Page 51 of Splintered Shadow
“I grant you permission to claim this female as your mate and wish you both much joy.”
The crowd burst into noise, everyone having an opinion and needing to share it with their nearest neighbors.
“The marriage should be done at once, even if other events,” Raelle said, casting a glance at the Starshades, “have to be delayed.”
Baris grinned; it was slow and a touch vicious. “What an excellent suggestion, Raelle. But I see no reason to delay. Remind me, your position allows you to officiate weddings, yes?”
“Yes,” Raelle answered, hesitation in her voice. “But a royal wedding requires planning and a certificate. You cannot just tie a ribbon on two people and call it legal.”
Vekele pulled a length of red ribbon and a folded paper from his inner coat pocket. He handed them to Baris. “I think this will do.”
Baris unfolded the marriage certificate with dramatic flair. “Excellent. Let us bind these two souls together.”
Sarah
Vekele held out a hand, palm up. Sarah placed her hand in his.
The officiant wrapped the ribbon around the hands, binding them together. Sarah barely registered the words as she repeated them. Vekele watched her with such intensity that it made her squirm, as though he could see through the layers of clothing and makeup, stripping her bare. Naked.
Married. Sarah volunteered for this. In the garden that morning, it seemed abstract. A notion. They told her what to expect, but now that it was happening, it felt unreal.
The officiant stopped speaking. People clapped politely.
A wicked grin spread across Vekele’s face, white fang against dark gray lips. He pulled on the ribbon, tugging her forward. She stumbled forward into his arms.
“You are mine,” he whispered in her ear. His voice sent a flutter of anticipation through her entire body.
Sarah understood. That look was desire, raw and unchecked.
Chapter Eleven
Vekele
The security scannerread his thumbprint, and the doors to his quarters opened.
“You know, it’s a tradition on Earth for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold of their home,” she said.
“To further Arcos-Earth relations, I will honor this tradition.” He scooped her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest. She gave a startled laugh and relaxed in his hold.
Once inside, she gasped. “All this is yours? It’s so fancy.”
“It is a basic set of rooms.” He seldom stayed at the palace and cared little for the decor. The rooms were styled in the standard opulent fashion, no different from any other suite.
Reluctantly, he set her down on her feet. “What other Earth traditions should we observe?”
“Well, there’s the wedding night.” Pink flushed in her cheeks. Such a delightfully odd color.
“I suspect we share the same tradition.” Heat flooded his voice. “I cannot wait to taste you, my mate.”
The pink blush intensified. “Yeah, same. Hard same,” she said.
Before they could enjoy their wedding night, there were a few practical matters to handle. He added Sarah to the palace’s security system. Her thumb print and eye scan would allow her access to the computer network, entertainment system, and comm network, and open nearly every door.
Pitch and Ghost settled down for the night in the sitting room. The pup whined at not being allowed in the bedroom, as he normally was, but eventually climbed onto the massive, cushioned sleeping pad. The void beast’s bed looked more luxurious than most beds Vekele had slept in.
With that task finished, he led his mate into the bedchamber.
Sarah stood in the center of the room, in the center of a puddle of moonlight. Her free arm wrapped over her stomach in a defensive gesture. It pained him to see his mate so uneasy.
