Page 39 of Rescuing Mara (Warriors of Arracate #2)
Mara
Lauren and Kepti fuss over me in O’Rec’s bedroom. Kepti pulled some strings and together with some of the other women, made me a beautiful gown to wear to the coronation ceremony. I know O’Rec is having mixed feelings. There is joy but also sadness over the men we lost and worry about T’Rak.
The ceremony for his brother and the others was beautiful, simple, and heartfelt. O’Rec surprised everyone by talking about how we should not hate all Sternotheri. They self-destructed almost their entire race, and even though circumstances were different, we should not treat them like they have the Arracate. He promised us a future of peace and a future where we help the ones in need, even if we were enemies before.
I don’t know if it’s even feasible, but it shows how amazing he is as a leader. There were some murmurs, and T’Rak left soon after, but he is always fair, and I don’t think he meant the High Commander.
I hope he will be here today, though. We haven’t seen him since, which throws a cloud upon our day.
“Don’t be sad, Mara,” Lauren walks to me and hugs me tight. “Today is a joyful day. There are great things coming for the Arracate. You and O’Rec give the people hope. Hope they haven’t felt in a long, long time.”
“Yes, my dear,” Kepti agrees and takes my hand. “You are the perfect mate for our Prince. I, for one, cannot wait to call you my Queen.”
I sniff. “You two are going to make me cry!”
They laugh, and we hug again. A knock on the door interrupts our moment.
“Come in!” I yell. M’Ran shyly enters the room.
“My Que.. My lady, will you please join me? I will lead you to your king so you can enter the courtyard together.” I smile and place my hand on the arm he holds out for me.
“With pleasure, M’Ran.”
O’Rec is in our living quarters. His chest is bare, and he wears some sort of ceremonial … loincloth. It’s white, long, and held together around his waist by a broad belt, exposing his hips and the outside of his thighs. His tattoos are on full display, and he looks gorgeous. A bolt of lust flares through me and he looks up with a smirk.
“You look amazing yourself, my star,” he tells me, and I beam. My dress is beautiful, that’s true. It’s made of the same material as O’Rec’s clothing, but the hem and the sleeves are embroidered with gold stars. The sleeves open once the fabric passes my shoulders and are held together by a band at my wrist. It gives me the feeling I have wings, and I slowly walk towards my mate.
“Do you like my dress, my King?”
He pulls me towards him when I’m within reaching distance and kisses me. “I like your dress, my Queen.”
M’Ran clears his throat, breaking us apart. O’Rec takes my arm, and we follow M’Ran into the courtyard. The first-night O’Rec brought me home, I failed to notice its magnitude. Artificial sun lamps hang from a coved ceiling, bathing the space in warm light. The walls are covered in plants, and right now, the place is filled with every single person who lives on the Ring.
M’Ran guides us through until we are standing in the center of the terrace. We are encircled by the Arracate, the elders in the front row are seated, and all the others stand behind them. Row after row of people. It’s silent. Everybody waits for M’Ran to speak.
I know I have to pay attention to his words, but I tune out once he starts talking and focus on my mate. “They are all here for you.”
He smiles and looks at me. “And for you, Marra, do not underestimate how easily you have won them over. Just by being you and showing your strength.”
M’Ran takes something from one of the elders, and when he turns to us, I see he’s holding a golden band. “OUR KING!” he shouts as he places the crown on O’Rec’s head. All the spectators bump their fists across their hearts, and in unison, they shout, “OUR KING.” I break out in goosebumps and blink away my tears, squeezing his hand.
M’Ran walks back to the elders, and when he turns to me, he’s holding another gold band. However, where O’Rec’s crown is solid, mine is delicate. Strands of gold look like they’re woven together. It is beautiful. He places the crown on my head, and when he turns and shouts, “OUR QUEEN,” everybody in the crowd repeats his words.
Pride flows through my bond, and I look at O’Rec. He bumps his fist across his heart and bows his head. “MY QUEEN!” he shouts, and the crowd howls. Laughing, we embrace each other and share a quick kiss before we are swamped by happy people who want to congratulate us.
Lauren, D’Var, and Kepti are among the last people to congratulate us. Most of the others have already left, and I stand on my toes to see if I can spot T’Rak somewhere. I know O’Rec will be heartbroken if he’s not here.
D’Var embraces O’Rec, and they talk silently. Suddenly, they freeze, looking towards the shadows. I squint my eyes and see T’Rak slowly coming forward. He looks terrible, eyes sunken, with a vacant expression.
“Congratulations to you both,” he says gruffly. “I apologize for not being around, but I-”
O’Rec interrupts him and embraces him fiercely. “No apologies my friend, I am glad you are here.”
T’Rak first looks to O’Rec, then to D’Var. “Are you willing to take on one last mission?”
Lauren and I exchange a look, and I shrug. We haven’t talked about what would happen to the crew if O’Rec accepted his position as king, but I presumed we would stay on the Ring to do the things leaders do.
“What do you need?” O’Rec asks.
“Revenge.” He pauses, and his gaze flicks over us, guilt flashing through his eyes. “I want to hunt the High Commander down, and when I find him, I will kill him.”
O’Rec turns around to me, and I nod, walking towards them.
“Revenge doesn’t usually lead to healing. But we cannot let the High Commander get away with this. He probably hates us even more than he already did. So letting him go endangers us all.”
“Yes, we should go after him,” Lauren says, and I whip my head around. She walks towards D’Var and hugs his arm. “We should ALL go after him.”
“It is a long story, but where D’Var goes, typically L’Ren goes.”
“And what about me?”
“Do you wish to join us, my star?” he asks out loud. “It will be dangerous and probably a long mission, but it will be my last.”
I smile at him, my proud mate, my King. Where he goes, I go, and what’s best for him is best for me. And in this case, it’s best for our people.
“We will ALL go after him.”
* * *
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