“And let’s absolutely not discuss this when other ears are around,” Kristof cut in. “But yes, we need a better plan to take care of her when everyone leaves.”
“That sounds a bit like you’re having to work on handling a kid that’s acting out,” I quietly bitched, remembering the ears as well. “I think most of you need time outs and I’m perfect.”
“We agree on that, love,” Cerdic murmured as he nuzzled my neck. “Is it too early to get up yet? Kristof wants to give his oath now.”
That woke me up fast. I blinked up at Kristof and couldn’t hide my shock. “I woke with the sun. Most everyone else won’t be up and watching until later.”
“I know.” He cleared his throat when I stared at him like he was growing a second head. “I want my wife to be comfortable and our oaths are for us. Our first time is for us. I can be an exhibitionist anytime, or the rest of the time today, but this is too important and I want you as you, Inez.”
I felt warm down to my toes as I nodded. “But Trisha and everyone were going to make me up.”
“You are the most beautiful woman to me natural. Wear the dress I’ve been dying to see you in, but while it’s fun to get made up, I want my wife natural as who she is.”
“Damn, you win as best husband,” Jaxon chuckled. “At least today.”
Yeah, he did for the day. I agreed and went to get ready, but Darius moved in front of me, holding a large basket of passion fruits.
“I thought flowers every day might lose their meaning. I thought I could help with the buffet and juicing, so I went with Moon and we picked many,” he explained. “I saved the best for my wife to have after the guests leave and she will need the vitamins to recover.”
“Thanks.” I gave him the best smile I could without meeting his eyes and went to step around him.
“I love you, Inez.” He let out a shaky breath when I didn’t answer, leaning in and kissing my hair. “I’ll figure out a way to make you believe me again.”
Maybe it was the high from the fun with Cerdic or maybe the blood loss from feeding my tree, but for a minute I hoped he could too. I didn’t know what to say so I left. I had to go to the bathroom and wasn’t going to make it until my room, so I stopped at the bathroom by the ballroom. I was looking forward to the time out in the shower and collecting my thoughts, maybe having no thoughts.
Instead, I got the scare of my life as I walked out of the fancy stalls the castle bathrooms had. Safie was there; I felt her energy pop against my skin like any other ghost. Her eyes filled with anger when she realized I could see her and she stormed towards me. Without even thinking about what I was doing, I focused on her and sped along her progression, dissipating her like I did all ghosts.
Except she’d been dead for months.
And she didn’t give me a seed like all the ghosts did.
“Maybe the blood loss is hitting me more than I thought,” I muttered, staring at the spot she’d been. Yeah, it had to be that. Stress and blood loss and worry over what shit was going to happen next. It had to be that.
Right?
Jaxon showered with me and didn’t try for sex, but instead used the opportunity to fill me in on some problems. I mentally sighed. I couldn’t ever win. I was the jerk if I don’t allow the party crashers, but by allowing them I was weak and a doormat. It was like being a mouse in a maze that I couldn’t do anything unless I went through.
And I was the type of person to walk around the maze and just punch the problem out. I thought that a great way to handle shit going forward. I was pretty sure I was pushing my nobles to my way of thinking, everything always biting us in the ass when we did what was “expected” of us.
Jaxon didn’t hide his reaction well to my orders about how I wanted to handle everything. But he didn’t argue, probably seeing the need for it. Good, I was tired of moving to everyone’s pace. I was young, not a helpless infant that couldn’t fight back.
I shook my hair out after I toweled dried it and then combed it wet before putting on the sleeveless blood red halter dress that had no back on. The skirts were ruffled and pretty, reaching the floor, and after a moment of thought, I ended up not putting on the heels and going barefoot. Kristof and I were almost the same height and I liked that. I wanted to stand with him, not above him in heels for such an important moment.
His eyes filled with heat as he saw me. I felt my cheeks flush as I moved over to him. He was ready for this, no more foreplay or dancing around for sure.
That was pretty obvious by the towel wrapped around his waist and nothing else. Plus, he was already kneeling.
“Any objections?” I asked Darius, Jaxon, and Cerdic.
“None,” they said firmly.
I nodded, smiling at Kristof that I was ready.
He let out a shaky breath. “I, Kristof, of house Priest, do swear upon all I am as a man, noble, and child of Aether, and give myself fully and completely to my princess, Inez of house Garner. I will give my oath to no other as none are as worthy as she. May Aether
