“Unfucking believable,” Blaze muttered as he walked into the chamber and stopped dead to stare at her. “Wow, you are stunning.”

Aria turned to smile at him, her snowy white teeth glimmering in the sunlight shining through the window. Her hair was glowing radiantly, the silky strands flowing free around her lace covered shoulders. He and Raton had not been allowed to see her joining gown, and she was a vision of lavender beauty. Bowing his head to her, he accented the gesture with a sweep of his hand as he bent at the waist and then knelt before her. “I am truly honored for this gift you bestow upon me.”

“What gift is that?”

“Your love, and a place in your life.”

“It’s a gift the three of us share.” Her expression morphed to one of concern. “What is unfucking believable and where is Raton? Don’t tell me that we have to cancel the ceremony again? It’s already been almost four years.”

He stood, laughing. “I don’t want to jinx us, but so far everything is fine. No freak storms are rolling across Jasta. No plagues are striking down the inhabitants so we’re on constant call, and a sweep was done to cut down the greensticks so there is no chance they will ruin the ceremony by eating our guests again. As you say, everything runs in threes.”

“That’s Old Earth superstition you picked up from my mind. In this case I also hope it’s true. So what was the drama about?”

He grunted. “One of the girls from the school made a pass at me as I was walking up the stairs. It was not only rude, but downright brazen.”

“Why is that a shock? You’re amazing to look at, and even more so in your black leather joining clothing. I love the flames embossed into the fabric. Your sandy hair is brushed to shine, and I don’t blame any woman for desiring you. Of course, to desire you on our joining sun is too much. Can I go kick her ass?”

She was funny when she felt like it. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

“Who ever said that was?”

Mistery strolled into her study. “You’re so beautiful.” She turned to Blaze. “What did you do to Teara? She is sitting in the hall crying.”

“I didn’t do anything to her. I was walking up the stairs and she lifted her shirt, making a comment about how I would enjoy her breasts more than Aria’s. I told her to get stuffed.”

Mistery giggled. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means she needs to lust after someone else’s cock and get fucked with it.”

“Oh. Interesting interpretation. She did mention you calling her fat and ugly, but I don’t recall her exposing herself being mentioned. Why would she do that, Blaze?”

“I have no idea. Woman all over Jasta seem to think that because I’m from another planet I’m going to cheat on Aria. I’m glad they accepted the rumor without question, but their behavior is appalling.”

Mistery stared at him oddly. “By the gifted, when the hell did you become so mature? You sound like an old man.”

Aria smiled and stepped over nearer to them. “He sounds like I did long ago. Blaze, hopefully once we’re joined, they will back off and simply lust after you from afar as they do with me. I have had men speak invitations during my daily suns also. I politely remind them that I’m committed to you and Raton.”

“I normally do the same thing, but... I don’t know. I guess I’m as worried as you are that something else is going to go wrong.”

She drew him into her breast, gently stroking his hair to calm him. It was a wonderful feeling, her hair softly falling against his cheek. It was also badly arousing him, and to walk onto the podium with his cock crushed against his pants would be rather uncomfortable. Aria leaned back, touching his mind, What was that about? One moment you were calm, and the next you tensed back up.

One moment you were calming me, and the next you were arousing my cock. You do that to me.

Sorry, she replied as she laughed, the humor betraying her apology.

“I’ll bet.”

“I have no clue what that was about,” said Mistery. “If you’re ready, then everyone is waiting for you.”

“I’m ready. Where is Raton?”

“I’m right here,” he replied as he walked into the chamber. “Sorry. I was delayed by Lith.”

She glared at him. “What is Lith doing here?”

“She’s trying to convince me to take Aynear again. You’ll be stunned when you see him.”

“Why?”

“Even at his young age, he is a spitting image of Jace. Not to mention the fact that he’s well over five foot already.”

Aria looked surprised.

Blaze had seen Aynear and knew what he looked like—Raton was right about the spitting image part. “Maybe it’s a tad late for me to mention this, but I was down at the farm about half a month ago. I ran into Aynear, and considering his mother was nowhere to be seen, flew him over to the eatery for a meal. He’s really unhappy and says that he spends most suns caring for himself. I believe it because he’s so damn mature.”

“I believe it also,” said Raton. “He looks downright miserable. Do you think...”

Aria raised her eyebrows. “Of course I think. I don’t want the child to live in misery. He seemed okay when we last went down to check on him. I guess things have changed.”

“Lith had yet another child, and from what Aynear says, he spends far too much of his suns watching the three younger ones,” said Blaze.