Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
I’ll think about the Joining night later, Aleena told herself firmly. There’s no point in ruining a good time worrying about the future.
So she tried to put it out of her head and just concentrate on making small talk with the guests while they all came to get a piece of the Joining Loaf and a sip of the spicy pink Joining punch which was being served a few feet over.
Soon enough, however, the reception was over. Guests started making their goodbyes and drifting away, leaving the park. At last there was nothing to do but admit it was time to go home.
Aleena went to get her bag which held all of her clothing and a few small possessions. It wasn’t very big, because she didn’t have much. She had pushed it to the side under some bushes before the ceremony, knowing she probably wouldn’t be allowed to go back to her mother’s home after the Joining for some time. Now she gripped the handle firmly and went back to her new husband, who had just finished talking to one of the last guests.
“My Lord Husband, I think we may go now—if you wish,” she said, looking up at the big Kindred.
“Can we? I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to stay until all the guests left or not,” he rumbled, looking down at her.
“No, that is not required,” she told him. “Er…did you rent a hovercoach to bring us to your abode?”
“Actually, I did. I know at least that much of your customs—even if the rest of the ceremony caught me by surprise.” He smiled at her and the expression lightened his dark face. He had facial hair—a neatly trimmed beard and mustache—which most Karpsian men didn’t, and it made him look foreboding and brooding when he wasn’t smiling, Aleena thought.
“Oh, good. Then we may go. If you are ready, of course,” she added quickly. It wouldn’t do for him to think she was trying to have her own way—especially so soon after their Joining.
“Sure. We can leave whenever you want.” He shrugged, his impossibly broad shoulders moving under his crimson shirt. Aleena estimated that they must be twice as broad as her own. “Would you like me to carry that for you?” he added, nodding down at her bag.
“Oh no—you need not trouble yourself, my Lord Husband,” Aleena said quickly—she was ashamed of how shabby the bag was and didn’t want him to get a good look at it. “And it is not for me to say when we go—I merely wanted to let you know that we can leave whenever you are ready.”
“Well, I’m ready now,” he said, taking her hand. “Er, do we need to say goodbye to your family?”
“Only if you wish to,” Aleena told him. “And they are not really my family,” she added. “I mean, my father is still my father, of course, but since he disavowed my mother, I am not welcome in their home.”
Then she closed her mouth quickly. Why had she admitted such a thing to her new husband? Now he would think she was speaking ill of her father and speaking ill of any man was a beating offense!
But Ambassador Bearick only frowned thoughtfully.
“So you’re not on the best of terms with your stepmother and your half-sister, I’m guessing?”
“Well…no,” Aleena admitted cautiously. “They do not allow me or my mother to visit my father very often.”
“Hmm,” was his response. “Well then, I think we can leave without saying goodbye to them. Let’s go—I left the hovercoach over there.”
He took her hand and started to lead her out of the clearing. Aleena followed, feeling relieved. She didn’t want to have to talk to her awful stepmother or half-sister again!
But just as it seemed they were about to make their escape, Grindelia suddenly stepped in front of them and Faleesha was right beside her.
“Now, I hope you’re not leaving without saying goodbye, Ambassador,” Aleena’s stepmother said, smiling up at the big Kindred.
“They’re probably trying to get away so he can breed her!” Faleesha laughed coarsely. “Have fun getting the color of your eyes changed tonight, Aleena! I dare say you’re in for a wild ride.” And she looked pointedly at Ambassador Bearick’s crotch.
Aleena felt herself blushing scarlet with mortification. For her half-sister to speak of such things right in front of her new husband was scandalous! It couldn’t be more obvious that she was flirting with him—letting him know that she knew about the ways of a man with a woman in such a shameless way.
“I want to show Aleena the residence I’ve rented, where we’ll be staying together,” Aleena’s new husband said stiffly, speaking to Grindelia and not acknowledging Faleesha’s crude remark. “But thank you very much for the beautiful Joining ceremony and reception.”
“You’re very welcome. We spared no expense to make it a special day!” said Grindelia, which Aleena knew was a lie.