The Unveiling Page 9

  "You don't have to tell me twice," Mars muttered, leaning in to give her a brief hug. "Thank you, Rivka. I'm off to relax in my room for a bit."

  "I'm following suit," Kade said, giving a nod before he turned on his heels to walk away with Mars. Could they be more obvious?

  "Not subtle, are they?" Rivka asked.

  "Never." Bastien rolled his eyes. She snickered, and his eyes lit up, the brown becoming amber.

  "I love it when you laugh."

  "Thank you." She looked down, unable to handle the intensity of his stare. Every day he made remaining distant a little harder. Her chest grew heavy, and something tightened low in her belly. Her heartbeat doubled, and her nostrils flared as his scent filled the air, making her mouth water and her panties damp.

  "You keep this up, and I'll be dragging you out of here caveman style."

  "It's not like I can help it." The thought of being carried over his shoulder, whisked off, and passionately taken only made her purr.

  His lids lowered, and his eyes darted from side to side.

  "You reek of The Wanting. If we don’t settle this it'll be damn distracting." His fist clenched at his side. "All those Shar men wondering if you're their mate." His voice dropped an octave, and his eyes darkened with anger.

  "Hey, it's okay."

  "No. We've played this thing your way for long enough. After tonight we need to come out into the open … before someone gets hurt. We need to step out for a moment.”

  "I can't just leave. I'm in the middle of—"

  "Now." His clipped tone ended her protest. Rivka nodded her head and followed him from the room. Where are we going? What's he going to do when we get there? A heartbeat echoed as blood filled her ears and the tension set her on edge, all of her senses honed and working overtime as they prepared, for what she didn't know. He led her down a maze of hallways and up a flight of stairs. They stopped in front of a large wooden door. He pushed it open and pulled her inside.

  "This is my room." He was soft-spoken, but the tone told her he was barely keeping his cool. There was a reason people went into hiding after The Wanting began. It was like menopause and puberty rolled in a ball, times a million. Possessiveness was a given, and Bastien was a very dangerous man. They stepped inside. Bastien lifted her into his arms and pinned her against the wall. His upper body pressed her into the door, and she took a shaky breath.

  "We seem to find ourselves in this position a lot."

  "I need to be inside, where you're hot, tight, and nothing else matters. Because despite what your mind tells you and your words say, your body knows it's mine. The same way mine knows I am yours. This half life we've been living has me on the edge." His breath caressed her face and blew wisps of her hair around. His words were laced with so much longing and pain a tiny crack in the armor around her heart appeared. He rubbed his length against her.

  "See what you do to me. Just the thought of you. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I struggle every day not to rip my men's heads off in training." His hands shook as he cupped her face. "I don't need instant love, that would be a lie, but I need a chance to prove myself and be responsible for more than your orgasm." He leaned in and caressed her lips with his. "Can you give me that?"

  "Yes," she whispered. A brilliant smile lit his face, and the air around them seemed lighter. A part of her protested the give. I'm giving in too easily, too soon! What good does waiting do anyone? You haven't declared your eternal love. Her mixed emotions continued to battle one another. The back and forth began to make her head ache.

  "Don't think. I know we don't have that much time, but the least I can do is take the edge off." His large hand slid inside her pants and into her underwear. "You're always so wet for me." He caressed her swollen clit, and she shivered. "Do you like that?"

  "Yes." She whimpered, closing her eyes. Her head hit the door behind her with a loud thud as she gave herself over to his dexterous fingers.

  He made circular motions, pausing to slip into her channel for a few teasing strokes before he returned to her sensitive nub in tandem. She dug her fingernails into his biceps.

  "That's it, come apart for me." His voice was a velvet caress, and her body shook in response. The tension in her body reached a breaking point.

  "Oh! I'm close."

  He pumped harder. "That's it, baby, come all over my fingers." A few more thrusts and she clamped down on him, opening her mouth to release a silent scream as she coated his fingers with her sticky warmth. She opened her eyes to see his smoldering gaze fixed on her.

  "W-what about you?"

  "Giving you pleasure and knowing no one else ever will again is enough for me." He removed his hand and stepped back as she gathered herself. "You okay?"

  "I will be, but my panties are past the point of no return."

  "Good, you should take them off."

  "Bastien!"

  "It'll be more comfortable, won't it?" He fixed his face to be the picture of innocence.

  She rolled her eyes. "Yes, but that's not why you suggested it."

  "Partially." He smirked. "I also happen to think the smell of us combined." He placed his fingers into his mouth and sucked her nectar off. "Delicious." The soft material of her pants brushed against her cleft as he dematerialized the tiny scrap of lace fabric. "The only thing that would make this better would be if we had the time for me to fill you with my seed." The blunt words made her bite back a moan. Thank God Shar women had the ability to control when they conceive or I'd be on my way to mommydom.

  "I thought you were supposed to be taking the edge off, not rekindling the flame."

  He chuckled. "You're right. We should get back to the ballroom so you can finish your job and I can go make sure Phelan's keeping it together. The Earth tradition of not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding is not sitting well with him."

  "That's sweet though," she said.

  "Hmm."

  His noncommittal noise made her laugh harder. She liked the way he interacted with his family. They gave each other a hard time, but it was clear it all came from a place of love.

  "Come on. I'll walk you back. We came up the back stairs that used to belong to servants back when they were essential to running a household."

  "You sound like a curator."

  "That's verbatim what the real estate agent told me when we looked at this place."

  "I had no idea you were so funny." This wasn't what she expected from the man in charge of the Shar military forces. His expression softened.

  "Me either." The joy left his face, and she could see the heavy weight of what he'd been giving up settle onto his shoulders.

  She placed a gentle hand on his arm. Saying it was okay would be a lie, but she could give him this silent comfort. He covered her hand with his opposite hand, and a connection formed between them. Rivka cleared her throat, and the moment was lost. He offered her his arm. Rivka hesitated.

  "Aren't you going to … wash your hands?"

  "Call me sick, but having your scent on me is going to help keep me calm."

  "Mmm. Smart thinking." She linked her arm with his, and they exited the room. As much as they shared a similar physiology to humans, they weren't. What seemed extreme to them was perfectly normal among the Shar. Right now she craved being filled to the brim with his sticky blue cum. Playing it cool while in the midst of The Wanting was no easy task, and they'd managed it for almost a month. She had half a mind to tell him it was time for a vacation, but she could see him taking it and running.

  ****

  She wasn't shocked by the outcome at the wedding. This was the first Shar mating ceremony to be combined with an earth style wedding. There wasn't an empty seat in the tent. Rivka stood on the right at the altar beside the Pastor. He'd perform his ceremony, and she would finish off. Each phase of the wedding would play to a different aspect of their culture. But this was a homage to both to the bride and groom's personal taste. The aisle way was lined with blush pink roses, and they popped against the scheme
of black and white. Phelan wore a tailor-made black tuxedo with a black bowtie. The groomsmen were dressed to the nines in black suits with collarless t-shirts. In lieu of a boutonniere, they'd chosen to honor the Shar by wearing a silver-colored metal emblem that was their family crest. The wedding party was small one, six people total. Bastien was the best man, with Kade and Mars as groomsmen. Zasha had matched the number with her close friend Taryn and two other co-workers. Their strapless, black gowns were fitted on the top to mid thigh where they flared out into a trumpet. The mermaid silhouette flattered each body type and provided a dramatic background for the bride.

  The wedding march began, and Zasha walked in on the arm of her Police Chief. The deep v-neck gown was covered from head to toe in sparkly sequins that looked like flecks of diamond. The top was light silver that faded out to white at the waist, flaring out at the bottom. The six inches on the bottom of the dress alternated between silver and white, in a pattern reminiscent of a starburst. Gasps rang out from the crowd, and all eyes were on the bride with luxurious curls that cascaded around her face and down her back. Rivka closed her eyes and concentrated on the stones as she hummed an ancient Shar song and gathered her energy. She lifted her hand, spread her fingers wide and created an image of stars on the tent above them to honor the tradition of bonding under the stars. Every detail was a mirror of the view they'd had in Tagget. Her heart ached a bit for the world lost.

  When Zasha reached the end of the aisle, she handed her bouquet of cream-colored roses to her Maid of Honor and stood beside Phelan who took her hand. They faced one another, and the Pastor began. She did her best to look interested as her mind wandered to the man on the opposite side of Phelan. Bastien in his suit, with his hair tucked behind his ear made her weak in the knees. When the Pastor ended his speech she smiled, lighting the incense behind her with her mind as she sang in the ancient language of the Shar. An interpreter held a microphone and explained the symbolism. She waved the fragrant smoke over the couple’s heads, bestowed them with the blessing of their ancestors and asked for strength, protection, and guidance. She danced around the two, spinning as she gestured with her hands and performed elaborate footwork. Blue energy flowed around them, growing brighter. It pulsed, encompassing them in a blue sphere. Trails of light wove themselves into patterns and symbols. Her body hummed with energy. She came to a stop and stepped back to admire the light show that was proof of the good match they made.

  She nodded to the Pastor with wide brown eyes. He continued on with his speech. As the Pastor spoke, her stomach turned over and her vision grew hazy. Rivka sucked down air in an attempt to hide the panic setting in. Not now, please, don't let me have a vision! An image superimposed itself on top of Phelan and Zasha. A different wedding, with the familiar couple from her dreams, surrounded by a sunset-colored ball of energy. The peachy orange, pink, and red sphere was breathtaking. A thick, red substance obscured the scene. Blood. She blinked rapidly, and the image was gone. It meant death. But was it a symbol representing the past or the present?

  "It's my pleasure to introduce you to the new Mr. and Mrs. Phelan D'Shar!" Cheers erupted from the crowd along with wolf whistles and clapping. She shook off her daze, changed the starry scene above their heads on the canopy to a meteor shower and bowed.

  "I present your King and Queen." She used English to ensure everyone understood. As the couple made their way down the aisle a feeling of foreboding heightened her uneasiness. She had the feeling this would be the last happy occasion they celebrated for some time. The storm she'd sensed earlier was coming in fast. God, I hope we're ready.

  ****

  This is the longest hour I’ve ever had to endure. Cocktail hour would be synonymous with torture for the rest of his life. He was sick to death of chatting up women he had no interest in and forcing small talk with men he had nothing in common with. Something had happened to Rivka up there during the ceremony. Her entire aura had changed, though she did a good job of hiding it from everyone else. He hadn't gotten a moment alone with her since. Everyone wanted to talk to the Star Maiden. It’s understandable. They’re curious. Bastien balled his hands into fists. The man next to her was too close for comfort. His chest grew tight, and his body temperature rose.

  "You okay, bro? You're looking a little … tense." Kade came to stand beside him at the bar.

  "Just want to get a word in with Rivka."

  "Uh huh. Well, you might want to take it down a notch before you scare the guests."

  "Am I that bad?" he asked, feeling sheepish.

  "Very intense. What's going on?"

  "I just feel like something's not right." He frowned.

  "How so?"

  "Something happened in the middle of the ceremony. I want to know what it was."

  "It all seemed normal to me."

  He shook his head. "She's good at projecting what she wants everyone to see."

  "I'm not going to try to understand the bond forming between you two. How about I run some interference and you take her aside?"

  "I'll owe you."

  "I'm going to hold you to that.” Kade snickered. "Follow me and watch while I work my brand of magic."

  "Distracting?" Bastien asked.

  "No, diplomatic relationships. You have the subtlety of a bull in a china shop." He burst out laughing, drawing the attention of a few guests as they made their way over to where Rivka stood beside a man he didn't recognize.

  "Renten, how are you?" Kade asked. He held out his hand, and Renten smiled and shook enthusiastically. A gleam appeared in his brown eyes.

  The middle-aged man with graying hair and kind blue eyes smiled. "Kade, my boy, long time no see."

  "I know it's been a busy year."

  "Have you thought more about that business venture I mentioned?"

  "I have," Kade said.

  "Excuse me, Priestess. Kade and I have some catching up to do."

  "Of course." She gave a gracious nod of her head, and Bastien pounced.

  "It's hot in here. Would you care to step outside with me, Rivka?"

  "I'd love that."

  They left the cocktail hour and stepped out into the hall.

  "Thanks for the rescue. I had a barrage of questions whizzing at me left and right. I don't mind, because I like educating humans on our culture, but it was like … overload." She shook her head as if to clear it as they headed out to the foyer.

  "I sensed a change in you during the ceremony. What happened?"

  "I had a vision."

  I knew it. "What of?"

  "I’m still deciphering.” They took a seat in a quiet corner.

  "Is that good or bad?"

  "Could go either way, though right now the feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me it isn’t positive."

  His instinct to protect flared to life. "Can you tell me more?"

  "No, I have to meditate on it for awhile, see if I can glean more." She shook her head. "Worst timing ever."

  "We know better than most life doesn't wait for the right moment."

  She sighed. "It's true. Only the reception to go, and we're free."

  An unspoken word lingered in the air between them, very much felt. What then?

  Chapter Fifteen

  "How are you feelin’?" Tavel asked as he eyed Charlie. He'd set up a make shift lab in the basement, where he'd carefully monitored Charlie for the past few weeks. So far there had been no ill effects. His DNA had altered to a closer facsimile to that of a Shar. If he had more time he would wait to see if he yielded greater results. He was down to his last sample of the D'Shar elixir. There was no time to spare.

  "Better every day. You were right. Whatever you mixed together suppressed my Shar genes." It had done the exact opposite actually. It made him more Shar, but the inhibitors in the mixture blocked his powers. It was the perfect situation. They both got what they wanted, and Charlie was none the wiser. I’ll have an unlimited supply.

  "Good." He pulled on his gloves and walked over to the counter
where the young man perched on the edge. "I'm going to draw some more blood and run a few tests. I know it's tedious, but your safety and well being is my top concern."

  "Thanks, Unc. I appreciate it."

  He smiled. "Pleasure is all mine." He tied off his arm with a slip of rubber material and handed him a blue stress ball.

  "You know the routine. Give it a few squeezes for me." He tore open the white square he'd placed on the sterile tray beside the counter in preparation. "That's good." He swabbed down the area of his inner arm, prodding gently with his fingertips for a vein. Found it. He reached over and opened the package with the needle, pricked the skin and hit the vein on the first try. The red liquid filled up six vials. What looked normal to the human eye held a blue tinge, normal to a Shar. This was as good as it was going to get. He'd take a portion of the blood and plasma he'd gathered and make a new Elixir.

  "When will you get the results?"

  "In a few days." Tonight. "But don’t worry. Things look good. As long as you continue to take the pills I'm providing, I see no reason why you can't live a normal life. You'll probably find your health will improve and you'll rarely get sick. In the occasion that you do, it'll be mild."

  "I'm down with that." Charlie grinned.

  "I thought it was a nice perk." He removed the rubber band and pressed down the folded gauze. "Hold this down for me." He grabbed the Band-Aid from the tray and applied it when Charlie removed his fingers. "Good as new. Contact me immediately if you notice any new developments. Good or bad."

  "Will do. Am I free to go? I have a class in about an hour."

  "Yeah, we're all done here."

  "Awesome." Charlie hopped down from the table. "You going to be around for awhile?"

  "A little while longer, but I have things that need to be tended to. I'll let you know before I take off.”

  Charlie nodded. "All right, I'll see you later then." He gave a wave and bounded up the stairs in a hurry to beat the mid-day traffic. The minute he heard the front door shut Tavel locked the door behind him with his powers and went to work. Bunsen burners came to life, and he walked over to his workstation. Heavy, black slate tables were lined up on the far side of the wall with numerous devices placed on their surfaces. He set the tubes in a rack, choosing one to divvy up into other tubes, adding different solutions to each before he placed them in a centrifuge where they spun. Seconds stretched to minutes as he hovered over the machine, anxious to run his analysis. When the cycle stopped spinning, he took the first tube off and moved down the tables. He'd made his own machinery. Human technology mixed with Shar. The sleek, black machine glowed green as he started it up with his mind. He'd made it to look like a microscope, but it did so much more. His hands shook as he unscrewed the top, took a dropper from the table, sucked up at tiny bit of liquid, and placed it on a slide.