The Stars Unbound (The Gift of the Stars Book 2) by Lena Alison Knight

Author:Lena Alison Knight [Knight, Lena Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

***

And so they’d done it.

Appointments were scarce at Xan Xaldanan’s office of civil records, but their datanet page noted that walk-ins would be accommodated first-come, first-serve. Thus the first rays of the rising sun had found them waiting for the office to open, greeting a startled magistrate who was clearly not excited to be faced with work this early. Nonetheless, he brought them into his office, plunked down some forms and promptly turned his attention to a sporting event on his tablet.

Which was just as well. If he’d been paying attention, he might have thought it odd that Kerelle had to sneak a peek at her ID to remind herself of Karia Vela Vendrys’s date of birth. At least she and Karia were both thirty-two.

Not that the magistrate gave them more than a cursory examination to make sure all the fields were filled out; she probably could have written down anything she liked.

“Mm…all good…all right then, hands please.” Kerelle’s pulse quickened as she reached out both her hands to clasp Galhen’s. This was it. It was actually happening. She met his eyes and saw her feelings reflected there - nervous excitement, wonder and joy. He gave her a half-smile and gently squeezed her hands.

The magistrate sighed quietly and reluctantly muted his sports game. He turned to her and started the traditional words with disinterested intonation.

“Do you vow today and each day after, in the sight of all peoples and in the light of the holy stars, to offer your love and your comfort, to give the best of your heart and your spirit, to turn your eyes from all others as long as you live, to take,” he paused and checked the form, “Garyth Dala Avlor as your husband?”

Galhen Tarau Ambrel, her heart corrected. Aloud, she gave the customary response. “I do so vow, today and each day after.”

The magistrate marked a box and repeated the ritual oath to Galhen. He held her eyes as he gave the response. Yesterday Kerelle would have said the words were so well-worn that they were rendered anodyne, but hearing them from Galhen’s lips as his fingers enclosed hers sent a sizzle of excitement down her spine. She’d imagined this would be a dull formality, but there was power in this ritual, power in repeating the oaths to each other, even here in a conference chair under fluorescent lighting, with an officiant who clearly just wanted them out of his office.

She wished she could share the thought with Galhen. She would tell him afterward.

“Put the rings on each others’ hands,” the magistrate instructed. His eyes were on the score for the silent game.

The feeling was electric, as they slipped on the rings and their gazes met. Kerelle was suddenly very happy that the ceremony was short.

Their officiant rested a light two fingers over their joined hands, still watching the tablet. “I hereby declare this marriage to be valid and witnessed, by the holy stars and by the municipality of Xan Xaldanan. May your union be blessed with joy and abundance.

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