Will woke Radhya from sleep. The festive celebrations had run long, and she was still tired. Stumbling to the window, she looked longingly at the dark sea. The chime shivered in the air. Turning, she beheld Stephan.

“Well done, little sister. Well done indeed.”

“Thank you Steph, but why are you in my room before dawn? I would have loved a few more hours of sleep.”

“Since you received all the assets that Petra owned...”

“Now Steph, the proctors did that. I had nothing to do with it.”

“No, no you misunderstand. I don’t want Petra’s stuff. I want what you have.”

“Steph, you’re not making any sense. I don’t have anything you could want.”

“I want your bonding thing. You see, I have a friend, actually three friends, and we want what you have with your bodyguards, never to be alone. Please Radhya, I have never asked anything from you. I always threaten and bribe, but I never ask. Now I am asking.”

“Why not? We had always hoped that others would wish to join in a bonding, I just never expected you to be one of them. You do realize that you feel each bond mate’s emotions, and it’s best to stay at least on the same planet.”

“Radhya, I want this, and so do the others.”

“Very well, meet us downstairs in half an hour. Bring your friends.”

Radhya pried herself from the windows dressed. Descending with Padr, Will, and Max, she met Stephan and his seliflacn; Lady Felina, her bodyguard Sen, and Lady Simms were waiting with her brother. All were dressed in plain white robes. Startled, Radhya paused.

“Felina and I have been having an affair for a number of years now,” Stephan explained. “That is why I tried so hard to make money, so I could become closer to her in status and maybe become an acceptable contract spouse. It will never happen, so we want to be bonded and with our best friends.”

Radhya nodded and led the way in the darkness. It was a long walk down the beach, the waves making a soft susurration beside them. The sun was sending pink and gold feelers into the sky, reflecting off the water in tartan patterns when Radhya slipped through a crack in the rock.

She slid to one side and conversed with one of the fathers a moment, moving with her companions to line the walls of the cave. Four fathers approached the seliflacn. They escorted them to the mother floating in the waist deep water. She enfolded the four of them in her arms and lifted the quartet to her bulky belly. The soft whispering music of the fathers filled the cavern, song of the lameeno, the bonding, then a new song, the lameeno-ka, the bonding of humans. The instruments were strange and totally nonhuman, but beautiful nevertheless.

Time ceased for an interval. Rainbow shadows danced on the walls. Slipping from the mother’s embrace, Sen helped Felina, and Stephan helped Simms, and they waded back through the shimmering mini waves to Radhya, Padr, Will, and Max. Felina hugged Radhya with all her might. Her eyes were shining like blue diamonds. Stephan tried to speak but failed, expressing his emotion with tears in his eyes.

Eight bonded humans returned to the visitor’s center, and Radhya retired to her room for a few more hours of sleep. Again, Will woke her far too early.

“This is a habit you are going to have to break,” she yawned at him.

Aninya entered crying, “Milady you must prepare.”

“No Aninya, I must sleep. The job is done; the slaves have started on the road to freedom.”

Aninya smiled at her. Pulling on Radhya’s arm, she hauled her mistress out of bed and into the bathroom. When her hair and makeup were done, Aninya brought an elegant white dress to Radhya.

“This is Jemelina’s latest creation,” she smiled.

“Oh no!” exclaimed Radhya heading out the door.

Aninya seized her by the arm and brought her back. The dress was a perfect fit, clinging softly at the high-necked top and flowing gently to the floor.

“White just isn’t my color,” commented the Lady, “but at least this time she did the measurements correctly.”

Aninya clapped her hands. “Milady you look wonderful.”

Together they descended in the lift.

“Where are the guys?” asked Radhya peering around.

“Milady, they will meet you in the foyer,” explained Aninya.

Max and Will waited for her and Max handed her a large arrangement of white lilies, moonglows, and orchids.

“You look spectacular,” whispered Will, a gigantic grin on his face.

“Milady?” said Max holding out his arm.

As she put her hand on his arm, he led her to the ballroom. The decorations had changed, the red replaced with sky blue. The king waited by the dividing doors in solemn, royal splendor. Max handed Radhya to him. They entered the ballroom, filled with aristocracy from wall to wall, together. On the platform at the front, a lone royal waited, sporting a sky blue uniform. As Radhya paced slowly with the king, a tune from antiquity filled the air. King Smon walked her up the stairs, and handed her to the aristocrat waiting there, Padr. They turned and faced the crowd. Radhya could see the newly bonded four grinning as though their faces would split, Princess Felina clapping her pudgy hands.

King Smon spoke, “My people, I have the great honor today to present for contracting Lady Kirbyson and Lord Kent. May they have as much happiness as they bring to others.”

The crowd went wild with applause as a servant in royal livery brought the document. Together, Radhya and Padr pressed their thumbs to the designated spots.

Radhya gazed up at him. The most incredible feelings of pleasure were coming to her down the bond. His deep blue eyes looked longingly into hers as his mouth descended ever so slowly for their first kiss.

* * *