“No,” Khegon answered. “We wanted our people to be here to welcome her when she arrived. We will now move to a more private area for the partnering so only the close family can attend.”
“Very well, then.” Maxwell sighed. “Lead the way.”
I searched my bride’s eyes one more time, but the moment seemed to have passed. Her hand was now fisting the skirt of her red dress and her beautiful skin was once again turning pale. She looked everywhere and nowhere at the same time, like she was unable to focus on one single thing and everything was overwhelming.
Were all human females this…skittish?
Although Ghauro’s bride had looked surprised for the first minute, her whole posture had quickly relaxed. Tamara looked as if she wanted nothing more than to bury herself in the sand.
I took her hand softly, which pulled her attention back to me. “Do you need a moment?” I asked her. “It must be overwhelming.”
She blinked and her gaze changed entirely. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend—”
“I am not offended.” I looked around, to the people waiting. Smiling. “I do not think anyone is.”
Tamara let out a shuddering breath. Was she cold?Should I give her the scarf now?
“We can wait,” I continued, hoping she would feel better. “I do not believe I have somewhere else to be other than by your side at the moment.”
There it was again; the softening of her amber eyes. Her small hand clasped around one of my fingers as her lips parted. “I—I’m okay. We can go now.”
Lie.She was not okay, but she looked better than when she first stepped out of the shuttle and spotted us.
I needed to read this human codex. And when she would be more comfortable with me, I would do a little check up to ensure she was doing fine. Maybe it was just stress. Maybe it was simply regretting her decision.
But I needed to rule out any potential health issue that could have caused this reaction; her eyes turning glassy and unfocused. Her chest rising and falling too quickly. Her face changing color every other minute.
I had seen Maxwell turn red before—when he was mad or embarrassed. Green was something entirely new…
I softly squeezed Tamara’s hand and gave her the most reassuring smile I could as we made our way through the parted crowd and toward the small alcove that was prepared for us.
“Okay, is everyone ready?” Maxwell asked, standing by our side.
The quieter setting made Tamara look more appeased. She even smiled at me a couple more times.
She is so pretty I think I could just stand here and look at her for hours.
“Excuse me?” Maxwell asked, looking at me over his glasses, the electronic device forgotten in his hands.
Had I spoken out loud?
The reddening of my bride’s cheeks told me I might have…
Great, here I was now, making a fool of myself.
“Apologies,” I muttered. “I am ready.”
“Are you good, Tamara?” She did not answer, instead simply nodded, which did not please the old scientist. “I’m gonna need verbal consent to move forward Miss Matossi.”
“I—Yes. Yes, I’m good. All good.”
She was lying again.Why? Maxwell narrowed his eyes and studied her before ultimately shrugging and focusing back on the device in his hands.
“Alright, I’ll say the words, you repeat them, then comes the—oh, no rings?” he asked my brother who shook his head. “What then?”
“A partnering ceremony is a promise,” Khegon explained. “Why would they exchange something?”
Maxwell frowned. “I don’t know—It’s the human way. How would others know they are already committed to each other?”
