Sherrilyn Kenyon: Born of Fury

And then when he’d least expected it, she’d tumbled into his world and sent it reeling.

Yes, Kyr was still out there and he was gunning for both of them. There would always be enemies at the gate. Always challenges for them both. But together, they would face them all and nothing would ever get the better of them.

Strong alone.

Stronger together.

Sumi tightened her grip on him before she cried out his name.

Smiling, Dancer moved faster, heightening her pleasure. Funny, he’d always hated his name, until his mia . Now there was no greater sound to him than to hear it on her lips as she came for him.

He captured her lips as he felt his own release. His senses reeling, he shook all over. Pulling back, he stared down at her and cupped her face. He reveled in the sensation of her naked body against his. Of the love in her eyes as she looked at him.

His heart swelling with happiness, he ran his hand over her stomach where their child was already growing. Then he kissed her belly and teased it with his tongue. “I adore you, mia . And I will always be yours.”

Sumi fingered his goatee as she savored those words. “Good, because I have no intention of ever letting you go.”

Sumi couldn’t believe it was morning already. They’d stayed up all night, talking about the future and making love until she was amazed that she could still walk.

But then, she’d never get enough of her fierce warrior.

“I like this outfit much better,” she said as she fastened a much more sedate gown on so that they could complete their marriage.

He kissed her bare shoulder. “I still prefer you naked.”

Cupping him where he was already hard again, she bit his chin. “I’m willing if you are.”

He sucked his breath in sharply. “Don’t tempt me. Let’s finish this, and then you can chain me to your bed for the rest of my life.”

She laughed as he opened the door and they returned to the altar.

Once again, their families were gathered. And this time, Kalea and Darice were waiting for them. Sumi held her hand out for them.

Kalea took it and knelt down between them. Darice followed suit.

The priest came forward and untied the cord that had bound her and Dancer all night. He paused to smile approvingly as he saw the ring on Dancer’s hand. “While I may remove the temporary binding between you, remember that you have joined your lineages from now on, and you will protect your single lineage from any who would seek to divide it.” He raised a small knife and laid it across Dancer’s palm, drawing a small trail of blood. Then he did the same to Sumi. Taking their hands, he placed them together so that they could join blood.

The priest smiled at Kalea before he met Sumi’s gaze. “Sumi, now and forevermore of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, do you agree to share the full parental and lineage rights of your daughter, Kalea, with your husband?”

“I do.”

“And you agree that from this day forward she will be known solely as Kalea of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk?”

Sumi nodded. “Kalea only has one father. Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk.”

The priest looked at Dancer. “And do you, Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, accept the daughter of your wife as yours, and swear to protect her from this day forward as the progeny of your lineage?”

“I do.”

Next, he cut Darice’s hand and mixed his blood with Sumi’s. He held their hands together. “Sumi, now and forevermore of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, do you agree to share the rights of your lineage with Darice and to claim him as your own child?”

This was the same ceremony Cairistiona had done for her. “I do.”

“And will you agree to share the rights of your son, Darice, with your husband?”

“I will.”

The priest met Darice’s somber gaze. Everyone was well aware of the fact that once Dariana had been convicted of his father’s murder, it’d relegated Darice to the status of a bastard. Even though Syn’s DNA tests had proven Keris as his father, their laws no longer recognized Darice as a son of the War Hauk family. The only way to protect his standing and keep him from being disowned was to adopt him as theirs.

It was something both she and Dancer had agreed to immediately.

The priest took Darice’s hand into his. Because he was an adult and not a minor child, he, unlike Kalea, had to publicly concur with his adoption. “And do you agree from this day forward to be known solely as Darice Hauk, son of Sumi and Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk?”

Darice nodded. “Yes, Reverend Father.”

The priest looked at Dancer as he pressed his hand to Darice’s. “And do you, Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, accept the son of your wife as yours, and swear to protect him from this day forward as the progeny of your lineage?”

He smiled at Darice and laced his fingers with his. “I do, indeed.”

Tears filled Sumi’s eyes as she saw the bond between them. This is my family…

No, this was part of her family. She glanced over her shoulder at all the others who were gathered there. It was both impressive and terrifying.

Even the little mechanical monkey that was holding on to Devyn and sobbing.

“I just love weddings,” Vik sniffed.

Ignoring the mecha, the priest continued. “Then, before these witnesses and our gods, it is so. Rise and be acknowledged, House of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk. For the four of you before me, and your future children, are the continuation of the two oldest lineages of Andaria. Know that your children will be honored and respected above all, and they will carry on the noblest and best of what it means to be Andarion. May the gods bless you with many, many sons and daughters.”

But before she could stand, Hauk took Sumi’s hand into his and led it to his cheek. Those red, glowing eyes seared her with his sincerity. “For you and our children, Sumi Hauk, I pledge that I will gladly die.”

Sumi placed her other hand over his and shook her head. “We do not accept that pledge from you, mighty War Hauk. Our children and I expect you to live for us.”

He smiled at her. “And that, munatara a la frah , I will always do.”