by Lori Foster
Mallet stared at the ring. It was a delicate piece of work with a thin, braided silver band and an intricate heart topped with a natural pearl. “It’s beautiful, Raemay, but I didn’t mean—”
She folded his hands around it. “Please, I insist. The ring has much meaning for me, and for Kayli.”
Mallet didn’t like the way she said that. “For Kayli? How so?”
But Raemay shook her head. “It is not important.” Her smile now was tremulous and determined. “Just know that wearing it may bring Kayli added protection when she encounters conflicts outside our colony.”
Again, Mallet examined the ring. But it was more the look in Raemay’s face that convinced him. He tucked the ring deep into his pocket and, taking her by surprise, pulled Raemay into a big bear hug that lifted her off her small feet. “Thank you.”
When he set her down again, she was bright pink and laughing. “Go on with you.” Patting her hair, she said, “Here comes Kayli. Will you give her the ring now?”
“In private, if that’s okay.”
“It suits perfectly.” And with that, Raemay waved to Kayli and turned to go the opposite way.
When she reached him, Mallet held out a hand. “You hungry, babe?”
“A little.” Kayli used a forearm to dab sweat from her brow as she watched her mother’s retreat. “What did you discuss with my mother?”
“Just making peace with her, that’s all.”
Appearing unconvinced, Kayli said, “I’m relieved. As our Arbiter, it is important that you get along with her.”
“I was more concerned with her role as your mother, but whatever.” He drew her around to face him. “You ever been on a picnic?”
Confused, she shook her head.
“It’s where you pack some food and eat outside, usually under a nice shade tree. I thought if you were game, we could grab something simple and head off by ourselves. Along the way, you could tell me how to operate the aircycle.”
“How much time do we have?”
“Enough. I promise to be a fast learner.”
A little dubious, she shrugged. “Okay.”
Obviously his plan had worked even better than he’d expected. He’d given her just a few small tastes of sexual pleasure, and she’d turned into an agreeable, adoring woman.
She pleased him so much that Mallet had to kiss her. “I can’t wait till tonight.”
“The ceremony?”
“After that.” He tucked her in close and hugged her. “But speaking of the ceremony … I have no idea how this all works. I don’t need to dress up, do I?”
“Somewhat. I’ll have Hauk supply you with appropriate clothing.”
“Nothing pansy-ass, okay?”
She laughed. “Denim is not appropriate, nor is the clothing you wear for practices. But I will endeavor to suit your demeanor.”
“Yeah, whatever that means.”
“It means, nothing pansy-ass.”
Mallet laughed, and it seemed he didn’t stop laughing for hours. The instruction she gave him on the aircycle was almost comical. She was an incredible trainer, but when it came to teaching anything else … her patience ran thin. She expected him to get all the nuances on the first go-around.
He had an affinity for all things mechanical so he didn’t disappoint her. And still she was a harsh taskmaster, grumbling about every little thing until he abruptly stopped the aircycle, wrestled her to the ground, and tickled her till she cried for mercy.
While he had her down, he showed her a few moves far progressed from the routine training they’d been doing with the others.
No matter how complicated the move, Kayli caught on quick.
What she lacked in muscle she made up for with speed, technique, and agility. Mallet tried a hold on her, and through a little fumbling, allowed her to get him in a rear naked choke. She squeezed—but he was laughing too hard to take the move seriously.
That is, until she got her knees in his back, and really cranked. He tapped her arm, letting her know she had the upper hand, and she turned him loose.
She was on her feet before he drew in a long, much-needed breath.
Every bit as cocky as a seasoned MMA fighter, she stood with her hands on her hips and a victorious smile on her mouth. She wasn’t breathing hard. She hadn’t strained herself overly.
More proud than he should have been, Mallet stood and grinned down at her. “Not too shabby, Kayli. If I’d been a real threat, you could have forced me to pass out.”
“Yeah right.” She gave him a playful slug in his shoulder. “Except that you let me get you in the choke in the first place.”
“Trust me, most men will let you get them in that hold. They won’t know enough to avoid it. But you’ve got the knowledge, and you know how to use it to your advantage. As long as you can stay calm in a crisis situation—and Mesha swears that you do—then I think you’ll do great.”
She glowed, that was the only word for it. Mallet knew then how much his doubt had hurt her. He felt like an ass, and vowed to do his best never to underestimate her again.
HOURS later Mallet found himself standing before a large crowd, dressed all in white. He felt like the freakin’ bride, or maybe a sacrificial virgin. The clothes were comfortable enough, with loose drawstring pants, a billowing tunic-style shirt, and sandals.
When Kayli, flanked by her sisters, strode onto the scene in a long dark dress, he felt especially out of place being all in white.
She looked like she was headed to a funeral. Well, except that her eyes glowed and her lush mouth held a timid smile that promised him unspeakable pleasure.
The long sleeveless gown made her look even taller, slimmer. She wore no makeup, but a faint blush colored her cheeks. As she walked, Mallet saw that she wore dainty slip-on black sandals.
Spellbound, he watched her. Hard to believe that soon she’d be his.
Raemay appeared at his side. “She looks lovely, doesn’t she?”
Mallet had to admit that the contrast of her pale blond hair and golden eyes against the sleek black gown was stunning. “Yeah.” He couldn’t look away from her.
Her sisters were decked out in fancy-wear too, but they wore pastel colors.
“It may be the only time either of us will see her in a gown.”
Mallet grinned. “She looks great whatever she wears.” Or doesn’t wear.
“I’d like to talk with you.”
“Again?” Seeing that Kayli was engaged with the others, he offered Raemay his arm. “Let’s find a quiet spot then, but not too far. I don’t want Kayli to think I’m bailing on her.”
Slipping her arm through his, Raemay shared a genuine smile. “She would not. From the time you’ve been with us, you’ve made it embarrassingly clear that you care for her.”
Now if only Kayli would realize it. “So what’s up now?”
“Today, when you wanted a symbol for Kayli … You’ve surprised me, that’s all. Before knowing you, I expected a man of brute force, who would live that lifestyle. But you’re unexpected in many ways. You joke around—far too often as a rule—and I’ve heard only praise about you from those in training. So I …” She stopped them near a pillar, just out of range from where the union would be blessed. “I felt I owed you an apology.”
“Why, Raemay,” he joked, pretending to stagger with a hand on his heart. “You’ll put me in a faint with that lavish praise.”
She shook her head at him. “Oh stop. You’re a terrible tease.”
Mallet wanted to sit down, or lean on something. But he just knew he’d get dirty and that might ruin Kayli’s big day. “You were worried about your daughter. I get that.”
She stared toward Kayli. “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
“With you?”
“No, I meant with … people. With … men.” Flustered, she took a few steps away. “I have found it’s best to go forward with caution.”
Feeling his way, Mallet asked, “You’re talking about in romance
?”
“In life,” she snapped, then immediately showed regret for her tone. “I’m sorry, it’s just that you have turned my assumptions upside down.”
Gently, Mallet told her, “Assumptions are like that—not very solid.” Niggling suspicion crawled in, stirring his protective instincts. “Raemay, did some jerk hurt you? Physically, I mean?”
She went so still that Mallet felt his anger surging toward that unknown man, that unknown situation.
Unable to take the stricken look on her face, he promised, “It won’t happen again. Not while I’m around. If the asshole shows up, just point me in his direction. Understand?”
She blinked hard and fast, twittered on a disbelieving laugh, and quickly covered her mouth. “Thank you.” She got herself together and smoothed her hair. “As I said, you are … unexpected. But enough about all this. This is your and Kayli’s day, and I didn’t mean to intrude with my silly concerns.”
Mallet put a hand to her shoulder. “Hey, for better or worse, you’re my family now, right? Your concerns aren’t silly.”
Her expression almost crumbled. “Thank you. Again.”
Kayli stepped in close at his side. “Mother?”
“I’m fine.” She twittered again, sounding almost like a schoolgirl. Then she held out her arms. “Oh my. I never thought to see this day. You look beautiful, dear.”
Kayli embraced her. “Thank you.”
Mesha and Idola joined them. They, too, were full of smiles over the forthcoming ceremony.
Mesha grinned up at Mallet and asked with mock sternness, “Did you twist her arm, sir?”
“Several times,” Mallet admitted. He flicked Mesha on the end of her nose. “Getting your sister to the altar was not an easy feat.”
“Altar?” Idola asked.
Being surrounded by Kayli’s family wasn’t an altogether unpleasant situation. With Kayli in a dress instead of loose-fitting fighting wear, they made a show of pure femininity.
But as always, Kayli stood out with her different colored hair and eyes, so different from the rest of the colony.
“Altars are where we held weddings, our version of unions, back in my time frame.”
Idola was very serious. “Here, we have the ceremony in front of the reception hall so that all of the colony can join in.” She gestured, and Mallet looked around.
Without him noticing, streets had become crowded with people, and with the high ratio of women to men, there were a lot of flowers everywhere. It seemed every woman wore them in her hair and carried them in her arms.
“They must have razed the landscape to gather together so many blooms.”
“They all adore Kayli,” Mesha said, as if that explained it.
“The flowers are thrown after the ceremony as a sign of acceptance.” Idola squinted through the bright sunshine, one hand on her head to keep her hair in place against the cooling breeze. “Though I always assumed I’d be the first to join in union, I’m pleased to see so much support. Not just for Kayli, who has always been a very important part of our colony, but for you, too.”
To Mallet, it seemed that Idola also wanted to make amends. “I’m sure you’ll have a union whenever you want it, Idola.”
“Of course,” she said without thought. “But I am particular and will wait until I find the right man.”
Dryly, Mallet said, “Good thinking.”
“Oh, I did not mean that Kayli is rushing the matter. Not at all.” She faced Mallet, far more serious than the situation warranted. “Kayli has inspired me to patience. I want to wait until I find a man who will adore me as you adore her.”
“Idola!” Kayli protested.
“But I do,” Mallet told her with a kiss to her hot cheek.
“He does,” Mesha agreed, and she laughed at her sister’s embarrassment. “I believe I have found my man. He’s not like Michael, but he is wonderful.”
Flabbergasted by that revelation, Raemay started to speak to her youngest daughter, then appeared to think better of it. “I’m not surprised by the colony’s support,” Raemay stated. “It seems that people like a modicum of change on occasion.”
Mallet slipped his arm around his very quiet woman. “What do you think, Kayli? Do you like change?”
“Some, perhaps.” She turned her face up to him. “You’ve brought many good changes. I have hope that, with your help and so many additions to the defense, we’ll soon be able to get back all of our members.”
Mallet sighed. Even now, on such an important personal day, her mind was on her duty. At least in part.
Once he had her alone, he had no doubt that her thoughts would turn carnal.
Raemay began steering them toward the front of the wide stairway. While everyone found their position and their audience continued to whisper, he asked Kayli, “Is it customary for the guy to wear white and the woman to wear black?”
Showing uncustomary timidity, she smoothed her hands over his chest and stared at his chin. “The white signifies that you come to this union with your soul free of doubts or regrets.”
“True enough.” He held her upper arms and fought the urge to jump the gun and kiss her.
“Black for the bride represents that she’s leaving her old life behind, giving herself to a new life in union, forever shared with another.” Her fingers fretted on the seam of his shirt, and she met his gaze with worry. “Once the ceremony is complete, we can never change our minds. We can never leave the union.”
Emotion burned inside Mallet. “Do you think you’d want to?”
“No.” Her lashes fluttered. “But you—”
Damn it, he lost his head and scooped her in for a ravenous, dead-serious kiss. “No.”
Limp in his arms, Kayli stared at him. Then she swallowed. “I think you just messed up the ceremony.”
He looked around and saw everyone staring. Then Dormius grinned, and beside him, Mesha laughed. One by one, the Council Mavens joined in. Even Raemay fought a grin.
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
She put her forehead to his chest and snickered.
Raemay held up her hands for silence. When everyone quieted, she addressed the assembly. “We’re going a little out of order, but with our guest, that is not uncommon.”
Folks chuckled again.
She faced the Council Mavens. “I trust you all approve this union?”
One by one, they stepped forward and offered their consent.
Raemay looked out at the colony members. “What say you?”
The cheers were deafening.
Kayli tugged at his neck, and when Mallet looked down at her, she shouted about the noise, “Now we should kiss. Just as a formality.”
He was so edgy with new and unfamiliar sentiment that it took a lot of control to kiss her as was proper, instead of how he wanted. Cuddling her close in his embrace, Mallet bent her back just a little, and planted one on her.
They were pelted with flowers of a dozen varieties, all of them fragrant and colorful, until they stood surrounded by the blooms.
Mallet kept her close as he fished the ring out of his pocket. “I know it’s not customary for your colony, or in this time frame, but none of this felt right for me without a ring to give you, so …” He lifted her hand and slipped it on her ring finger.
“Michael.” She blinked fast with a rush of emotion. “Thank you.”
“It was your mother’s, but she insisted I take it instead of getting you a new one.”
Curling her fingers around the ring, Kayli nodded. “I have always admired it. That you would want it for me matters more than the item itself.”
Idola tapped Mallet’s shoulder. “Sir? You must present yourself to the colony now, hands held, before you depart. They’re waiting.”
Kayli pulled away, squeezed his hand, and together, they joined Raemay.
The old girl had tears in her eyes, and that, too, made Mallet full with good feelings. Raemay did love her daughter. Maybe not the way he thought a mother should. Or may
be she had her reasons for her odd reserve around her oldest daughter.
But she cared. A lot. And that was what mattered. He saw a mother’s love in the way she watched Kayli, in her pride, and in the way she smiled.
Voice low and full of reverence, Raemay pronounced, “It is final, now and always. You will go forth with our many blessings.”
The trembling of Kayli’s hand gave away her nervousness. Mallet, on the other hand, trembled for an entirely different reason. He’d finally have her.
And he damn well couldn’t wait.
Leaning down to her ear, he asked, “It’s okay if Hauk just transports us out of here?”
“A credible idea.” Kayli said, “Good-bye Mother.” She waved to everyone, then said, “Hauk, whenever you’re ready …”
Before she finished, they were in a room, not on the vessel, but definitely Kayli’s.
As surprised as him, she looked around and said, “Oh, Michael, this is my home.”
“Yeah?”
“This is … my private quarters.”
He held her waist. “Your bedroom. I know.” He was so anxious that he wanted to drag her to the floor and take her with all the pent-up need he’d accumulated since meeting her.
“Yes.” She stepped back from him, drew a breath, and with little more than a tug, she stripped away the dress.
Mallet’s eyes widened. He hadn’t seen that one coming.
Kayli cleared her throat. She stood before him in barely there black sandals, flower petals clinging to her fair hair, and nothing else.
The “nothing else” struck him, and while soaking in the sight of her, he asked, “Does the union usually include a honeymoon type trip? I didn’t even think of that.” Never mind that he had no idea where he’d take her, since he knew only her colony.
As if she’d anticipated that question, she fidgeted and said, “No. That’s an antiquated custom. And as Claviger, I can’t afford the time away. I need to be nearby in case of emergencies, but particularly now, with the current situation.”
“Later then, after we have things resolved and I’ve learned about some of your more recreational areas.”
