his gaze.

When Calder looked back at me, I blurted out my words. “My people are suffering. They have no clean water and no rain for their crops. I’ve watched friends die, and I’m scared my parents…my sister… I’m scared they’re next.”

He sighed, his brows furrowing and his enticing blue lips thinning. The dragon god placed a scaled, clawed hand on my shoulder, his thumb gently stroking me.

“You’ll have to trust me, little rabbit,” he said.

“That’s all?” I pushed his hand away. My voice rose. “I’ve given up everything. My elders sent me to my death, and I woke up in a strange place. And you want me to just trust you?”

“For now, you need to trust me, Marilla,” he insisted. His eyes were intense, churning like the turbulent seas I’d grown up near, and there was a hint of a plea in their depths.

“I don’t…I don’t know. This is a lot to process.” My stomach growled, interrupting me.

I couldn’t recall the last time I had a proper meal. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, avoiding the Water God’s gaze.

A wave of embarrassment washed over me, numbing the hunger pangs. I’d become accustomed to the constant hunger.

“Come, little wife. Let me feed you.” His eyes sparkled, pulling me in.

When the dragon god extended his hand again, I gave in.

“Humans celebrate weddings with feasts, right? Let’s have a feast in your honor.”

The prospect of food made my stomach churn. But the idea of a feast was a double-edged sword when I thought of my family barely surviving on scraps.