Page 74 of Taken By The Dark Three
Her eyes narrow, curiosity ignited. “Symbol?”
I breathe in deeply, feeling the flutter of nerves. “Yes. A ceremony. A public vow. Orthani has many traditions, but none bridging purna and dark elf as equals. Usually, a purna might be enslaved or exiled. But we stand on the brink of a new era, and I see no stronger sign of that than a mating ceremony—one that cements you as part of Orthani, not a captive, and me as standing with you, not just using you.”
A flash of emotion crosses her face—surprise, maybe. She steps back from the rail, scanning my expression. “Mating ceremony,” she repeats, voice husky with tension. “You want me to marry into Orthani’s old system? That hardly seems like the transformation we want.”
I raise a hand. “It won’t be the usual union, where the purna is subjugated. We rewrite the vows. We hold it in public, so the city sees we stand as equals. Let them gossip, let them witnessthat a purna and a dark elf commander unite. In one stroke, we challenge Orthani’s cruelty and quell their fear that you’re here only to topple them.”
She studies me in silence. My heart pounds. “What about Eryx or Zareth?” she says quietly. “You know I won’t choose just one man.” A faint, almost mischievous smile touches her lips, but there’s a genuine question in her eyes.
The idea of sharing her once rattled me deeply, but the battles we’ve faced, the nights we’ve spent, and the knowledge she is forging a new order have taught me acceptance. “They remain yours,” I say, voice low. “This ceremony is a statement, not an exclusion. Orthani seldom acknowledges poly relationships, but we can shift that perspective too. Eryx and Zareth can stand as your protectors or… consorts. The city might balk, but they can’t deny we all serve you.”
A tension breaks in her expression, a soft laugh escaping. “Vaelith, you never cease to amaze me. A dark elf commander proposing a radical union with a purna who refuses monogamy. Are you sure Orthani will accept that?”
I exhale, resting a palm on the rail. “They’ll have to. We saved Orthani. The city can’t revert to blind dogma, or they risk another cataclysm. You are the pivotal figure, and I vow to stand with you. If a ceremony cements that, so be it.”
She steps closer, the breeze shifting her dark hair around her face. My chest tightens at her nearness, recalling the savage heat we shared. Her voice drops, laced with sultry challenge. “You realize this means we formalize my hold over you. The city will see that you’re not just the master—there’s a power exchange they’ve never imagined.”
I meet her gaze, letting the tension simmer. “I do. Orthani might see me as the warrior in the bond, but we both know who wields the deeper control.” My words send a ripple of desire through me. She sees it in my eyes, smirking.
She lifts a hand, brushing her knuckles along the collar of my tunic. The small contact jolts me with memories of how her touch dominated me behind closed doors. “Then I accept, with conditions. It must be public, yes, so all see me as more than a novelty. And we allow Eryx and Zareth roles of recognition, so I’m not forced into some archaic notion of a single mate.”
My pulse quickens, voice tight. “Agreed. Let the city see they’re part of this union in spirit. No more hiding.” The thought of publicly acknowledging her multiple relationships sparks jealousy and a twisted thrill. But I push aside my old pride. We’ve come too far to cling to illusions of exclusivity. She belongs to no one; we belong to her in various ways.
She stares out at Orthani’s battered skyline. “Then we’ll plan it soon. The city stands on unsteady ground. A ceremony uniting purna and dark elf might calm them. Or it might incite more controversy.”
I place a hand at her lower back, gently. “We stand strong enough to face it. Let them talk.”
Her gaze locks with mine, and the tension that’s been humming between us since the siege flares bright. The memory of sharing kisses and blood, forging alliances in battle, all collides in this moment. I lean in slowly, waiting for her permission. She presses forward, capturing my lips with a sudden fervor that sets my heart pounding. The soft sigh that escapes her enthralls me.
The balcony is quiet except for the distant cries of workers below, but here it feels like a private oasis. I deepen the kiss, the taste of her filling me with raw heat. She arches against my chest, fingers sliding along my arms. A spark of primal longing surges, recalling the nights when she commanded me, how I submitted to her whim, letting her shape me. Even now, I sense her power coiling, a promise that she can claim me as thoroughly as she claims Orthani.
She breaks away slightly, her breath ragged. “I want you to show them all that I’m not your prisoner but your… chosen partner.” Her voice resonates with that commanding lilt. “We’ll craft a ceremony that honors purna traditions and redefines Orthani’s, with Eryx and Zareth standing as my protectors.” A sly smile curves her lips. “Then we see how the city reacts when a purna stands equal to a commander, and also entwined with two other men.”
My cheeks flush. The idea still stings my old pride, but my devotion to her overwhelms the sting. “Yes,” I whisper. “Let them see that we forge a new path.”
She inhales, stepping back from the rail. “We’ll need a gathering place large enough for onlookers. Possibly the courtyard near the old shrines. We do it soon, while the city remains uncertain and hungry for leadership.”
I nod, mind flicking through logistical details. “We can rally the remaining guards to ensure no sabotage. The city’s battered, but they’ll come if only to witness the spectacle. We’ll announce it as a vow of unity between purna and Orthani, a new dawn. Let the Red Purna see we don’t shun them if they come peacefully. Let the nobles see I’m not your thrall. That you… you lead me of my own will.”
She laughs softly. “My stoic warrior, kneeling to a purna. The nobles will faint. I can’t wait to see their faces.”
Despite the teasing, I feel her sincerity. The plan stands as a powerful statement of trust and revolution. My chest rumbles with a need to claim her again, but we have responsibilities. “Then we must prepare. We’ll gather Eryx and Zareth, finalize the details. The city can’t remain in chaos.”
She agrees, hooking her arm through mine in a surprisingly tender gesture. We leave the balcony and move through the corridors. Servants and soldiers pause to watch us pass, curiosity mingled with wariness. My posture remains proud,letting them see I walk with a purna as my partner, not a captive. If they can’t accept it, they’ll have to face the consequences.
We find Eryx in a smaller courtyard, instructing a cluster of newly cooperative purna to assist with healing spells for Orthani’s wounded. Zareth stands nearby, overseeing the distribution of rations. The synergy we exhibit is unthinkable under Orthani’s old laws: purna and elves working side by side. Yet it’s happening, bound by Selene’s influence.
She calls them over with a firm wave. They follow without hesitation, eyes shining with that mix of devotion and attraction I know well. Once we’re in a relatively private alcove, she explains the plan for a public ceremony. Their reactions differ—Eryx’s grin is immediate, while Zareth’s brow furrows in cautious thought.
“A mating ceremony in front of the entire city?” Eryx muses, stepping closer to Selene. “That’s bolder than I expected, but it suits your style.”
Zareth exhales slowly, gaze flicking to me. “I see the reasoning. She can’t remain in limbo—Orthani must accept her, or risk further conflict. A public vow… it’s radical.” He gives Selene a half-smile. “I assume we stand behind you, showing them we all share you?”
Selene nods, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “Yes. Vaelith and I will take official vows, but I want Orthani to see that the rest of you are no lesser in my eyes. If we do this, we do it on our terms.”
My gut knots with a mix of excitement and lingering jealousy. But Eryx’s casual acceptance and Zareth’s calm logic help me quell it. “The city will gossip,” I say quietly. “But they can’t deny we saved them. They’ll watch, enthralled, or outraged, but powerless to stop it.”
Zareth’s lips curve into a thin smile. “Then let them watch. I’m done hiding what we are.”
