Chapter Nineteen

Detja was a miracle worker. By the morning, I had been transformed from a dung-covered tunnel rat into a lady. I smelled like flowers, my skin glowed, and my hair had been fashioned into an elaborate updo. The best part? Breakfast was pepperoni pizza, beer, and chocolate. And even better, Mami hadn’t fainted once. She drank her English tea and happily told me about her meeting with Elof.

Detja ate her weight in pizza and seemed to enjoy Mami’s stories.

Zarek stormed in with a wailing Clio in his arms. “She ate all but one of the Tar flowers, and she set the tapestries on fire. Those tapestries have been in my family for ten generations.”

Drekk! I had heard about the infamous hanging tapestries. Some depicted bloody battle scenes, while other had graphic pictures of women being fucked by warriors.

Mami quickly took Clio from the Overlord. “My apologies, my lord. Adan was supposed to watch her while we prepared for the ceremony.”

“Was he?” Poof. The Overlord vanished.

I shoved another chocolate in my mouth. “You don’t think he’ll kill Adan, do you?”

“Zarek will try, but Adan is very good at eluding him, and the bonding ceremony begins in an hour.”

“Me sorry. Me sorry.” Clio sobbed.

Mami patted her back soothingly. “How would you like to be the flower princess at Xenia’s bonding ceremony?”

“Me like.” Clio transformed into her princess form complete with sparkly dress and a tiara.

Mami waltzed Clio around the room singing, “You are so pretty. Such a pretty sparkly dress. Such a pretty toothy smile. Such pretty little tentacles.”

Detja and I exchanged horrified looks.

I grabbed my mother. “Mami, stop!”

“Why?” My mother was genuinely puzzled.

“The ceremony.” Detja snatched Clio. “While you help Xenia get dressed, Clio and I will retrieve the remaining flower.”

“Great idea, but, Clio, you have to stay in your princess form until the ceremony is completed,” I said.

“Then me be dragon?”

“No dragons,” Detja said firmly. “You can only be a princess.”

Clio’s lower lip quivered. “’Kay.”

“You have twenty minutes to get dressed,” Detja warned and teleported away.

Mom took my hand in hers. “You’re sure you want to spend the rest of your life with that Coletti?”

“I love him, Mami.”

“You would give up relic hunting for him?”

“Quinn was going to be a relic hunter before the Tai-Kok invaded his planet. He’s eager to pursue his dream again.”

Mami threw up her hands in disgust. “Fine. Make the mistake of your life. Your father will kill him if he mistreats you.”

“Quinn loves me, and you know that.” I walked into the bedroom and quickly dressed. My bonding ceremonial tunic and leggings were black with a bronze design intertwined throughout the silky material. Completing my awesome outfit were ankle boots with tiny jeweled daggers. I looked in the full-length mirror and smiled. I was almost beautiful.

“You are beautiful,” Quinn said.

I spun around. Quinn was wearing a black dress tunic that showcased his massive shoulders and thighs. He had bronze chains woven into his warrior braids. “You clean up nice.”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Mami snapped and stomped out of the room.

“Still hates me, huh?”

“She’ll come around,” I reassured him.

Quinn pulled me close. “Ready to get hitched?”

“I am.”

There was a fleeting instant of blackness, and we were standing at the back of the ceremonial chamber. The front rows were full of family. My father, Uncle Saul, Kaylee, Quinn’s sister and her mate Talree, along with Yakira, Quinn’s cousin, and Wulf. The big scary guy was Voss, the Battle Commander, and his mate, Zoey, was another cousin. Jaylan and Bree were there too. I think Detja said Bree was Quinn’s cousin, and big surprise, she was also Zarek’s granddaughter. I wasn’t sure where my mother was.

The ceiling resembled a night sky blazing with stars. Thousands of candles dotted the walls, illuminating the charred tapestries.

Zarek suddenly stood on the raised dais at the front of the chamber. He wore an etched gold headband that denoted his rank of Overlord. Golden strands were woven into his gray warrior’s braids. His black dress tunic displayed the physique of a much younger male.

Detja teleported in with Clio holding a single Tar flower in a gold pot. “Walk to where Zarek is and stop.”

Clio pranced down the aisle, tearing leaves off the plant and throwing them every which way.

Trying not to laugh, Quinn and I followed behind her. We stopped in front of the platform. On a small ornate table was an onyx ownership band. Excitement swirled through me. Once it was placed around my neck, we could have sex. Lots and lots of sex.

“Females are a precious gift. They are our life lines, our soul mates. Without them, we are nothing.” Zarek spoke with authority, his gaze focused on Detja.

She stepped up on the dais. “We share all that we are with our mates. This bond unites us for all time.”

“Today we are gathered here to join this warrior with his chosen mate.” Zarek picked up the ownership band and held it out to Quinn.

He took it and turned to me. “Your love is my anchor. Your trust my strength. You make my life complete. I will give you all my love until eternity ends.” Quinn fastened it around my neck. The warm metal band adjusted to fit my neck perfectly. “We are now one.”

I smiled up at Quinn. “I accept this band as a symbol of our love. It has no beginning and no ending. I am yours for all eternity.”

The chamber erupted in cheers.

Quinn scooped me up. “Time for our honeymoon.” He teleported us away.