Page 72 of Sy

The implications slowly sank in through the pleasant haze of medication. “Does that mean…” She couldn’t help the slight smile that tugged at her lips. “Are we married now?”

His answering laugh was soft, tender.

“Technically, yes.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch impossibly gentle. “But we can have a proper bonding ceremony, if you’d like. Something that honors both our cultures.”

“I’d like that.” The words came easily, naturally, as if she’d been waiting to say them all along.

His smile was brighter than she’d ever seen it. He leaned in to kiss her again, this one slightly deeper than the last but still gentle, mindful of her injuries. When he pulled back, his expression had shifted to concern. “You should rest.”

As if his words had summoned it, exhaustion swept over her. Her body felt heavy, reminding her that despite the medication, she was still recovering from being blown halfway across a battlefield. But the thought of him leaving made her chest tight in a way that had nothing to do with her cracked ribs.

He must have read something in her face because he stood, only to carefully settle himself on the bed beside her.

“Move over a little,” he ordered, helping her shift with careful hands until she was nestled against his chest.

“Bossy,” she grumbled, but the solid warmth of him was better than any painkiller, his heartbeat strong and steady under her ear.

He curved an arm protectively around her, his hand splayed across her back. The position should have hurt, should have aggravated her injuries, but somehow he’d arranged them so she felt only comfort and support.

“Sleep,” he whispered. “I’ll be right here.”

She let her eyes drift closed, surrounded by his warmth and the subtle spice of his scent. The constant beeping of the monitors faded into white noise, overwhelmed by the gentle rhythm of his breathing. She felt completely safe, completely at peace.

This was where she belonged. Where she’d always belonged, even if neither of them had realized it until now.

As sleep pulled her under, she felt him press a kiss to her temple, his arms tightening fractionally around her. Her last conscious thought was that sometimes the best things in life came from the most unexpected places—even if you had to get blown up to figure it out.

She was getting married.

She didn’t think she’d ever get married again, let alone to a handsome alien warrior.

Ashley’s fingers trembled as she adjusted the wild grasses in her makeshift bouquet for what had to be the tenth time. The evening sun streaming through the tall window behind her warmed her shoulders through the thin fabric of her pale blue dress—the only one she’d brought to this planet.

“Stop fidgeting, Mom.” Lila’s gentle touch steadied her hands. “The flowers look perfect.”

She drew in a shaky breath and nodded, inhaling the earthy sweetness of the pretty grasses Lila, Kal, and Tor had gathered for her. Her voice caught as she tried to speak, emotions tangling in her chest until she could barely breathe. Joy warred with terror, anticipation with disbelief that this was actually happening.

“You look beautiful.” Lila reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair back among the woven flowers she wore as a crown.

“Sy’s gonna flip when he sees you,” Kal said from her left, grinning broadly.

Ashley glanced between Kal and Tor, who flanked her like proud sentinels. “You two should go on inside. Sy will want you with him. I have Lila here.”

The boys exchanged looks that made her pause. Kal’s eyes lit up as he spoke. “We can’t. We’re your honor guard.”

“My what?”

“It’s a very important role,” Kal said, practically bouncing on his feet. “Back when there were Latharian females, every bride had warriors to escort her. You should’ve seen how many guys wanted to do this when they heard about the wedding.”

“Half the garrison wanted to be here,” Tor added in his broken, raspy voice. It was easy to tell that his legion symbiont had retreated and Tor himself was back in charge of his body. “But Sy picked us.”

“What exactly does an honor guard do?” she asked, touched by their enthusiasm.

“We make sure you get to Sy safely,” Kal said and then straightened his shoulders, trying to look more serious. “And, uh, we’re supposed to protect your right to choose. If you changed your mind or anything.”

“Change my mind?” She blinked, surprised. “You mean…”

“We’re not here to make you go through with it,” Tor explained, his voice soft. “We’re here to protect whatever choice you make. That’s what makes it an honor. We get to fight everyone, if you decide you don’t want to bond with Sy.”

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