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Tonight is our mating ceremony.
“Now where we—” The door opens, slapping him into the wall mid-sentence, and I laugh. The only person who would willingly do that stands in the doorframe with my tiger, who has his paw up, helping him. Roroak grins at Akuji. “Come on, Reigner. We must prepare, and the women are here to ready your mate.” He grins over at me. “I will be there to support you, Aria. See you in a few hours.”
“Be good.” Akuji grunts as he fights off his general’s grabbing hands. “See you then, mate.” He’s dragged from the room. I get up and put on jeans just in time for women to descend on me. They are invading Akuji’s room, our den, but I don’t seem to have a choice, even though it puts me on edge for a reason I can’t explain.
Talia slides in behind them, and I hug her straightaway. She melts into me. “What are you doing here?” I murmur.
“Well, I figured it was like a wedding, and I couldn’t leave you to do it alone. Plus, Cato is here for you both.” She smiles at me, pulling back to look me over. “Now let’s get you ready to be a monster’s bride, shall we?”
If I had only known exactly what that entailed, I would have run then and there.
I have no choice but to sit there as I am supervised by monsters and Talia. My hair is brushed, then twisted back with something threaded through it, but they won’t let me see. My arms and legs are coated in some slick, glittering liquid that dries, and when I move my hands and legs, my skin flickers like trapped diamonds. Talia places some metal cuffs along my ears, arms, and legs. They root through my clothes, admitting they didn’t have time to find the traditional garb in my size. We settle on my fur skirt and black leather bustier. They even add a harness with the knife Akuji gave me and then let me stand.
They finally allow me to see myself in a cracked handheld mirror. I stare in wonder. I look nothing like I usually do. My hair is high and shining in the light, with beads and jewels dangling down like a crown. My eyes are smoked out across to my hair, and my body shines like a diamond.
I look like a monster’s mate.
“You’re ready,” Sunny murmurs. “Do you remember what will happen?”
I nod, feeling nervous for some reason, so I glance around at them. They are gathered here for me, not Akuji. “Do you really think I should do this? I don’t want to offend anyone.”
“If you offend them, they can fuck off,” Talia snaps, her voice laced with steel.
My eyes widen as the others laugh. “She’s right,” Sunny says, taking my hand. “You’re one of us. You deserve this ceremony, and so does Akuji. This will only reinforce your place in our world. Do not let anyone else upset you, just focus on your mate tonight. That’s what this is—a celebration of love. Now, let’s get you out there before he comes looking for you.”
I laugh because she’s right—he probably will. There are no flowers or music as I am led through the underground. I expected the ceremony to be here, but instead, we head into the city. The walk is short, thank god, because I shiver slightly in the wind. We end up in front of a church. The windows are busted and the doors are gone, but they don’t seem to notice, nor do they seem to notice the irony that they are conducting a mating ceremony here.
I guess it truly is a wedding, but when I am led inside, it’s nothing like the human ones. At the end of the aisle is a throne, a massive one on a podium, with two windows on either side displaying a view of the city beyond. Akuji is kneeling before it, naked, with his back to me.
I gawk, but I don’t question it. If it’s their ceremony, I will let it go. There are monsters crammed into every inch of the church, even the rafters. They all turn to me as I enter. I smile at them as I walk toward Akuji, but once there, I hesitate, trying to remember everything they said. I lay my hand on his shoulder, releasing him from his wait.
His wait for me, they call it.
He gets up slowly and turns, and when he sees me, his eyes bleed to red as he kisses me, making them hoot. “My perfect mate,” he snarls. “It’s time.”
I step to his side, and both of us turn to face each other. “Aria, I here tonight vow to be yours forever. I offer you my heart.” He bangs his chest. “I offer you my soul and my blade.” He kneels.
I swallow but take my strength from him. “Akuji, I here tonight vow to be yours forever. I offer you my heart.” I bang my own chest. “I offer you my soul and my blade.” I slip the blade from the waist harness, the one he gave me, and hold it out as I kneel. I pull my other one, the present, and hand it over to him. His eyes widen. The woman’s blade is symbolic, and not truly given, but his eyes narrow in desire as he holds it reverently. He ignores any naysayers and accepts my gift.
Accepts my differences.
“Akuji, leader of Nightfang, do you here tonight take Aria as your mate?” Roroak calls, speaking for the tribe.
“I do,” he responds instantly, still kneeling before me.
“I repeat, Akuji, do you take Aria as your mate?”
Akuji’s head falls back. “I do!” he roars.
“Then bleed for her and show your dedication. Make your body hers. Give her every inch of you.”
“Gladly,” he snarls, spreading his arms as he leans forward. His hands press against the stone on either side of me as Roroak takes the blade from him, the knife I gave him, and presses it to his back. I see every flicker of emotion in Akuji’s eyes as Roroak starts to carve my name into the skin of his back.
Akuji grunts once, that’s it, but he does nothing else as the slow carving continues on and on until Roroak finally steps back and nods. Sitting back, Akuji grins at me, his expression filled with pride and happiness.
He is ecstatic to wear my name and to mate me. It makes my decision for me.
“Aria, do you take Akuji, leader of Nightfang, as your mate?” Sunny steps up.
