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ALEENA

The Joining Ceremony reception—such as it was—had gone remarkably well, Aleena couldn’t help thinking. She was still surprised at the way her new husband had spoken to Grindelia and Faleesha. The looks on her stepmother’s and half-sister’s faces were enough to make her want to laugh! But she’d been almost too shocked to see the humor in the situation.

Was it true? Did the Kindred really like ‘curvy women,’ as Ambassador Bearick had phrased it? She dared to look up at her new husband and study him for a moment, since he was currently looking away. She couldn’t help remembering the way he’d looked at her and the way he’d touched her so gently during the ceremony. He seemed like a kind man—maybe he really wasn’t going to beat her when he got angry.

It seemed too good to be true and Aleena decided to reserve judgment.

Just wait and see what happens the first time you displease him, whispered a little voice in her head. See how he reacts if you bring his dinner to the table late or fold his clothes the wrong way. Then you’ll know what he’s really like.

Of course, she would find out even sooner than that, since tonight was their Joining night and he would surely change the color of her eyes. Aleena couldn’t help feeling frightened when she thought of that. Her new Kindred husband was so huge. And a glance down between his legs at the crotch of his tight black trousers let her know that he was huge everywhere.

Dear Goddess, I hope I’ll be able to handle all that, she thought nervously as she looked down at the large ridge in his trousers that seemed to extend almost all the way down to his right knee. Karpsian females didn’t have any maiden barriers to contend with, but like any virgin who has never been with a man before, she was tight and unused. In fact, she’d never had anything bigger than a finger inside her before—and that was her own finger—not one the size of her new husband’s long digits. (Though of course, it was forbidden for a female to explore her private parts, she had dared once or twice, before guilt made her stop.)

I’ll think about the Joining night later, Aleena told herself firmly. There’s no point in ruining a good time worrying about the future.

So she tried to put it out of her head and just concentrate on making small talk with the guests while they all came to get a piece of the Joining Loaf and a sip of the spicy pink Joining punch which was being served a few feet over.

Soon enough, however, the reception was over. Guests started making their goodbyes and drifting away, leaving the park. At last there was nothing to do but admit it was time to go home.

Aleena went to get her bag which held all of her clothing and a few small possessions. It wasn’t very big, because she didn’t have much. She had pushed it to the side under some bushes before the ceremony, knowing she probably wouldn’t be allowed to go back to her mother’s home after the Joining for some time. Now she gripped the handle firmly and went back to her new husband, who had just finished talking to one of the last guests.

“My Lord Husband, I think we may go now—if you wish,” she said, looking up at the big Kindred.

“Can we? I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to stay until all the guests left or not,” he rumbled, looking down at her.

“No, that is not required,” she told him. “Er…did you rent a hovercoach to bring us to your abode?”

“Actually, I did. I know at least that much of your customs—even if the rest of the ceremony caught me by surprise.” He smiled at her and the expression lightened his dark face. He had facial hair—a neatly trimmed beard and mustache—which most Karpsian men didn’t, and it made him look foreboding and brooding when he wasn’t smiling, Aleena thought.

“Oh, good. Then we may go. If you are ready, of course,” she added quickly. It wouldn’t do for him to think she was trying to have her own way—especially so soon after their Joining.

“Sure. We can leave whenever you want.” He shrugged, his impossibly broad shoulders moving under his crimson shirt. Aleena estimated that they must be twice as broad as her own. “Would you like me to carry that for you?” he added, nodding down at her bag.

“Oh no—you need not trouble yourself, my Lord Husband,” Aleena said quickly—she was ashamed of how shabby the bag was and didn’t want him to get a good look at it. “And it is not for me to say when we go—I merely wanted to let you know that we can leave whenever you are ready.”

“Well, I’m ready now,” he said, taking her hand. “Er, do we need to say goodbye to your family?”

“Only if you wish to,” Aleena told him. “And they are not really my family,” she added. “I mean, my father is still my father, of course, but since he disavowed my mother, I am not welcome in their home.”

Then she closed her mouth quickly. Why had she admitted such a thing to her new husband? Now he would think she was speaking ill of her father and speaking ill of any man was a beating offense!

But Ambassador Bearick only frowned thoughtfully.

“So you’re not on the best of terms with your stepmother and your half-sister, I’m guessing?”

“Well…no,” Aleena admitted cautiously. “They do not allow me or my mother to visit my father very often.”

“Hmm,” was his response. “Well then, I think we can leave without saying goodbye to them. Let’s go—I left the hovercoach over there.”

He took her hand and started to lead her out of the clearing. Aleena followed, feeling relieved. She didn’t want to have to talk to her awful stepmother or half-sister again!

But just as it seemed they were about to make their escape, Grindelia suddenly stepped in front of them and Faleesha was right beside her.

“Now, I hope you’re not leaving without saying goodbye, Ambassador,” Aleena’s stepmother said, smiling up at the big Kindred.

“They’re probably trying to get away so he can breed her!” Faleesha laughed coarsely. “Have fun getting the color of your eyes changed tonight, Aleena! I dare say you’re in for a wild ride.” And she looked pointedly at Ambassador Bearick’s crotch.

Aleena felt herself blushing scarlet with mortification. For her half-sister to speak of such things right in front of her new husband was scandalous! It couldn’t be more obvious that she was flirting with him—letting him know that she knew about the ways of a man with a woman in such a shameless way.

“I want to show Aleena the residence I’ve rented, where we’ll be staying together,” Aleena’s new husband said stiffly, speaking to Grindelia and not acknowledging Faleesha’s crude remark. “But thank you very much for the beautiful Joining ceremony and reception.”

“You’re very welcome. We spared no expense to make it a special day!” said Grindelia, which Aleena knew was a lie.

“It’s just too bad the bride didn’t match the ceremony,” Faleesha said snidely. “I’m sorry you had to end up with Aleena instead of me , Ambassador.”

Ambassador Bearick’s jaw tightened.

“I’m extremely happy with my new bride,” he said evenly and Aleena had the feeling he was holding himself back from saying something else.

“Well, we’re glad you found Aleena acceptable,” Grindelia said. She looked at Aleena. “Now mind you return your Joining outfit to the rental place on time! I’m not paying the late fee if you don’t.”

“I’ll be sure to return it,” Aleena said, nodding dutifully. She tugged lightly on her new husband’s sleeve. “May we go now, my Lord Husband? I find myself much fatigued by the excitement of the day.” Which was a polite way of saying she wanted to get out of there!

Ambassador Bearick seemed to share her feelings.

“I’m tired as well. Thank you again and please thank Sir Greggor for me and let him know I’ll take good care of his daughter,” he said politely to Aleena’s stepmother.

“I’m sure you will.” Faleesha remarked and laughed nastily. “Have a good Joining night, dear sister,” she added, speaking to Aleena. “We’ll see how much your new husband likes your ‘curvy’ body once he sees you bare!”

“Faleesha!” Grindelia frowned at her daughter. “As an un-Joined female, you must not speak of such things!”

“Well, it’s true,” Faleesha pouted. “Aleena’s too fat to be pretty— you always say so!”

“I never—” Aleena’s stepmother began.

“Anyway, it’s probably a good thing she’s fat,” Faleesha went on spitefully. “At least her new husband won’t break her in two when he takes her for the first time!” She gave Aleena a nasty smile. “I bet you’ll be walking funny for a week— if you can walk at all once he’s done with you! He’s so big. ” And she gave Ambassador Bearick a flirtatious look from under her lashes and giggled.

“What we do on our Joining night isn’t your business,” Aleena said quietly, though she wanted to shout at her half-sister for being so lewd in front of her new husband. It was a shame and a disgrace for an un-Joined female to speak so openly of the things a man and woman did together in private! The Ambassador would think she came from a low family.

“Forgive my daughter—she’s just high spirited,” Aleena’s stepmother said quickly. “This was supposed to be her Joining, after all, until Aleena stepped in and demanded to be Joined first, since she is the eldest.”

Aleena couldn’t believe the outright lies her stepmother was telling! Acting like she had complained until she got to Join with the Kindred Ambassador instead of her little sister! It wasn’t right!

“As I said before, I believe the Goddess had her hand on the situation—she made certain I was joined to the right female,” Ambassador Bearick answered. “And now if you’ll excuse us, we need to go.”

He took Aleena firmly by the arm and pulled her out of the clearing, leaving Aleena’s stepmother and half-sister standing there with sour expressions on their faces. As they left, Aleena could plainly hear Faleesha complaining.

“It’s not fair, Mummy! You never told me he was so handsome. It’s not right that Aleena got him instead of me!”

“Hush now—he’ll tire of her soon enough and he knows where to find you once he does, my sweet,” Aleena’s stepmother answered clearly.

Aleena felt like she might melt from pure mortification! They must know that their voices carried and she and her new husband could hear them. Why must they be so shameless and awful?

Ambassador Bearick said nothing, however. He kept her arm hooked through his and walked so rapidly Aleena had to almost trot to keep up. They had gotten out of the clearing where the ceremony had been held and halfway to the parking area before he suddenly burst out,

“Is that normal around here? I mean, is it normal for a bride’s own family to say such rude things to her? Especially on her Joining day?”

“I’m sorry about that,” Aleena said quickly. She was blushing miserably and feeling hot all over with shame. “No, it’s not normal. Faleesha shouldn’t have said such shameful things to you but I believe she was flirting. Letting you know that she’s available in case you decide you don’t like being Joined to me,” she explained.

“Well, I damn sure wouldn’t want to be Joined to her,” he growled. “I mean, I know she’s your sister, but if she wasn’t a female, I’d have made her sorry for those things she was saying about you!”

Aleena felt surprised. So he was angry because Faleesha had insulted her? She’d thought he was just upset that her half-sister had been speaking so crudely in a way that was unbecoming of an un-Joined female.

“Faleesha is probably just jealous,” she said, hoping to calm him down. “She didn’t know what a handsome male you are or she never would have given you up to me.”

He looked down at her and smiled—it was like the sun breaking through thunderclouds, Aleena thought, feeling slightly dazed. Faleesha hadn’t been lying—the Kindred Ambassador really was very handsome.

“Well, I’m glad you insisted on Joining with me instead of letting her do it,” he rumbled. “I definitely got the right sister.”

Aleena bit her lip. How could she explain now that her stepmother had been lying—that she hadn’t actually demanded to be the one joined to the Kindred Ambassador? If she told him the truth—that she’d made a bargain to Join with him in exchange for the money to pay her mother’s medical bills, he might be mad!

So though she hated lying to him, she smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, my Lord Husband,” she murmured. “I’m so glad you’re pleased with me.”

“I am—very pleased.” He nodded firmly, but then looked troubled for some reason. “Come on—let’s get home.”

Aleena wondered why he looked worried and upset but the next minute his furrowed brow smoothed out and he gave her another smile. She must have imagined the expression, she thought—or misinterpreted it.

At any rate, her new husband said he was pleased with her and that was all that mattered.