The Goblin Bride (Beneath Sands Book 1) by Emma Hamm (good short books TXT) 📕

faster as she followed the lights. It seemed a little bit like someone lost in a desert, following mirages to an untold destination. Or perhaps she was already dead. It certainly felt as though she was being guided to an Underworld.

The inside of her destination was as familiar to her as it was strange. A small gathering of goblins waited there, among them stood Micah. She didn’t recognize any of them other than the fragile queen who was leaning heavily against Ruric’s arm.

She had to do a double take when she saw the couple. She had never seen him in anything other than leathers that were clearly made for battle. Now he was clothed as the others, pale blue fabric stretched tight across a wide chest and thick legs. He had tied them into trousers, forgoing the usual tradition of both males and females wearing skirts.

It was startling to see him dressed like this. She had been under the impression that he was little more than a warlord. Jane had not realized how wrong she had been. With these clothes on he looked presentable.

After he gently steadied the queen, Ruric walked towards her. His strides were purposeful and heavy.

The look in his eyes was familiar to her. Apparently it was very much the same between human men and goblins. He desired her. They had been in close quarters for weeks now. She had bathed in front of him. This look was one she had never seen before from him. Or perhaps one that she had not thought to notice before.

He bent low. “You look-” He paused, seeming to try to find the word.

“You’ve seen me naked,” She hissed. “Calm down.”

He laughed, tossing his head back as the tendons in his neck contracted in that odd head bob. “Yes. You are right.”

“Of course I’m right.” Bravado appeared to be the only reassurance she had.

She did not want to do this. She did not want to walk up to the queen and do whatever strange things they were going to ask her to do. She could only imagine the ceremony that would unfold before her. She hoped they didn’t make her eat anything. Or worse, that Ruric and her would have to “bind” themselves before the others. Really what else could binding mean?

The queen looked up at her. Looked up at her. Jane was suddenly struck by how small the creature was. Her spine curved so heavily that she appeared even tinier. How could such a creature rule the goblins? Why did they listen to one that was so weak compared to them?

 Jane was incredibly out of her element. Ruric beside her bowed, and she tried to copy him in the precarious dress. Her heart was beating hard at the possibility of exposing herself in front of a queen and other goblins. But thankfully the cloth managed to stay exactly where it was supposed to be. Perhaps that was part of the trick of tying these intricate designs.

The queen started speaking. Instead of addressing the small crowd around them, the other female spoke only for Jane’s ears.

Ruric stiffened slightly beside her. Jane could see that he didn’t want to translate, but the queen seemed to gesture at him until he finally sighed.

“Queen asks. Does human want this?”

This was it. This was her out. Jane shook her head firmly, clutching her hands together in front of her as though in prayer. “No. No I just want to go home.”

She could almost hear his teeth gritting as Ruric translated for her.

The queen seemed to pause, nodding slightly as her eyes narrowed. Jane felt very much as though those dark eyes were trying to look right into her soul. There was a long pause after her admittance, even from the goblins behind them who were obviously leaning forward to hear everything that was said.

“Queen says.” Ruric paused. He seemed to be stumped for a moment, his harsh angled face pausing before continuing. “Wants to make deal.”

“A deal?” Jane asked.

He shook his head. “I do not know words.”

Whatever it was the queen was saying, it was something that Ruric didn’t know how to translate for her. Either that, or it was too complicated for him to easily say. She needed to know. A deal was better than what she was getting now.

Just as she was going to turn to Micah, to insist that the queen repeat what she had just said, Ruric placed his hand on her arm.

“Family for family.” He murmured.

“What?”

“Family for family.” He said, pointing between the two of them and then pointing just at her.

“You’re saying you’ll get my family for me? I don’t want them to be brought down here. I want all of us to go back to the lives we lived.”

He shook his head. “Information only.”

And there it was. A dilemma that made her mind race. Information to her family, about her family, it was more than she was getting now. But it was also a dangerous thing to agree on. Luther and Willow should be leaving to go to the City, if they hadn’t left already. It very well might be impossible to get information to them.

But these creatures weren’t going to let her leave. This deal was likely the best offer she was going to get.

“What is the other option?” She had to ask.

Ruric shook his head. “No other option. This is honor.”

Of course it was. She was little more than a bargaining tool or a brood mare for these creatures. Why should she think that they would do anything more. She had to force herself to admit that it was kind of them to even consider giving her a connection Above.

At Jane’s nod, the ceremony continued.

She expected some kind of religious rite. Or at least some kind of barbaric ritual. But none of her imagined tribulations happened.

It seemed that the ceremony was little more than the queen tying their hands together with a soft silk cloth and saying what appeared to be a few sentences. Already a