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Guided by a rehearsal before we started, the audience, still standing, intoned, “We do act as witness,” and then sat down.
Camille waited, then, drawing a long breath, said, “Iris Kuusi, Priestess of Undutar, daughter of the ice floes, by mist and snow I bless you. By fire and flame, I bless you. By gale and boreal wind, I call the spirits to take your oath.”
She turned to Bruce. “Bruce O’Shea, Lord of Eire, the son of the Rainbow, by sweet grass and meadow, I bless you. By stream and the wild sea, I bless you. By gale and boreal wind, I call the spirits to take your oath.”
They knelt before her as she picked up the dagger. “By blood, these oaths will be sealed, by your heart they will be kept. By the gods they will be heard.”
Iris held out her left palm, taking Bruce’s right hand in hers. They held up their hands, offering them to Camille.
Camille motioned to me and I moved to the altar, where I picked up a thin braided cord of blue, silver, and white. I wrapped it around their entwined hands and wrists, loosely knotting it, then returned to stand beside Menolly.
“Your hands are bound, as is the way, and all oaths you take are bound within this cord. Sacred will be your vows, and to ignore them is to bring dishonor and shame upon your household.” She turned to Bruce.
“Bruce, do you accept Iris into your life as your wedded wife, as your spouse and your love, to cherish and honor, to respect and to serve? Will you keep and protect her and any children that come of this union till you depart for the Summerlands? Will you take on the mantle of husband and keep-lord? Will you honor her goddess, even as she honors yours?”
Bruce inclined his head. “I do so vow before the gods, with all my heart.”
Camille turned to Iris. “Iris, do you accept Bruce into your life as your wedded husband, as your spouse and your love, to cherish and honor, to respect and to serve? Will you keep the household, and nurture him and any children that come of this union till you depart for the Underworld? Will you take on the mantle of wife and keeper of the keys? Will you honor his goddess, even as he honors yours?
Iris looked almost dizzy. She glanced at Bruce, her eyes shining. For a moment I thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then her voice rang clear and firm. “I do so vow before the gods, with all my heart.”
“Then seal the pact in blood and with a kiss.” Camille reached down and neatly slit a fine gash on Iris’s right palm, and Bruce’s left. They reached over, clasping hands, joining their wounds so their blood mingled freely, as Bruce met Iris’s lips with his own, kissing her long and deep.
As they pulled apart, I unobtrusively wrapped Iris’s hand with a bandage to prevent the blood from touching her wedding gown. Bruce’s friend did the same for him. Camille lifted her hands toward the sky again.
“In the sight of the gods, in the sight of this gathering, under the watchful eyes of the Moon Mother, I do pronounce you husband and wife. May your lives be long and joyful, and fruitful with a fine family.”
And with that, Camille burst into tears, smiling as she leaned over to hug the bride and groom. She unwound the handfasting cord and gave it to them for their family trunk, and then they turned, and everyone stood and clapped, cheering. Iris took her bouquet and—as was the tradition of not separating out the women from the men—tossed it into the audience.
The tightly wrapped flowers took a surprising turn midair—Iris was laughing and waving her hand—and landed right in Nerissa’s lap. As Nerissa bundled them to her nose, smiling, Iris blew her a kiss.
And then it was time for the party. As Nerissa and Hanna led Iris off to pose for pictures, I glanced at Camille, thinking that it was over. Iris was married. She would still be here, with us, but she would be having her baby and be raising her own family.
Camille wrapped her arm through my elbow. “We have a date with the photographer, too, so let’s get moving. You okay, Kitten?”
As Menolly joined us—unfortunately she would not appear in the photographs—I closed my eyes for a moment. All I could see was Iris’s radiant smile and Bruce’s deer-in-the-headlights look. “Yeah, I am. I’m fine.” And I meant every word I said.
The tents were set up by the time we’d all changed into clothes better suited for dancing and partying. As Shade and I stripped out of our finery and I laid out a nice pair of jeans, a sequined tank top, a sparkling belt, and a pair of stacked-heel boots for my party gear, he was musing.
“Iris certainly looked happy, though I thought she might be having cold feet. She paused there for a moment.” He grinned, winking at me as I flashed him my boobs. “Okay, enough talk about Iris. Come here, you wanton pussycat.”
I danced my way over to him. “You going to shake booty with me tonight?” Chase hadn’t been much for dancing, but I loved it. I loved to feel my body move. All three of us—Menolly, Camille, and I—did. We all had our own styles and music preferences, but we could shake up the dance floor.
“Of course, you know I love to move with you.” He wrapped a lazy arm around my waist and slid one knee between my legs, dancing dirty and low and hot. As I settled into his arms, grinding softly against his leg, he whispered, “I love to move inside you, too, babe. You’re my sweet pussy, my wildcat.”
I caught my breath as the fire of his presence swept through me. Like Hi’ran, Shade ran the same passionate intensity, pulling me deep into his world, dragging me into the shadows where my panther stirred. My skin sparked when he touched me and I could sense how much he wanted me. All I could think of was stripping and fucking his brains out. But they were waiting for us.
A glance at the clock sealed my decision. “We have time for a quickie.”
“You sure you don’t want long and leisurely?” His lips pressed behind my ear and I gasped, a shiver rippling down my body. My nipples stiffened at the touch of his tongue on my neck.
“We don’t have time. Just fuck me. Now.” Suddenly so hot I could think of nothing but his sweet, thick cock filling me up, I fumbled for his zipper as he backed me up against the door.
Shade was wearing a pair of cargo pants and a mesh tank top, and the ripple of his muscles through the mesh set me aflame all over again. As I lowered his zipper, I realized he was going commando. I grabbed him by the neck of his tank and yanked him toward me.
“Oh gods, you’re hot. So. Damn. Hot. Get over here and get up inside me. Now.” As I leaned back against the wall, he reached around, cradling me by the butt. I wrapped my arms around his neck and lifted one foot to brace against the desk.
“As you wish, my sweetness.” Shade pressed toward me, sliding his cock deep inside as I let out a little groan. And then he was moving, rocking my butt back against the wall with each thrust. As the sensation spread through me like the warm feel of honey, I tugged at his ponytail and his hair came loose, spreading over his shoulders. His eyes flashed, rich and dark, and he buried his face in my neck, nipping lightly on the skin.
