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)
Ambassador Bearick plucked the other nipple band from the box and repeated the performance—first teasing her nipple gently with his thumb and then placing the second band after first holding it in his mouth for a moment.
“Very good!” The official looked very relieved when the second band was placed. He raised his voice. “This woman is yours now, Ambassador Bearick—you own her and can do anything you wish with her. On behalf of her father and of all the males here assembled, I wish you much pleasure in the use of her ripe young body. Please breed her long and hard when you change the color of her eyes and do your best to plant your heir in her belly.”
The Ambassador didn’t seem to know what to say to that. But at that point the ceremony was over. And since there was no formal reception, there was nothing to do now but mingle with the Joining guests, drink some of the Joining punch and of course, taste the sweet Joining Loaf to symbolize their union together.
Aleena tried not to think of what would come after, once they left the ceremony together. It was better to concentrate on the present, she told herself. She ought to try and get to know her new husband and see what pleased him.
That way, maybe he wouldn’t hurt her too much when he changed the color of her eyes that night.
4
BEAR
Bear was glad the ceremony was over. It was one of the strangest and most off-putting customs he’d ever been part of, and that was saying something since he’d once brokered a trade agreement with the snail people of Borka Four in which he had to stand shoulders deep in a pit of “holy slime” in order to make the deal.
He felt slimy in a whole different way after the Karpsian Joining ceremony he’d just been through. He’d hated saying such misogynistic things to the sweet little female who was now his bride.
Your temporary bride—don’t forget, this Joining isn’t supposed to last, whispered a little voice in his head. Bear winced at the thought of that. When he’d been speaking over the viewscreen to the girl’s father, Sir Greggor had made the idea of disavowment sound simple and easy.
Well, it probably is simple and easy for the males on this planet, he thought. But for the females, it seemed to be a whole other proposition.
The very fact that they had a clause for instant divorce if the male found another female he wanted more than his wife built right into their Joining ceremony told Bear all he needed to know about what kind of people the Karpsians were. If they hadn’t needed access to the wormhole so badly, the Kindred would never have agreed to deal with them.
His people believed that every female had a spark of the divine in her—they were all molded after the image of the Goddess, after all. The Mother of All Life who had created the Kindred people and still watched over them held a special place in her heart for her daughters and the Kindred—who were ninety-five percent male due to a genetic anomaly—revered females as a consequence.
In contrast, it was clear the Karpsians didn’t value their females at all. They felt free to toss their mates aside at the least provocation, like used tissues. Bear felt scorn for any people so misguided. How could they not see the value of their females?
Hadn’t you better “get down off your high horse” as the humans say? whispered that same little voice in his head. Have you forgotten that you’re going to abandon and discard your new bride as soon as your business here is concluded?
Bear felt a flush of unease pass through him. Well, yes that was true, but he had made a vow never to call and keep another bride after his beloved Zelia had died. He couldn’t break a solemn oath which he had taken in the Sacred Grove before the Goddess herself—could he? He would just have to be certain that his new wife was well cared for after he disavowed her. There was nothing else he could do…was there?
“Come, my husband.” The soft, sweet voice drifted up to his ears, breaking into the guilt and confusion he’d been feeling. He looked down to see his new bride—what was her name again? Oh yes, Aleena. He looked down to see Aleena looking up at him and tugging tentatively at his sleeve.
He couldn’t help noticing, now that the ceremony was over, that his new bride was uncommonly pretty. She had lovely, smooth bronze skin and long wavy hair that was the rose-gold color of pure copper. The color shouldn’t have worked with her gorgeous pale purple eyes, which sparkled like jewels, but somehow it did.
In addition to her lovely face and bewitching eyes, she was also what the Kindred called an “Elite”—a female that the Goddess has blessed with extra full curves. Gods, she almost made him wish he hadn’t taken his vow!