Page 45 of Zar

Chapter Thirteen

Zar sat next to Callie, watching the woman of his heart sleep. She slept with her mouth open when she was in a deep slumber, just one more thing he adored about her. They’d both slept late into the morning and Zar hated to wake Callie even now, but they needed to discuss the festival. There were things Callie would need to know before attending.

He looked down at the ornately carved box he held in his hand and wondered how Callie would react when she saw its contents. No time like the present. Zar leaned down and kissed her cheek and moved his hand through the heavy fall of her hair. She blinked and let out a breath. When her eyes opened and her gaze landed on him she smiled and placed her hand on his chest, directly above his heart.

“We have things to talk about, sleepyhead.”

She snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes. “Just a little while longer. I’m exhausted and it’s all your fault.”

Zar grinned, feeling proud and predatory at her mumbled statement. He kissed her again, unable to help himself. “Wake, little dove.”

Callie sighed exaggeratedly. “Fine, if I must.”

“I have something for you,” he said, holding up the box for her to see.”

Immediately, Callie was awake. She moved to a sitting position, taking a little of the comforter with her to cover her from his view. She crossed her legs in front of her and stared at the box, a frown marring her brow. “What is that?”

“There are traditions we must adhere to at tonight’s festival.”

“Okay,” she replied, as she narrowed her gaze. “What sorts of traditions?”

“First and foremost, the festival is a ceremony intended for the single men and women to find their ofelia. Only during the festival is wing caressing encouraged. Anyone without an ofelia will touch wings.”

“Like filling out a questionaire on a single’s website to find out who you match up with.” She paused, her cheeks reddening. “Not that I’ve ever done that.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant and he didn’t think he wanted to know. “I am unfamiliar with a single’s website. But, yes, the idea is to find the one you wish to bond with. If you aren’t marked in some way to show you’re taken, then you are effectively saying you’re willing to be touched by the males of our society.”

“Wait, I don’t have wings and I’m not Zenarian. How does this apply to me?”

“That’s true, but you are single and you’re beautiful. More than that you are earth-born and so that makes your appearance at this event rare. Other males will find you appealing. They’ll be intrigued and even flirt with you.”

“And since I”m not in a commited relationship I’m fair game,” she grumbled as she bit her lip and looked down at her lap.

He didn’t like her looking away from him. He cupped her chin and urged her gaze back to his. “You are with me, Callie, and I can make that clear to all.”

“How?”

He opened the wooden box and held it up for Calie to view the contents. “By having you wear this,” he murmured.

Callie’s eyes widened as she stared at the sterling silver neck band with its teardrop-shaped black gemstone pendant that hung from the center. “What is that?” she asked, touching the stone.

“Nighsis. It’s the symbol of my royal blood line. On Zenaria there were entire mountains made of nighsis. Remember I explained about the Grasheem invading our planet to steal Nighsis?” She nodded and Zar continued. “Translated Nighsis means night’s eye. This particular neck band will signify that you are mine.”

“Is this like Zenarian for a marriage proposal? Because, seriously Zar, I’m not wearing that if that’s the case. I’m not there yet. I do care about you. More than any man I’ve ever known. But marriage is—”

He stilled her barrage of words with a finger to her lips. “This is not a binding commitment, little dove. There is much more involved than simply offering you my band. Consider this more of a ‘she’s mine, hands off’ kind of neck band.”

When she didn’t speak, only stared tight-lipped at the band, Zar placed a hand on her neck. “Does it bother you that others will know you are mine?”

She reached out and stroked a finger over the band. “Will you wear one too?”

Callie was warming to the idea. The notion caused Zar’s heart to speed up to a full-on sprint. It took great effort to hide his excitement. “The men wear an arm band,” he explained. Zar reached towards his bedside drawer and pulled it open. He took out the matching band that lay inside and held it up for Callie. “This will go around my upper arm. It will show the women that they do not have permission to stroke my wings.”

She sucked in a breath. “They would do that? Even though you’re a royal? I mean, you told me it’s an intimate gesture. So, how is that proper for them to just go around stroking the king’s wings willy-nilly?”

He chuckled at her small tirade. “Not willy nilly exactly. Only during the Festival is it permitted to touch a royal’s wings.” He handed her the arm band and waited until her fingers closed around it. “I crave only your touch, little dove. No other.”

Callie’s eyes gleamed with interest. “So, if I wear the neck band, then you’ll wear the arm band?”

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