“You think Amarie would be willing to commit to us forever?”
“I think if anyone can convince her it’s you.”
He felt Kurik’s heart race, knew he wanted this, too. “I think it’s a great idea, but you’re better at words than I am.”
“Maybe, but sometimes you need more than words. And when it comes to communicating through action, you’re the best.”
The clear peal of a bell announced the arrival of their Anput. Everyone stood as six Daughters of Isis led the way, shaking sistrums as they chanted. Behind them came six female jackals, four in jackal form and two in human form, one of which was Amarie. Tia followed behind them, and while he was sure she made a lovely bride, he had eyes for only Amarie.
She looked... beautiful was too simple a word. Radiant worked. So did breathtaking and stunning and amazing. Her dress was a simple white tiny-strapped thing similar to what the other women wore, but, gods, the material loved her. It caressed her breasts, cinched in her waist, draped over her belly and made a mystery of the heaven between her thighs.
He wanted to find places they could take her out, just so she would wear the dress again. Even if it meant he’d have to kill any other man who looked at her.
She turned her head as she passed their row, her smile lighting her entire face. It fell on him like dawn’s light, like a gentle rain, like a blessing from the gods. It rocked him to his foundations, and he vowed he’d do anything, everything, to make her always smile like that.
Kurik gripped his hand. Obviously he was just as struck as Rashon. There was no doubt—not that there had ever been.
They needed to make Amarie theirs. Forever.
* * *
The ritual ceremony joining Tia to Markus and the clan was beautiful in its simplicity. Amarie knew the clan hadn’t had a priest in centuries, and the role of spiritual head fell to Markus. He couldn’t officiate at his own bonding ceremony, however, so had temporarily abdicated that authority to high priestess Aya.
The high priestess, the child of a Daughter of Isis and a Son of Anubis, invoked the presence of both gods in the ceremony, asking their blessings for the union, the alliance, and the future. Then Markus and Tia grasped a large gilded ankh between them as they pledged their lives to each other. By the time Tia accepted the Anubis head pendant that marked her as a member of the clan, not a dry eye could be found.
Having an alpha female to serve as Anput, the female embodiment of Anubis increased the stability, status and power of the clan, and Amarie thought Tia brought a good balance of power and compassion to the alpha female role. Every jackal felt the effects of Tia and Markus blending their magics as the ceremony bound them together. Hope and joy buzzed the energy of the throng.
Soon enough things moved from ceremony to celebration as everyone moved into the huge community house for the reception. Everyone had dressed up for the occasion. The female jackals were gorgeous, the Isis witches beautiful. The Daughters of Isis, mesmerizing in their white robes and golden ankhs, were stunning now, having removed their ceremonial vestments to reveal brightly colored party dresses beneath. Even Aya, the four-millennia-old high priestess, looked like a striking forty-year-old. The energy of the gathering changed, bringing about an awareness almost cloying in its thickness.
Amarie couldn’t blame them. The Daughters had an earthy kind of serenity and sensuality to them, a confidence based on centuries of developing and exercising their powers. From what Tia had told her, the Daughters took temporary partners from the human population but were able to manipulate conception to give birth to daughters only, thus ensuring their numbers. Now with the truce in place, they were free to look for permanent partners among the more than willing jackals. The resulting children would have the best of both magical lines.
Joy and trepidation warred within
“I think if anyone can convince her it’s you.”
He felt Kurik’s heart race, knew he wanted this, too. “I think it’s a great idea, but you’re better at words than I am.”
“Maybe, but sometimes you need more than words. And when it comes to communicating through action, you’re the best.”
The clear peal of a bell announced the arrival of their Anput. Everyone stood as six Daughters of Isis led the way, shaking sistrums as they chanted. Behind them came six female jackals, four in jackal form and two in human form, one of which was Amarie. Tia followed behind them, and while he was sure she made a lovely bride, he had eyes for only Amarie.
She looked... beautiful was too simple a word. Radiant worked. So did breathtaking and stunning and amazing. Her dress was a simple white tiny-strapped thing similar to what the other women wore, but, gods, the material loved her. It caressed her breasts, cinched in her waist, draped over her belly and made a mystery of the heaven between her thighs.
He wanted to find places they could take her out, just so she would wear the dress again. Even if it meant he’d have to kill any other man who looked at her.
She turned her head as she passed their row, her smile lighting her entire face. It fell on him like dawn’s light, like a gentle rain, like a blessing from the gods. It rocked him to his foundations, and he vowed he’d do anything, everything, to make her always smile like that.
Kurik gripped his hand. Obviously he was just as struck as Rashon. There was no doubt—not that there had ever been.
They needed to make Amarie theirs. Forever.
* * *
The ritual ceremony joining Tia to Markus and the clan was beautiful in its simplicity. Amarie knew the clan hadn’t had a priest in centuries, and the role of spiritual head fell to Markus. He couldn’t officiate at his own bonding ceremony, however, so had temporarily abdicated that authority to high priestess Aya.
The high priestess, the child of a Daughter of Isis and a Son of Anubis, invoked the presence of both gods in the ceremony, asking their blessings for the union, the alliance, and the future. Then Markus and Tia grasped a large gilded ankh between them as they pledged their lives to each other. By the time Tia accepted the Anubis head pendant that marked her as a member of the clan, not a dry eye could be found.
Having an alpha female to serve as Anput, the female embodiment of Anubis increased the stability, status and power of the clan, and Amarie thought Tia brought a good balance of power and compassion to the alpha female role. Every jackal felt the effects of Tia and Markus blending their magics as the ceremony bound them together. Hope and joy buzzed the energy of the throng.
Soon enough things moved from ceremony to celebration as everyone moved into the huge community house for the reception. Everyone had dressed up for the occasion. The female jackals were gorgeous, the Isis witches beautiful. The Daughters of Isis, mesmerizing in their white robes and golden ankhs, were stunning now, having removed their ceremonial vestments to reveal brightly colored party dresses beneath. Even Aya, the four-millennia-old high priestess, looked like a striking forty-year-old. The energy of the gathering changed, bringing about an awareness almost cloying in its thickness.
Amarie couldn’t blame them. The Daughters had an earthy kind of serenity and sensuality to them, a confidence based on centuries of developing and exercising their powers. From what Tia had told her, the Daughters took temporary partners from the human population but were able to manipulate conception to give birth to daughters only, thus ensuring their numbers. Now with the truce in place, they were free to look for permanent partners among the more than willing jackals. The resulting children would have the best of both magical lines.
Joy and trepidation warred within
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