Urian held the cup while Braden pulled out a small knife and cut a tiny incision on her wrist so that he could place some of her blood in the cup. Then he did the same with Urian.
Once they had an equal amount of blood in the cup, Braden swirled it around three times clockwise and then counterclockwise. He whispered a prayer beneath his breath.
Braden handed the cup to Phoebe for the first drink, and then she handed it to Urian, who drank from the same spot she did. He handed the cup to Braden, and as was their custom, Urian leaned down to kiss his wife and mingle their blood while it was still on his lips.
Braden returned the cup to the pedestal, then came back to stand in front of them. “Now we present, Phoebe Jane Peters. She is unique in this world. Her beauty, grace, and charms are the legacy of those who have come before her and will be gifted to those who are born through her.
“This man who has chosen to unite with her, Urian Thánatago, on the other hand, stands before us a product of honor and integrity. A paragon of his parents, he sheds his house to unite with his wife and become Urian Peters. It is your similarities that brought you together and your differences that add variety and spark to your life. May the gods bless and protect your union and may you be blessed with fertility and happiness. And may the two of you enjoy every minute left to you.”
With those words spoken, Braden tied the ribbons into a double knot. Hopefully, the ribbons would last for seven days. At the end of which, they’d be cut and buried for luck.
“Congratulations.” Braden clapped Urian on the arm before he left them alone.
It was only then Phoebe realized how alone they were. “I’m sorry, Urian.”
“For what?”
“That you don’t have any of your family here.”
He shrugged. “It’s all good. I have you and that’s all that matters to me. Besides, I’m grateful that none of my family are here to see me dressed like this. My father would shit his pants.”
She laughed. “You’re terrible! And I don’t want to hear it. Especially since it’s not like you didn’t wear a toga back in the day.”
Sputtering, he clutched at his chest. “Ah! You wound me. It was a chiton, woman! Hello? Not a Roman.”
“Oh whatever, like anyone knows the difference or cares!”
“I care!”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Onlyyouwould.”
Suddenly, Urian had a strange feeling.
“Something wrong?”
He glanced around the room as his skin crawled. “You feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“Like we’re being spied on.”
Phoebe shook her head. “You’re being paranoid. How could they?”
Maybe, but it was tangible. His flesh literally shivered with it. Unmistakable.
Something wicked danced on his spine. Like Acheron on steroids.
Unmistakable. And malevolent as hell.
June 15, 1996
Urian had barely taken out two of their own who’d been chasing his sister-in-law when he rounded a corner and ran into the last creature he’d ever expected to see.
The god Helios.
And judging by his expression, he wasn’t happy. In fact, if looks alone could kill, Urian would be splintered.
“What’s up, sunshine?”
