leaf-green eyes.
Laser reached up and placed her metal palm against the woman’s face. Then, stroked her forehead and touched her arm.
The matriarch blinked. “Right. Well. That is fine then, Guardian. Step back until you are needed.”
Sting took her hand, and they stepped back to watch the rest of the ritual welcome. Every member of the groom’s family was assembled, and they stood in a circle as Alhuradia walked around with a slow, steady pace. Once per circle, someone would reach out and take a veil.
It symbolized the removal of the old life and old species.
The male who removed the veils was always the same and it was then that Laser realised it was Sobax.
It was silent when she was down to the light toga and standing in front of her husband.
The matriarch said, “Do you accept your bride, Sobax Ormiettik?”
He looked down at Alhuradia and nodded. “I do.”
“Then, removed the last portion of her old life and join her to you.”
Laser fought a tear when the gathered family turned their backs toward the bride while Sobax slipped the dress from her shoulders, cutting the cords at the waist so that it puddled at her feet. Her sandals got the same treatment.
Sobax reached behind him and snapped his fingers. He draped a length of fabric around his wife and picked her up in his arms.
The matriarch nodded and Laser and Sting followed.
Laser walked slowly back to Stinger with Sting holding her up. “You know what? Miss a chunk of your regular circulatory system and alcohol hits you like a ton of bricks.”
Sting chuckled as she lunged against him and flattened him to the wall.
“You’re pretty.”
He laughed. “Two drinks and I am pretty. I will remember that.”
“There is a bird on my world that has that colour on it.” She caressed his cheek.
“Really? Is it masculine?”
“Well, it opens its tail feathers and shows off to intimidate the other males and draw in females. Its feathers are prised for this very colour.”
He laughed and lifted her off her feet. “I can’t believe that Alhuradia will name her first girl Laser.”
“Hey, I drank to that. It sounded good.” Laser looked at the ground so far away. She hung onto him for dear life.
“Why are you trying to strangle me?”
“It is high.”
“Yes, you are. Let’s get you into bed so you can face whatever we are doing next.”
* * * *
Sting realised that he was talking to an unconscious woman. He grinned and took her to his quarters, tucking her in, armour and all.
Trying to pretend to be unmoved during the obligational voyeurism had taken its toll. The moment someone offered her something to drink, she had grabbed for it with both hands.
The second drink had come after the salute to her moment of camaraderie by the bride, and after that, the giggles had become incessant.
The matriarch had thanked them for their service and discharged their assignment. The giggles had continued down the hall.
His partner was just getting comfortable with what she could do, and he could see something truly amazing taking shape behind those eyes.
He stroked her hair and smiled before returning to the command deck.
Two hours into their flight, he finally burst out laughing. “You can take her from her home, take her limbs, blow her up, but you can’t give her a drink. What do you think of that, Stinger ?”
The chime was low and deep, but it was definitely amused.
He called Kilon and gave him a look.
“What? What is it, Lukar? Is she all right?”
“She is fine. She is keeping up and leaving me far behind, frankly, but what I want to know is did you do any physical alteration to her sex?”
Kilon coloured, his skin darkening to navy blue. “I may have moved things around a little. Does she know? Wait…how do you know?”
It was Lukar’s turn to blush. “It was something that she mentioned while we were having sex.”
Kilon paused then did a little dance, pumping his fists into the air. “I knew it. I was
Laser reached up and placed her metal palm against the woman’s face. Then, stroked her forehead and touched her arm.
The matriarch blinked. “Right. Well. That is fine then, Guardian. Step back until you are needed.”
Sting took her hand, and they stepped back to watch the rest of the ritual welcome. Every member of the groom’s family was assembled, and they stood in a circle as Alhuradia walked around with a slow, steady pace. Once per circle, someone would reach out and take a veil.
It symbolized the removal of the old life and old species.
The male who removed the veils was always the same and it was then that Laser realised it was Sobax.
It was silent when she was down to the light toga and standing in front of her husband.
The matriarch said, “Do you accept your bride, Sobax Ormiettik?”
He looked down at Alhuradia and nodded. “I do.”
“Then, removed the last portion of her old life and join her to you.”
Laser fought a tear when the gathered family turned their backs toward the bride while Sobax slipped the dress from her shoulders, cutting the cords at the waist so that it puddled at her feet. Her sandals got the same treatment.
Sobax reached behind him and snapped his fingers. He draped a length of fabric around his wife and picked her up in his arms.
The matriarch nodded and Laser and Sting followed.
Laser walked slowly back to Stinger with Sting holding her up. “You know what? Miss a chunk of your regular circulatory system and alcohol hits you like a ton of bricks.”
Sting chuckled as she lunged against him and flattened him to the wall.
“You’re pretty.”
He laughed. “Two drinks and I am pretty. I will remember that.”
“There is a bird on my world that has that colour on it.” She caressed his cheek.
“Really? Is it masculine?”
“Well, it opens its tail feathers and shows off to intimidate the other males and draw in females. Its feathers are prised for this very colour.”
He laughed and lifted her off her feet. “I can’t believe that Alhuradia will name her first girl Laser.”
“Hey, I drank to that. It sounded good.” Laser looked at the ground so far away. She hung onto him for dear life.
“Why are you trying to strangle me?”
“It is high.”
“Yes, you are. Let’s get you into bed so you can face whatever we are doing next.”
* * * *
Sting realised that he was talking to an unconscious woman. He grinned and took her to his quarters, tucking her in, armour and all.
Trying to pretend to be unmoved during the obligational voyeurism had taken its toll. The moment someone offered her something to drink, she had grabbed for it with both hands.
The second drink had come after the salute to her moment of camaraderie by the bride, and after that, the giggles had become incessant.
The matriarch had thanked them for their service and discharged their assignment. The giggles had continued down the hall.
His partner was just getting comfortable with what she could do, and he could see something truly amazing taking shape behind those eyes.
He stroked her hair and smiled before returning to the command deck.
Two hours into their flight, he finally burst out laughing. “You can take her from her home, take her limbs, blow her up, but you can’t give her a drink. What do you think of that, Stinger ?”
The chime was low and deep, but it was definitely amused.
He called Kilon and gave him a look.
“What? What is it, Lukar? Is she all right?”
“She is fine. She is keeping up and leaving me far behind, frankly, but what I want to know is did you do any physical alteration to her sex?”
Kilon coloured, his skin darkening to navy blue. “I may have moved things around a little. Does she know? Wait…how do you know?”
It was Lukar’s turn to blush. “It was something that she mentioned while we were having sex.”
Kilon paused then did a little dance, pumping his fists into the air. “I knew it. I was
Similar Books
