The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

Miera wrinkled her nose at the sight of her gown, lying on Helen’s bed. It was tight and reminded her of a mermaid fin. “What happened to the one I picked out?”

“It was too hippie-ish,” Lisa said.

“You couldn’t let me have final say?”

Lisa sighed. “Try this one on at least. If you don’t like it, yes, I brought along the hippie dress too.”

The dress was a little too tight, but Miera squeezed into it, and Lisa somehow managed to zip her all the way.

“There,” her best friend said, clapping her hands. “Do you like?”

Miera lifted the skirt so she wouldn’t step on the dress as she moved to Helen’s mirror. “No. No way. I can’t breathe, and it’s too… too…”

“You just look like you’re a little bloated.”

“Just bloated,” Helen agreed. “Nerves, maybe?”

“Or like you had too much to eat.”

Miera sighed. “Helen, do you know I’m pregnant?”

“Not until I saw you wrapped in your towel.”

“And what do you think about me for it?”

“It’s not my place to think—”

“Please.” Miera laid a hand on her shoulder. “You weren’t prepared to learn that I was pregnant. Beric hasn’t told your people.” She glanced at Lisa. “My father knows, and a few others…” The council members had been as furious as her father had been, but they were more forgiving since the wedding was still on. Her father had barely looked at her, had forced her to be the one to tell them. Not that she would have wanted him to explain for her. “But for the most part, my people don’t know. Everyone will know soon, but I don’t think parading down the aisle to announce it is the best way to go about it.”

Helen smiled then covered her mouth as if to try and hide it. “I guess not.”

Lisa humphed. “You still look good in it, I say.”

“It’s too bad you didn’t wear it when you eloped with Kevin.”

Her best friend’s eyes twinkled. “Yeah… It’s funny how everything turned out, you know? I got to plan your wedding, and since I ended up eloping, I’ll never have to plan mine. I’m glad!” She giggled. “Being a wedding planner while a war is going on in the background is not easy.”

“The war hasn’t come yet,” Miera grumbled. “Now get me out of this so I can breathe.”

Both Lisa and Helen had to help her take it off. The hippie dress was a lot more forgiving. The gentle slope of it, the wide arms, the flowing skirt all helped to conceal her growing midsection. The bottom few inches were all lace, as were the cuffs of her trailing sleeves.

“Ooh, la, la!” Lisa giggled as she helped to adjust the plunging neckline. “Your girls are growing!”

Miera laughed, but really she just wanted to cover up. Better yet, to already be married. For the meeting to be over. For tomorrow to come. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be heir. There was so much pressure on her right now, and she felt ready to crumble.

“Are you feeling all right?” Helen asked. “You look a little ill. Would some green tea help?”

“Please.” It might help settle her nerves, and right now, she needed to make sure she didn’t vomit all over her wedding gown.

“Anything you want to talk about?” Lisa asked after Helen left the room.

“I just want everything to be perfect, you know? But life isn’t a fairy tale. It isn’t rainbows and sunshine.”

“Hey, married life isn’t so hard.” Lisa fiddled with Miera’s sleeve before stripping out of her clothes and donning her navy blue matron of honor dress.

“You sound so glum, though.”

“It’s just…” Lisa sighed. “Kevin’s changed so much after we got married. The days beforehand were amazing. Beyond amazing. Now? Not so much. I don’t know if it’s something I said or did.”

“Have you tried talking to him?”

“Of course! But… well…”

“Talking has never been an issue with you before.”

“It’s just…” She shrugged. “Never mind. Don’t worry about me. Today is about you.”

“Me and Beric.” Would he like the decorations? She had only helped with the party planning because it helped to bide the time until Beric and the Teal Warriors finished their fence.

Helen returned with the green tea, and it was so crisp and refreshing going down. Miera was drinking more of her diet lately—green teas, milkshakes of all kinds, and more. Not being able to drink coffee didn’t bother her like it did some pregnant women. She might like the smell of it, but she didn’t like the bitter taste, and no amount of milk or creamer ever got the bitterness out of her mouth. Despite her ravenous appetite, she wasn’t gaining weight too quickly.

“Time for your veil!” Lisa clapped like a giddy schoolgirl, and she and Helen fussed until it was just right. Her hair had been curled and pinned in an updo. Would there be time for her and Beric to sleep together tonight? Would he desire her when he saw her naked, pregnant belly and all? Maybe it would be best to just go on as we did yesterday and wait until after I deliver for the consummation.

“Do I need anything else?” Anxiety was rolling over Miera in waves. She just wanted to hurry up and get this done with right this moment.

“Just this.” Lisa held up a silk garter.

“No.”

“But—”

“No.” Miera actually stomped her foot. “We are not doing that.”

With how she felt toward Beric, wanting him desperately, it wouldn’t do for him to have his hands up her skirt in front of everyone, especially with her being pregnant. Could she be falling for him? She had been trying to build up walls to protect herself should he reject her, but now that they were going through with this, she wanted them to work, not just for their people, but for them. A real marriage. One based on respect and admiration and even love.

But how could she worry about that now? Later. If they survived this. Maybe then they could try. Just how many of them would make it? Would any of them? Was all of this just a waste of time?