Remi stared into Jarok’s eyes, being honest but trying to hide the hurt she still felt at his attitude when they first met.
If she hadn’t been watching, she wouldn’t have seen the flash of pain that appeared briefly in his eyes before being covered by a flicker of humor.
“Remi, I don’t dislike you. Let’s just say…” Remi saw the flash of pain again. “Let’s just say that past experience hasn’t left me with much trust of the female of the species.” Jarok sobered and reached for her hand, holding it between his as he spoke. “You have more than earned my trust as well as my respect in the last few days. You have proven yourself willing to sacrifice yourself to protect this family. Which, by the way, you cannot do again. If something were to happen to you, Xan would be devastated. You have my loyalty, trust, and respect. I just have a hard time accepting that fate wants my brother to share his True One.”
Remi blushed and looked away from Jarok. She didn’t know how she would get through the Mating Ceremony since she couldn’t even look at Jarok without blushing.
“Why, Remi, is that a blush? Whatever could be causing that?”
Remi turned back to him in shock. Jarok? Teasing her? When he burst into laughter, she was even more shocked.
“Remi, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I know you weren’t raised in the noble houses, but sex is a common occurrence with shifters. Even with you accepting two males, I would still observe the ceremony since I’m part of the Dragon Guard. As will you when others begin finding their True Ones.”
Remi shivered and blushed even harder. Her voice was trembling when she spoke. “It’s just that…I don’t know if I’ll…if I’ll ever be able to look any of you in the eye again.”
Jarok reached up and gripped her chin lightly, turning her head until she was forced to meet his gaze. “Remi, my brother may have not explained this well enough. The trust between the king and queen, and now your paladin must be absolute. The bond is the only thing that will provide the closeness required.”
When Remi opened her mouth to ask questions, Jarok placed a finger over her lips. “Wait. It’s not as if they can barge into your mind. It will be more like they are knocking and you must grant permission, and vice versa. It’s only in emergency situations that it would be acceptable to ‘knock down the door’ and barge in. It would be considered a violation otherwise. Also, they will be able to sense your health, your emotions, and your general location.”
Remi frowned at that statement. “So, they can track my location? I don’t know if I like that.”
Jarok smiled. “One of the many pleasures of being a mate, I’m sure. But it’s something you must get used to, sister dear. Even if they couldn’t sense your whereabouts, they would know exactly where you are at any time.”
Remi’s eyes went wide. “What do you mean ‘at any time’?”
“Just that Remi. You are the True One to the heir apparent. You will have guards watching you when Xan or Ad’har are not around. Sometimes even when they are around. You are royalty now, soon to be the queen. Your life must be protected at all costs.”
Remi stared at Jarok in shock, her mind twisting and turning. She wasn’t shocked by the idea of the Royal Family having protection, it just hadn’t become a reality in her mind that she was now included as a royal. Could she handle having people watching and tracking her all day every day? She didn’t know and didn’t have time to figure it out.
Just then another heavy knock sounded at the door. Since she still gaped at Jarok, he called permission to enter.
Lorann let herself in and stood by the door. “M’lady, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we must finish getting you ready. There is only ten minutes before the ceremony.”
Jarok grinned. “Remi, I will await you outside the door. My duty today is to escort you to the ceremonial chamber…to make sure you don’t run, I’m sure.” Jarok chuckled at Remi’s blush but moved to the hallway.
Lorann shut the door after Beb returned. Beb headed for the bed and the clothing laid out there as Lorann began stripping the robe from Remi. When Remi turned toward the bed, her eyes widened at what she saw Beb holding up.
Beb held what appeared to be yards of white lace in her hands. Lace so fine and thin as to be sheer. Remi had her first set of doubts about her clothing. She didn’t know what she had expected her mating gown to look like but it wasn’t this.
“I can’t go out in that! Anyone even glancing at me will see…” Remi shuddered and paled, immediately realizing her oversized curves would be showing to everyone.
“Remi.” Lorann laid her hand on Remi’s arm. “This is the traditional gown design used for the mating ceremonies. It’s been so long since we’ve had one, Beb looked up records of Queen Agatha’s gown and made a copy for you.” Remi looked at Lorann and saw compassion and truth in her gaze. “You will look beautiful.”
Remi’s gaze returned to the lengths of lace falling from Beb’s hands. She was willing to mate a dragon, willing to bond to another male, willing to do all this while the Dragon Guard stood as witness, was going nearly naked really that big of a leap? She took a deep breath, let it out and stepped toward Beb.
“All right, ladies. Let’s finish this. I have a mating ceremony to attend.”
Beb and Lorann began wrapping and draping the lace around her, and by the time they were done, Remi didn’t feel so bad. While the lace was still sheer, the layers gave an illusion of being clothed. As she looked into the dressing mirror, she admitted to herself it was a very beautiful outfit that she felt attractive and alluring in.
“Where is the ceremonial chamber?” Remi realized no one had told her where the actual mating ceremony would take place.
“The guard uses the original Guard Hall. It stands off the entrance to the underground chambers.”
“The underground…where Xan was when I arrived?”
“Yes, Remi. The heavy wooden doors that access the courtyard? When you enter those, just a few feet down the path there is a side chamber that housed the Dragon Guard when the Keep was built. Now it’s used for the Dragon Guard rituals.” Lorann smirked at Remi. “Or the rituals no one else is supposed to know about. We know they have them, just not what goes on there.”
Remi thought of having to traverse the entire Keep in the outfit she was wearing. “Lorann? Can you get Xan’s cape? The one I wore the day we met? I may go along with Xan, Ad’har, and the guard being able to see me, but I refuse to let the whole kingdom see me in my were-with-all.”
Lorann brought the cape and settled it around Remi’s shoulders, straightening the folds until she was covered and then bringing the hood up to shadow her face. “There we are, Remi. Now, you have seven men awaiting you in the hall to escort you to the party. Let’s not keep them waiting.”
Beb moved to the door and opened it. Remi stepped into the hallway and met Jarok and her honor guard as they turned to face her. Not a word was said, but they all bowed simultaneously, and Jarok offered his arm. Remi tried to quell her shaking hands as she hooked his elbow and began her journey to her future.
Chapter 24
Remi stood in the torch-lit tunnel staring at an intricately carved design on the heavy oak doors. The panels depicted a battle scene where the combatants were fighting on the field as dragons circled in the skies. Surrounding the scene, circling the outer edges of the doors, was a great dragon that appeared never ending. It had to be some type of visual illusion, but then again, it very well could be a magical enchantment. The dragon seemed to chase its own tail, circling the door and shimmering in varying places.
From the other side of the door, Remi could hear Xan speaking and resounding cheers answering his words. Her heart began to beat just that much harder. Could she see this through? She loved Xan, was willing to do anything to protect him but was she strong enough?
“Deep breath, little sister. You have shown more courage than anyone suspected. Don’t wimp out on us now.” Jarok patted the hand that still clutched his elbow, leaving h
is hand covering hers and she appreciated the warmth. “Remi, you are the True One to our prince and future king. You have nothing to be scared about, ashamed of, or worry about. Every man in that room will lay down their lives to protect the prince, you, and any children you have. You are to be their queen, and they already love you for the hope you have brought them.”
“I’m trusting you to help guide me in the years to come. I don’t want to be an embarrassment to Xan.” There. She had uttered her deepest fear aloud. She continued to stare at the door, but she could feel Jarok staring at her.
“You could never be an embarrassment to anyone. Ever.”
Before she could respond, a silence descended in the hall, and the doors began to open. With a final pat to her hand, Jarok dropped his free arm and gripped his sword hilt. As he took a step forward, Remi realized she needed to move or be dragged along with him. She squeezed his arm, and he immediately stopped, though he didn’t look at her. She straightened her shoulders, tilted her chin up, and squeezed again.
This time they took a step at the same time. Jarok matching her steps perfectly, escorting her to her future.
The hall was half full with about thirty Dragon Guards present. All had arrived to bear witness to their prince’s mating ceremony. The hall was lit with torches, shimmering blazes shadowing the empty walls with dancing ghosts. Men stood on either side of an impromptu aisle, leaving the way clear to a slightly raised dais at the back of the hall.
All the Guard wore their war gear, some in black leather like Jarok, some in a leather/armor mix, but all were armed to the teeth as if expecting a battle.
Remi took it all in as her eyes darted back and forth, not really seeing faces or individuals, just a crowd of soldiers. An almost hysterical thought ran through her mind as she realized that when she took the cape off, she would be the only one not in black, but all white. The sacrificial lamb?
Her gaze landed on Xan and Ad’har standing on the dais, and her heart almost stilled.
Both stood strong and proud in front of a plain stone alter, shirtless and barefoot, no weapons to be seen. But both men’s bodies were a weapon unto itself, shoulders broad, chest and arms thick with slabs of muscle, black leather bracers around each wrist. Xan was wearing a black loincloth that barely contained an erection that was straining the cloth. Xan’s legs were bare showing off his impressive thighs and calves. His whole body appeared to glow in the torchlight surrounding the dais, while Ad’har seemed to suck in the light. His body was just as impressive, but where the light glinted off Xan’s body, Ad’har’s seemed to soak up the light and become a darker bronze, the only highlights the many battle scars across his torso. He wore nothing but black leather pants.
They both had their hair hanging loose, falling over their shoulders and chests, brushing against their waistbands and tempting her fingers to bury into all that midnight black silk and play. Her heart skipped a beat and began picking up speed. She focused on Xan’s eyes and observed his dragon staring back at her.
Those obsidian eyes, they had mesmerized her from the first day. She could drown in his eyes alone, and as she stared at him, the rest of the room faded into the background. She felt the muscled arm of her escort, but Xan was her focus. He stood, legs braced apart as if he owned the very earth. As she got closer, she felt his power radiating from him. It was touching her, swirling around her, like his fingers were already caressing her.
A soft voice whispered in her mind. “Mine.”
Jarok stopped at the foot of the dais, pulled the hood off her head, then the cape from her body and threw the cape at Xan’s feet. Remi had no time to feel embarrassed as she heard a powerful voice coming from the side. As she looked, she realized all Xan’s brothers were standing in the front. Bard stood next to the dais, and it was his voice she heard.
“Dragon Guard, we stand here to witness the Mating Ceremony of a Dragon Guard member. Do you agree to stand witness?”
Every male voice in the chamber except Xan’s raised in an “aye” that echoed against the walls.
“Dragon Guard, not only do we have a mating, but it is our Firstborn Prince and Heir to the throne. We also will stand witness to the bonding of the Royal Battle Mage to be the Queen’s Paladin. Do you agree to stand witness?”
A resounding echo of “aye” filled the chamber and seemed to shake the ground.
“Dragon Guard, we stand witness that Ad’har, Commander of the Dragon Guard, Royal Battle Mage, born of the Noble House of Ad’har has been chosen by the gods as Queen’s Paladin. Do you agree with this choice?”
If anything, Remi thought the “aye” that sounded at this declaration shook the very foundations of the Keep.
“Dragon Guard, do you agree with this bonding? Do you agree to hold this woman in high regard? To honor, cherish and protect her and her offspring to the death if necessary? Do you agree to assist and comfort her should she ask or if the need arises?”
Another resounding “aye” echoed in the chamber.
“Who brings this woman to be bonded to a Dragon Guard?”
Jarok answered. “I do.”
“Who claims this woman as a bond-mate?”
Ad’har moved from where he stood slightly behind Xan, stepping down off the dais to stand next to her. Remi stared into his eyes and once again thought she saw them flicker with flames.
Ad’har answered Bard’s question. “I do.”
Bard spoke to them both, asking, “Do you, Ad’har, promise to keep the future queen safe? To watch over and guide her when her king is unavailable? Do you promise to lay down your life in protection of her and her offspring?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Remunada, promise to watch over and protect your paladin? Do you promise to heed his advice and warnings to keep yourself and your offspring protected? Do you promise to offer aid and comfort to keep your paladin safe?”
Remi, never taking her gaze from Ad’har’s, replied, “I do.”
Ad’har leaned toward Remi, his hands framing her face and softly kissed her lips. It was a gentle press of lips and Remi felt the tension ease out of her shoulders and back. If this was all the bonding required, she could make it through.
Then a strange thing began to happen. The butterflies that had just settled in her stomach took flight and moved lower. A flutter closer to her womb began, and the world around her disappeared. Ad’har’s lips began moving across hers, still gentle but with a silent demand for more. Remi closed her eyes as the feelings intensified inside her. As Ad’har’s tongue swept her bottom lip, she leaned into his chest to steady her knees.
She forgot about the guard in the room but was aware of Xan standing and watching her share this kiss with Ad’har. Somehow it made her tingling feelings increase. Suddenly, even with her eyes closed, she saw a bright light flash in the room, and Ad’har slowly withdrew his lips from hers.
As her eyelids raised, she looked into his face and realized he’d had his eyes closed, as well. There was a look of wonder on his face as he raised his eyelids and looked into her eyes.
There was a dead silence in the room until Bard cleared his throat. “I guess that confirms the gods’ choice.” Remi didn’t understand what he meant, but she was sure it had something to do with the bright light.
Ad’har stepped back, releasing her face to take her hand and pull her toward the dais and Xan.
“All right then, continuing on. Who claims this woman as a True One?” Bard asked.
Xan, never letting his eyes leave her answered, “I do.”
“Anaxandros, Firstborn Son of the Royal House of Minos, Heir to the Throne, Dragon Lord of the Armies of King Minos, Keeper of the Flame of Tchon-Xi, Protector of the Kingdom of Aquateae, and High Commander of the Dragon Guard, do you take this woman as your mate? Do you agree to hold sacred this mating bond? Do you agree to hold this woman in high regard? To honor, love and cherish her above all others? To protect her and any offspring you have with her?”
Xan’s eyes fil
led with flames as he responded. “I do.”
“Anaxandros, do you agree with the choice of Queen’s Paladin? Do you agree to allow the bond that must be formed between your mate and her paladin?”
“I do.”
“Remunada, born of the Noble House of Cordonn, Healer, Mage, future Queen of Aquateae, do you agree to this mating? Do you come of your own free will to bind yourself to this man? Do you come of your own free will to bind yourself to this dragon?”
Remi answered without taking her eyes from Xan’s. “I do.”
“Do you agree to hold sacred this mating bond? To love, honor, support, protect, and cherish this Dragon Guard member?”
“I do.”
“Do you agree to hold the secrets you will learn of the Dragon Guard close, to not share anything you learn with anyone outside of the Dragon Guard? To offer assistance, charity, and hope to any of the Dragon Guard who ask?”
“I do.”
“Dragon Guard, not only is this a mating ceremony, but also a binding ceremony between the future queen and her paladin. You are here to bear witness to both rituals. Do you agree with all that has been spoken here?”
This time Remi thought the Keep would fall with the strength of the “aye” that shook the room. She felt her soul reaching for every male in the room, binding herself to not only Xan and Ad’har but to the guard, as well. She knew she would feel like a sister or mother to those in this room, and all the nervousness and fear she had been feeling disappeared in a rush of overwhelming love. Remi saw the flames build higher in Xan’s eyes as every member of the Guard accepted her as his mate.
The Dragon's Soul: Xan (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 19
