Page 447 of Primal Bonds

He shoved his hands into his pockets and scanned the tent again. This mating stuff was for the birds. It made you weak, vulnerable—and he wouldn’t trade places with another man in this tent for any amount of riches.

The sun was painting the sky a spectacular peach and purple when Rosana and her entourage finally emerged from Cleia’s mansion. An excited murmur rippled through the crowd as Tiago and the queen escorted her across the meadow to the tent, with Isa following, a proud smile on her elderly face.

Adric craned his neck, but after a brief glimpse, all he saw was the top of her black head as she wended her way through the crowd, greeting and being greeted.

It seemed like hours before Rosana finally came into view—and stole the breath right out of his chest.

She was gorgeous in a calf-length gown of ivory and gold that clung to her upper body, showing off her high, firm breasts and nipped-in waist before widening to an airy froth around long, sleek-muscled legs. Her only jewelry was his amethyst pendant, the charm bracelet, and a pair of dangling earrings, and she wore short lace gloves on her hands.

But what made him grin were the red kitten-heel boots on her feet.

“Breathe, Ric.” Marjani slanted him a teasing smile.

Breathe. Right.

Adric sucked in a loud inhale that had everyone nearby chuckling.

Tiago took his place with the other men, and Cleia took little Brisa from Dion before joining the other women.

Zuri stepped forward to take Rosana’s hands and thank her before everyone for saving Adric’s life. Marjani and Adric had made sure everyone knew what Rosana had done at New Moon, starting with how she’d refused to leave him alone at the court after he’d been badly injured. It had gone a long way to reducing the clan’s antagonism against her.

It didn’t hurt that they had a healthy respect for Rosana’s Gift. Some of them were even a little afraid of her, which was a good start. Fada respected strength.

True acceptance would take longer, of course. But he had a feeling Rosana would win them over. She’d already won over Zuri, and he wasn’t an easy sell.

As for the hardliners, the ones who muttered their alpha shouldn’t mate with the enemy?

Adric had made sure they knew that Rosana was his mate—period—and they’d treat her with courtesy, or find another clan. He’d only had to shove a few of the more dominant up against a wall to make his point.

Now, he stepped forward and extricated her from Zuri.

“Ready?”

She took his hands. “You know I am.”

The ceremony passed in a blur. All he could see was Rosana, blue eyes smiling, a constant smile on her lips. Crazy in love, and unashamed to show it.

He no longer wondered if she’d ever learn to protect her heart. Instead, he thanked the gods that she’d given it to him. It was a gift he intended to treasure the rest of his life.

He spoke his vows to her loud and clear, proudly claiming her as his before everyone present. She accepted his claim in the same clear tones.

His mate gift to her was a three-strand bracelet of semi-precious stones—amethyst, lapis and green jasper—with a silver cougar and dolphin intertwined at the center.

Her mouth rounded in a soft Oh as he clasped it around her wrist next to the charm bracelet. “I love it,” she said, leaning in for a kiss.

But he stopped her, removing his quartz. “Take off your gloves.”

When she did, he wrapped her bare hands around the chunk of gray and orange. The earth fada sucked in a breath, understanding the symbolism.

Rosana was truly his mate.

Taking back the quartz, he cupped her face and kissed her as Dion and Marjani pronounced the last few words of the ceremony, asking for their mating to be blessed by the gods and goddesses, the sun and moon, and everyone present.

When he released her, her eyes were a deep, saturated blue.

“I love you,” he said, and they turned to accept the congratulations of their clans.

Hours later, Dion and Adric ended up side-by-side, watching the dancers. Their two clans had managed to get through dinner and the dancing that followed without any incidents. They were even intermingling. Zuri was currently charming a sexy older river fada, and Davi was dancing with Suha.

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