Was she starting to fall for them? As the water poured over her, she shook her head and tried to let go of the feelings that were creeping in.
She’d known them for just a few short weeks. There was no way she could be in love already. Lust, she could understand, but she’d being lying to herself if she didn’t admit that leaving them in the spring was going to be hard.
Even leaving them tomorrow would tear her in two. She couldn’t imagine how she was going to feel nearly five months from now.
She stepped out of the shower, wiping the steam from the mirror and staring at her reflection.
“Maybe you need to rethink your plans. Sticking around isn’t going to make things any easier.”
Lydia waited patiently for her reflection to respond, but there was nothing to say. Somehow, Lydia had managed to make a mess out of simple plans by letting her heart complicate things.
Walking away from her feelings, she grabbed the drink that Siva had left for her beside her sink. She opened the vial and sniffed it, but it had no scent and no color. A quick taste from the tip of her finger revealed that it was also tasteless.
She tilted her head back and drank it all, walking quickly into her room and to the bed, sliding between the fresh sheets. Turning over and snuggling into the pillow, she already felt woozy. Not a moment after she wondered if she should have consumed the liquid, she was asleep and completely oblivious to the world.
***
At four, as promised, Siva gently shook Lydia awake.
Lydia opened her eyes and blinked, surprised to see Siva there. She looked around, noting the grayish light in the window.
“Is it morning already?”
“It is. I see you got into bed before potion did its work. How do you feel?”
“I feel really good. A little confused, but good.”
“The confusion will wear off. That stuff is magical, in the right hands.”
“It’s a little odd that it has no taste or smell.”
“That’s what I mean about the right hands. The wrong hands can do loads of damage to the world. That’s why we keep its existence to ourselves.”
Siva stood, handing Lydia a clean robe and throwing open the closet and pulling out the next gown to be worn.
A young girl, long raven hair braided and wrapped around her head, came forward with a tray of fruits. She smiled shyly at Lydia but said nothing when she set the tray down on the bed before her and quickly left the room.
“You’ll have a short amount of time to eat before the ceremony begins, so eat up. Once you’re done, we’ll get you into this gown and ready for the ceremony.”
Lydia could hardly wait.
Lydia ate quickly, then sat in her chair, leaning back and giving herself over to the process. There were more people today than yesterday, but Lydia’s head was swimming and she didn’t want to ask questions about the purpose each woman served. She would see the results soon enough.
Like the day before, Lydia hadn’t seen the dress that was being chosen for this first ceremony today. She was a little anxious, but the first two outfits had been beautiful and flattering. She had faith in Jenna’s vision and couldn’t wait to see what she’d come up with for today.
Unlike Friday, Lydia felt someone applying makeup to her face. At first, it made her twitchy and almost tickled, but the woman was a consummate professional and adjusted her technique to suit Lydia.
It was almost five when Lydia emerged from the chair and stepped into the dress that Siva had pulled out for her.
It was stunning, with long sleeves and a skirt that fell a mere inch above the floor. The entire front of it closed with ornate loop and hook closures. The fabric was light and airy, the same barely there shading as the day before, only this time it was the lightest lavender possible without being white.
Looking into the full-length mirror, Lydia was shocked at her appearance.
She looked like a fairy, lavender chalk coloring her light blonde hair to match her dress. Her face was free of makeup, save for the shimmering pink gloss on her lips and the sparkling lavender eyeshadow that colored her entire eyelid, yet somehow wasn’t garish.
“What do you think?” Siva asked.
“I think I will never forget this day.”
The attendants disappeared as silently as they came while Siva worked to fluff Lydia’s dress and fuss over her before they went downstairs.
The sound of the doorbell ringing filled the entire house and Siva led Lydia down the stairs, holding her skirts so she didn’t trip on the fabric.
Siva opened the door and Lydia gasped at the stunning white carriage and matching horse. The horse had her mane colored with the same chalky substance that colored Lydia’s hair and looked like she felt as beautiful as Lydia did. Head held high, the horse regarded her with a gentle expression.
“The coach will take you through the fields to where the cathedra is placed. I’ll be there before you complete your route, but for this you will go alone.”
“What do I do?”
“Sit in the carriage and wave to your guests. Smile. Many have traveled many miles to see the woman that tamed not one, but two of the most firm bachelors in society. You’ve done what many other women have failed to do, and people want to see what all the fuss is about.”
“Oh geez.”
“Trust me. You’re more amazing than they imagined. They want to see you. Give them what they want. This is the last time they will look upon you without myself or your Tribute by your side. If you can get through this, you can get through the rest of the day.”
Lydia plastered a smile on her face and readied herself.
“Just like that. You look sweet and beautiful, just like they expect.”
The coachman clicked to the gentle mare, who moved forward unhurried. If she kept that pace, it was going to be a long trip around the property.
She did her duty, smiling and waving at everyone she passed. She even blew a kiss to a young girl who yelled out her love for Lydia. The entire experience was surreal and went by both fast and achingly slow.
As promised, Siva met her at the low stage where the cathedra was set up. Siva and the coachman helped her exit the carriage and Siva led her to the cathedra set up between two less extravagant chairs.
“Will Jareth and Carter be sitting with me?” she whispered to Siva as they walked up the carpeted walkway on the stage.
“No. I’ll sit to your right, and during the ceremony, your Tribute will come forward and sit on your left.”
Before Lydia could ask any more questions, a low drum beat began, and the people surrounding the stage began chanting softly and moving to the beat.
Quietly, as she took her place beside Lydia, Siva said, “It’s customary not to speak during the ceremony so don’t let anyone see you talking.”
Lydia smiled and nodded, watching in awe as the group of hundreds began dancing in intricate steps as one. The sun rose in the distance and as the light grew, so did the sound and the number of dancers. Lydia lost herself in the motions, the sight and the sounds of everything and swayed to the music of their feet and voices.
The sun was halfway above the horizon’s edge when a single man broke away from the group and took the stage. Lydia glanced at Siva, noting the large smile that spread across Siva’s face when she saw who it was.
The man moved unhurried up the stage, kneeling before Lydia.
“I come to you as Tribute, to guide you on your way into marriage.”
Lydia looked to Siva, panicking when the man waited for her to speak and she didn’t know what to say. Siva mouthed, I accept and motioned with her hands held out, mouthing again, but this time it was a word that Lydia couldn’t make out. In a moment, it dawned on her, and she turned to the man.
“I accept the honor of your gift.”
He smiled at her, standing to take his seat by her side. They watched the rest of the ceremony in silence, neither speaking until the group slowly parted to make a path that led away fr
om the stage, all the way back as far as Lydia could see.
The Tribute leaned close to her. “I’m Martin. It’s a pleasure to be here.”
Lydia smiled at him, watching with interest as the first man in a long line of men came, each holding an object in his hands. The line of men seemed to go all the way back to the house, and Lydia looked to Martin.
“This will take a while, but I’ll try to make it as quick as possible. If there’s something you don’t like, touch a finger to your left wrist and I will send it away.”
“What is it?”
“The dowry presented to you from your grooms. Since there are two, this is going to take some time.”
The first man stepped forward, holding out a jewelry box with a large diamond on a silver chain. Martin looked to Lydia, who sat with her lips parted, eyes wide. He smiled and nodded to the man, who left the stage and headed to a small canopy beside the stage.
“He’s going to place the items that you accept for others to look at later,” Siva whispered.
It was nearly an hour later when the last two men were waiting to walk onto the stage. Lydia was in a haze, feeling like she was trapped in the most magical nightmare ever. She couldn’t actually accept all these gifts, but for now, she was okay with pretending.
She pulled her eyes away from the massive display under the canopy and looked at the next man. She was surprised to see that the final two men were familiar to her.
Carter stepped forward first, a simple piece of paper in his hand. He presented it to Martin, who looked it over and showed it to Lydia.
She placed her finger on her wrist and Martin shook his head.
“You can’t deny this gift or you might as well deny your marriage. It’s customary to put the new wife on the deed to any properties or holdings that the groom has.”
“I can’t accept that.”
Carter’s emerald eyes bore into to her, daring her to cause a scene. She gave in, nodding her head and forcing a smile. Carter stood his ground, waiting for Jareth to take his place beside him. He also held a paper in his hand. His smile was wide, but Lydia could tell he was worried what her reaction would be. He handed the document to Martin and Martin showed it to Lydia.
Lydia drew in a deep breath but said nothing. She didn’t believe for a moment that they were actually giving her thirty-three percent ownership of their business. Lydia caught Jareth’s gaze and rolled her eyes dramatically. To her surprise, Jareth’s gaze remained steadfast and showed not a hint of sarcasm or humor.
She didn’t know what to make of it. Before she could say another word, she was whisked away for another wardrobe change, Martin joining her in the carriage while Siva took the direct route to the mansion.
Martin smiled at her, the expression welcoming. Lydia decided that now was as good a time as any to ask him what had been weighing on her mind for so long.
“Why did you want to be my Tribute?”
“I don’t have a daughter of my own, and none of my nieces have married yet. They all have fathers to speak for them. Except for Siva.”
“Siva is your niece?”
“My youngest niece. Her father died when she was small.”
“That’s why she was so happy when she saw you come forward this morning?”
“Yes. She was hoping that I would win the honor.”
“I’m glad you did.”
His smile widened and he looked as if he was about to burst with joy. Lydia felt awful. Here was this man, so eager to take on an outcast like Lydia, and he had no clue that the marriage was a sham. She felt ashamed.
“I wanted to have children, but as a silver male, I found it hard to find a mate until much later in life. By then, I was too old.”
“You’re half human?”
“Yes. There are more of us than there once were. It’s a much gentler time for us than it was when I was younger. If I’d lived my twenties out in this day and age, perhaps I would be giving my own daughter away.”
His eyes grew sad, though his smile never faded. Lydia reached out to him, squeezing his hand to reassure him as they pulled up to the house. He helped her out, hands on her waist to lift her effortlessly out of the carriage and set her on the ground. Lydia stood on her toes, kissing Martin on the cheek.
“You would have made a phenomenal father.”
“Thank you,” he choked out. His eyes shown with unshed tears.
“Uncle,” Siva called out from the front door. “We’ll see you for the binding ceremony.”
Lydia turned to Martin, her voice just above a whisper.
“Is that as horrible as it sounds?”
“No. It’s my favorite part.” He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. “And I’ll be right there with you.”
*
The rest of the day passed in a haze, with Lydia barely able to calm her nerves long enough to eat the feast that was laid before them on a massive table midday.
Martin and Siva stayed by her side the entire time, guiding her through each ceremony and instructing her on the proper way to respond.
When the battle between Carter and Jareth was set to begin, Lydia sat with her hands in her lap, gathering up the rich chocolate brown fabric of her current gown and trying to keep the tension from her face.
Martin leaned towards her from his seat at her side.
“What’s wrong?”
“Are they going to get hurt?”
He chuckled softly.
“No. It’s a choreographed sword fight. The worst that can happen is they may get booed off the stage if it looks too fake.”
Lydia sighed, brushing the wrinkles out of her skirts with the palm of her hands.
“That’s a relief.”
Jareth and Carter took the stage, and Lydia sat back to watch the display. Their timing was perfection. She wondered to herself when they’d found the time to practice such a well-choreographed piece.
As the fighting stopped and they came forward to kneel before her, each taking one hand, Lydia wasn’t surprised to see the smirk on Jareth’s face.
“Having fun yet?” he asked before raising her hand to his lips. His touch shot electricity through her and she shudder softly.
“Yes. This is intense though.”
Carter pulled her other hand to his lips and brushed them across her hand tenderly. Her nipples tightened beneath her gown and she blushed prettily.
“It’s almost over. We’ll be bound together next and then there’s dinner. After that, we’re encouraged to sneak away.”
Carter smiled at her, the expression wicked and leaden with a promise that she was hoping he would follow through on. Whether or not their marriage was a charade, Carter’s touch excited her as Jareth’s did. More than once, she found herself wondering if his calm demeanor would give way to an explosive passion she could never have imagined.
“Soon,” Carter whispered, his voice soft as the midday breeze.
She trembled beneath his touch, sad when he finally released her hand and walked away with Jareth.
“Last change before dinner,” Siva said as she stood.
“It’s about time. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my eyes open.”
Martin held his arm out to Lydia and she took it.
“It’s good luck for the bride and groom-in your case grooms -- to sneak away unseen after dinner is served.”
“Hopefully, I won’t have to spell it out for them and they’ll meet me back at the house.”
“One would hope,” Martin winked at her, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening.
Lydia emerged from the carriage a short while later, dressed head to toe in white. Her shimmering lavender make up was replaced with white eye shadow that sparkled like fresh snow. A thick silver chain rested on her forehead, the ends woven through the braids on the top of her head. A large, tear-shaped pearl hung in the center of the chain, resting just above the bridge of her nose.
Tiny white flowers were woven through her many braids
. The white dress was as bright as the sun on packed snow. As Martin lead her to the altar at the end of a long walkway; the guests on either side of the aisle bowed to her. She smiled, trembling inside when she spotted the two men waiting beside a tall, solemn man in lavish vestments.
Carter and Jareth were dressed to match in perfectly tailored black tuxedos. Aside from the altar, which was fashioned out of a beautiful, gnarled tree stump that had been lovingly polished and preserved, this part of the wedding looked exactly like the ones she’d seen on television. She almost expected to the man to start with “Dearly Beloved.”
But he didn’t.
Lydia listened carefully as the man spoke of the seasons, of the four directions of the earth. He spoke of the infinite possibilities that set into motion the love between men and women. He pulled out one long piece of plain fabric, almost eight feet in length.
“Marriage is a beautiful thing. One not to be taken lightly. At times, you will be connected throughout every fiber of your being. But there will be times that only the smallest contact will help you stay the course. It is the lean times that we learn what our love and our dedication is made of.”
He looked up from the fabric, directly to Lydia.
“The love these men share for you is a gift like no other. Remember these moments when you find yourself struggling and know that this tie will forever bind you. Even unseen, your connection will hold true.”
He looked to Martin.
“Do you give this woman today?”
“I do.”
Martin took her hand and held it out in front of her. Jareth and Carter stood on either side of her, each placing a hand on hers. Martin stepped away, leaving the two men to hold her hand in theirs while the cleric set to binding their hands together. His movements were slow, his path over and around their hands sure and steady.
When he finished, he tied the binding tight, stepping away and waiting expectantly.
Jareth smiled at Lydia.
“Now we’re supposed to try and free ourselves. If it doesn’t work, the marriage is blessed.”
Carter and Jareth looked at each other, eyes twinkling. They pulled with all their might, but the knot didn’t budge. The crowd, who been holding its collective breath, erupted into applause and cheers.
The Tigers Shared Mate Page 9
