Page 114 of Right Next Door
“I am,” she declared, her voice bright and joyful as it rang out around the room.
“Then, face each other and speak your vows. I will stand as witness and proclaim the truth of them to all.”
They did as he bid. But where they were supposed to turn and hold hands – drawing from the human tradition – Tsok couldn’t bring himself to let go. So, he just held onto her waist, keeping her in his embrace, as she rested her hands against his chest. She didn't seem at all displeased with the change as her eyes sparkled with amusement and delight.
“I, Tsok, Char of the kreecharma, do hereby take you, Misty Miles, as my mate. I vow to always care for you above myself. I vow to never harm or dismiss you. I vow to you my love, my fidelity, my wealth, and my life. And I will take in turn all your troubles, your worries, your debts, and your doubts.”
“I, Misty Miles, do hereby take you, Tsok, Char of the kreecharma, as my mate,” she replied evenly, her voice so softbut so strong as it was magnified by their combots. “I vow to always care for you above myself. I vow to never harm or dismiss you. I vow to you my love, my fidelity, my wealth, and my life. And I will take in turn all your troubles, your worries, your debts, and your doubts.”
“I give to you my seed.”
“I give to you my young.”
“I take from you your weakness.”
“I take from you your heartache.
“I give to you my love.”
Misty blinked, startled, because that wasn’t what he was supposed to say. But she recovered quickly, her expression melting into one of bliss.
“I accept your love, and offer mine in return.”
Tsok rested his forehead against hers. “I accept your vows. I accept you with gratitude, my mate.”
“I accept your vows, and I accept you with gladness, my mate,” she responded in turn.
Tsok had never seen a wedding ceremony. He’d never cared about them in the past. Such things were for other species, and even then, they weren’t really that popular. Mating celebrations were common, but few species had to have weddings like this.
But as they finished their vows, he felt something lock into place in his chest. It wasn’t the mate bond, but it was like a switch had been flicked in his head. Even if he never scented her, he’d know that she was his. That he was hers. There was power in the ceremony, in the actions, in the vows. It wasn’t the rut, but it was meaningful all the same.
Thiswas meaningful.
“As your witness, I acknowledge and accept your vows,” the Imperium declared grandly. “From this day forth, you are mated by the laws of Kree and Coalition, acknowledged here evermore as one body and soul.”
Just in the way they spoke, the crowd knew to cheer as they finished.
“You may now kiss your mate,” the Imperium said, making Misty smile.
Kissing was a human concept, not a kreecharma one. However, this was one part of the ceremony Misty was adamant be included. It was, she assured him, the most important part of the human ceremony, and could absolutely not be forgotten.
Who was he to deny his mate?
In front of their crowd of gathered well-wishers, before all the cameras recording this ceremony for the entire planet to witness, Tsok brought his muzzle to her lips and demonstrated for his people the human kiss that sealed their vows.
Chapter 41
Misty
The party following the wedding ceremony wasn’t exactly the grand, fun party she would want from a wedding ceremony, but it was nice nonetheless. There was a bit of a pall over the event, knowing that she wasn’t going to get to enjoy her wedding night tonight, but she pushed that aside as she and Tsok made their rounds.
This whole thing was testing her patience when all she wanted was to jump her mate. Or, rather, have her mate jump her once they pulled off his filter. But this was supposed to be a test by design. These last three days leading up to their actual mating were meant to prove that they still had control of themselves and that this was a rational, purposeful choice they were making.
Butdamnit was frustrating!
The feast was sumptuous, the guests were impressive, she felt like a real-life princess floating amongst them. Schmoozing, mingling, accepting gifts that, frankly, were outright extravagant. Someone gave them a whole ass vacation house in the far north, while someone else gave them a fancy hover, and a third person bought them a priceless work of art that,apparently, was from a very famous artist, judging by the ooh’s of appreciation that came when it was unveiled. These were the wealthiest, most important people on all of Kree. Their gifts – a tradition from both cultures – were equally incredible. And, crazy enough, shestillwasn’t expected to thank them for those things. They didn’t even call them wedding gifts like she would. They were mating dues – whatever that meant. They were gifts by human standards.
None of it compared to the Imperium’s gift though.
