Page 78 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

There was a lot of work to do. From the moment Liria stepped foot back on the ground—a flock of Aethari landing behind her and Thax—she knew Thax's destiny was hers as well.

This Middle Ground of his would take over her life.

She had known he would change the world.

She just hadn't thought she'd play such a large role in it.

Upon their return, they'd been met by Thax's parents.

A few hours later, the Speaker's guards—those he'd left behind because of the loyalty thing—had come of their own free will to join their employer and learn more about Thaxvarien.

So, there were a lot of Aethari in the house.

Still, only a small fraction of the guest rooms were filled.

Since then, there had been a lot of talking.

A lot of meetings. Not only between the Aethari but also between Thax, Liria, and the people of Thennis.

Thax assumed they'd leave and build Middle Ground elsewhere.

He had no wish to burden the citizens of Thennis or put them in jeopardy.

He had no illusions about his people. Thaxvarien expected violence in multiple forms.

But Thennis wanted the burden and accepted the risk. The people came together to ask Thax and Liria to stay. They wanted to be part of this change. Thennis would become the place where it all began, and they liked that idea. So, the palace on the peninsula became Middle Ground.

Yet, it was still their home. Thax and Liria's first home. It was also where they would get married. Or bonded. Re-bonded? She wasn't sure what the terminology was, but she and Thax were taking the next step.

Shouldn't she be more anxious? Liria smoothed out the pale blue silk of her wedding gown and held up a hand mirror to see the reflection of her back in the standing mirror.

One of the women from Thennis had done her hair, weaving it with seashells and blue flowers.

It almost felt too beautiful for her. Who was that woman in the mirror?

Not Chief Liria Drask. But that woman was gone, wasn't she?

Nothing to mourn. This was progress. A version previously unreachable.

Liria nodded and lifted her chin. She liked her new self.

A knock came at the bedroom door. “Liri?”

One last look in the mirror, a glance out the window-wall at the sunshine on the ocean, and then Liria opened the door. And there he was—her destru.

Thaxvarien had become a new version of himself too.

Who would have thought that after their first horrid encounter, they would wind up here?

Become this. They were two different people now.

Very different. But instead of growing apart, they had become two halves of a whole.

Two vines that had woven into one. Stronger together. Complete.

“Are you ready?” Thax asked.

Thaxvarien's ebony hair hung in sleek waves to his shoulders, jaw freshly shaved, cheeks flushed.

His black suit had a deep blue sheen, brought out by the pale blue shirt he wore beneath.

He had chosen the colors to complement her eyes.

Thax wanted her to shine. He always did.

Even standing in Icara, giving that incredible speech to his people, he couldn't allow her to be ignored.

Thax made sure to bring her up beside him and tell all of Icara how she had brought him back to the surface.

“Yes, I'm ready.” Liria stepped out, but then shuddered. A terrible feeling sliced through her, and she had to grab onto Thax to steady herself.

“Liri! What's wrong?” Thax took her waist.

“I don't know,” she whispered. “I thought I heard people screaming. And then . . .”

“Then what?”

She blinked. No, she wouldn't tell Thax about the blond Nethren. Especially not today. “Nothing. I must be shaky from lack of sleep.”

“I tried to let you sleep, destra. But you kept sliding against me, rubbing those long legs up mine. I am only a man.”

“I know.” Liria lifted her face to kiss him. “Worth it.”

Thax took her hand. “Are you sure you're all right? Would you like me to fetch you something to drink?”

“No. I'm fine. Let's go do this rite thing.”

“The Star's Kiss. I feel as if I've waited forever for this day.” Hooking her hand around his elbow, Thax walked her down the corridor toward the main stairs at the front of the house.

Past the glass wall that overlooked the inner courtyard, they went down one set of stairs, came to the landing, and then surmounted the final set.

Light streamed in from the courtyard behind them, casting shadows on the rugs in the shape of their joined bodies.

Two made one. Liria smiled at the shadows and then lifted her head.

At their approach, the aurind door opened, and the sound of a harp trickled over to them. Liria smiled, knowing who was playing the instrument. Her family had come to attend the ceremony, and her sister had brought her harp to play on Liria's big day.

Thaxvarien led her out of their home and to the right, to the formal front garden.

There, the stone path had been decorated with seashells.

They followed it past the willow tree and to the meadow near the cliff edge, bordered by blossoming fruit trees.

Aethari and Medean guests gathered there, and for once, the races weren't separated.

They stood together—the people of Thennis mingling with the Aethari who now lived at Middle Ground.

The stone path ended, but the aisle continued through the grass, defined by their friends and family.

Thax escorted Liria down the aisle of smiling people.

The Aethari bowed to them as they passed, and the Medeans threw flower petals at their feet.

Liria had agreed to perform the rite of the Star's Kiss with Thax, but some Medean traditions had been added to represent her people.

The walk down the aisle, the flower petals to bless their new path, and the exchange of rings were all Medean.

At the end of the aisle, Liria turned to smile at her parents, who stood on the left with Thax's mother, but his father waited at the head of the gathering.

The Speaker of Icara beamed at them from within a circle of ash and feathers.

To his right sat Lena at her harp. Liria's sister looked up and smiled as her delicate fingers continued to pluck the strings.

Her long brown hair fell over one shoulder in thick waves, shining red wherever the sunlight hit it, and her blue eyes shone with love.

For the first time since she was a child, Liria felt as if she were looking in a mirror.

Once she hit maturity, Lena had blossomed.

They looked exactly alike and yet they didn't. There seemed to be something beautiful within Lena that shone through her and made Liria feel like the plainer twin.

Not today. Liria finally felt the beauty within herself.

Today, she was a match to her sister. Of course, Lena wasn't singing yet. That might change things.

Lena had a voice that could make the most battle-hardened warrior weep.

It made her hypnotic. And it used to make Liria jealous.

But with Thax beside her, their bond shining in her heart, she couldn't feel jealous.

It wasn't possible. Instead, she saw how silly those insecurities were.

And she was so happy her sister was there.

Lena's music would make the day even more special.

Then Liria's father stepped in front of them. In front of Thax, specifically. Yet another Medean tradition, but this one, Thax hadn't known about. He stopped, eyes blinking, and met her father's dark stare.

“Sir?” Thax asked.

Yaru Drask's lips twitched. “Let me look at you, Thaxvarien Rennux. You may not have my daughter without my approval.”

“Oh, fuck,” Thax whispered.

Liria snorted a laugh.

Thaxvarien grimaced at her, but then lifted his chin. “Mr. Drask, I love your daughter. She is my destra. For an Aethari man, there is no one more important. I promise I'll be good to her. I'll do everything in my power to make her happy. Her needs will always come first.”

Liria's father stared at Thax. Silence fell. Even the harp song faded.

Then Liria's father held out his hand. “You have my blessing.”

Thax grinned and shook his hand. “Thank you.”

After kissing Liria's cheek, her father went back to stand beside her mother, tucking the dainty redhead under his arm. Sometimes Liria couldn't believe that such a small woman had given birth to two baby girls in one go.

“Destra.” Thax stepped over the line of feathers and ash that circled his father and then helped her over.

Liria had to lift the hem of her dress to keep from smudging it. But then they stood before Thax's father, and she suddenly felt the weight of the moment. The rite had been explained to her. She knew her part. But she was still nervous. The ending was . . . uncertain.

“Thank you all for being here to support Thaxvarien and Liria as they commit themselves to each other.” The Speaker of Icara lifted his hands out toward the gathering.

“A few Medean traditions have already been observed, but Liria has graciously agreed that the main ceremony be Aethari.

I am so honored to preside over the Star's Kiss for my son and new daughter. This is our most sacred rite. Only those who have found their destined one may undergo it. Once completed, their bond cannot be broken.”

And no one would be able to challenge it either, Liria thought to herself. It was one of the reasons she was so eager to do this rite. And so nervous. It would be indisputable proof that she was Thax's destra. If it worked.

It would work. It had to work. The Sources had brought them together. They were already bonded . This was just verification. Liria had nothing to worry about.

Her stomach shivered.