The Unveiling (3 page)

“Hi.” They exchanged awkward hellos.
I feel like a fish out of water.

“What do you say we move this to a table?” C.J. asked.

Murmurs of agreement came from the group, and they walked over to a set of stairs sectioned off by a rope.

“Mars, good to see you, man,” said the broad-shouldered bouncer with close-shaven, emerald-colored hair and blue eyes.

“Good to see you too, Verx.”

Verx removed the rope. “Go on up.” 

As they rounded the stairs, the vibe of the club changed. The V.I.P. area was sparse. There was space to move, and the music wasn’t as loud.
Much better.
Plush, round seats lined the area, and a swanky black bar was set up on the far side of the room. C.J. and Mars broke off to talk among themselves, and he and Kade followed the example, branching out to go their own way.

He glanced down at Beckey. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Yes, that’s would be great. Thank you.”

“After you.” He gestured toward the bar with his hands.

A few minutes later they were seated at the bar with an Apple Martini and a Whiskey Sour.

“This is my first time at Shar Bar. It’s nice.”
Lame, Bastien.

“It is. The girls and I come here about once a week for a girl’s night.”

“Aaah, we have a wings place like that. We go there a lot to watch games and unwind.”

“I’d imagine you’d need it given your jobs.”

He chuckled. “I can’t disagree with you there. Lots of weight on our shoulders, but we’re made of stern stuff.”

She smiled. “I believe you are. Shall we do the cliché conversation? I’ll ask what do you like to do in your spare time, and what your interests are. Then we’ll make small talk.”

She was witty. He liked that.

“I like Sci-fi shows and movies. The past five years have been all about work. So I’m working on filling up spare time.”

“Good answers. If I said I liked to read would you hold the fact that I was a Librarian against me?”

“Not at all.” He shook his head. “I’m a fan of historical literature myself.”

“Really?” She leaned forward, interest clearly sparked.

“Oh yeah. I’ve read many of the ancient tomes over the years.”

“From the royal library? The very thought of being inside that place makes me drool.”

“Perhaps you could stop by and see it sometime. My brothers like to tease me about it. So, it’s nice to meet someone who shares my passion.”

“Let’s see if we can make it two for two. Do you like to cook?”

“I don’t burn water, but I can’t make anything complex. You?”

“I love to cook, admitted Food Network junkie.”

“Not a bad thing.” Her smile grew brighter.
This wasn’t bad at all.
Beckey had a way about her that set him at ease. It was like talking to an old friend he’d known forever.

****

“What’s the verdict?” Mars asked on the way home.

“Beckey’s beautiful and easy to talk to, but there was no…”

“Zing?” Kade’s voice chimed from the backseat.

“Exactly.”

“You have better luck, Kade?” Bastien turned to face him.

“I’m not sure. We exchanged numbers and talked about getting together sometime next week.”

“Look at Kade growing up and on his way to getting a girlfriend,” Mars said.

“Shut up.” Kade sounded almost bashful. Bastien coughed to his laugh. There was no point denying it; The Purge had begun to fade.

Chapter Four

A knock sounded.
Who would be stopping by at such a late hour?
She'd be asleep if it weren't for the ceremony she was sketching out for a new couple she'd met with earlier. Concerned, she grabbed her fuzzy, baby blue robe off the back of the chair she'd been seated in and hurried to the door, peering through the peephole. It was her best friend and fellow priestess, Drusi. Her round face was pinched in a pained expression, and her blue eyes were wide and full of panic.

She opened the door and the petite woman hurried in, wrapping an arm around her waist as she shifted her weight from side to side. Nervous energy poured from her in waves. "Drusi! What's wrong?"

"I saw him tonight— my mate. At first I wasn't sure, but now he is
all
I can think about." Her body swayed like a branch in the wind, and Rivka jumped into action, guiding her to sit in the chair she'd vacated.

"Sit down, honey. What happened?"

"I was at the M'Shar birthing, and he was a family member. The brother of Tersen, the newborn's father. His name is Likron, and the minute I set eyes on him I knew he was different. At first I thought it was a simply attraction. I noticed him but then work engulfed me. I didn't give a second thought to it until I was in the car, fighting the urge to go back to the home I'd just left."  Drusi shook her head and laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. "How can I care so much about a person I didn’t even know existed up until three hours ago?"

Rivka rubbed her back. She was happy for Drusi, but saddened. Now she was the last. At thirty-one, Drusi had been right behind her in the line of those who'd yet to find their mate. Now it was a lonely road she must travel alone.

"It's okay, Dru. This is the way of things for us. Right now he's going through the same thing wherever he is. Tomorrow he'll seek you out, and you'll go away for the seclusion where you can bond in peace! This is the moment we've waited and prayed for!" Rivka bent and embraced her friend, savoring the warmth and comfort she'd always brought with her presence.
Tomorrow everything will change.

"I never expected it to be so scary," Drusi whispered.

"Drastic change always is. This is an end of a lifestyle for you. You'll continue to practice of course, but you'll move out of here and away from us. Your first priority will be Likor for awhile, at least until the intensity of The Wanting decreases." Each word of encouragement she spoke twisted a knife deeper into her heart.
When will someone be giving me this advice?
Drusi took a deep breath and nodded.

"You're right. I just need to take this one step at a time."

"Exactly and enjoy this moment! You've waited thirty-one years for it."

"I have, haven't I?" Drusi said. A shaky smile spread across her lips. "My time has finally come, Rivka." Fear turned into joy as the small woman turned to face her in the chair. "You'll oversee the ceremony, won't you?"

"Of course I will." ‘
Cause there's nothing else that will make me happier or more upset at the same time.
The bitter thoughts shamed her. She had to change, or she was going to end up a twisted, shell of a woman.

"Thank you, Riv. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Get through it, the same as always. You're made of sterner stuff. I think right now you're just in a bit of shock."

"I am—to be honest I started to think it might not happen for me. I was even considering the Shar Connection."

"Shar Connection?" Rivka asked.

"It's a dating service for our people aimed at those who haven't experienced The Wanting. Whether you're looking for some fun, or finding the one, this site will match you with humans and Shar alike. A lot of chatter has been rising up in the community since Phelan mated with the human, Zasha. What if our bond mate is a human? How will we ever find them unless we immerse ourselves in their culture and venture out from our friends and family?"

Rivka nodded. It was a thought that'd crossed her mind more than once, but she
knew
her mate was Shar, a strong man with a sense of honor, duty, and family. The memory seemed like the whimsical dreams of youth, but she'd never forget the reading given to her when she was just a young woman in training with the Star Maiden.

****

Fifteen Years Earlier

Rivka went stock still and set down her text as Estria froze in mid-sentence. Her eyes went glassy, and her breathing slowed. Estria was going into a trance! Incenses burned around them, releasing their sweet smell as the smoke made the air hazy. She’d been trying to teach Rivka how to fall into a meditative state to see how it could be when you were the one in control. It looked like that had backfired. Rivka held her breath as she watched the slender woman rock back and forth. Her hair flashed from emerald, to cyan, and then red. Her amethyst eyes glowed, and she hummed. It was like nothing Rivka had ever witnessed. When
her
visions came they were sporadic, unexpected, and not in the least bit controlled. Admiration filled her. If she could one day be half the Priestess Estria was, she'd be blessed by the stars that provided them with their powers. The high-pitched noise stopped, and Estria fixed her jewel-like gaze on her.  Rivka’s muscles tensed. Goose bumps broke out on her arms.

"Your mate will be a great man." Estria's voice was not her normal light lilt. There was an otherworldly power unleashed that made her tone deep and compelling. "Loyal, strong, and family orientated, he will serve you well once you've overcome the many obstacles that lie between you. Yours will not be an easy road. But if you triumph in the end you will know a love not seen many times in history. Your souls have done this dance time and time again. Each time ending in great tragedy. This time I am hopeful. You have both paid the debt for the choices you once made."

"Wait—? What did we do to deserve such a dark mark?"

"It is not my story to tell. But when you learn of it—I beseech you, forgive and move forward. Do not let the weight of a life lived long ago ruin the happiness offered."

The words may have been meant to comfort, but they alarmed.
What could I have done that was so heinous?
Fear spread through her body like an inky blackness. Her blood ran cold in her veins. She wrapped her arms around her waist. Dread encompassed her. Some part of her remembered the events Estria spoke of. Devastation was the only word to describe the despair that welled inside, drawing tears from her eyes. A sharp intake of breath drew her attention back to Estria. Her hair had returned to its normal dark brown, and her eyes no longer held the strange glow.

"Did I say something?" she asked.

"Yes, about my bond mate," Rivka said. She relayed the story, and Estria listened, a serious expression masked her face.

When Rivka was finished Estria placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"You must tell no one, expect your bond mate when the time is right. When linked souls find one another like this, others are usually not far behind and not all of the souls mean well."

"Do you know who I was?"

"I think I so, but now isn’t the time to focus on that. You must be vigilant in your studies. Be true to our creeds, and love as hard, and as much as you can. That is the key, Rivka, love and happiness."

****

Present

She'd nodded and agreed then, not knowing how difficult that request would grow to be.

"You should try it, Riv." Drusi's eyes lit with excitement.

"I-I don’t know."

"Come on, let's start up an account. It'll take my mind off things."
How can I deny a request like that?

"Argh, all right."

"Yes!" Drusi said, wiping the tears from her face. Her cheery yellow aura calmed, and her hair returned to its normal golden brown hue.

"One thing we've learned from humans these past few years, being single can and should be fun. It's time to take a note from their book," Rivka said, suddenly filled with a sense of purpose. She could show others like her that not finding your bond mate wasn't a sentence to loneliness. She'd never let it stop her back home, so why should Earth be any different? She'd had dates, the occasion dalliances, and a few failed relationships. The last had hurt so bad she'd been put off until now. Clearly, it was time to come out of her shell, because waiting around doing nothing was driving her to think dark thoughts best left untouched. She pulled up another chair and opened up the silver laptop that rested on the desk they were sitting in front of.

"This is kind of exciting," Drusi said.

“I know. I wish we'd done this sooner."

"Well, Shar Connection is fairly new," Drusi said. "I actually saw an ad for it when I was surfing the net, and I couldn’t resist digging a little deeper."

"It's brilliant, whoever thought of it." Riv booted up the computer and opened up the Internet. "What's the web address?"

"It's
www.Sharconnect.com.
"

The two of them moved closer together as the site came up. Fast tempo music played, and an image of Earth and Tagett appeared.

Whether you're looking for the love of your life or some fun companionship, this site will help you find a romance that's out of this world.
The tag line made them both giggle. A screen popped up on the side and a woman with olive skin, amber eyes and dark teal hair spoke.

"Here at Shar Connect we use tests, questions, and graphs to find you a match that will place you with your ideal date. We take the business of dating seriously, and so should you. No more blind dates with people you have nothing in common with, or settling. Give us a try. The first month is free."

"Perfect, Rivka, let's get you started," Drusi said.

As they set up her profile they talked about the type of Bonding Ceremony Drusi had always dreamed of, and Rivka was content. She might not have her happily ever after, but she had taken control of a situation that had long plagued her. She needed to get rid of the bitterness souring her soul, or she wouldn’t be much good to anyone. As it stood she wasn't sure if she'd want to bond with her mate or kill him. A real man never kept a lady waiting, and she'd been on hold for a mighty long time. Mating response or not, he had a lot to answer for.

Chapter Five

Buzz.
The vibration of his phone on the counter made him scowl. He set the reconnaissance file on his desk, glanced at the screen, and rolled his eyes. Since he'd gone with Mars to
Among the Stars
, his baby brother had been relentless in his pursuit to get him out again. He'd had a good time with Beckey, but he didn't feel the urge to repeat the experience. There was no spark.
Not like the one he'd felt when he saw Rivka.
He placed a hand over his head and growled. "Fuck."  What he'd hoped would make him feel better had driven home the point he set out to disprove. Rivka had the potential to be the most important person in his life. Denying The Wanting never ended well. You'd go insane, become bitter, or never be truly fulfilled. It was a grim future. One he wanted no part of, henceforth, The Purge. His cock came to life as he pictured her wicked curves hinted at under the black material of the traditional garb. Her amethyst eyes popped against her brown skin and color changing hair.
I wonder what color it turns when she comes.
His mind filled with vivid images of the priestess sprawled across his bed, head tossed back, full lips parted, ample breasts heaving.