The Unveiling (D'Shar Men)

Chapter Fourteen



Rivka walked out to the massive lawn in the back yard where a giant white tent had been set up. They were in the sub season between winter and spring. It was cold, but there was no more snow. She pulled the pea coat closer and headed into the tent. Warmth from the heaters spread throughout the space to hold over three hundred washed over her. The ceremony would take place here, and then they'd move inside to the ballroom that had been completely transformed. Divided into two separate quadrants by white curtains hung on trellises, it would be set up for the cocktail hour, dinner and the reception. Here in the tent, rows of chairs had been covered with a white, gauzy material and a black bow that fell down to the floor in a waterfall of lightweight material that looked stunning against the white flooring that'd been brought in to cover the lawn. A white runner ran down the middle of the tent, awaiting rose petals.

Large, glass cylinders had been set up with round, electric blue stones that emitted a bright glow served as a testament to the connection between Zasha and Phelan. These soul crystals were a traditional part of the bonding ceremony and measured power and emotions. She'd attuned the stones to them last night at the rehearsal, and the sight of the stones pulsing had taken her breath away. The two were formidable. I wonder what the stones would look like for Bastien and me. She pushed the thought away. Now was not the time to examine the hot mess that was her quasi-relationship. The sex between them was amazing, but that was where they stalled out. It was clear he wanted more. She saw it in many things: the longing in his eyes, personal questions he asked, and the way he allowed her to lead. That trait she knew for a fact wasn’t in his character. She'd been clinging to this ceremony like a lifeline, using it for a shield between them, and now that it was finally happening she'd begun to worry. Just focus on the job.

Floating on the top of the water in the cylinders was one perfectly formed, blush pink tea rose. As she walked the space, she ignored the chaos around her. Florists ran in and out with buckets of flowers. A team of eight worked on the massive arches being covered with cream-colored flowers, studded with diamonds and a touch of glitter to make it sparkle. One was placed in the center of the aisle way and the other in the front where Phelan and Zasha would be wed and bonded. Satisfied that the tent was under control she walked over to her coordinator, Drusi, who'd recently emerged from her time away.

"This is looking spot on. Make sure there are no gaps on the archway flower work, and the petals don't cover the walkway to the very last minute before the guests arrive. I want to make sure they look fresh."

"You got it, Riv."

"I'm going to head inside now and see how they're fairing."

"I'm only a walkie away if you need me," Drusi said.

"This is why I love working with you." She smiled and walked away to exit the tent. When she stepped inside the ballroom she stopped just inside the door she gasped. Pheromones threatened to bring her to her knees. She turned her head and saw Bastien over the far wall, talking with Kade and Marsden. What are they doing here? She headed toward them, trying her best to keep her f*ck me eyes to herself.

"Hey boys, what's going on?"

"We were sent down here by Phelan to calm his bride's nerves."

She smiled.

"Hormone attack?"

"Oh yeah, big time," Kade said. His eyes grew wide, and she laughed.


"Why didn't she just call me?"

"Because she said she'd bugged you enough," Bastien said.

"But that's my job."

"Exactly what I said!" Mars said, throwing up his hands.

"You guys, go on and get out of here. Tell her things look great and we're ahead of schedule. All she has to worry about is beautifying herself and relaxing." She pointed toward the exit on the opposite side of the wall.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Mars muttered, leaning in to give her a brief hug. "Thank you, Rivka. I'm off to relax in my room for a bit."

"I'm following suit," Kade said, giving a nod before he turned on his heels to walk away with Mars. Could they be more obvious?

"Not subtle, are they?" Rivka asked.

"Never." Bastien rolled his eyes. She snickered, and his eyes lit up, the brown becoming amber.

"I love it when you laugh."

"Thank you." She looked down, unable to handle the intensity of his stare. Every day he made remaining distant a little harder. Her chest grew heavy, and something tightened low in her belly. Her heartbeat doubled, and her nostrils flared as his scent filled the air, making her mouth water and her panties damp.

"You keep this up, and I'll be dragging you out of here caveman style."

"It's not like I can help it." The thought of being carried over his shoulder, whisked off, and passionately taken only made her purr.

His lids lowered, and his eyes darted from side to side.

"You reek of The Wanting. If we don’t settle this it'll be damn distracting." His fist clenched at his side. "All those Shar men wondering if you're their mate." His voice dropped an octave, and his eyes darkened with anger.

"Hey, it's okay."

"No. We've played this thing your way for long enough. After tonight we need to come out into the open … before someone gets hurt. We need to step out for a moment.”

"I can't just leave. I'm in the middle of—"

"Now." His clipped tone ended her protest. Rivka nodded her head and followed him from the room. Where are we going? What's he going to do when we get there? A heartbeat echoed as blood filled her ears and the tension set her on edge, all of her senses honed and working overtime as they prepared, for what she didn't know. He led her down a maze of hallways and up a flight of stairs. They stopped in front of a large wooden door. He pushed it open and pulled her inside.

"This is my room." He was soft-spoken, but the tone told her he was barely keeping his cool. There was a reason people went into hiding after The Wanting began. It was like menopause and puberty rolled in a ball, times a million. Possessiveness was a given, and Bastien was a very dangerous man. They stepped inside. Bastien lifted her into his arms and pinned her against the wall. His upper body pressed her into the door, and she took a shaky breath.

"We seem to find ourselves in this position a lot."

"I need to be inside, where you're hot, tight, and nothing else matters. Because despite what your mind tells you and your words say, your body knows it's mine. The same way mine knows I am yours. This half life we've been living has me on the edge." His breath caressed her face and blew wisps of her hair around. His words were laced with so much longing and pain a tiny crack in the armor around her heart appeared. He rubbed his length against her.

"See what you do to me. Just the thought of you. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I struggle every day not to rip my men's heads off in training." His hands shook as he cupped her face. "I don't need instant love, that would be a lie, but I need a chance to prove myself and be responsible for more than your orgasm." He leaned in and caressed her lips with his. "Can you give me that?"

"Yes," she whispered. A brilliant smile lit his face, and the air around them seemed lighter. A part of her protested the give. I'm giving in too easily, too soon! What good does waiting do anyone? You haven't declared your eternal love. Her mixed emotions continued to battle one another. The back and forth began to make her head ache.

"Don't think. I know we don't have that much time, but the least I can do is take the edge off." His large hand slid inside her pants and into her underwear. "You're always so wet for me." He caressed her swollen *, and she shivered. "Do you like that?"

"Yes." She whimpered, closing her eyes. Her head hit the door behind her with a loud thud as she gave herself over to his dexterous fingers.

He made circular motions, pausing to slip into her channel for a few teasing strokes before he returned to her sensitive nub in tandem. She dug her fingernails into his biceps.

"That's it, come apart for me." His voice was a velvet caress, and her body shook in response. The tension in her body reached a breaking point.

"Oh! I'm close."

He pumped harder. "That's it, baby, come all over my fingers." A few more thrusts and she clamped down on him, opening her mouth to release a silent scream as she coated his fingers with her sticky warmth. She opened her eyes to see his smoldering gaze fixed on her.

"W-what about you?"

"Giving you pleasure and knowing no one else ever will again is enough for me." He removed his hand and stepped back as she gathered herself. "You okay?"

"I will be, but my panties are past the point of no return."

"Good, you should take them off."

"Bastien!"

"It'll be more comfortable, won't it?" He fixed his face to be the picture of innocence.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, but that's not why you suggested it."

"Partially." He smirked. "I also happen to think the smell of us combined." He placed his fingers into his mouth and sucked her nectar off. "Delicious." The soft material of her pants brushed against her cleft as he dematerialized the tiny scrap of lace fabric. "The only thing that would make this better would be if we had the time for me to fill you with my seed." The blunt words made her bite back a moan. Thank God Shar women had the ability to control when they conceive or I'd be on my way to mommydom.

"I thought you were supposed to be taking the edge off, not rekindling the flame."

He chuckled. "You're right. We should get back to the ballroom so you can finish your job and I can go make sure Phelan's keeping it together. The Earth tradition of not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding is not sitting well with him."

"That's sweet though," she said.

"Hmm."

His noncommittal noise made her laugh harder. She liked the way he interacted with his family. They gave each other a hard time, but it was clear it all came from a place of love.

"Come on. I'll walk you back. We came up the back stairs that used to belong to servants back when they were essential to running a household."

"You sound like a curator."

"That's verbatim what the real estate agent told me when we looked at this place."

"I had no idea you were so funny." This wasn't what she expected from the man in charge of the Shar military forces. His expression softened.

"Me either." The joy left his face, and she could see the heavy weight of what he'd been giving up settle onto his shoulders.

She placed a gentle hand on his arm. Saying it was okay would be a lie, but she could give him this silent comfort. He covered her hand with his opposite hand, and a connection formed between them. Rivka cleared her throat, and the moment was lost. He offered her his arm. Rivka hesitated.


"Aren't you going to … wash your hands?"

"Call me sick, but having your scent on me is going to help keep me calm."

"Mmm. Smart thinking." She linked her arm with his, and they exited the room. As much as they shared a similar physiology to humans, they weren't. What seemed extreme to them was perfectly normal among the Shar. Right now she craved being filled to the brim with his sticky blue cum. Playing it cool while in the midst of The Wanting was no easy task, and they'd managed it for almost a month. She had half a mind to tell him it was time for a vacation, but she could see him taking it and running.

****

She wasn't shocked by the outcome at the wedding. This was the first Shar mating ceremony to be combined with an earth style wedding. There wasn't an empty seat in the tent. Rivka stood on the right at the altar beside the Pastor. He'd perform his ceremony, and she would finish off. Each phase of the wedding would play to a different aspect of their culture. But this was a homage to both to the bride and groom's personal taste. The aisle way was lined with blush pink roses, and they popped against the scheme of black and white. Phelan wore a tailor-made black tuxedo with a black bowtie. The groomsmen were dressed to the nines in black suits with collarless t-shirts. In lieu of a boutonniere, they'd chosen to honor the Shar by wearing a silver-colored metal emblem that was their family crest. The wedding party was small one, six people total. Bastien was the best man, with Kade and Mars as groomsmen. Zasha had matched the number with her close friend Taryn and two other co-workers. Their strapless, black gowns were fitted on the top to mid thigh where they flared out into a trumpet. The mermaid silhouette flattered each body type and provided a dramatic background for the bride.

The wedding march began, and Zasha walked in on the arm of her Police Chief. The deep v-neck gown was covered from head to toe in sparkly sequins that looked like flecks of diamond. The top was light silver that faded out to white at the waist, flaring out at the bottom. The six inches on the bottom of the dress alternated between silver and white, in a pattern reminiscent of a starburst. Gasps rang out from the crowd, and all eyes were on the bride with luxurious curls that cascaded around her face and down her back. Rivka closed her eyes and concentrated on the stones as she hummed an ancient Shar song and gathered her energy. She lifted her hand, spread her fingers wide and created an image of stars on the tent above them to honor the tradition of bonding under the stars. Every detail was a mirror of the view they'd had in Tagget. Her heart ached a bit for the world lost.

When Zasha reached the end of the aisle, she handed her bouquet of cream-colored roses to her Maid of Honor and stood beside Phelan who took her hand. They faced one another, and the Pastor began. She did her best to look interested as her mind wandered to the man on the opposite side of Phelan. Bastien in his suit, with his hair tucked behind his ear made her weak in the knees. When the Pastor ended his speech she smiled, lighting the incense behind her with her mind as she sang in the ancient language of the Shar. An interpreter held a microphone and explained the symbolism. She waved the fragrant smoke over the couple’s heads, bestowed them with the blessing of their ancestors and asked for strength, protection, and guidance. She danced around the two, spinning as she gestured with her hands and performed elaborate footwork. Blue energy flowed around them, growing brighter. It pulsed, encompassing them in a blue sphere. Trails of light wove themselves into patterns and symbols. Her body hummed with energy. She came to a stop and stepped back to admire the light show that was proof of the good match they made.

She nodded to the Pastor with wide brown eyes. He continued on with his speech. As the Pastor spoke, her stomach turned over and her vision grew hazy. Rivka sucked down air in an attempt to hide the panic setting in. Not now, please, don't let me have a vision! An image superimposed itself on top of Phelan and Zasha. A different wedding, with the familiar couple from her dreams, surrounded by a sunset-colored ball of energy. The peachy orange, pink, and red sphere was breathtaking. A thick, red substance obscured the scene. Blood. She blinked rapidly, and the image was gone. It meant death. But was it a symbol representing the past or the present?

"It's my pleasure to introduce you to the new Mr. and Mrs. Phelan D'Shar!" Cheers erupted from the crowd along with wolf whistles and clapping. She shook off her daze, changed the starry scene above their heads on the canopy to a meteor shower and bowed.

"I present your King and Queen." She used English to ensure everyone understood. As the couple made their way down the aisle a feeling of foreboding heightened her uneasiness. She had the feeling this would be the last happy occasion they celebrated for some time. The storm she'd sensed earlier was coming in fast. God, I hope we're ready.

****

This is the longest hour I’ve ever had to endure. Cocktail hour would be synonymous with torture for the rest of his life. He was sick to death of chatting up women he had no interest in and forcing small talk with men he had nothing in common with. Something had happened to Rivka up there during the ceremony. Her entire aura had changed, though she did a good job of hiding it from everyone else. He hadn't gotten a moment alone with her since. Everyone wanted to talk to the Star Maiden. It’s understandable. They’re curious. Bastien balled his hands into fists. The man next to her was too close for comfort. His chest grew tight, and his body temperature rose.

"You okay, bro? You're looking a little … tense." Kade came to stand beside him at the bar.

"Just want to get a word in with Rivka."

"Uh huh. Well, you might want to take it down a notch before you scare the guests."

"Am I that bad?" he asked, feeling sheepish.

"Very intense. What's going on?"

"I just feel like something's not right." He frowned.

"How so?"

"Something happened in the middle of the ceremony. I want to know what it was."

"It all seemed normal to me."

He shook his head. "She's good at projecting what she wants everyone to see."

"I'm not going to try to understand the bond forming between you two. How about I run some interference and you take her aside?"

"I'll owe you."

"I'm going to hold you to that.” Kade snickered. "Follow me and watch while I work my brand of magic."

"Distracting?" Bastien asked.

"No, diplomatic relationships. You have the subtlety of a bull in a china shop." He burst out laughing, drawing the attention of a few guests as they made their way over to where Rivka stood beside a man he didn't recognize.

"Renten, how are you?" Kade asked. He held out his hand, and Renten smiled and shook enthusiastically. A gleam appeared in his brown eyes.

The middle-aged man with graying hair and kind blue eyes smiled. "Kade, my boy, long time no see."

"I know it's been a busy year."

"Have you thought more about that business venture I mentioned?"

"I have," Kade said.

"Excuse me, Priestess. Kade and I have some catching up to do."

"Of course." She gave a gracious nod of her head, and Bastien pounced.

"It's hot in here. Would you care to step outside with me, Rivka?"

"I'd love that."

They left the cocktail hour and stepped out into the hall.

"Thanks for the rescue. I had a barrage of questions whizzing at me left and right. I don't mind, because I like educating humans on our culture, but it was like … overload." She shook her head as if to clear it as they headed out to the foyer.


"I sensed a change in you during the ceremony. What happened?"

"I had a vision."

I knew it. "What of?"

"I’m still deciphering.” They took a seat in a quiet corner.

"Is that good or bad?"

"Could go either way, though right now the feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me it isn’t positive."

His instinct to protect flared to life. "Can you tell me more?"

"No, I have to meditate on it for awhile, see if I can glean more." She shook her head. "Worst timing ever."

"We know better than most life doesn't wait for the right moment."

She sighed. "It's true. Only the reception to go, and we're free."

An unspoken word lingered in the air between them, very much felt. What then?