Page 6 of Married to the Beast

Then he rushed over to the edge of the clearing where the ceremony was being held and began bowing and talking rapidly to someone Aleena couldn’t see because of the largebilberrybush in the way.

Soon enough, however, the stranger came into view. Aleena caught her breath when she saw him.

The Kindred Ambassador was absolutelyhuge.He was so tall that she estimated the top of her head would barely come up past his elbow. And he looked strong too—he was wearing a scarlet, long sleeved shirt that draped over his broad chest and showed the muscles of his arms under its satiny fabric. He also had on tight black trousers and high black boots, which emphasized his long legs.

He had short, sharp horns on either side of his head—horns! Just like a beast in a fairy story, she thought uneasily. But her eyes were also drawn to his thick black hair gathered neatly at the back of his neck—an unusual color on Karpsian Sigma, where most people had either gold or silver or copper colored hair. His skin was olive green—a shade or two lighter than Aleena’s own bronze coloring—and his eyes…

His eyes look like melted gold!

Aleena couldn’t help staring. They were beautiful and so unusual. Most males on Karpsian Sigma had dark colored eyes. Unlike a female, their eyes didn’t start out light and then change when they had intimate relations, so no one knew or cared how many females they had bedded. However, once a female’s eye color was changed and darkened, her value was gone—it was a double standard, but there were many such rules on Aleena’s home world.

Her father led the Kindred Ambassador past the rows of spectators to the front of the clearing where Aleena and the official who would be performing the ceremony were already standing.

“Er, I hope I’m not late,” the Ambassador said in a voice that was a low rumble in Aleena’s ears. “I was getting my new residence in order—I was under the impression that the ceremony would be starting a few standard hours from now.”

“No need to explain or apologize! Please, you are our valued guest!” Aleena’s father exclaimed. “We’re very happy to have you, Ambassador Bearick.”

“Thank you, Sir Greggor. And this must be your lovely daughter whom I am to Join with today? Faleesha, is it?” The Ambassador turned to Aleena, his golden eyes taking her in as he waited for an introduction.

Aleena felt her heart pounding in her chest as he looked her up and down. She hoped the Kindred Ambassador would find her attractive and pleasing—if he did he might be less likely to beat or punish her. He was so big that even one blow from his massive fist might kill her!

“Actually, this is Aleena, myoldestdaughter,” her father said quickly. “We have a custom here—the oldest daughter gets Joined before the younger. I hope that isn’t a problem?”

“No, not at all.” The Kindred Ambassador shook his head politely.

“Ah, good.” Aleena’s father looked extremely relieved. “Well then—this is my daughter. Please use her in whatever way pleases you—she is yours now and if she doesn’t obey, you have my full permission to beat her.”

This was a standard part of the Joining ceremony—the part where the father gave his daughter to her new owner and husband. But the huge Kindred Ambassador looked taken aback.

“Beather?” he growled. “Surely you can’t be serious!”

“Oh, well…” Aleena’s father looked flustered, as though he wasn’t sure what to say.

“Excuse me, Ambassador,” the official who was performing the ceremony murmured, leaning closer to the big Kindred and standing on tiptoes to make himself heard. “But the correct response is, ‘I will take your daughter and use her however I see fit. I trust you have trained her well so that I will not have to beat her often.’”

“I’m not going to beat herat all,”the Ambassador growled. His face was like a thundercloud now with his thick black eyebrows drawn low over his golden eyes, which were blazing as though he was offended at the very idea of lifting a hand to Aleena.

“That’s very kind of you, but the ceremony has begun,” explained the official. “I’m telling you what youmustsay in response to Sir Greggor’s offering of his daughter to you.”

“Oh, well…” The big Kindred cleared his throat and looked around at the assembled crowd, many of whom were beginning to whisper behind their hands and look at him uncertainly.

Aleena wasn’t certain what to think either. It was unheard of for a man to declare he wouldn’t beat his wife! All her life she’d been taught that a woman had to be punished often and well in order to keep her in her place. For her new husband to sayoutright that he would not do his husbandly duty and correct her was very strange.

Not that she believed his words—allmen hit their wives on occasion—it was simply the way things were. Even her father, who had a very mild temper, had beaten her mother on occasion before he disavowed her—mostly when she burned his dinner or didn’t get his clothing washed and pressed exactly as he wanted it.

“Just say the line,” the official murmured urgently to the big Kindred. “The ceremony cannot continue until you do.”

The big Kindred didn’t look happy about it, but at last he said,

“I will take your daughter and use her. I trust you have trained her well, so I will not have to beat her.”

“Excellent!” Aleena’s father looked vastly relieved. He clasped his hands together under his chin and made a bow to the Ambassador before backing into the crowd of spectators and taking his place by her stepmother and Faleesha.

“Very good!” The official looked relieved as well. “And now, Ambassador Bearick, look upon this woman. Is she the one you wish to Join with?”

The big Kindred looked down at Aleena and she forced herself to look up, meeting his eyes. This, too, was part of the ceremony. He must be given a chance to examine her and see if he liked her enough to go ahead with the ceremony.

His golden eyes swept over her body and then returned to her face and their gazes met. For some reason, Aleena’s heart started pounding even harder. What was this look in his eyes? She had expected a cold appraisal but there was warmth in those golden depths—even heat. Could it be that the Ambassador found her pleasing?

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