Nearly forty Edinar had been woken, and several of them had found mates in the Horalthian population. That gave Sno an idea.
Crossing her fingers, she used codes that she had acquired a year earlier, and she checked in on the matches of Edinar to their monitors.
A knock on her door brought her out of her plotting. “Come in.”
Kyron took up the doorway. “Why haven’t you been coming to the common room?”
“I am under quarantine until they can harvest enough antibodies for any infected monitors. They want me where they can find me.”
He scowled. “That is grossly unfair. Come with me.”
She sighed and took his hand, letting him tug her out of her chamber.
They went to the common room, and he pulled her against him with easy familiarity. “What do you think we should do next?”
“I was thinking that we need to get some more of your people together with my people, but we need to do in it such a way that they don’t suspect they are being set up.”
“Fine with me. What do you need?”
“I need monitor-patient reports. There is a peculiar spike in ours and I believe that it is a confirmation of our compatibility. Our minds seemed designed for each other.”
“I would have to agree there. What is the difficulty?”
“I don’t have authorization to see those reports. That doesn’t mean I didn’t see them, mind you, it just means I can’t publicly comment on it.”
He kissed her quickly. “I love your deviousness. Now, what do you need to make this happen?”
“We need a high-ranking Edinar to insist on thanking the monitors. That will let us get them all in the same room together. You are going to have to manage that. I am not allowed to hang around with Edinar other than you.”
Near her quarters an alarm sounded. “And now they know I am missing.”
She sighed. “Have him pick something a few months away and a neutral location. Something representing the stars.”
Sno remained reclining on Kyron until her medics came and politely asked him to relinquish her. Sno went back to her quarters and remained there for a week. When she was finally discharged for an extended leave, Kyron was in his place at the head of a medical centre.
Sno just had to wait. When their moment was right, she would see him again, and from that moment on, nothing would separate them.
Her leave was boring, so she contacted her friend Harka and took to going for visits to Harka’s new café.
The day that the invitation came in her mail, Sno nearly wept with relief.
As a previous monitor, you are cordially invited to a ball to celebrate the fortieth Edinar awakening.
Dress is formal, and the ball will be held at the Harkenar Observatory, eight in the evening on five-day.
We look forward to seeing you there. This project has benefited all of us, and we expect your cooperation.
As an invitation, it was cold and boring, but Sno felt joy at the possibility of seeing Kyron in a public forum without anyone thinking anything of it.
She called Harka and immediately asked her if she would go dress shopping. Harka agreed, and the next day, they set off to find something to wear to the party.
Sno hugged Ohra when they collided with her at the dress shop, and together, they gathered, and it became a group effort to find each of them the clothing that would suit them best.
Sno couldn’t help but smile the entire time she was having tiny gem-studs glued into her hair. Her dress looked like it dripped with icicles and her hair was a night sky. She mourned the long locks of her dreamscape but had to make do with what she had. Harka’s blue streaks showed an uncharacteristic sense of whimsy. Harka was light-hearted but rarely whimsical.
Ohra had gone home to study, so Sno agreed to do the same, waving good night to Harka and heading home. The following night would be theirs.
Sno had wanted to contact Kyron, but in her final whisper, she had ordered him to set up the party and she would see him there. She figured he would work better with incentive.
Of course, if too much more time had passed, she would have forced contact.
When she woke up on the morning of the party, she covered her hair and scrubbed the rest of her from head to toe. Her meals were carefully chosen and she checked her reflection at least two dozen times.
As the day marched on, she put on her makeup, slipped her feet into heels and dropped the gown over her head. A wrap and a small clutch containing her invitation and she was ready. Now, she just had to keep from crawling out of her own skin with nerves.
Harka was driving in her tiny vehicle. It was just the right size for two women, and the trip to the observatory was a delightful hour of nonsensical chatter that Sno could not remember for the life of her.
She fixed her gaze on the observatory and watched their approach, barely breathing.
At the checkpoint, they showed their invitations and were urged up to the entryway. Sno eased from the vehicle and steadied herself before she closed the door behind her. When Harka had handed the vehicle over to the attendant, they made their way inside.
Another security check and Sno was inside, away from the gathering press waiting to greet the incoming Edinar and government officials. It was always best to arrive early for these things. It helped to beat the crowds.
Sno nodded to a few monitors that had gone through classes with her, as they arrived, and when the timing was right, she parted from Harka and headed over to the lady with the clipboard.
“Yes, dear, what is your name?”
“Sno Driina Ekalin, Medic and Monitor.” Sno bit her lip and waited while the woman looked her up.
“Please follow me, miss.” The woman in the sober clothing led the way through the tables and settled Sno at her name card. “Enjoy your evening, miss.”
“Thank you.”
Sno sat and waited, checked the cards on either side of her and tried not to tap her fingers with eagerness. When a large hand was place over her eyes, she squeaked in surprise.
“Guess.”
“Polar bear.”
He laughed, pulled his hand from her eyes and kissed her quickly before anyone could see them. With a flourish, he took the chair next to hers, lifting her hand to his lips before placing it on his thigh under the tablecloth.
“That isn’t going to be suitable for the entire evening.” Sno grinned.
“It will keep me from flipping you over my shoulder and heading out of here.”
She smiled. “So, what have you been up to?”
“I have a position at a health centre and have a charming home at the edge of the city with the woods at the back and a lake nearby.” He waggled his brows at her suggestively.
She looked at his face with longing. She wanted nothing more than to touch his jaw and kiss him silly. “No bed in a meadow?”
“I am new to your world and not sure how folk would react to public displays of carnality; though, I am willing to find out.” He winked and smiled as their table slowly filled.
It was time for Sno to pretend that she was one of the group of monitors who had no idea what was going on.
Once all the invited persons were seated and the gallery was clogged with celebrities and media, the organizer gave a very nice speech. The monitors were asked to stand and then their patients were asked to stand. Everyone clapped politely and then dinner was served.
It was difficult to eat left-handed, but Kyron kept her hand under his on top of his thigh.
The moment that the dancing began, he whisked her up and into his arms.
It was a relief to be touching him again, and he must have felt the same because not even a whisper of air could have passed between them.
Sno knew that they would be featured on every media circuit and she didn’t care. She would run through the main street naked if he was waiting to hold her at the end of her journey.
One of the Edinar tapped Kyron on the shoulder. “May I take your lady for a dance?”
Kyron made a sound that Sno had never heard from his throat. It was a low snarl that meant business.
The other man turned and left with all due haste.
“Uh, Kyron. What was that?”
He resumed their dance and moved with the music. “What was what?”
“Grrr.”
He chuckled. “Do that again. It’s cute.”
She made a face. “Seriously, what was that? He acted like you spilled hot water on him.”
“Ah, well, it was a declaration that you are my chosen companion and I am yours.”
“That is rather high-handed of you. You have made no formal declaration.” She wrinkled her nose and smiled.
She squeaked in shock as he picked her up and walked off the dance floor with her. She smacked him in the arm. “I can’t leave my purse and wrap.”
He paused and spoke to a guard. “My dearest lady has left her wrap at the table. Could you retrieve it for her?”
The guard grinned and pushed through the crowd while Kyron held her in his arms. He held her there for any passing folk to see until the guard returned with her purse and wrap.
“Public enough a declaration?” He murmured it in her ear as he walked with her to the archway where vehicles could pick up their charges.
The guard waved and gave hand signals, and a sleek black government vehicle eased through the closest of openings to stop in front of the walkway. Kyron tucked her inside and went around, entering from the other side.
Sno watched as he settled in and closed the door. “That was sneaky.”
He grinned. “I know. It is hard to be stealthy when you are my size, but I manage.”
He gave the driver directions to take them home. The man nodded and grinned before he put the vehicle in gear and they exited the observatory grounds.
Sno cuddled up to Kyron. “Well, you have made a public declaration. I suppose it is only proper to make an honest man of you.”
His eyes lit with delight. “Tonight?”
She blinked. “So soon?”
“Why wait? We are bound from the root of our souls. There need be no waiting for us. We have no doubts.”
Sno looked into his face for a moment, considering the options. “Change of destination. We are heading to the registrar’s office. We will need you as witness. Are you willing?”
The driver glanced over his shoulder again and grinned. “Absolutely, miss. Congratulations.”
Kyron put his arms around her and held her while they rode to the automated registrar.
It was surreal to exit the car on Kyron’s arm and enter the offices with the driver in tow. The standard document was good enough and it combined their finances from that moment onward.
The driver, Gworin, witnessed that both parties signed their names and gave their blood samples easily and freely. No duress was involved and no offers were hidden inside the union.
The binding bonus given to her came as a shock. “What the hell is that?”
Kyron grinned, “Didn’t you know? The Edinar all have huge dowries given to our mates on joining. I didn’t think it would matter to you.”
She scowled and smacked him on the arm. “It doesn’t but I don’t like surprises.”
He laughed out loud and hugged her to him. “Come now, bride. We have lost time to make up for.”
She went up on her toes and pulled him down to her for a celebratory kiss. When his hands tightened on her, she pulled away and skipped a few steps ahead, giving him a smouldering glance between her lashes. “What are you waiting for?”
Gworin moved ahead of them and opened the door a moment before Sno jumped into the back seat. Kyron was inside a moment later.
They were on their way in an instant with the copy of the agreement crackling between their bodies.
The drive became a blur, but when a relieved Gworin stopped, he said, “We have arrived.”
Laughing, Sno hauled Kyron out of the car and into what she hoped was his home. He closed the door behind them and pressed her against it, kissing her frantically.
Her lips caught and nipped at his, soft moans came from them both. He lifted her again and carried her through his home, directly to the bedroom.
Sno shed her dress and shoes quickly and then helped him with his clothing. They came together with a little difficulty. Physical bodies were never as easy to deal with as the dream forms.
When they completed their initial writhing, they panted and regained their senses.
Sno was speechless for the first time since infancy.
Kyron stroked her back slowly, as if measuring her frame for future reference.
Silence fell between them, but it would be interrupted frequently with the sighs and moans of lovers in the dark.
Sno was sitting in Kyron’s lap and nibbling at the breakfast from the tray next to them. Kyron’s com unit rang and they both groaned as he moved to answer it.
He spoke quietly for a moment and then disconnected the call. With lithe movements, he crawled onto the bed and kissed her. “We have a date for brunch. I have something for you to wear if you care to.”
She snickered. “I thought you were measuring me with your hands.”
“I have always had an eye for figures and yours holds endless possibilities.” He winked and kissed her again. “Come along. Derin wishes to have reinforcements when he meets with your friend Harka. You are needed as a casual decoy.”
She groaned and got out of bed, looking wistfully at the toasted rolls still on the tray. If she didn’t know that Harka’s café had wonderful concoctions, she would never have left the food behind.
The something that he had for her to wear was half a wardrobe worth of fashionable clothing. She picked a dark blue underdress in a thick fabric matched to a gauzy over tunic that would flutter in the breeze. Her shoes were matched to the gown.
It was a fortunate thing that with her slight frame, underwear had always been an option. Kyron didn’t seem to mind her lack of obvious curves. He was certainly determined to find them if she had any.
Grinning, she fluffed out her hair and checked on the small gems. They were still firmly fixed. A sonic shower wasn’t enough to dissolve them. They needed plain old water. For now, she would run around with stars on her head.
With her clothing in decent lines, she walked to the front door where Kyron was waiting.