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She swallowed. “Something from my parents?”
“No.” He was still kneeling, but he planted one foot.
She stared at him as he pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. A giant ruby surrounded by black stones in a gold setting was perched on a ring.
“Ylara, seer of the BDC, honoured sister and beloved aunt and friend. Will you be my wife, my mate, my lover, my friend, and my mistress so that we have all aspects covered? I want your life wrapped around mine tightly, so that I don’t know where I end and you begin.”
“Why? You don’t need this. The other alphas will make fun of you.”
He grinned. “I don’t care, and I know of three or four who will be at the wedding.”
“I don’t want a big thing. I... I guess it’s just a way for me to know that you want to keep me.” She swallowed. “We can just sign the papers.”
“Absolutely not. Well, we can, but we are still going to throw a huge party.”
“Why? We aren’t Vallu and Etgar. We don’t need to make a fuss or introduce a new protected bride into society. Yes, your parents are the rulers of a deadly group of warriors, but they don’t honour this kind of arrangement, so that is pointless.”
He sighed. “I want to do something special for you.”
“That is supposed to be an us. So, the signatures can be for me. The legal binding can be for me, but I don’t need a party with a bunch of people staring, even if they are friends. In fact, a quiet party on the day with friends showing up would be better.”
He smiled. “So, it really is all about me.”
“Do you want to keep me? Then that is what it comes down to.”
He grinned. “I do.”
“Oh, good answer.” She chuckled.
“Speaking of answers...”
“Ohmygod. Yes. Riithan. As long as we just sign the papers and then have a nice party.”
“Nice qualifier. Very well. You will have to meet with my mother for a few months to get the hang of protocol and deportment.”
“Fine. She’s nice.”
He chuckled. “In that case, we only need to go to Vallu and Etgar’s. The rest of them will be here today, including your niece and her mother.”
She stared as he slid the ring onto her finger. It was cool and rapidly warmed on her skin.
She looked at it. “It’s heavy.”
“Look into the ruby.”
She stared into the jewel, and a scorpion rose up in gold. “Aw, that is sweet.”
“I found it when I was training. It was originally the size of my fist, but that was what was left after cutting away the flaws. And then, I had the lab put the scorpion in. It only activates when the right body temperature is wearing it.”
She smiled. “Because your venom increases blood flow? I am running hotter?”
He kissed the ring and then leaned in to kiss her. She draped her arms around his neck and thudded onto his body. He laughed, and she met him kiss for kiss until a throat cleared, and she looked at the housekeeper.
“Mistress, it is more important that you get stronger now. That means regular meals. Your Highness, get your butt in the chair.”
Riithan laughed and got up, setting Ylara on his lap. Meals were brought out, and Ylara fed herself while Riithan’s tail kept her pressed back against him.
He explained their itinerary to her with soft whispers in her ear.
