Chapter 35
Alanna
Survii was angry.
And that was strange. He usually took things with such grace and good humor. It was weird to see him so worked up.
He wasn’t the only one either. Once the guys realized what the secretary general was doing, all of them were up in arms.
Apparently, the idea of a marriage of convenience was too far for the domini.
It wasn’t that the idea was completely unheard of in space, but it was considered highly distasteful by most, outright illegal to some, and, to the domini, it was an insult. Not just to the one being offered, but by the one the offer was directed towards.
The domini mating process included a claiming, but it wasn’t a claiming in that Survii was coming to take her away from her family by force. Though, as a human, it was easy to see it that way.
The claiming was a translation of adiassan kariita.
And while ‘the claiming’ was one translation, Alanna was not what the claiming was referring to.
Instead, what was ‘claimed’ in the ceremony was the privilege of protecting her.
That was why he had to fight her guardian, Atem, and herself – to prove he was strong enough to do so.
The true definition of the phrase was a lot deeper. A lot more meaningful. The fullest, truest translation was, ‘veneration of the one who nests in safety’.
The claiming wasn’t sacred, but that was because the domini didn’t have a concept of the divine or holy. The importance of the concept was equivalent to being sacred though. To compare it to marriage was like comparing a quick shower to a baptism.
To have that mating compared to a marriage, and then to demand a marriage of convenience to prove his sincerity to a trade deal, was like performing a baptism in sewage. It was a perversion of the entire process – tainting and demeaning it.
That was what had the guys all angry – growly and pacing, claws out. Survii and Atem were the angriest, since they were the two most directly insulted. However, the other three weren’t any happier about the suggestion.
Alanna and the girls were still sitting in their chairs as the guys moved around the conference room, letting them get their anger out. They were threatening to leave, to refuse to cooperate with Earth. To rescind the protectorate offer completely.
Alanna knew that Secretary General Lie had no idea what he had done when he made the demand. He was thinking of mating like marriage because he was human. Or, being a little unkind, he might even be thinking of it as the bond between animals. He wasn’t putting the appropriate importance upon it.
When Survii had made his threat, she had asked for time to think the offer over instead of translating, and he had hurriedly agreed before ending the call. He might not have anticipated the reaction his words would have, but he certainly recognized it upon seeing Survii’s anger.
“Would it really be so bad to marry me?” She asked softly when Survii finished ranting long enough to give her an opening.
“No!” He snapped immediately, rushing to her, cupping her face in his hands. “Vi Vitralai, if you want a human mating ceremony from me, it will be done. I will adhere to any and every tradition on this planet if that’s what you want.”
She smiled, taking hold of her wrists. “Then, it’s okay, right? We can get married and give them what they ask.”
He snarled, turning from her. “They offer you to me like chattel.”
“That’s how marriage works.”
“I thought it was about love,” Tuvo interjected on a low growl.
He was the only one not pacing, the only one with his claws retracted.
Though his hands were clenched into tight fists.
He was leaning against the corner, watching the others.
Listening to them make their threats about leaving without offering his own opinion – though the expression on his face wasn’t merciful.
Alanna grimaced, sharing a look with Peony before trying to explain. “Marriage is about love. For most people. But for the wealthy, the well connected, the influential, marriage is a tool. It’s a means of making connections and securing them in a sturdy way.”
Survii growled. “So, they are selling you to me.”
“That’s not…” Alanna’s voice failed her, because he wasn’t entirely wrong.
To be fair, they probably didn’t think of it as sacrificing her to him to assure the agreement remained strong. After all, they were already together. It probably seemed like basic common sense to hit two birds with one stone. Maybe even three.
Alanna and Survii got what they wanted and were mated by Earth rules.
Earth leaders got a secondary assurance that the bond between Earth and the Coalition was strong through marriage – an old, traditional way of securing alliances among people.
And, though not expressly stated, Earth set the precedent that marriage between humans and other sapient species was legal and supported by the governments of the world.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad suggestion.
But the spirit in which it was made had been from a selfish and manipulative standpoint by the leaders of Earth. They were not encouraging their relationship for the sake of the relationship, only for their own benefit.
And that was an insult the domini could not abide.
It was a huge misstep from the Earth leaders. One she hadn’t been prepared for them to make and so hadn’t been able to warn them about. She imagined that her uncle had no idea about it, or he would have said something to her.
“This doesn’t bother you?” Survii asked her, growling. “Do not try to defend them just because you want to remain connected with Earth, Alanna. This was an insult to the very concept of mates. To everything you and I share. To Atem as your guardian!”
Atem growled in agreement.
“They’re being supportive. In their own way,” she hedged.
“It’s vile!”
“They don’t see it that way, I promise you. If either of us were unwilling, I don’t think they would have made the suggestion.”
And that was most likely true. They might have demanded one of the already mated couples go through with a human marriage.
But Alanna and Survii had been foremost in the media.
They were the voices, the ambassadors, of Earth and Turv.
A marriage between the two of them would be more meaningful than one of the other couples.
“Do you not see it that way?” Survii had stopped pacing again and was giving her a look that made her uncomfortable. Searching, angry, and hurt.
He was pained by the idea that she was okay with being sold to him. That their love was being treated as a token to be traded for the sake of progress and bureaucracy and she would be okay with it.
She shifted under that gaze. “It’s just how things are done on Earth, Survii.”
He growled, turning from her.
“Important people marry for important reasons,” she continued. “Our people don’t have mate bonds like yours do. Marriage as a means to an end has been the norm far longer than it being for love. He doesn’t understand the insult he paid you. He’s thinking like a human.”
“He is still treating you like an object!”
“No. In his own way, he’s considering me as well. He’s not asking me to marry Tuvo. Or Havali.” Both males made faces at the very idea, and she had to fight not to laugh. “He’s asking me to marry you because he knows we’re already connected.”
“That doesn’t make it better,” he shook his head, running his claws through his hair, messing up the careful style. “That almost makes it worse. They’re manipulating your feelings for me to get what they want out of us.”
He wasn’t snapping anymore. He was starting to calm down. As much as he didn’t want to, she knew he was seeing things from the human angle. Because he was a good voice, and he knew that insults weren’t equal among different cultures.
“I always did want a big wedding,” she said, smiling softly. “And one that’s sponsored by the government, for the good of humanity, that the entire world will celebrate? It’s like there’s only good reasons to do it.”
His three eyes narrowed on her. He knew what she was doing.
She stood, reaching out for him. Automatically, like he couldn’t help himself, he opened his arms and accepted her hug – though his expression remained mulish.
“You love celebrations among other cultures,” she said, running her fingernails up and down his back while Peony distracted and calmed Atem. “Don’t you want to celebrate this important one of mine? With me?”
“Not for the wrong reasons.”
“What do their reasons have to do with us?”
“Why are you all right with this?”
She shrugged. “I can’t be mad because other people are looking out for themselves. And, in a way, they aren’t even doing that. They’re looking out for Earth. It’s noble, in its own way.”
Survii grunted in a way that was definitely not agreement.
“Come on, Survii. You’d want me anyway. You just don’t want to agree now because it means giving into them.”
“I’m not that petty. I don’t want them to cheapen our mating.”
“I know.” She leaned against his chest happily. “You value it. And that’s enough for me.”
“No, Peony, I’m not,” Atem suddenly said loudly, cutting in. “Survii, you let go of my sister or fight me for her!”
Survii finally laughed, grabbing her tighter. He squeezed, picking her clear up off her feet, twisting her in the air as she giggled.
Then, Atem was there. Grabbing her and trying to break her out of his grip. Alanna laughed until she teared up as the two males playfully fought over her. Playful, but Atem was seriously trying to get her away from him.
Finally, Survii let her go. Not because he had to, but because it wasn’t the right time to challenge Atem. And the smoldering look on his face as Atem hid her behind him made her burn with anticipation.
No decision was made before they left the conference room, but at least the males weren’t in danger of ripping up the walls of the hotel.
Alanna returned to her room alone. Not because she wanted to, but because Atem was standing between her door and Survii’s glaring at the innocently smiling male as he waited for her to go inside. It was adorable. A domini thing she absolutely loved.
And it gave her time to think of how to convince Survii that she was fine being married off to him to secure Earth’s position and also because she loved him.