Epilogue
The grand ballroom of the citadel was aglow with magical lights, and sashes of gold and silver draped everything that would stand still. The entire planet was abuzz with news that their captain had found her soulmate and would soon be bonded.
For the love of the ancestors, people acted like she was royalty, and Tira couldn’t understand it at all. Other Xenons fell in love and had bonding ceremonies all the time. With the exception of royalty, no one sent out planetary-wide announcements or made a fuss about it.
Frankly, she didn’t consider herself more special or deserving than anyone else.
Her queen, Vasera Ivy Blackthorn, however, seemed to disagree. It wasn’t just her, either. Everyone in the castle, from the gardeners to the king, loved any excuse for a party.
Then, there was the less flattering reason for the exaggerated celebration. Even if no one had said it out loud, she knew they had all thought her dedication to her work wouldn’t allow room in her life for a mate.
Tira wasn’t exactly known for her sense of humor. Some had even suggested that she lacked one altogether. Yet, many of the sentries had assumed she was joking when she had introduced Vadis as her soulmate.
Idiots.
For his part, Vadis had settled into life on Xenthian like he’d been born there. He had been quick to make friends, and the staff at the citadel adored him. Merchants in the village knew him by name, and they always had a smile and a wave when he passed by their shops.
They had also found a position for him on the planet, a job that would put his technical skills to good use. He had taken over their cyber security, updating and improving their technological defenses, including the shield around their planet. Once in place to hide their whereabouts and keep out intruders, the net now protected them from attack while allowing entrance to friends and allies.
He had also streamlined the residency database and improved the efficiency of inter-island communications. His next project was to create a digital monetary system in preparation for Xenthian eventually adopting standard credits once they were accepted into the Alliance.
Tira hadn’t been idle, either. She had spent every waking moment since returning home catching up on duties she’d neglected while on her vacation. Several requests from other islands awaited her approval. Annual sentry evaluations were coming up. The citadel had three detainees in the holding cells awaiting interrogation, and she had to go over security details for the king’s upcoming trip to Earth.
To say they had been occupied since arriving home would be a gross understatement. In fact, in the past week, Tira had only seen her mate at the end of the day when they were both too tired to do anything more than fall into bed and sleep.
Today was different, though. It was a day of celebration and frivolity, and in honor of the occasion, she had taken the entire week off from her duties. If her recent hiatus had taught her anything, it was that the planet wouldn’t spontaneously implode if she wasn’t there to keep it spinning.
Of course, she didn’t plan to spend the entirety of that time with Vadis. Thankfully, he was incredibly understanding and supportive about the other man in her life.
Looking out into the front row of those gathered, she wiggled her fingers at Cord. He and his parents had been so excited about the upcoming ceremony they had arrived a full three days ahead of schedule.
“How do I look?” she asked.
Cord beamed. “So pretty!”
She had come through on her promise and obtained the perfect birthday gift for him—a little black bekshin with white ears and tails. His parents hadn’t exactly been thrilled, but upon seeing their son’s joy, they had quickly given in.
He and Moo—the name he had given the piglet—went everywhere together. Even now, he had the bekshin perched in his lap, and he’d adorned it with a bowtie in the same shade of blue as his own.
Kids were weird.
“He’s right. You are look positively exquisite, daka.” There was a seductive purr to Vadis’ voice as he eyed her from crown to toe.
Accepting that she knew little about fashion, she had accepted Ivy’s help when it came to designing the gown for her mating ceremony.
The halter top bodice with its horseshoe collar hugged her in all the right places, and the royal purple complemented her fair complexion. Or so she’d been told. The skirt fell in layered waves, the color fading to pure white at the hem and shimmering with hundreds of clear jewels.
“Even these?” she asked, sticking her leg out to show off her footwear.
The death trap Ivy had called “shoes” was where Tira had drawn the line. Heels that high shouldn’t even exist, and they damn sure weren’t going to be on her feet. Instead, she had opted for a pair of white open-toed flats dusted with silver glitter. They were comfortable, practical, and pretty.
Best of all, there was no risk that she would humiliate herself by falling on her face.
“Yes,” Vadis growled, his crimson eyes blazing with desire.
Preening from the attention, she pushed up on her toes to receive a kiss. “You look quite dashing yourself, my love.”
“If you two are finished eye-fucking each other,” Elder Torren Blue interrupted casually as he held out a glowing crimson stone. “I believe we are ready to begin.”
Tira narrowed her eyes as she accepted the rock. “I still don’t like you.”
In actuality, she held a great deal of admiration and respect for the male. He was intelligent, outspoken, and he didn’t take himself too seriously. More importantly, he seemed to really care about the people of Xenthian, unlike many of the other elders.
It was a game they had played for a long time, though, and she felt obligated to keep it going. Largely because it seemed to amuse the elder.
“My dear, I’d be surprised if you did.” Elder Blue laughed, and his eyes twinkled. “Is there anyone you do like?”
“She likes me,” Vadis answered, puffing his chest out proudly.
“Yes, too bad, that.” The elder patted his shoulder as he passed him to exit the raised dais. “You have my sympathy.”
Smiling at the look of confusion on her mate’s visage, Tira held the Adderstone toward him—the gem that amplified the magic in Sommervail.
“Are you ready?”
“Since the day I met you.” He placed his hand atop hers, trapping the stone between them.
Not one for flowery words or exaggerated displays of emotions, Tira kept her vows simple but meaningful.
“You tore down the walls I had built around myself and brought light into my heart. I can scarcely remember my life before I met you, and I hope to spend every day proving myself worthy of your love, kindness, and patience. I love you, Vadis Kesski. From now until forever, I am yours.”
Smiling, he reached out to brush away a stray tear she hadn’t realized she’d shed.
“You have the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met. You feel things with a fierceness that astounds me, and I am privileged to have seen a side of you few know. Thank you for letting me in, Captain. For choosing me. For showing me what it means to have a home.” He brought their joined hands to his lips to brush a kiss over her skin. “I promise in this life and the next, you will never have to walk alone. I love you, Tira. From now until forever, I am yours.”
Those pesky emotions overflowed as she chanted the ancient words in a shaking voice, repeating them until the stone began to heat and glow. Golden streams of light burst from the stone, twisting and twining in the air before wrapping around their hands and wrists.
When the light faded, and the stone cooled, the lines remained etched into their skin, binding them as one for all eternity.
Cheers erupted throughout the ballroom, but to Tira, they sounded muffled, muted. Her full attention was on her mate, and for the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt only happiness. Radiant, brilliant, incandescent happiness, and she pledged to do whatever it took to make sure that feeling never faded.
“Do you think anyone would notice if we dipped out of here?” Vadis asked, his eyes alight once more with unveiled desire.
In answer, Tira used her magic to transport them from the celebration and directly into their quarters. Backing away, she added a seductive sway to her hips as she pulled the threads loose at the back of her evening gown.
“I think,” she purred, “I don’t care. You are mine, Vadis Kesski.”
“Mine,” he echoed, stalking forward and jerking her into his arms.
He was her bliss, her blessing. He was the sun that warmed the darkness parts of her soul. She needed him. Not just physically, but in every way that mattered, and she dared anyone to try to take him from her.
Not even death could separate them now. She had already been to the afterlife with him, and she would hesitate to follow again.
“Do you have any idea how special you are?” he asked, his voice filled with gravel.
She did since he never missed an opportunity to remind her, but she doubted he wanted a literal response. Besides, she was getting much better at flirting.
Using magic to undo the straps around her neck, she allowed the material to slither to the floor, revealing every bare inch of her. “Show me.”