Page 74 of Sy

“For their hearts,” he continued, “have been bound since the moment Sy’s marks appeared, showing us all that some bonds are written in the stars—or in this case, on the skin.”

He secured the final loop of fabric. “What we do here today only makes visible what their souls have already decided.”

He stepped back, his hands outstretched so all could see their bound hands.

“As commander of this garrison,” Kraath declared, “it gives me great pleasure to bless your bonding. May it bring much solace and be fruitful.” Then his serious expression cracked into a grin. “And in deference to human tradition,” he added, looking at Sy, “this is where you kiss the bride.”

Sy tugged at their bound hands, his eagerness making him clumsy with the ceremonial cloth. She bit her lip, trying not to laugh as he muttered under his breath, his fingers fumbling with the fabric.

“Draanth it all to hell,” he growled, nearly tearing the cloth. With a smile, Kraath took pity on them and helped untangle the binding, though she noticed his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.

The moment their hands were free, Sy’s strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her slightly as he drew her close. His kiss stole her breath away, deep and claiming, full of promises for their future.

Her hands slid up his chest to curl around his neck as she returned his kiss with equal passion, forgetting everyone else in the room. Heat bloomed between them, and when he finally broke the kiss, she could feel the rapid beat of his heart matching her own. They came up for air, flushed and grinning, while their friends whooped and cheered around them.

He offered her his arm, his eyes bright with joy. “Ready to go celebrate, my mate?”

The word “mate” sent a thrill through her.

“Absolutely, mate of mine.”

She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, unable to stop smiling. She’d found more than just love on this alien world. She’d found her home, her future, and her happily ever after.

23

His mate was so beautiful. Sy’s throat tightened as Ashley laughed up at him, her joy hitting him like a punch to the chest. He’d never imagined he’d be lucky enough to get a mate of his own. With his Blood Rage and the fact the Lathar had no females… the odds had been more than stacked against it. Yet here she was, warm and real against him, her fingers intertwined with his as they moved to the music.

The reception pulsed with life around them, his people and hers sharing drinks and stories. He spun her, drinking in the way the lights caught the flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes sparked with mischief when she caught him staring.

Movement caught his eye. Zeke, of all people, was carrying a fresh drink to the human engineer, Michelle’s table. The warrior’s usual stern expression had softened into something almost gentle as he set the glass within easy reach of the human woman. The human’s broken leg might keep her from dancing, but from the way she was smiling up at Zeke, she didn’t seem to mind.

He caught Ashley’s eye and nodded toward the pair. A wicked little grin spread across her face and made his heart skip.

“What are you doing?” He tried to hold on to her, but she was already slipping away, that innocent expression on her face that always meant she was up to something.

“Nothing,” she said, her eyes dancing with barely contained mischief. “There’s just another human wedding tradition we need to carry out.”

The glint in her eye made him nervous. But before he could question her further, she was striding to the center of the dance floor, her blue dress swishing around her legs with her bouquet held high above her head.

Kraath appeared at his shoulder, his arms folded across his broad chest. “What’s going on?”

“I have no idea,” Sy admitted, watching as the humans in the crowd began to stir with recognition. Whatever this tradition was, they clearly knew what was coming. The energy in the room shifted, excitement crackling through the air like static before a storm.

Ashley’s voice boomed across the reception area.“Ladies, are you ready?”

The answering roar from the human women made several Izaean warriors jump, their hands twitching toward weapons they weren’t carrying. Sy couldn’t blame them; the sudden surge of feminine battle cries was startling. The humans began banging on tables, creating a thunderous rhythm that had Ashley bouncing on her toes.

She turned her back to the crowd, and he watched in fascination as she began what appeared to be some sort of ritual dance… bending her knees and lifting the bouquet in what looked like practice throws. The humans’ response grew louder each time she dipped, their anticipation building with whistles and cheers that echoed off the stone walls.

“Perhaps this is a human fertility rite?” Kraath’s frown deepened. “Mimicking the act of copulation… But I’m notentirely sure what the bouquet has to do with it. Perhaps a traditional human bouquet contains herbs that aid fertility?”

Sy had to bite back a laugh at the serious commander’s attempt to apply logical analysis to what was clearly pure human… chaos. Around them, Izaeans watched with a mixture of bewilderment and fascination as the human females in the room worked themselves into a frenzy of excitement.

Ashley’s performance grew more dramatic with each practice swing. She’d throw her head back, laughing, and then dip down again, the bouquet arcing through the air in mock throws that had the waiting women surging forward before falling back in waves of anticipation. The humans seemed to know this dance well, responding to each fake-out with groans of protest and laughing demands to “throw it already!”

Even Michelle had forgotten her usual dignity, leaning forward in her chair with an intensity that made Zeke hover closer. The warrior’s protective instincts were clearly warring with his confusion about why his charge was suddenly so invested in a bundle of flowers.

On Ashley’s third wind-up, something changed. Sy felt it in the sudden hush that fell over the crowd, saw it in the way the human women’s bodies tensed like hunters spotting prey. This was it. His mate’s body coiled, and then with a movement far more graceful than her practice swings, she sent the bouquet sailing high into the air.

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