Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3) (24 page)

“So,” J’ael said between bites, “I’m supposed to have a conversation with you before this ritual.”

“Is that right?”

J’ael shrugged. “Your mother says so, and she’s the expert on such things. Guess it’s tradition. Seems my father did the same thing with me before I paired with your mother. Of course, since I’m apparently going to be a grandfather, I don’t suppose I need to have that particular talk with you.”

Ty sputtered on the sip of water he’d just taken. When he heard his father’s snort of laughter, Ty figured the timing of that part of this “talk” had been deliberate. His face was flushed when he finished coughing on the water, and not only because he’d been deprived of air.

“Geez, Dad,” he choked out, clearing his throat several times.

“Sorry, son. I had to. Be grateful you’re being spared that conversation. If I could erase the one I was forced to have with my father, I would.”

That made Ty grin. His grandfather was a stoic, no-nonsense kind of male. If he lived closer, Ty imagined his grandfather would insist on having his own chat with him.

“Anyhow,” J’ael continued, “your mother and I want you to know that we think you did well in choosing Kyr. We’re happy for you both. We wish you hadn’t had to endure any of what you’ve faced, but hopefully it gives you the strength and purpose you need to get through the days to come. We want you to know that we believe in you, Ty, no matter what.”

Ty found himself at a loss for words. He couldn’t remember ever hearing his father speak so frankly and intently. The words struck his heart like they carried physical weight.

Eventually, he managed, “Thanks. That means a lot.”

J’ael smiled and clapped Ty on the back. “Good. We’ll consider this tradition carried on for one more generation. If you have a boy, you’ll have to let me know how the sex talk goes.”

This time, Ty knew for sure his father had timed it while he was drinking. His howl of laughter gave him away.

After they finished cleaning up after their small meal, they took turns in the shower, washing away the lingering grime from their earlier practice session. J’ael presented Ty with a black floor-length robe, which he explained was the traditional male garb for the Proce-Amanti. Never having witnessed a ceremony because they were considered private and sacred, Ty could only take his father’s word for it. The truth was, he had spent so much of his life thinking he’d never undergo the ritual that he hadn’t bothered to learn more about it. With his mother overseeing it, he wasn’t concerned. She’d let him know what he needed to do and say.

Still, wearing just a robe did feel a little strange, he mused as he walked with his father out into the enclosed courtyard attached to the house. The night breeze snuck under the long robe’s hem, making him double-check the security of the sash holding the robe in place.

His thoughts about his wardrobe vanished when he spotted his Uncle Owyn and Aunt Faria standing in the courtyard. His aunt’s gaze was focused on the stars until she heard them approach. Then she looked down and pinned him with her misty blue eyes. The evidence of her earlier outpouring of grief touched her pretty features, but the dimples she shared with Sem made an appearance when she spotted him.

“Ty, it’s so good to see you,” she said, striding gracefully forward and drawing him into a warm hug. “Owyn has shared everything with me, of course. You’ve given us hope.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Aunt Faria,” he said, pulling away so he could meet her gaze. “Have faith in Sem. He’s strong, and I’m convinced he’s under the influence of the V’larian drug given to Kyr.”

His aunt’s face fell. “Oh, Ty. I’m still reeling from the news about Troi. The last we knew, he was working with the Mynders to maintain the protections. I’m so sorry to hear he’s caused you or Ma’jah Kyr pain.”

Ty couldn’t hold his personal grievance with Troi against his aunt. “You’re not to blame for any of this, Aunt Faria. We’ll find out what’s going on, I promise.”

She let out a little sniffle and nodded. Owyn put his arm around her and met Ty’s gaze.

“We wish you well, Ty,” he said gruffly. “Can’t say as I ever pictured you becoming the Faire-Amanti, but I guess it suits you.”

“Oh, Owyn,” Faria sighed with a shake of her head. “Why do I ever take you out in public?”

He snickered at that, smacking Ty’s bicep in a companionable gesture. “You’d think she’d have learned by now,” he said with a grin that so reminded Ty of Sem that it made his stomach clutch.

He smiled to avoid causing his relatives any concern. His gaze moved to J’ael, who walked over and put a hand on Ty’s shoulder.

“Time to bring the man of honor over to the ritual site,” he said with a smile. “Thanks for coming to stand as witnesses.”

“Sure, sure,” Owyn said with a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry. We’ve got a clear line of sight to the closest exit.”

Ty puzzled over that as his father led him to the courtyard’s central fountain. Why were his relatives in such a hurry to leave? His father didn’t seem concerned, so Ty figured his uncle was just issuing another one of his bad jokes.

“Here’s your spot,” J’ael said when they stopped in front of the fountain. “Don’t go running away on us or anything.”

“Ha ha. The only way I’d go running anywhere in this robe is if my feet caught on fire.”

His father laughed and headed towards the door leading back into the house. As he went inside, his mother came out. She wore a long, diaphanous peach-colored gown. The eyeshades she wore looked out of place with such a fancy dress. Her straight hair fell midway down her back with two braids pulled back at the temples. She held a wand made of illuvite that caught the light of the tall torches illuminating the courtyard. He had no idea what the wand was for and hadn’t even known she owned it.

She smiled when she reached him. “Don’t you look handsome?” she declared, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “You grew up much too fast.”

“Tell me about it,” he replied.

He looked back towards the door, wondering where his father had gone and where Kyr was. His gaze hesitated on a bed of cushions set off to the side on the lush grass. He tilted his head, trying to remember if the bed had been there when he’d come out to the courtyard while waiting for Kyr to awaken from her restorative sleep. He didn’t think so, but he hadn’t exactly been focused.

The sound of the door opening distracted him from thoughts about furniture. He realized that his father had gone to get Kyr so he could escort her to the fountain like he had done with Ty. His heart leaped at the sight of her, even though they had been together not long ago. It was the same for him every time she walked into a room.

Her beautiful hair was also down, he noted. Small purple flowers had been woven into it in the mysterious ways females had of doing such things. She wore a white robe similar to the black one he wore. Although it appeared that some hasty alterations had been done, it was still too large for her petite frame. Still, she made it look like royal raiment as she walked across the courtyard with her hand on his father’s arm.

Either her lingering bruises had faded due to her healing abilities or his mother had carefully applied something to conceal them, as nothing marred her perfect face. Her smile was radiant as she stopped and allowed J’ael to place her hands in Ty’s with a soft murmured blessing. His mother, aunt, and uncle repeated the words.

From that moment, nothing else existed for Ty but Kyr.

He held her gaze, only vaguely registering his mother’s incantations as she touched the glowing wand to their joined hands. Memories rushed through him…the first time he and Kyr met, the ceremony where he assumed his powers as the
Dem-Shyr
, working with her on her life lessons, the first time they kissed, the first time they confessed their love.

Confess your love
.

The whispered command filled his mind. He was powerless against it.

“KyrVawn,” he said in a voice that seemed to come from the center of his chest, “when we first met, I thought you were the most beautiful female I’d ever seen. Since then, I’ve traveled across galaxies. I’ve met thousands of beautiful beings and seen tens of thousands more. But not one of them has come close to the beauty I see in you.

“I’ve never known anyone with your courage and determination. Many people would have given up after everything you’ve gone through, but you continue to pick yourself back up and prepare to fight. What sets you apart from the girl I first met is that you make that stand not for yourself, but for everyone else. I never would have imagined how strong and selfless you’d become. I’m honored to call you my amanti, and humbled that you accept me as yours. You’re my heart…the better half of my soul. And I love you more with each passing day.”

He registered the tears that fell from her eyes, but his limbs wouldn’t obey the order to reach up to wipe them away. After a moment, Kyr spoke in a voice that shook with emotion.

“TaeDane, I wouldn’t be the female you described if it wasn’t for you. You bring out the very best in me. You’ve been my best friend since the day we met. You may not have been happy about it, since I was spoiled and unused to caring for anyone other than myself, but you always supported and protected me. Through your strength and guidance, I’ve become a better person. There’s no way to convey how much that means to me.

“You helped me learn that I was worth loving for reasons other than the circumstances of my birth. You’ve always cared for me, even when no one else did. You accept the person I was and the person I’ve become, and that’s a gift I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. I’ll never understand how I got lucky enough to earn your love, but I consider it even luckier that you accept mine. I love you, now and forever.”

The illuvite wand glowed like a star. Ty watched its light catch on Kyr’s unique irises, and thought she’d never looked more stunning.

And she was his.

More words swirled through his mind.

May your future together be bright. May all of your dreams take flight.

With Yen-Ki’s blessing, may your hearts and souls now fully unite.

Ty couldn’t describe the sensation that expanded within him as his mother cast the final blessing. Kyr’s grip tightened on his as the same feeling rushed through her. Her eyes glowed brighter than the wand, which hovered over their joined hands. It felt as though the uncontrollable energy would explode from them at any second.

The wand came down and touched their hands. The power settled with an almost audible snap.

Ty felt like a different person, yet more complete than he’d ever felt in his life. He deduced from the slightly dazed expression on Kyr’s face that she felt the same way.

Instantly, the strange surge of energy was replaced with an impossible deluge of desire. Ty’s body positively
raged
with need.

If he didn’t have Kyr right now, he’d die.

In the back of his mind, he registered the swift departure of their guests. He was so absorbed with Kyr that he couldn’t be bothered to bid them farewell. He released Kyr’s hands and yanked her against him. Obviously following a similar impulse, she jumped at him, encircling his waist with her legs and allowing him to lift her so he could ravage her mouth.

His tongue mated desperately with hers. Her hands ran through his hair and over his chest as she pressed her lower body against him in search of release.

Somehow, he stumbled up against the bed of cushions. He nearly dropped Kyr on the bed in his haste. Fortunately, her grip on him was so tight she barely moved when he released her to brace their fall.

The moment she was lying on the cushions, she broke away from his mouth. He nearly voiced a complaint, then realized she had somehow managed to untie the belts of both of their robes.

“Take me, Ty,” she demanded. “Now!”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. He drove himself into her with a fierce shout. It was exactly what they both craved. Their climax was immediate and overwhelming.

Kyr gasped for breath and arched her back, using her strong legs to hold him close. Her body quaked around him, drawing out his orgasm. He’d never felt anything so intense.

And it wasn’t enough.

He was still hard inside her. The deep, erotic pull still stormed within him. When Kyr reached up and dragged his head down for another passionate kiss, he knew she was experiencing it, too.

In the back of his mind, he told himself to be gentle with her. But he couldn’t battle the primal instinct to make her
his
.

Fortunately, she met every one of his powerful thrusts, lifting her hips and gripping his buttocks to encourage him. It wasn’t long before they were both crying out with another release.

Then Kyr reversed their positions and they did it again.

He wasn’t sure what time it was when the storm finally ceased. He might have lost a bet with himself if he wagered whether he’d had more orgasms in this single night than he’d had in his entire relationship with Kyr. He just knew that when he and Kyr finally fell into each other’s arms to sleep that neither of them had ever felt so replete.

He knew now that the connection he’d thought he had with Kyr had always been missing this one piece. Now, they were truly paired.

He was the Faire-Amanti, and no one would ever take that from him.

Chapter 29

Kyr awoke to the sound of chirping birds and a bubbling fountain. She was cradled in Ty’s embrace, her back to his front. The blanket that someone had thoughtfully placed on the bed of cushions before the ceremony was tangled around them. She didn’t really need it with Ty’s body heat to warm her.

Memories from the night before ran through her mind, making her smile slowly.
Wow
, was all she could think. Just wow.

She didn’t think they had slept more than an hour or two, but she felt invigorated. In fact, she thought as her breasts brushed against Ty’s arm, she felt more than invigorated. She wanted Ty to make love to her again.

He needed his rest, though, and her body was still tender. She supposed there would be time enough for more sexcapades in the future.