ReEmergent -Guardians of Vesturon [4] (17 page)

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Saylan was in her garden, tending the herbs she had planted, when she sensed him. It was amazing to her that his scent triggered something in her. She turned, thinking he was right behind her, but he wasn’t. Curious now, Saylan arose and walked to the back of the house, trying to see if she could find him.

“
Are you looking for me?”

She turned and saw him approaching from the side. He must’ve walked around from the front.

She laughed as she ran to him. When she was close enough, she jumped up and landed in his arms as she began kissing him.

“
Hmm. If I had known this was awaiting me, I would’ve gotten here much sooner,” Xarrid whispered against her mouth.

“
I missed you so much. I could smell you Xarrid!” she exclaimed. “That’s why I was looking for you. You scent was really strong. Much stronger than usual.”

“
As long as it pleases you.”

“
Um, it does more than please me,” she said shyly.

He still held her in his arms and was unwilling to release her. “I’m glad Saylan.” He kissed her again. “You please me.”

“
So what’s kept you away so long?” she asked as she brushed her fingers through his long hair.

She felt him stiffen and his eyes shifted away from hers.

“
I had some business to attend to.”

“
Business? What kind of business?”

“
Oh, just some stuff you don’t need to worry about,” he answered as he released her.

Saylan sensed he was holding things back from her. She furrowed her brow and her eyes drilled into his. “What are you keeping from me?”

Xarrid wasn’t expecting this. When he came to see her, he thought Saylan would be so excited just for him to be here, the only thing on her mind would be their wedding. He had truly underestimated her analytical prowess. In one respect, it gladdened him, but in another, he became worried over how he would hide this from her.

He didn’t even have to say a word before she piped in. “What are you trying to hide from me Xarrid? I am not some insipid fool who is only interested in pretty dresses and baubles.”

Her statement made him smile.

“
Why are you grinning like that?”

“
My brilliant minded girl is returning at light speed.”

“
Huh?”

“
Saylan, your mind’s astuteness is astounding. It’s like you’re almost running at a hundred percent.”

She tilted her head and asked, “Are you trying to distract me?”

“
No! I’m amazed at your recovery. It’s like a week ago, there was a fog covering your mind and now the sun has burned right through it and you’re seeing things clearly again.”

“
Perhaps, but that still doesn’t negate what I asked you earlier. What are you hiding from me Xarrid Yarrister?”

“
Nothing.”

“
Liar!” she growled in his face.

Xarrid put his hands on her shoulders and said, “Saylan, sweetheart, calm down.”

“
No Xarrid, I won’t. Not until you tell me the damn truth. Now I will ask you again. What are you hiding from me?”

He turned away from her and moved to the middle of the yard, closer to the area where her herbs were planted. “It’s nothing really. I was just working on some strategic plans with Jurek and Sharra. That’s all.”

“
Xarrid, come here please.”

He jerked his head toward her. He wasn’t fooled one bit by the soft tone of voice she had used. Saylan had a backbone made of steel. He’d often told himself that was why she’d survived the horrid treatment by the Xanthians. Squeezing his eyes shut, he knew it was only a matter of time before she would uncover the truth of what he was planning to do.

“
What is it?” he asked as he moved back toward her.

“
I want to know the truth. Now. Or you and I are over. And let me tell you why. I lived blindly for those long awful months. For most of that time I didn’t know what was happening to me, but the times when I was raped, I did know. And you know what I had to do. I won’t live a life of subterfuge with you. It has to be complete honesty or it’s nothing at all.”

Xarrid looked into her eyes and if someone’s eyes could reach all the way into your soul, Saylan’s just did. He pulled her roughly into his arms and kissed her hair, then her neck and started whispering how much he loved her.

“
Xarrid, if you love me as you say you do, you’ll tell me what’s going on. Please tell me.”

He looked at her for a few seconds and then said, “I’m going to kill them all.”

“
Who?”

“
Everyone who laid one finger on you.”

Their eyes locked onto each other’s and were held together by some invisible force that neither one of them could explain. So many things were shared then as they communicated telepathically.

His heart was placed at her feet and she picked it up and cradled it in her hands. “I love you with everything I have. If you do this, we do it together.”

“
No! I don’t want you near them.”

“
Oh, but Xarrid, I do. I
want
to do this. This is my war you know. I’m the one that needs this revenge every bit as much as you. I was the one they ruined and I know you were too, but this truly is my war.”

He held her tightly in his arms, next to his beating heart, and wished that none of this had ever happened.

“
It won’t change anything...you wishing that. I need to do this. To help me end that awful chapter of my life Xarrid.”

Moving back slightly so he could look at her beautiful face, he asked, “Are you sure? This is to the death Saylan and it’s something you’ll have to live with for the rest of your life.”

“
I know. But I’ll take great pleasure in taking their lives Xarrid. Vermin like that don’t deserve to live.”

He brushed her hair away from her face and tried to gauge her expression. What he saw was blazing determination.

“
I’ll take you under one condition. That you’ll tell me if it gets to be too much for you. Promise me that.”

“
I swear it to you.”

They gazed at each other for a bit longer and Xarrid finally nodded his consent. Saylan kissed him then, her tongue invading his mouth possessively, branding him with herself. Xarrid wasn’t sure how much more of her kissing he could take, so he broke away, and noticed her disappointment.

“
I’m sorry sweetheart, but I’m not made of steel. I want us to be together in the worst way, but we have to wait, and I find myself weakening around you. You have bewitched me so Saylan.”

She looked at him and the grinned. “When can we be united?”

“
I was thinking after we were finished with the Xanthians.”

Xarrid watched her face crumble. “What is it, love?”

“
I was hoping we could do it right away.”

“
But, I thought you might want to get this behind us.”

“
No! I want us to be together...like now Xarrid. Everyone’s here except for Sharra, right?”

“
Well, yes.”

“
And a private ceremony is what we both want. Right?”

“
Well, yes.”

“
Then what’s the problem?”

Xarrid started laughing and shaking his head. “Just when I think I have the female gender figured out, you go and pull something like this.”

“
I’m not sure what you mean by that, but let’s get this wedding done. I’m way past ready.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Do you want to wear anything special?”

“
Yep. If I had my way, we’d get married naked.”

Xarrid started sputtering.

“
Are you really turning red Xarrid?” Saylan teased. “You know I was only kidding,” she laughed.

They went inside to talk with her parents. About an hour later, the four of them were at the palace, discussing things with the Yarristers. The final decision was made. They would be united the day after next. Jurek would bring Sharra and Zander back while Rafe would stay on Earth.

Jurek, Xarrid, Saylan and Sharra didn’t share their plans with any of the other Yarristers. They decided it would be better not to mention anything to them.

The wedding would take place on the terrace in the back of the palace and then, since there would only be both families present, there would be a dinner afterward.

Xarrid and Saylan would head to Jurek’s sanctuary for a few days to spend their honeymoon.

The sun was almost setting as Xarrid stood waiting for Saylan to appear. When she did, he could barely think straight. Sharra and Maddie had insisted on her staying with them the night before. Now he knew why.

Saylan was gorgeous on any given day. Even when Jurek had returned her to Vesturon, and she’d been covered in filth and rags, Xarrid thought she was perfect. But now, standing before him was a vision so pure and lovely, Xarrid found his lungs had been abandoned by every last bit of oxygen that existed on the planet. Even the ability to expand his chest had been ripped from him. For a moment, he wondered if he were dreaming.

Her black silken tresses hung around her shoulders in the softest of waves and Xarrid marveled at how the sun’s rays danced off them. Saylan was wearing a lovely beaded ivory tunic. It was slit up the sides, exposing her long shapely legs, but not too indecently, for Xarrid would not have wanted anyone to see those but him. The tunic was gathered at the waist by a gold and jeweled encrusted belt and Xarrid smiled because it was one that bore the Yarrister family crest. He was also happy to see her arms bare of everything except for thin gold bands encircling her biceps that announced to everyone she was his forever. Xarrid thought she was the most perfect thing in the universe.

He would’ve laughed if he’d known her thoughts were mimicking his. When Saylan stepped out of the door to make her way to the terrace, she had to stop for a moment to absorb the sight of him. He’d asked her if she wanted him to cut his hair. She told him in a strong and forceful voice that if he cut his, she would cut hers too. She absolutely adored Xarrid’s long hair. So he didn’t cut it and there he stood, in solid white, with his contrasting long dark hair and those gripping blue eyes of his. Saylan knew there had to have been oodles of romance novels and poetry written about this male because he was the embodiment of a swoon worthy man. Smiling to herself, she knew at last, she would find out exactly what lay beneath those clothes he wore. She giggled as she thought about how naughty her thoughts were. Then she started walking toward the man of her dreams and the one who had never given up hope that she was still alive.

When she reached him, her father handed her off and the couple just stood and stared at each other until the minister finally cleared his throat. Jurek, who stood next to Xarrid as his attendant tried his best not to laugh, but failed miserably. Maddie, who was Saylan’s attendant, did the same. Soon, all the guests and the soon to be married couple were all laughing too.

The minister finally regained control of the situation and read the marriage vows.

Then the couple read to each other what they had written.

“
Saylan, I lost you for over a year and lived without you in my life. I would rather face death than to be that shell of a man again. You have touched my heart and soul in a way no other ever has or will. There are few necessities in life, but you are every one of mine. I promise to protect you with my life and to cherish you forever.”

“
Xarrid, you are my air, my water, my everything. My heart and soul are yours to keep, for always and forever. I promise to hold yours in mine and cherish them always. There’s nothing more important to me than you and without you, my life is less than nothing. Today is the first day of my life with you and I’m ready for our lives to begin.”

When they completed their own vows, the minister announced they were united and everyone cheered while the newly married couple kissed...and kissed...and kissed. Jurek finally had to prod Xarrid to get them to stop so everyone could head inside for dinner.

Once there, champagne and appetizers were passed around and everyone began congratulating the couple. Xarrid and Saylan just smiled, but the truth of it was the only thing they wanted to do was to sneak away and be alone with each other. For the two of them, dinner was torturous. It went on for an interminably long time. Every now and again, Xarrid would catch his brothers Rayn and Rykerian looking at him and then giving him a sly wink. Xarrid was gnashing his teeth.

At one point during the dinner, Saylan laid her hand on his leg, and it surprised him so much, he jerked and spilled his red wine everywhere. Luckily, it didn’t get on Saylan’s dress.

“
A little jumpy there aren’t we?” Rayn asked.

“
Rayn!” Maddie admonished him.

Tesslar, his other brother piped in and said unabashedly, “I think he has other things on his mind.”

“
That’s quite enough!” Xarrid said.

Jurek was taking it all in and laughing. Dinner was just about finished when Jurek said, “Just give me the word when you two are ready to head over to the sanctuary.”

“
I think they were ready hours ago,” Rykerian said with a chuckle. January glared at him.

“
Well, I remember a time when the two of you walked about with carpet fuzz in your hair all the time,” Jurek announced, referring to Rykerian and January. Rykerian’s face flamed.

Xarrid threw back his head and laughed. “Oh yeah, I remember that too!”

“
All right, boys! That’s enough,” Rowan said, though he was laughing too.