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Neil, looking dashing in his own brocade tunic of white, stood beside Lucius, a blue velvet box in his hand. He opened it at Lucius’ nod, and I saw that it was an osnat of silver, the chain woven flat and close to each link. In the center was a thumb-print sized smoky gem, its face cut in dozens of facets that sparkled just like my mate’s eyes.
Lucius’ tattooed fingers lifted the osnat and kissed it before setting it around my neck with a clasp. His fingertips touched my mark, lingering for just a moment.
I swallowed at the immensity I saw reflected back at me in his heated gaze and became ridiculously aware of my naked sex under my dress. By the expression on my mate’s face, he was thinking of the exact same thing.
Clearing my throat, I looked at the elder. “I have a token as well.” I turned my head to where Ander now stood beside me. Instead of a blue box, my gift to Lucius was in a slim, ornate wooden box Ander had kept in his pocket. Ander opened it, revealing the silver chain with a simple pendant in the same silver. The smooth circle looked like a miniature pool of mercury, and etched into its smoothness was a spray of tuberoses with the letter L looping through the delicate trumpet-shaped petals.
I held it gently in my hands, then kissed it as I looked up at my husband, whose awed expression made my heart beat fast in my chest. When I offered him a view of what I had purchased for him, his lips parted, his eyes lifting to mine. I had surprised him. In less than a second, his large hand went to my nape, and he took my mouth with a vigorous swipe of his tongue before releasing me, leaving me breathless and smiling like a loon.
Around us the Ongahri chuckled at their Chieftain’s lack of control.
Lucius ignored them, though, and stood straighter, waiting for me to adorn him. When I fastened the chain around his neck, he grabbed my fingers and took them to his mouth, where he anointed them with a kiss.
As one, we both looked at the elder once again. He was grinning broadly.
“With myself and those gathered here, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
A cheer rent the air, and I laughed, but it was stolen away from me as Lucius lifted me in his arms, his mouth glued to mine as he kissed me with everything he possessed.
I couldn’t stop touching the osnat. All through the Longest Night, the words “Lady Dega” were repeated over and over, both from the mouths of Ordelpho’s citizens and from inside my own head, where it became a whispered tattoo. Everyone had been so gracious, and it was a nice change meeting all these people as someone claimed instead of vulnerable and hidden.
As far as the night’s festivities went, it was the usual fare of food and drink of a Longest Night, with dancing, music, and lots of laughter. Gifts were exchanged. From Ander and Neil, I received a lovely set of silver hair combs encrusted with periwinkle gems. Pateus had given me a book of poetry. My favorite gift, however, was from Lucius: a scroll with the announcement that an arts center was being built in my honor, and that an apprenticeship would be exacted by the end of the coming year.
All the gifts I’d given to my loved ones tonight had been genuinely received with joy. Ander especially crowed over the hand-painted deck of cards that featured a quote from Ode of Thorns by St. John hidden in a floral mosaic. Neil had received a hand-painted cameo of Fear, and for Lucius, a sextant with his House seal for his cabin on the Freedom.
My feet were killing me by the time midnight neared. Soon we would all be going outside to see the lighting of the cerei, a giant wax candle that would stay lit for the next four days in remembrance of Lady Winter.
Strong arms wrapped around me, and I could smell summer rain. I tilted my head back and smiled at my new husband.
“Hello, little dove.” His warm mouth kissed my shoulder before tracing a torturous path to my ear, making me squirm.
“Hello there,” I hummed. A contented sigh escaped my lips. I hadn’t seen him over the past hour. Ander, Neil, and Pateus had been entertaining me at one of the tables after Lucius had disappeared with a few of his men, saying he had business to discuss. I had been so occupied after I’d seen him this morning, that I’d never had a chance to ask him about what he had found at the watchtower.
“Everything all right with whatever business you had to see to?” I asked now.
“Mmm. Just the usual. Now, never mind that. Let’s see to this blasted cerei. I have plans for you back at the house.” Confirming that point, he squeezed my waist, one hand cupping my bottom.
With a squeak, I turned in his arms and looked up at him. It was hard to believe that this was the same man that had me questioning his character several times a day up until a week or so ago. The man that made me uncomfortable with his innuendo and ability to get under my skin. A man I was irresistibly drawn to, even more so now.
He must have seen something in my eyes, because his jaw tightened and his nostrils flared, as if he were barely able to stay human.
My heart raced at the thought of being alone with him again, which couldn’t come soon enough.
Apparently he had the same thought. Before I knew it, I was being dragged outside to stand in front of the cerei. Already a few groups were here. The lighter of the event blinked as she took in her chieftain and his lady, her eyes wide.
Poor woman. I could imagine what Lucius looked like as he stared impatiently at her.
“How much longer, Edifah?” he growled.
My hand squeezed his, and he looked down at me in question. “What?”
I coated my demand with a suggestive smile, hoping my eyes conveyed my feelings, as I whispered, “Be patient.”
He huffed a breath but smiled at the woman, who looked more relaxed now.
“Five more minutes, my lord.” In her hand was a long stick that would light the top of the wick, which was ten feet above her.
In Providence, it was a straw effigy of Mother Harvest that was lit by my father. The festivities there were more reserved and much shorter than here tonight among the Ongahri. Back home, once the Constant lit the effigy, we all said a prayer and returned to our dwellings, where our parents would give out presents to the children, followed by hot apple cider that we’d drink after singing Song of Light at the top of our lungs.
