Page 30 of Star Crossed Delta
SABA
T he reception garden onboard the Lisade ark ship, the Light Nautilus, was a vision.
The event’s designers had created it to be a feast for the senses, a tapestry of the finest fabrications woven with masterful skill and artistic imagination.
From the delicate petals to the intricate details of each arrangement, the florists had left no corner untouched, transforming the venue into a blooming paradise.
The air was heavy with the scent of roses, lilies, and other exotic blooms, their vibrant colors cascading from every surface.
The soft buzz of bees and butterflies was audible as they flitted from bloom to bloom, adding to the melody of laughter and chatter from the guests.
Mouthwatering treats adorned with edible blossoms were on display, tempting the taste buds and filling the room with the aroma of sugary delights.
Dishes bursting with flavors and homemade desserts were embellished with chocolate foliage.
Saba paused beneath an arched-hanging vine that shimmered under the sun’s rays and studied her family members, bracing herself for their ire.
It was her cousin Zsófia who first spotted her.
She turned to grab her mother’s arm, a click of disdain escaping her lips. The murmur of voices died down as all eyes shifted toward Saba.
She squared her shoulders, refusing to let their scrutiny unnerve her, and began to walk through the crowded hall toward where her kin was standing.
Flanking her was Koda, armed to the teeth, who had stepped in to fly her to the Lisade home ship and provide her with security.
Still, her clothes were her armor. She took refuge in her stunning dress, one Miral had helped her obtain.
It was a work of art with layers of shimmering fabric in shades of lilac and lavender that cascaded down her curves in elegant ripples.
The intricate embroidery of delicate roses and vines infused with glittering, moving strands of diamonds caught the light, almost making them appear real. Her ensemble worked as the whispers and gasps of awe followed in her wake.
As she approached her aunt and uncle, their judgmental gazes fell upon her, assessing each step and every move she made.
Her uncle’s twisted expression was like a thundercloud on the horizon, a harbinger of the coming storm.
Her aunt’s disapproving frown deepened as she raked her eyes over Saba’s appearance, no doubt finding fault in the detail of her attire and demeanor.
Saba held her head high, projecting confidence that belied the nervous flutter in her stomach.
She reached the small group they huddled in and stood before them, meeting each pair of eyes with a steady gaze that dared them to challenge her.
Tewa leaned forward with a suspicious look. ‘Saba,’ he addressed her with a bow, his tone calm and calculating. ‘We were beginning to wonder if you had forgotten about us.’
She tilted a brow at his rudeness. ‘I apologize for my tardiness, Uncle. Some matters required my attention at the lodge.’
He glanced around her with a searching, almost sneering gaze. ‘Where is your husband?’
Saba met his eyes with a cool look and went for the jugular. ‘He had other pressing matters to attend to.’
A collective gasp rose from the group in front of her.
Uncle Tewa gulped like a fish until he composed himself with a sneer.
‘What of your machinations?’ he hissed. ‘And Shiloh’s. Our family’s honor was on the precipice after the nonsense you attempted. We nigh lost our lives at the ceremony.’
‘Hardly. But Shiloh and I pulled it off, didn’t we?’
He studied her for a moment prior to grunting in acknowledgment. Then he leaned in further. ‘Where is she anyway?’
She’d long gone, eloped, leaving no trace behind except for the whispers of her defiance that lingered in the air like a ghost.
Saba met her uncle’s eyes with a steely gaze, refusing to betray the tumult of emotions within her. ‘Shiloh chose her path,’ she answered. ‘She made her decision, as have I.’
His expression darkened at her words, a storm brewing in the back of his eyes.
‘You would do well not to follow in her footsteps, Saba, and don’t even contemplate abandoning your husband or your vows,’ he warned, his voice laced with a thinly veiled threat.
‘The consequences of such defiance are severe, and I will be most displeased. While we’ve secured the diamonds as bride price, the synth steel and hydrogen supply deals have not yet been agreed between our clan and his. Until then, do nothing to rile him.’
Saba didn’t give a fokk what he thought or how he felt.
She held his gaze as a silent challenge passed between them. ‘I’m aware of the risks, Uncle, and I have no plans to leave the ?ar ,’ she clipped. ‘However, I will not be cowed into submission by you or anyone. I’m also not the naive girl you once controlled anymore.’
He leaned in and hissed, his double chin waggling. ‘I am the kinsman redeemer who rescued you and your sisters from a life in poverty after your parents died. You owe me.’
‘We owe you nothing. You took our family’s money and have profited from it since our father’s death. You may have sheltered us when we were orphaned, but you’ve used that wealth to further your interests and cement your power within the Akkadian community.’
The words hung heavy in the air, a declaration of independence and defiance unheard of within their tight-knit community.
Her uncle’s face contorted with rage, his mask of composure slipping to reveal the true extent of his fury.
‘You dare to speak to me in such a manner after all that I have done for you?’ he snarled, his voice rising in pitch.
‘I am your guardian, your protector, and you repay me with insolence and disrespect?’
Saba stood her ground, refusing to back down in the face of his wrath. ‘You may have been our savior once, but that does not grant you the right to dictate the course of my life,’ she retorted.
She meant everything she uttered, each word a dagger aimed at his wounded pride. ‘I will never again be a pawn in your games, Uncle. I will forge my path, even if it means standing against you.’
A murmur rippled through the clusters of nearby family members, some outraged, others smirking at her bold declaration.
The tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife.
Her aunt shot her a disapproving glare, clucking under her breath, but Saba ignored her.
Her uncle’s face darkened with anger; his jaw clenched in frustration as he processed her words.
‘You will pay for this,’ he spat out, his tone laced with venom. ‘You have disgraced our lineage with your deceit and treachery.’
Saba huffed with sardonic humor. ‘I did what needed to be done, Uncle,’ she murmured despite the storm brewing.
‘Shiloh made her choice, and I have decided mine. I am now a Sauvage ?arim , and as you know, it is the most powerful family in the Akkadian community. So rein in your next utterance to me.’
His eyes narrowed as he studied her, searching for any sign of weakness or regret. But all he found was defiance blazing in her gaze, a reflection of the fire coursing through her veins.
He also knew that to defy her now would bring down the wrath of the ?ar .
His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in his temple as he regarded her with frustration and resignation.
‘You always were the stubborn one,’ he muttered.
Saba glared back at him.
Nada , she was the one who took the blame for Suri’s extraordinary behavior and Shiloh’s sometimes selfish decisions.
With a huff, he whirled away, heading for the dais to address his guests.
‘We are here today to celebrate the union between our family and that of our esteemed guests,’ he announced, his voice carrying through the hall with authority. ‘Let us put aside grievances and focus on the bonds that unite us.’
He added an excuse for Mak’s absence, which the party accepted, albeit with some confusion.
His welcome speech ended, and everyone moved away from the podium, some advancing to greet Saba and others toward the banquet table.
She released a breath, which she’d held since he started speaking, as the tension in the room dissipated somewhat.
She conducted the formal, traditional greetings, acknowledging that she was now the most important person in the room.
Which made most of the congratulations from many who’d looked down on her in the past, stilted, ceremonial, stiff, and awkward.
The majority of Akkadians in the room were a pompous lot of monstrous women and magnificent windbags who name-dropped, fluttered, and sighed their way through parties.
The so-called crème de la crème of their community were, at their core, sycophants who jostled for favor and boasted of wealth.
She had little in common with them and missed Shiloh, for they’d often taken turns mocking their arrogance and entitlement.
Oh, for a fokkin’ return to the old times, she sighed.
Many long minutes later, with two aching palms and wrists, she sliced her eyes to Koda.
He got the memo and raised a hand, stopping the greeting line to lead her to the head banquet table.
Her eyes traveled through the room, searching for a familiar face, hoping for a source of support in the sea of judging and curious gazes.
Amid the throng of well-dressed guests and glittering chandeliers, she spotted Aveline. She hadn’t seen or spoken to her after the wedding.
Without a second thought, she broke off from Koda’s lead, navigating through the maze of guests who stared and whispered as she wound her way through them.
As she drew closer, Aveline reached and wrapped her hands around Saba, her expression soft yet resolute.
‘Honey, I’m your freakin’ escape,’ Aveline murmured. ‘Use me.’
Tears pricked Saba’s eyes.
Her friend’s words were like a lifeline in the storm that threatened to overwhelm her. They grounded her in the knowledge that she had an ally in this sea of hostility. She gripped her hand, drawing strength from her unwavering support.
‘ Sante , love,’ Saba whispered, choking with emotion. ‘Your presence means more to me than you can imagine.’