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Ardol licked his lips. Something in him felt off. Standing across from Jade without a smile, without touch... Yes, it was how Leopardine males and females conducted themselves, but he suddenly hated it. He reached for both of her hands and marveled that when he closed his paws around them, her entire hand and most of her wrists completely disappeared, engulfed in thick, fluffy fur. “Jade, I ask that you will honor me, honor the house of my fathers, remain ever faithful, and always obedient. Will you make these vows to me?”
Jade began to nod, but before she could speak, the preacher’s voice boomed over her. “Before I ask the Queen to pledge herself and state her holy and solemn vows, I ask you, Doctor Marcus, to ask this Queen if she heard and will obey her King’s request.”
Doctor Marcus had been standing a few feet behind Ardol, but he now stepped forward. “Do you wish to state these vows? Do you hear and obey?”
“Yes,” Jade said at once. “I heard, and I will do what he asks.” Ardol beamed and squeezed her hands.
“Griselda, will you ask this Queen if she heard and will obey her King’s request?” The preacher turned to Griselda, who stood a few feet behind Jade.
“Do you wish to state these vows? Do you hear and obey?” Griselda asked, pulling a sour expression. “Ain’t too late to say no,” she muttered.
Ardol was pleased to see that Jade only rolled her eyes and said, “I heard, and I will do what he asks.”
The preacher cleared his throat. “Two elders have asked if you are willing. I ask you a third time, and if you are ready and willing, then make your vows.”
“I will uphold your honor and the honor of your father’s house.” Jade nodded. “I will always be faithful to you and will obey.”
Ardol was dimly aware of some rumbles of dissent in the congregation. Apparently, these hicks had never seen a proper regal ceremony.
There is nothing regal about this...
But she’s mine now, and that’s all that matters. We can forget the rest of the world if we have each other.
For a second, even his father and his expectations seemed light years away.
“Then with this exchange of vows, Jade becomes your wife and Queen.” The preacher motioned to Jade to hold out her hand. Ardol slid the ring-slash-bangle up her forearm. “Ardol becomes your King and husband.”
Jade’s eyes widened. “A ring for you!” she whispered.
“I don’t need one,” he whispered back.
“Ardol, you may kiss your bride.”
Ardol bent to snatch a swift kiss, pleased when she returned it.
“Yay! Whooo!”
His crew and Jade’s human cronies scattered in the mostly Lynxian crowd were making all the noise, but soon it spread. Reluctant clapping turned to genuine cheering as he gave Jade a dramatic bow and offered her his paw with his most rakish smile.
Jade put her hand in his and tugged on her skirt as she returned his bow with some wobbly version of a curtsy.
“Thank you,” Ardol whispered as they swept up the aisle.
“No, thank you,” Jade whispered back.
DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN?
Jade tugged on the bangle on her wrist. Yep. Solid. Heavy. Worth a fortune on Sapien-Three, probably nothing to sneeze at here, either.
The sun was starting to create a line of blood red along the dark purple-blue sky as Jade dismounted the atmo speeder. Ardol carried her belongings, a whole two bags, and walked to the interior of the large shuttle bay. “It’s a decent ship. Living on it for the next few cycles won’t be a hardship. If I can tolerate it, you can.”
“This is just where they keep the shuttles and speeders? It’s nicer than my room on Sapien-Three.” Jade stifled a yawn. The rest of the crew had returned to the ship hours ago, citing tired cubs and long days.
And wanting to fuck each other’s brains out, Jade thought, even though no one had said such a thing. They would have been back long ago, but her human and Lynxian neighbors were hellbent on celebrating her marriage, giving her and Ardol so much to eat and drink that Jade was surprised the speeder could still take off.
“Surprisingly, this evening was the best part of the day. They may be primitive, but they certainly know how to celebrate,” Ardol pressed his paw to an access panel, and the interior doors slid open with a metallic whooshing sound, revealing long crimson and silver passageways.
“They’re not primitive. They just have natural resources and know how to use them. The air is so clean and clear here, even with the mining operations. It’s because they rely on nature more than plastic and chemicals.” Jade was surprised to hear herself defending the little backwater planet she was so desperate to flee from.
