Ivetha cocked her head. We aren’t actually full siblings.

  What? Helthiot asked, her eyes wide.

  Ivetha spoke out loud. “Sariah and I are half-sisters. We have different male donors. We don’t know who they are. We were canister-grown somewhere.”

  I didn’t know.

  “No reason for you to. It isn’t common and is very expensive. We have just located our donor mother. Or someone has located us.”

  Have you met?

  “No. I just learned this yesterday morning. There hasn’t been time to make contact, but Aluhara is eager for a reunion. We are two of twelve. She has met some of the others already.”

  Sariah nodded. “Ivetha just told me.”

  Wait. Aluhara? Of the Sethir-Nin?

  Ivetha nodded. “You have heard of her?”

  The most eternally beautiful Aluhara. All of my generation has heard of her. Even here. Helthiot smiled and waved her hands around at the island.

  “It would be nice to meet her one day.”

  Do you know who fathered you?

  “Whose donation it was? Not a clue. It is a drop in the ocean at this rate. Literally. Don’t know nationality, activation, nothing.”

  Do you want to?

  “Not if he is a dick.”

  Helthiot laughed silently.

  There was a murmur from the ladies who were sitting in little groups. From one of the dark pathways, a parade of men bringing platters of meat and carrying cups and casks hiked into the previously all-female space.

  One of the men brought garlands to the ladies, and Helthiot smiled. Give the flowers to the man you would share dinner with.

  Sariah got a white and gold garland, launched to her feet, and headed over to Akio.

  Ivetha’s garland was set in her hands, and the dark crimson petals spilled over her fingers. She looked over to where the men were kneeling and being selected by the ladies, one by one. He didn’t eat, or at least not in front of her, but she stifled a groan as she got to her feet and walked over to him. Arata bowed his head as she settled the garland on his head.

  He looked up, and his eyes were shining. He surged to his feet and lifted her so they were face-to-face. She kissed him in front of everyone, and his arms tightened until she had caught every low gasping groan that he offered her.

  When he set her down, she noticed everyone was coupled up and seated. He walked to the fan-backed cushion and settled against it with her on his lap. His chest was at her back, and his hands were in front of her.

  He carefully signed, So, you have met my mother.

  It was hard to read the signs from behind his hands, but she managed. “Oh, yeah. She’s curious about us but very sweet.”

  Sweet is not how I describe her. Strong-willed is closer. Brutally determined is how my father used to describe her.

  “She learned to sign early?”

  She said at no time should I be unable to talk to family or communicate with the world, so they all learned. Come to think of it, my father will be pissed that he missed the wedding.

  “Oh, I thought... Well, if you are king, I thought he had passed on.”

  He turned her head and pecked a kiss on her forehead. He grinned and then murmured against her temple, “He’s working with volcanoes on the other side of the world.”

  “Oh. Can’t you portal him tomorrow?”

  He chuckled against her skin. “He has already missed it. This is the reception.”

  “Oh, shoot. I didn’t get anything for Sariah.”

  “It’s fine. She won’t notice.”

  “Why won’t she notice?”

  He chuckled and murmured, “Because she has to dance.”

  “What?”

  “She will dance as she joins her new family and to celebrate the island that gives us shelter.”

  She looked at him with narrowed eyes, and he tapped her nose and winked.

  He lifted his head and nodded. Music started up, and two of the young wives stood and hauled Sariah to the open space to dance. She brought curls of light to the dance and images of the original inhabitants, and the folk watching were suitably impressed.

  Ivetha watched the grace of the three women as they danced and told the story with light and movement. When the song was over, Ivetha cheered. Sariah grinned and nodded then returned to Akio.

  Ivetha blinked as Tuurin and Helthiot stood in front of her. “Oh, shit.”

  Arata silently laughed so hard he fell over, spilling her into his aunt’s arms. Tuurin hoisted her to her feet and grinned. “Your turn.”

  Ivetha shouted, “What?”

  The ground shook at the panic in her voice.

  Helthiot stood in front of her. Calm, Ivetha. This can be worked out... after the dance.

  Fine, but I can’t do tricks like Sariah.

  Just dance. It will be fine.

  The music started, and the older women flanked her. She drew in a deep breath and started to tell the story. She kept her eyes down or to the sky, never looking at Arata.

  When the song was over, she was covered in sweat, and there was no cheer. They were staring. No applause. No joy. She flicked a look around and took flight.

  A portal opened ahead of her, and she flew into it, grunting as she thudded into a hard surface.

  “Ow!”

  There was a wave of chuckling through the air around her. Arata looked at her with concern. She was firmly on his lap, and he signed, You okay? Dancing gorgeous.

  No one reacted. I did it wrong. They clapped for Sariah.

  We don’t clap. We respect that you told the story. She was performing, not telling the story. Akio told her the difference. Both were appreciated, but one touched the soul, and the other entertained. Guess which one you did?

  “So, I just threw a tantrum.”

  He smiled. You used your activation to remove yourself from a point of stress. Why not come to me?

  “You are sitting in the big chair, so I was trying to use protocol not to embarrass you and just to embarrass myself.”

  They thought your takeoff was a conclusion to the dance and a celebration of the day. Or so my aunt told everyone. His smile was kind, and his red flower crown was very aromatic.

  Her stomach twinged. I think I am hangry.

  It is a good thing that this is a feast. He smiled and rinsed his fingers in a bowl, grabbed a wide leaf, loaded it quickly with different items of sweet and savoury, and placed the leaf in her hands.

  She frowned and looked at the gathered couples that were now waiting for her to eat. He lifted the first bite, and she took it. Roasted pork. That released everyone else, and the party kicked into high gear.

  Ivetha kept trying to serve herself, but Arata avoided her hands and murmured to her cheek, “Part of the ritual.”

  She gave him a dark look and contemplated biting his fingers, but his slight smile promised that the biting wouldn’t be one way. Ivetha looked around at the other couples that were laughing and reliving their own weddings.

  “It is sweet that this is for bonded couples.”

  He nodded and smiled. He pressed his lips to her cheek. “When my father returns, we have to do it all over again. Consider this practice.”

  She held in the shiver that went through her and muttered, “Shut up, you chatty jerk.”

  He grinned and kissed her before continuing to feed her. By the time she was done, everyone else was chatting, and the musicians had taken up their station, and the music started.

  Helthiot got up and grabbed a longer garland of flowers and danced for a few measures then dropped the garland around Akio’s neck. Akio grinned and got up to dance. He was impressive, especially when ten other Akios appeared and danced in step. He could really move well.

  When he reassembled, he walked to Sariah, and she spun with streamers of light coming out of her hands and swirling around her hips.

  Sariah gave the garland to one of the ladies they had spoken to that afternoon. Her dance was fun and energetic, and when she wanted to hand the garland over, she chose her husband.

  Ivetha leaned against Arata, and he held her, stroking her arm as they watched everyone perform, goof around, and laugh as they became the entertainment for the group. Tuurin’s husband finished his dance; the men hooted and applauded. The women laughed and congratulated Tuurin, and Tuurin bowed and took the accolades. Her husband walked up to Ivetha with a smile, and he was going to put the garland on her head, but she took it on her wrist and looked at Arata. “I hope you can dance.”

  She looped the garland over his wrist and got off his lap, pulling him up and onto the floor. He gave her a look that said she would hear about it later, and the petrified musicians were silent. Ivetha smiled, and music started pouring out of her. Arata wrapped her in his arms, and they slowly danced the same way they had on their first date.

  He smiled, and she smiled as she became a living music box, and they swayed to their song. He dipped her as the song ended and picked her up for a kiss. She let her body go silent and returned the kiss with enthusiasm.

  He whispered against her mouth, “Now do it properly. I want to see you move.”

  When he set her down, she was wearing the garland around her neck. “This costs extra.”

  He grinned and returned to his seat.

  She walked over to the musicians and explained what she wanted. They grinned, and she returned to the dance area. When the lighter drums started, she rocked her hips in a rapid cycle and then began to move. She saw the stunned expression on the ladies’ faces as well as the men’s, and then Helthiot began to grin as Ivetha’s hips kept a steady, fast beat. When the music was ending, she tossed the garland to Yalmara, who got up with a grin.

  She walked back to Arata, and he raised his brows at her.

  “What? I was dating someone from Ekovar. I studied.” She smirked, and he pulled her against him as his aunt danced slow and dignified. “I am super glad that no one here has anything recorded.”

  He shook his head and held out his arm, bringing up the image of her with her hips moving in a blur. The projection came out of his skin.

  She clapped her hands over her mouth and pushed his arm down. His eyes were crinkled in amusement. He signed, I thought you were amazing. You will need to keep practicing. I will help.

  She closed her eyes and leaned against his shoulder. “Thanks. You are such a trooper.”

  He tilted her head back and kissed her. It was sweet, and then it wasn’t. She yelped when his hand circled her neck and held her as he ravaged her mouth. His teeth were definitely down, and the last thing he had eaten was the melon. Wait. he didn’t eat.

  When he lifted his head, she asked, “Why do you taste like melon?”

  His eyes crinkled again. He tapped her lips with his finger, and she nipped it.

  He helped her up, and she saw legs near her. She turned and saw his mother. “Oh, hi.”

  She smiled kindly and signed, It has been a very successful event. Akio and Sariah are off, and I am here to wish my son and daughter a good night. Get some rest. She winked. Or whatever.

  Ivetha was going to reply, but Arata stood up and carried her off into the night. It appeared it was time for bed or whatever.

  “I can walk.” She looked up at him. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  He gave her an astonished look.

  She smiled cheerfully.

  He stalked through the residence and into his bedroom. He pushed the door shut with his foot.

  She looked up at him. “I thought I declined your proposal.”

  He muttered against her skin. “I changed the dynamic and proposed again. That one you agreed to.”

  “So, you were just going to yeet people off the island until I said yes?”

  His shoulders shook as he spoke into her skin. “Yes. Absolutely. My mother would have been mad she missed the wedding but would have recovered by the time Sariah and Akio started having kids.”

  “When they start having kids?”

  “They have a few days’ head-start.” He chuckled.

  She leaned back and stared at him. “You are not going to try and catch up.”

  He grinned and shrugged.

  “It wasn’t a question, Arata.”

  He laughed silently and set her on her feet. He knelt and unlaced her sandals.

  His footwear was next, and then he unlaced the ribbons of her top and untied her wrap skirt. His clothing went next, and he looked her up and down, sighing happily.

  He sighed, We both got sweaty. You from dancing, me from watching.

  Ivetha slapped a hand over her eyes. “Shower?”

  He stood, and she felt herself rising up again. She dropped the hand over her eyes when he set her on her feet and started the shower. The shower was thorough but quick, and when she was clean, she simply vibrated the water off. She touched him and did the same with him. His markings lit up as she ran her hands down his body. This was much more fun than contact when he was her patron. He was warm, and the vibrations were having an effect on him.

  He signed, I am dry already.

  “I dunno; there is a bit of moisture here.” She wrapped her hand around his erection and stroked him slowly. She drew circles on the head of his erection, and the slick liquid continued to emerge.

  He carefully removed her hand from his cock and pulled her against him. He held her there and put his garland crown back on his head.

  Ivetha smiled. “You look pretty.”

  He signed, You look gorgeous.

  “Yeah, but I don’t have lovely designs on my skin.”

  He smiled. You can wear mine all over you.

  She pinked and looked up at him through her lashes. “How would that work... exactly?”

  He picked her up and carried her back to the bedroom.

  He flipped the bedding back with one hand and situated her on the bed, pillows shoved aside.

  He dropped his weight on her slowly, and she bent her knees to let him settle in. The room was dark except for the wild glow coming off his markings. He was right. She was wearing his marks.

  Arata murmured against her neck, “Since this was a surprise, I am going to spend the rest of our lives making sure that you have no regrets.”

  The words were making her body shiver. “Get to it, patron.”

  He jerked and lifted his head, grinning, and his teeth were down. He cocked his head.

  She licked her lips and nodded. The kiss that followed was intense. Her body came alive and moved against him as he held her head and used his tongue to mimic the technique he had used earlier.

  She whined and whimpered. He started a low pulse of sound that her entire body felt.

  He was smiling as he kissed her. He moved on from her mouth and kissed his way to her shoulder. She braced for a bite, but he chuckled and moved down to her breast. The low hum was still rocking through her, and she was moving in time to the feeling.

  He mouthed her breasts until she wrapped a leg around him and jolted when her senses overloaded. She sat up abruptly, wrenched his head up, and fed him her moans and shrieks to save the structure of his room. When her body stopped twitching, she relaxed the grip she had on his hair and dropped back with a soft moan.

  He pressed his lips to hers again and shifted so one of his hands was between them. When his fingers slid inside her, she closed her eyes at the rush of liquid that had greeted his hand. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a lot. He smiled against her mouth, and a third finger fitted itself inside. “May I?”

  She nodded, desperate to find out what happened next. He didn’t wait but withdrew his fingers and eased into her. There was pressure, and then her body yielded. He groaned as he sank into her. His body arched over her so he could keep the kiss contact while his hips slowly moved, and he caught every gasp, moan, and shiver.

  She threaded her fingers through his hair and arched into him. A heavy hum ran under her, around her, and she whimpered as that hum moved around where they were joined, making everything super sensitive. She felt herself clutching at him, and a pumping wave of heat rose from where he moved slowly inside her. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours, but her body rose and fell with his until he shuddered and heat blazed again.

  He slowly lowered his weight on top of her and kissed her forehead, temple, and cheek. He whispered against her ear. “My wife.”

  “Husband?” She was a little dazed and sweaty.

  He grinned and nodded.

  “Good dancer.”

  He leaned on one elbow and signed, You, too.

  He was staring down at her, and his expression was sweet. She sighed. “You are not something I expected.”

  Don’t get shot again.

  She blinked. Air swirled between them, and sweat began to cool. “I wasn’t intending to this time. I had other priorities.” Realization hit her. “I need to check on them.”

  He leaned in and said, “I will take you to visit. Anywhere else you want to go?”

  “Have you ever been to the Sethir stronghold?”

  “Sure. Several times.”

  “Have you ever met Aluhara?”

  He leaned back in surprise and then leaned in to murmur, “I have heard of her. The most beautiful woman of the Sethir-Nin. The ageless Aluhara.”

  Ivetha smiled. “She’s my egg donor and Sariah’s. We don’t know who the fathers were, but we know about her. She just learned about us.”

  “Really?” After making her skin quiver, he leaned up and stared at her.

  “Really. I am curious to meet her.”

  He smiled and lowered himself on her again. “I will call the prince tomorrow and explain the situation.”

  She shuddered against him from the soundwaves rippling through her body. He kissed his way down her neck again and withdrew from her at the same time. It was going to be a long night.

  Chapter Seven

  Ivetha woke up curled against Arata, and his hand was rubbing her back. She was pressed into his chest, and the scent in the air was all them. He could do with his voice what other men used their hands for. At some point in the night, he realized that he could hum along her skin with violent effect. Every part of her ached.

 

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