Page 71 of Vows of Sacrifice

Without uttering a sound, he mouthed the following words: “A thousand apologies, my lord . . .” Vulcan. Yes. He was waiting for my horse. I reluctantly released my wife, who hastened to put her outfit in order to gain composure.

Once in our room, Ashana slipped behind a screen to change. For a brief moment, I studied the five wooden panels covered in embroidery and macramé.

“Since when do we have a screen?” I asked.

I didn’t like this thing.

“I asked Luanda to find one for me. I thought it would be a good idea to preserve our, uh . . . privacy.”

So, yes, clearly, I hated this thing!

“I don’t really see the point,” I objected, pulling my shirt over my head.

My wife’s head peeked from the corner of the screen. She frowned, and when she realized I was shirtless, she immediately hid behind her cover.

“It’s . . . It’s important in . . . in a couple to maintain a certain form of intimacy.”

“Tomorrow, we’ll be married according to the rites of two religions and in the eyes of I don’t know how many deities. What kind of intimacy do we need? I want to see you naked, and I want you to look at me when I’m naked too,” I snapped.

I took off my shoes.

“There’s no question of you sleeping in a camisole or a dress for the night,” I warn her. “Every night, we’ll sleep naked against each other!”

“Dovah!” she cried, shocked.

“I’ve seen what this kind of habit has done to married couples, and it’s always ended the same way: separate beds and, in the end, separate bedrooms! I don’t want this for us.”

“Dovah!” she repeated, though in a softer tone.

“I want you; you want me. I can’t wait for our wedding night. I’m won’t jump on you every night—unless, of course, you want me to, in which case I’ll gladly oblige. Please note, however, nudity in bed is non-negotiable.”

With that, she stepped out in a long, virginal nightdress, the collar buttoned up to her chin. I watched her wordlessly, tormented by the desire to cut this sartorial horror into small squares of fabric before giving them to the servants to use for cleaning the windows.

“Enjoy it, tonight’s the last night of your nightgown,” I announced, with a dark look in my eyes.

“But!” Ashana protested, placing a hand to her heart.

I closed my eyes briefly and sighed.

“I swear on my blood that I’ll never force you to sleep with me if you don’t want to, but for the sake of our relationship, my mental stability, and the bond that unites us, grant my request. You can even cling to the other end of the mattress if you feel like it!”

I now knew that my wife tossed and turned a lot at night, so sooner or later, she’d end up in my arms. I was a very ancient being, and therefore, by definition, very patient by nature.

“From where I’m standing, Dovah, that doesn’t sound like a request, but an order.”

The tone of her voice was calm, but her pinched expression fooled no one.

“Alright, then. Let’s approach things differently. Let’s say it’s a concession on your part, and in return, I’ll make one to balance things out. What do you think?”

Ashana was standing two steps away from me, but I suddenly had the impression that the distance was much greater. She seemed to be thinking.

“I accept.”

My head jerked back. She accepts a little too quickly for my taste. What’s the catch?

“What do you want in return?”

Her gaze shifted from mine for a moment.

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