Chapter 82: And That Doesn't Bother You?

This was a very intimate expression of affection. One Zale had never done to anyone other than his mother or sister. He had only done it now because he couldn't think of any other way to prove to his wife that she had his favor. 

He wasn't like his father. He had no interest in collecting beautiful mermaids. All he cared about was keeping the kingdom running and that unfortunately included providing an heir.

Aila didn't have anything to worry about but she was right that she didn't know him. What little she had seen of him wasn't the most flattering. He could see why it would have caused her worry but he didn't get rid of merfolk arbitrarily! He had good reason for what he did. 

"I haven't? Truly?" she whispered. 

Zale sighed as he pulled away. "No. I apologize for causing you anxiety. That was never my intention."

Aila eyed him with an unfathomable expression. He couldn't tell if she believed his words or not. He wished she would. That would make things so much easier. 

"Then what were your intentions?"

Ah. This was where things could get dicey. She had most likely already guessed that she was here partially as a reward and partially so he could ensure she didn't betray him. He didn't have to mention that part. 

"I needed a queen and you were the best candidate but I'm afraid I don't have much experience with mermaids. I didn't neglect you on purpose," he said sincerely. "I simply don't know what I'm supposed to do with a wife…as terrible as that sounds out loud.

"Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your life here more comfortable. This is your home now and I wish that you would be able to feel secure here. You have nothing to fear from me or anyone else."

Aila cracked a smile. "That does sound fairly terrible out loud."

"…forgive me."

Zale was unaccountably nervous. He didn't GET nervous. At least not about anything aside from Talori's safety and well-being when they were apart. That had been a special circumstance. 

Dealing with mermaids was such a hassle! He didn't know what he was supposed to do to make his wife happy and she wasn't giving him much to work with. 

Aila tilted her head and regarded him curiously. "If you don't have much experience with mermaids, what have you spent all of your time doing? Everyone thought you were a frivolous flirt."

Zale flushed. His act sounded so much worse than it was when she put it that way. 

"Spouting bad poetry and sending gifts to solidify my cover as an idiot worked better than I thought. Most of my time was spent training or working on my plan. There was a lot to do in that regard. I didn't have time for anything that would distract me from that."

"Aside from your sister."

"Tali was hardly a distraction. She was why I bothered with any of that in the first place," Zale scoffed before realizing that may have been too much information. 

Aila was giving him that unfathomable look again. "You took over the kingdom for your sister?"

"Not only for her. I do care about the state of the ocean more than any of the other foolish royals did…but it was a factor. After that shark Nerida framed and killed our mother I knew I had to protect her by any means necessary." 

Zale had already played the fool to protect himself after seeing his half-brother poisoned. He thought he could live a quiet life with his mother staying out of the merqueen's way as much as possible until Talori was born and she felt threatened. He had trained hard in secret to become strong so he could protect his mother and sister but he had still been unable to save the former. There hadn't been anything he could do against an accusation of treason. 

That was when he knew that living quietly wouldn't keep what he loved safe. That the only way to let his sister live a good life was to destroy all those who might cause her harm. 

Nerida provoked him first. She shouldn't have come after Nahla. She brought her fate upon herself. 

"I see. I am sorry about your mother," Aila said softly. 

"It happened a long time ago," Zale replied as if it didn't matter anymore when it had actually shaped the events of the majority of his life. 

Nahla had been a beautiful mermaid. Too beautiful for her own good, which was why King Ren took her as a concubine. Beautiful, sweet, and soft. Someone as soft as her never could have won against someone as cunning and ruthless as Nerida.

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Talori was so similar to her. She was too soft to survive in a harsh world of schemers as well. That was why Zale had kept her so sheltered up until he had to send her away. 

He still missed his mother. He missed the way things used to be when the three of them lived together peacefully in the coral palace. Those memories seemed so far away now. Everything had changed. 

Zale got his revenge. His mother could finally rest in peace knowing that Nerida had gotten what she deserved and that the daughter she never got to see grow up was safe. That was all he could have asked for after losing her so horribly. 

Aila surprised him by leaning her head against his shoulder. She said nothing but he got the sense that she was trying to comfort him. 

When was the last time someone did that? It wasn't something that happened often. He wasn't the type to need comforting. He knew how to carry on. It was what had gotten him this far. 

The only ones who had ever done it before were his family. His mother, Talori, and Beck. 

He was a firm believer that you chose who your family was. He certainly hadn't counted his father, stepmother, or half-siblings. He didn't count his wife either since she was a necessary evil and nothing more. 

Aila didn't care about him. She was only doing this because she wanted to please him. She was acting in her own self-interest. 

Zale didn't blame her for that. Goodness knows he had done the same thing regarding her. But that didn't mean he was going to go and let her into his guarded heart either. 

Unfortunately, that didn't stop him from having to worry about her. She was his responsibility and he needed to do a better job taking care of her even if he didn't have an emotional reason to do so. 

There was nothing emotional about this. He was in a political marriage. 

There were strategic reasons to keep Aila happy though. He really should have considered that sooner but he hadn't realized she was unhappy so what could he have done? 

Now that Zale knew, he was going to do better. After they concluded their business that night he didn't leave like usual. He curled up in the bed next to her and took a long time to fall asleep because he wasn't used to sharing a bed. He was going to have to though if he wanted her to feel secure in her position. What a bother. 

He ate breakfast with Aila and Talori before going into a series of meetings. Beck didn't get the chance to talk to him alone until they had a few minutes in between two of them in the afternoon. 

"You weren't in your room this morning. Did the presents work?"

They did but Zale was fairly certain that the conversation that followed was what really made the difference. Aila had needed the reassurance, whether she actually believed it or not. 

At least he knew what she needed to be satisfied now. Even if much of that conversation had been embarrassing. 

"They got her to open up a bit, which was useful. Apparently I need to be more attentive. Tali was right. She's become very good at things like this since coming back from the surface. She learned a lot up there."

Beck nodded. "She seems almost like a different mermaid." 

Zale wasn't sure he agreed with that. Talori was still as bubbly and enthusiastic about what she liked as ever but she had become a lot more proactive. He was willing to bet that was Brennan's influence on her. She certainly talked about him a lot. Almost every time he saw her, she would mention the fairy at least in passing. 

"Brennan's influence, I would guess." 

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"Why would it? All I've ever wanted is for Tali to be happy. If being more assertive about what she wants does that for her, I'm all for it," Zale said seriously. 

A small divot appeared between Beck's brows. That was about as much expression as he showed. Something was troubling him. What was it? It took even more to bother him than it took to bother Zale. 

"What is it?"

"Are you not at all concerned with how attached Talori is to that fairy?" Beck asked.

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