Guilt-ridden over how she’d treated Dancer, his mother had even testified against Dariana, during her trial and sentencing.
Clearing her throat, Endine stopped by Sumi’s side and handed her a small box. “This is for you to give to Dancer tonight.”
Sumi frowned as she took it from her hands and opened it to find a signet ring that bore the War Hauk crest.
“It is the ring that belonged to the first Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. And it is the wedding band that has been worn by the father of the direct line ever since. Ferral’s time has passed and now the lineage and title will be carried by our youngest son and you… and by your children until they each marry. Then it is to go to the one who carries our title forward.”
Sumi was confused. “I thought this wasn’t conferred until the birth of our first child.”
Endine squeezed her hand. “And it is so. For the two children you and Dancer already have that you plan to share lineage with, and for the one he just told me about that is to be born to you a few months hence.”
Heat scalded her cheeks as his mother announced what they’d been waiting to tell the others until after their wedding.
Thia smiled knowingly and mouthed the words fertile turtles at her.
“Thank you, Ger Tarra.”
“Matarra,” Endine corrected. She placed a kiss on each of Sumi’s cheeks. “It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to our lineage.” Stepping back, she inclined her head respectfully to her mother-in-law and Cairistiona before she took her leave.
Kiara took the ring and slid it onto Sumi’s thumb. “You give this to him when the two of you are alone.”
“Thank you.” Grateful for all of them, Sumi took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s do this. I’m almost ready to be naked in public.”
“Just think of Hauk,” Kiara said with a wink.
Fighting the urge to cover herself with her hands, she followed after them.
They led her out in a small procession and left her to stand before the decorated altar of the temple Dancer had been attending services in since his birth. It was here that he’d been first baptized and named as an infant. Here, he’d said good-bye to his family members who’d passed, and here Dariana had humiliated him every year since he was eighteen.
That thought brought a lump to her throat that tightened as she saw Dancer entering from the door to her left. His incredible body was bare except for an ornate burgundy loincloth. Avoiding her gaze, he moved to kneel on the gold cushion by her side.
It was only then that the full cruelty of Dariana’s actions against him struck her.
The temple was filled with his family. And just as Fain had said, their disdain for his scars was plainly evident. Not even the priest would look at him.
His head held high, Dancer kept his gaze on the floor. But even so, she saw the pain and shame he felt at being so exposed before them all.
The priest cleared his throat. “Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole, you have come before this altar and our gods to declare your allegiance to Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. To combine your two bloodlines and lineages into one. This is the most sacred action any Andarion can make and it is not one to be lightly undertaken. From this day forward, you will be joined and loyal to one another above all others. Do you both understand the solemnity of this event?”
“I do,” Sumi said.
The priest looked to Dancer.
“I do.”
Nodding, the priest moved to stand before Sumi. “Now, before these witnesses and our gods, have you, during your pledge time, allowed your body in any way to be tainted by the lineage of any male, other than your pledged?”
“No. I haven’t.”
The priest inclined his head in approval. “You understand that this disclosure is sacred, and to lie will endanger your immortal soul and result in your death?”
“I do, and I swear on my immortal soul that no male, save Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, has touched me. The gods themselves know this to be true.”
He turned to Dancer. “And you, Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, have you violated your pledge oath to your lady and left any of your lineage with any other female?”
“No, Reverend Father, I have not.”
“Have you kissed, or carnally touched, any female other than your pledged?”
“No.”
The priest narrowed his eyes accusingly on Dancer. “You understand that this disclosure is sacred, and to lie will endanger your immortal soul and result in your death?”
“I do, Reverend Father.”
She expected him to move on with the ceremony, but instead, the priest lifted Dancer’s chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “You are stralen, and the last time you were here, you were not. So again, I ask you for the truth, under grave penalty. Have you lain with any female other than your pledged?”
Why was he badgering Dancer so? The priest was actually beginning to piss her off.
“I have been with no other female, Reverend Father. Princess Sumi is the lady of my heart and universe. She is the one I am stralen for, and she knows this.”
The priest turned back to her. “And do you, Princess Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole, accept the pledge and troth of Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk? Are you willing to bind your sacred and royal lineage to his?”
For the first time, she saw real fear in Dancer’s gaze as he returned to staring at the floor as if reliving every time Dariana had slashed open his back and left him here to bleed. How could he think for one instant that she would deny him?
Damn you, Dariana.
Sumi walked around his muscled body and paused in front of him. Smiling, she tilted his chin until he met her gaze. “You are the most handsome male I have ever seen, and there is no other I would ever accept.”
Closing his eyes, he cupped her hand in his and held it to his cheek.
She moved to kneel on the cushion next to his while the priest blessed a long, silken cord that was made of burgundy and red braids that symbolized the joining of their two families.
He knotted one end around Dancer’s wrist and then the other to hers. “Here, before these witnesses and members of your families, you have publicly declared your intention to combine your lineages. The gods are pleased, and so we will leave you to consummate your intentions.”
His eyes filled with love, Dancer stood first and helped her to her feet. Side by side, they walked the path to the bedchamber that was behind the altar, that had been decorated for their unification.
As soon as the doors were closed, Dancer pulled her against his chest and held her tight. “I never thought I’d actually see the inside of this room.”
She tsked at him. “You really looked like you thought I was going to deny you.”
“I had a moment.”
“And now?”
He led her to the bed. “Now, I want to finish this and claim you as mine. Forever.”
Biting her lip, she followed his direction. Kneeling on the bed, they faced each other.
“Sumi, of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole, will you grant me the honor of kissing your lips?”
“I will.” She smiled up at him. “Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, will you grant me the honor of kissing yours?”
“Absolutely.” He dipped his head to tease her mouth with his, taking care to touch no other part of her body. “And will you grant me the honor of seeing your unadorned beauty?”
She knew this was serious, but she couldn’t help teasing him. “Uh, yeah. Pretty sure you and everyone in that temple have already done so.”
Laughing, he bit his lip. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
Slowly, he removed her gown until she was exposed to him.
“May I have the honor of seeing yours?”