Jasmine
Woo-Ben fussed over the drape of the gown's skirt, adjusting invisible wrinkles and congratulating himself loudly for performing miracles in such a short timeframe.
"Simply stunning," he was saying, circling me for what had to be the fifth time. "I've outdone myself, truly. I am a genius. An absolute genius."
I barely heard him. My heart was knocking against my ribs with such ferocity I could feel it in my throat, in my fingertips, and in every rapid pulse point throughout my body. Except every time I thought about the massive Raas and the way he'd claimed me like I had always been his, whatever shreds of common sense I had left pinged warnings in the back of my brain.
Once I went through with the ceremony, I'd be his Raisa.
I'd never planned on getting married. Had never wanted to tie myself to anyone, to give up any piece of my hard-won independence. I'd watched too many women in the colonybecome small once they married, their identities absorbed into their husbands' and their voices silenced. If they had opinions, they held them to themselves, afraid to stir anger and create conflict.
But Wrexxon wasn't like the colonial men. He wasn't like anyone I'd ever met, and he made me want things I'd never known I craved.
But was I ready to bind my life to his in ways I didn't fully understand? I had to be, I told myself firmly. I’d already promised. This was happening whether I felt ready or not.
Then the doors hissed open, and there he was.
Wrexxon filled the doorway, his massive frame more imposing than usual. The formal Raas sash across his chest was embellished with intricate emblems worked in dark leather and metal, each one probably representing some battle won or honor earned. Combined with the kilt, the boots, and the weapons strapped to his body, he looked exactly like the warlord he was.
His eyes met mine across the room, and I watched his pupils flare, expanding until only a thin ring of gold remained. His gaze raked over me slowly and shamefully thoroughly as he took in every inch of the gown and every curve it revealed, lingering on my bare shoulders and the dip of the neckline.
My cheeks warmed under his scrutiny. Heat flooded through me that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with the way he was looking at me, like I was something he wanted to devour.
“Vaes!” His voice was rough, deeper than usual, vibrating all the way to my bones.
Woo-Ben hurried to my side. “I think he wants you to go to him.”
“I picked up on that,” I said, my voice a tremble as he scooped up the train of my dress and prodded me forward.
When I reached the Raas and hismajak, he did not come to me or take my hands. Instead, the first officer stepped forward, jerking his head so the two Vandar holding battle axes stepped into place across from each other, their weapons at the ready.
“You will walk to the Raas under the gauntlet,” he explained to me.
I looked at the Vandar facing each other, assuming they were the gauntlet.
“It is usually more impressive,” Wrexxon said, a hint of apology in his voice. “There is also usually a labyrinth for you to walk through to reach me.”
“This is fine,” I said, managing a smile. “Early weddings on Lexxona were just a couple walking around a ceremonial rock together.”
Wrexxon’s brows twitched together for a beat before nodding. “Then I will wait for you beyond the gauntlet.”
Wrexxon strode to the window with hismajak, both turning to me. Then the warriors raised their axes overhead, bringing them together at the top so the blades met in a sharp V shape above the space between them.
“I suggest you don’t dawdle as you walk under it,” Woo-Ben whispered as he unfurled my dress behind me.
I fought the urge to shoot a withering look at him over my shoulder, but I was too shaky to do anything but jerk forward.Taking one small step and then another, I walked beneath the raised axes, close enough that I could hear the warriors breathing. As soon as I passed beneath the axes, they swooshed down, the blades cutting through the air with a sound like wind and steel.
What the actual hell? I whipped my head around, but then Wrexxon's voice rang out, making me jump again.
"Vaes!"
The two warriors brandishing the axes responded in unison: "Vaes!"
For a wedding ceremony, there was considerably more yelling than I’d expected.
I continued walking until I was standing in front of Wrexxon, close enough to see the twitching vein in his neck and smell the scent of leather and spice.
He stepped forward, positioning us side by side, both facing Venik.
