Page 18 of Zimon's Bride

That night I wore the flowing gown, and it swirled around my body through the turns and lifts in the exotic dance. It was exciting and sensual, leaving us both thoroughly aroused.

The second part of the marriage ritual was fairly private. His immediate family, Zimon, and I went to Mount Ashera to the temple dedicated to the goddess Felinea. That was when I wore the traditional bridal outfit of a split skirt and halter top. This ensemble was more elaborate, and my headdress was a jeweled tiara. Zimon wore the conventional extended loincloth and vest.

The priestess Matrika directed us to perform an elemental blessing of fire, water, air, and earth. Zimon and I each carried a small ceramic bowl of dirt to the altar and dumped them into a bigger pot. Matrika planted a seed in that pot, and we each poured a small vial of water into it.

Then she gave us each a small candle. She lit Zimon’s candle with hers, then he lit mine, and we held them together so the flames burned as one, saying our vows together.

“We are meomee, bonded souls destined to follow the path of life together in love and harmony. I am yours, and you are mine. I will bear your children. We will raise them together and become a family with the fruits of our love. We are one now and always.”

Then we put the candles in a holder on the altar, sealing our vows with a kiss while Zimon’s family showered us with flower petals. After heartfelt hugs from each of them, Matrika led us to the marriage consummation chamber of the temple, where we would spend the night in the temple mating.

And we made soul-searing love, looking into each other’s eyes far into the night. Every kiss, every touch, every thrust melded our souls as we soared in ecstasy together.

Epilogue

Zimon

Five years later

Abby and I watched our three-year-olds playing with the three kittens we imported for their third birthdays. She had had a cat when she was a young girl and wanted our boys and girl to have them too. While stationed there, I interacted with cats and felt a kinship with them.

Before they were born, I did warn Abby that feline mates generally gave birth to multiple kits. I wasn’t surprised that she had triplets in her first pregnancy, but I don’t think she believed me, so it surprised her. But after she thought about it, she considered having one pregnancy and three children a good deal. Our boys are Felix and Kian, and our daughter is Bella.

Abby is glad that much of our work is automated because we spend so much time caring for our children. But that’s no hardship. I waited my whole life to find my mate and have children with her. These past five years, I’ve been happier than I ever dreamed possible, and Abby has told me many times that she feels the same.

Captain Zeke Be’Kal is still shuttling people back and forth from Earth, mostly those finding their mates on Earth. His service is highly respected, as is the Narovian Interstellar Matchmaking service. In the spring, he will bring Abby’s parents, who have never been in space, to see their grandchildren in person for the first time.

Abby talks to them every couple of weeks, and they no longer seem to hold their prejudice against me, an alien who married their daughter. They adore their grandchildren and respect me, knowing that I honestly and truly love their daughter and always will.

The End