She grins at me, and I realize I’m grinning back like a fool. When was the last time I smiled this much? I can’t remember.
“So I’ve won the grand prize,” she says, gesturing at her mask, the only one remaining in the entire cavern. “I’ve heard that means I’ll win a cruise of the Nebula. I’ve always wanted to see it.”
“You’ll enjoy it. The views are spectacular.”
“You’ve been?”
“Once. Before my parents died.” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I see her expression shift to sympathy. “A long time ago now.”
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “Leah mentioned... she said your family has been through a lot.”
“We have. But we have each other.” I shake off the shadow of grief. Tonight is not the night for old sorrows. “And soon, perhaps, we’ll have another member to add to our chaos.”
She bites her lips and shifts on her feet. “You’re very confident about this.”
“I am confident about most things. It’s a flaw, according to my brothers.”
“I don’t think it’s a flaw.” She meets my eyes. “I think you know what you want and you’re not afraid to say it. That’s... refreshing. Most men I’ve known play games. They say one thing and mean another.”
“They were weak human males. I am Xylan and I will never play games with you,” I promise. “If I say something, I mean it. If I want something, I’ll tell you. If I’m wrong about something, I’ll admit it.”
“That’s a lot of promises from someone I just met.”
“I know.” I hold her gaze. “But I intend to keep every one of them.”
The prior dance ends and the last song begins, signaling the close of the evening. Voices ring out around us in a loud cheer. The crowd grows ever more raucous. A crush of bodies rush for the floor, to partake in the final dance. Many exhausted Xylan have already left for home and their beds. Those of us that remain are the ones who enjoy the finality of the countdown clock and watching the dark side of the moon along with the announcement of the grand prize winner. Naomi is the only being in the room left wearing a mask. Half of the Xylan around me have stripped off their costumes now too, in order to more easily dance.
I hold out a gloved claw and smile wide. “After dancing with two of my brothers and most of the other competing crews on this mine, have you saved the last dance for me?
She laughs and puts her gloved hand in mine. “Only because you ask so nicely.”
“If we dance, I’ll fully scent you,” I warn. “Do I have your consent to inhale deeply and confirm our bond?”
She blinks. “What does that mean?”
“If I stand closer and hold you in my arms, I’ll be able to fully scent your pheromones and know if you are my Bride. It is very similar to clasping hands for testing mating compatibility. We do not have to dance if this is something you are not ready for. I know you wanted to hear my explanation earlier...”
“Does this mean you will instantly become enflamed?”
“No,” I rasp, because sudden explicit sexual images flash through my mind, of me, emptying my seed between this female’s thighs. I lick my lips. “But you are human and I need to explain this to you carefully. Pheromones are powerful indicators for Xylan mating. We’ll both know that later, if we want to become mates, we can clasp bare hands and that’s when I will become enflamed. And then we will immediately need to perform the claiming ceremony in the holosuite, which is a recreation of an ancient chase between mating Xylan in our forests on Chronos. This is how we officially become legal according to the Scales of Xylan Law. Do you understand a claiming and feel this is something you can do?”
“Yes, Leah told me all about it when she married Saxon.”
I nod. “But I might become possessive once I inhale and confirm that you are my future mate. Just watching you this evening and standing next to you is already affecting me, so a deep inhale will certainly increase my need to keep you close.”
“You’re that certain we’re mates?”
“Yes. And I’m hoping that you’ll decide to take that new position offered to you and remain with me, here on Timbur.”
She smiles. “You do?”
“Yes.”
My Bride stares at me hard for a moment, processing all I’ve told her. Then the next song begins. “I understand. Let’s dance.” And she pulls me onto the dance floor.
I grasp her hand through two layers of fabric and feel the heat of her skin. Never have I wanted so badly to touch a female’s skin. My fangs scoring her and my tongue licking up her essence. I’m losing my mind with want. I place my claw on the small of her back and swing us out among the other couples who are also enjoying the last dance. Automatically, I move to the beat of the drums, taking her along with me.
“You’re good at this,” she murmurs, allowing me to guide her through the steps.
