Blood at Stake (Warriors of the Krieger Book 2)
Page 14
“I do,” he smiled.
“Do you Lady Lydia Duncan, take Krieger Ashby as your mate? To love him, honor him and cherish him for the remainder of your days? If you should live longer than the ground you stand upon this day, do you promise him your heart?”
“I do,” I smiled, looking into his eyes.
Queen Elizabeth asked for the ancient goblet. I’d seen one like this before, when Charity and Dragus were mated. This cup was made of silver with quarter sized rubies inlaid in a circle around the rim.
She pulled a red sash from her pocket and asked us to raise our right hands, clasping them in the air. The sash was tied around our hands, binding them together. She removed a dagger from her side and held it between our bound wrists. With one jerk, she sliced the vein, letting our blood drain into the cup, before the wound sealed closed. Ashby and I took the cup, still holding it between us as she used the dagger to prick the end of her finger. “I, Queen Elizabeth, approve this mating and give you the blessing of eternity together.” Two drops of blood mixed into the goblet as she untied our wrists.
“The female always takes first as a sign of respect and love,” she said, handing me the goblet. I drank the blood, leaving half of it for my mate.
“The Krieger takes what is left, but only after his mate has been fed,” she smiled, handing the goblet over to Ashby. He drained the cup and handed it back to the queen.
Out of her pocket, she produced a ruby ring that was similar to Charity’s. The ring had to have been at least five carats, and I immediately fell in love with it. “The ruby has been a sign of love for our kind since the beginning. Blood is the only thing that gives us life. A mated male gives his bride a ruby as a sign of his faithfulness and promise to share his blood with her to keep her sustained for eternity. Ashby, you may place the ring on her finger.”
He smiled warmly and took the ring from her hand, turning toward me. “I love you, my mate.” He placed the ring on my finger and kissed the stone once it rested in place.
“Your mate has given me a ring for you, Krieger,” the queen smiled. Ashby’s eyes widened as she removed the gold band from her robe pocket. Centered was a ruby, with the same cut as my own, but not as big. “You may place the band on your mate’s finger, Lady Lydia.”
I slid the band on his ring finger, leaning over to kiss the stone as he’d done mine. “I love you, my mate.”
“The mating of a Krieger is a special occasion,” she smirked. “I’d tell everyone, at this point, that they were to gather to congratulate the couple, but we will skip that part.” We all laughed.
“By the powers that be, I bless this union,” she announced. “Ashby, Warrior of the Krieger, you may now kiss your mate, and may your lives be filled with happiness and love.”
The queen stepped back as Ashby stepped forward. He cupped my face in his large hands and leaned over so that we were eye to eye, nose to nose. “I love you,” he whispered and took my lips with his own.
It may have taken almost four hundred years, but I’d finally found my mate. He’d protected me and cared for me, before he ever realized he loved me. For whatever reason the fates mated us on that first lust-filled night, I’m thankful that they did, because I finally found love.
“I love you, too…my warrior,” I said, once he released my lips.
The End…
About Theresa Hissong:
Theresa is a mother of two and the wife of a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. After seventeen years traveling the country, moving from base to base, the family has settled their roots back in Theresa’s home town of Olive Branch, MS., where she enjoys her time with old friends and family.
After almost three years of managing a retail bookstore, Theresa has gone behind the scenes to write romantic stories with flare. As a romance book junkie, Theresa daydreams of the perfect love affair and takes those ideas to paper.
Look for other exciting reads…coming very soon!