from the terra in the form of the great dragons
and with his fire-filled breath created all that we see and feel. We are one on
Croan. One with the terra beneath us, one with the sky, one with all life. We
begin this process at birth and with death we return to the terra. My friends,
rejoice in the creation of life in the union of man and woman, in the bonding
of male and female. In the bond of sex that creates the god force.”
The words stirred Xandra more than she expected, and for a
few moments she believed this ceremony truly meant something to her and Rayder.
His eyes, though dark, were warmed by that heated red glow. Within him she saw
everything that made a man worthy. Fierce. Protective. Perhaps even a good man.
She blinked. He might be fierce and protective, but he’d
shown a darker side, a side willing to be ruthless in pursuit of a goal. A man
who shouldn’t be admired. She’d allowed a ceremony connected with love to make
her believe something that didn’t exist in this man or in this union.
What about love? She couldn’t help wonder if it existed
inside him for any woman now or in the past.
What does it matter? He doesn’t love me.
Suteras continued. “As we gather here to witness the bond
between this man and woman, is there one here who would deny the sanctity and
sincerity of their bond?”
It hung in the air. Tell them this is a mistake. Be the
one to say it’s a lie of the first order. Do it.
She glanced at Rayder, and his eyes met hers. Firmness lit
his eyes from the inside out. He wouldn’t say a thing to stop this marriage.
Her stomach sank and within the beauty of the ceremony resided trepidation. But
denial wouldn’t form on her lips and the chance passed. What difference would
it make? Arguing with this situation wouldn’t garner her any friends and
certainly form more enemies. If she had to play along to secure her freedom
later, so be it.
When it remained quiet, Suteras started again. “Within our
uncertain world there are many challenges, but in the sanctity of a marriage
before Draconus, there is no need for fear. We are all one, and the marriage
between a man and woman, the sexual union between them, symbolizes that truth.”
He smiled at Xandra and Rayder. “Do you have a ring for the bride?”
A ring? Surprise held her immobile as Rayder reached
in his right front pocket and withdrew a small red box.
“I have this ring for my bride.” Rayder opened the box and
lifted out the thick silver band. He stuffed the box back in his pocket and
lifted Xandra’s left hand and slipped it on her left ring finger.
“What say you, Rayder Tyrus?” Suteras asked.
When she caught Rayder’s gaze again, something had changed.
Certainly the red glow was there, but this was more. More intense, more animal.
Undeniable. “With this ring, I vow my fidelity and trust in marriage.” His
voice shook slightly in a sign of vulnerability that amazed her. “I vow that
Xandra Shorenus is my true mate for now and forever.”
She gasped as the ring encircled her finger with perfect
fit. A large square stone, clear as water and catching light sparkled with what
seemed a million prisms. She’d never seen anything more beautiful. Speechless,
she peeled her gaze from the jewelry and caught Rayder’s burning gaze. Red
flamed in his gaze for a few moments then faded. He gathered her hands in his
and pressed them so gently, so sincerely, she couldn’t catch her breath. Warmth
swept over her, but not like a fever. A headiness, a wishful feeling she
couldn’t dissolve or understand.
She couldn’t look away from Rayder and the possessiveness
she saw inside him only for her.
Suteras proceeded. “By all that is holy under Draconus, you
are now joined in marriage. You may kiss the bride.”
Chapter Seven
You may kiss the bride.
As Rayder stepped close and cupped her face gently in both
hands, Xandra’s heart pounded and her pulsed kicked up. Embarrassed that people
watched an intimacy like
and with his fire-filled breath created all that we see and feel. We are one on
Croan. One with the terra beneath us, one with the sky, one with all life. We
begin this process at birth and with death we return to the terra. My friends,
rejoice in the creation of life in the union of man and woman, in the bonding
of male and female. In the bond of sex that creates the god force.”
The words stirred Xandra more than she expected, and for a
few moments she believed this ceremony truly meant something to her and Rayder.
His eyes, though dark, were warmed by that heated red glow. Within him she saw
everything that made a man worthy. Fierce. Protective. Perhaps even a good man.
She blinked. He might be fierce and protective, but he’d
shown a darker side, a side willing to be ruthless in pursuit of a goal. A man
who shouldn’t be admired. She’d allowed a ceremony connected with love to make
her believe something that didn’t exist in this man or in this union.
What about love? She couldn’t help wonder if it existed
inside him for any woman now or in the past.
What does it matter? He doesn’t love me.
Suteras continued. “As we gather here to witness the bond
between this man and woman, is there one here who would deny the sanctity and
sincerity of their bond?”
It hung in the air. Tell them this is a mistake. Be the
one to say it’s a lie of the first order. Do it.
She glanced at Rayder, and his eyes met hers. Firmness lit
his eyes from the inside out. He wouldn’t say a thing to stop this marriage.
Her stomach sank and within the beauty of the ceremony resided trepidation. But
denial wouldn’t form on her lips and the chance passed. What difference would
it make? Arguing with this situation wouldn’t garner her any friends and
certainly form more enemies. If she had to play along to secure her freedom
later, so be it.
When it remained quiet, Suteras started again. “Within our
uncertain world there are many challenges, but in the sanctity of a marriage
before Draconus, there is no need for fear. We are all one, and the marriage
between a man and woman, the sexual union between them, symbolizes that truth.”
He smiled at Xandra and Rayder. “Do you have a ring for the bride?”
A ring? Surprise held her immobile as Rayder reached
in his right front pocket and withdrew a small red box.
“I have this ring for my bride.” Rayder opened the box and
lifted out the thick silver band. He stuffed the box back in his pocket and
lifted Xandra’s left hand and slipped it on her left ring finger.
“What say you, Rayder Tyrus?” Suteras asked.
When she caught Rayder’s gaze again, something had changed.
Certainly the red glow was there, but this was more. More intense, more animal.
Undeniable. “With this ring, I vow my fidelity and trust in marriage.” His
voice shook slightly in a sign of vulnerability that amazed her. “I vow that
Xandra Shorenus is my true mate for now and forever.”
She gasped as the ring encircled her finger with perfect
fit. A large square stone, clear as water and catching light sparkled with what
seemed a million prisms. She’d never seen anything more beautiful. Speechless,
she peeled her gaze from the jewelry and caught Rayder’s burning gaze. Red
flamed in his gaze for a few moments then faded. He gathered her hands in his
and pressed them so gently, so sincerely, she couldn’t catch her breath. Warmth
swept over her, but not like a fever. A headiness, a wishful feeling she
couldn’t dissolve or understand.
She couldn’t look away from Rayder and the possessiveness
she saw inside him only for her.
Suteras proceeded. “By all that is holy under Draconus, you
are now joined in marriage. You may kiss the bride.”
Chapter Seven
You may kiss the bride.
As Rayder stepped close and cupped her face gently in both
hands, Xandra’s heart pounded and her pulsed kicked up. Embarrassed that people
watched an intimacy like
Similar Books
