Page 174 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“We are?” This was news to Taurex.

She frowned.

“Unless you have a lot more people you want to invite?”

He gave her a look.

“You’re asking how many people I want to invite to our fake wedding?”

“Well, yes,” she said a tad defensively. “We need to be able to tell the bakery how big a cake we need.”

“How many humans typically attend a mating ceremony?” Taurex asked.

Terra shrugged.

“It varies. Anywhere from ten people to five hundred.”

His eyes widened.

“Five hundred?”

She nodded.

“Sometimes more.”

Taurex frowned.

“Why so many? What is the need for so many people to attend a Joining?”

She laughed.

“You ask that like weddings are tactical operations.”

He frowned.

“They do appear logistically complicated.”

“They can be,” she said seriously.

“Then limiting attendance seems prudent,” Taurex pointed out.

Terra’s smile widened.

“You know, most men just show up and say, ‘Whatever you want, honey.’”

His frown deepened.

“That seems irresponsible.”

Terra laughed again, and Taurex felt the familiar warmth move through his chest. He had missed that sound far more than he should have.

But before he could think about it too long, a cheerful woman with short black hair emerged from the kitchen carrying a large tray covered with small white plates. Each plate held a narrow slice of cake with a different filling or frosting.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!” she said, setting the tray between them. “I’m Marcia. You must be Terra and Taurex.”

Taurex nodded.

“That is correct.”