Pariah (The New Covenant Series) (10 page)

Flabbergasted, words woul
d not pass my throat, so I just nodded feverishly. She nodded back and let me go. “Let’s go. It’s time.”

I took a deep breath, squared m
y shoulders, stood up straight, and confidently entered the hallway where the other brides were waiting. Lil looked beautiful in a floor-length fitted satin gown, cut low in the back with a
V
neckline trimmed in lace.

Her blonde hair was intricately
braided and fell over her right shoulder. Rachel wore a cream-colored satin gown that was sleeveless, fitted on top and bell-shaped and full at the bottom.

Her strawberry blonde hair flow
ed to her shoulders, falling in soft spirals. Her dress didn’t have the open back of course. I even had to admit that Aria was beautiful. Her braids swirled round her head in intricate patterns as if her hair were a braided fitted hat. Someone had pinned into her tresses, a delicate fringe of black feathers that bled into the ebony of her hair. Her dress’s high neck was delicate, drifting across her shoulders into a deep plunging diamond in the back. Its top was held together by a delicate white button. Miss Annette dabbed the tears from her eyes with a small cloth as she looked us all over as we stood side by side one final time.

In true Aria fashion, she placed her hand on her hip, sneered
through her crimson lips, and said, “One last time...let’s go, bitches!” Our laughs echoed down the hallway, where we left

Miss Annette, and all of her smiling assistants waving b
ehind us. The only thing the three of us had in common now was that we would now
be
common. No marks had magically appeared on our backs. We would be married, assigned jobs, and enter society as equals with everyone else in the kingdom. The thought was refreshing in a way. A weight was lifted as the expectations and hopes for the chosen drifted away with each glance of our backs as we entered the ballroom. I was the last to enter, catching one last fresh breath, one last glance at the sunset sky slashed in blues and purples, oranges, and pinks.

The smell of jasmine, familia
r from the introduction in this same building, was the first thing I noticed. There were new candles everywhere, providing their warm light along with the last rays of sun still sprinkling through the large room’s western windows. The other eligible women are adorned in beautifully simple but elegant white linen gowns that curved and flared over their female forms perfectly. Their hair, much shorter than ours, was curled or braided or pinned up. They all wore colorful floral wreaths in their hair and were beaming with smiles and excitement. No doubt they were happy because they likely knew their about-to-be husbands. That was what was missing! It dawned on me.
Where were the grooms?

A middle-aged woman with chin-length auburn hair stood
on the stage and cleared her throat. “Ladies”—she waited for the noises to subside—“organizers will be coming around to move you each into your proper place. Thank you,” she said cheerfully and stepped off of the stage, holding her emerald dress up during her descent. Women in light blue dresses came around and ushered the non-potential women toward the far end of the building, forming a line. Rachel buffered their group from ours.

She was somewhere in the middle,
not fitting in completely with the women to her left or with us, though she fit in perfectly with me and Lil. The trio we had formed was dear to my heart. I was placed next to Rachel, Lil to my right, and Aria to hers, leading the formation.

The main doors swung op
en and gentlemen filed in. Most wore their best dark-colored trousers and white or cream tunics on proud shoulders accented with excited smiles. Faric and the guards from the introduction filed in next, donning their handsome suits. He glanced at me, working the muscle in his jaw and nodded as he walked past. I nodded back slightly, releasing a pent-up nervous breath.

Then I saw Wes, confidently striding
through the doorway in his dark suit. His slightly curly hair looked perfectly in place, and his emerald eyes caught mine, and he gave a lopsided smile, which I gladly returned as he passed by to stand in front of Rachel. The line of men kept filing into the room and someone stopped before me.

Then my stomach clenched, and I could
n’t catch my breath. The room started spinning when I saw him, grinning at me from his position directly across from mine.
No. Please tell me they aren’t placed in order yet. It can’t be him.

Lil noticed my reaction an
d nudged my arm, “Lars, are you okay?” She followed my gaze and saw who stood before me.

“What is he doing here? Are they
still letting him get married?” she whispered angrily.

“I don’t know, but oh God, Lil
, what if he’s paired with me?” I shook. Her eyes widened, and she grabbed my hand with her small warm one.

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure some
thing out,” she gritted through her teeth, glaring in Altair’s direction. His small beady stare was trained on me. My skin crawled at the very sight of him.

A tall thin white-haired
man with matching beard climbed the steps and stood behind a wooden podium, placing paper down in front of him. He cleared his throat and said, “Excuse me,” he waited for quiet and resumed, “ladies and gentlemen, we will now commence the ceremony. Will the potentials please step forward for the reveal?”

Aria strode first to stand in fron
t of the stage, her back to the crowd as a council member combed over the skin of her back, checking for the mark of the Chosen of God. The tension was palpable as members of the village held their breaths in hope.

The man examined Aria like a
physician and shook his head at the man on the podium. “Aria, you are not the chosen. You are to be married today...to Rogan. Please find and stand with your groom.” She turned, smiled at us, and sauntered toward Rogan, who was smiling from ear to ear. His dark skin looked like silk under the lights as he reached his hands toward her.
Good luck, Rogan.

Lil let go of my hand as th
e gentleman on stage called her forward. She smiled over her shoulder nervously at me as every inch of her skin was raked over. The examiner shook his head again. “Lillian, you are not the chosen. You are to be married today...to Faric. Please join your groom.”
Faric and Lil? Why did the thought bother me?
She squared her shoulders and strode past, locking eyes with mine. My stomach dropped and my mouth turned to cotton.
What if it was him? What would my life be like? Would he hurt me? Kill me? He has to be angry after what happened on the balcony. He said he would punish me. Oh God!

The announcer said somet
hing that I didn’t hear. Rachel nudged my back. “They called you forward, Lara, go,” she prodded.

I moved numbly toward the fr
ont, positioning my back toward the crowd. The examiner was a middle-aged man. His blond hair was fading to silver along his ears and neck. He wasn’t much taller than me and very slender. Stretching his hand toward mine, he smiled and pushed up his glasses with the other. I took his hand. It was very cold compared to the hot moisture oozing from my own. I stepped forward and stood in position for all to see the bare skin of my back. Heat rose in my cheeks at the thought of all of the eyes on my flesh. His cold hands skimmed methodically down and over my back until nothing remained. He shook his head, and the announcer stepped forward.

Time stopped for a momen
t. I grabbed the fabric over my heart, and it pounded in protest against my skin. I blinked a few times in slow motion and then reality slapped me in the face, awakening me. “Solara, you are not the chosen. You will be married today to...”
Please don’t let it be Altair, Lord!
I begged silently. A bead of sweat ran down the side of my face. “Wesley. Please join your groom.” He waved, motioning me forward.

I exhaled and closed my eyes as I spun around.
Thank goodness!
I walked slowly toward the back of the room, my eyes finally
found Wesley.
My husband
. His warm smile and sparkling deep
green eyes met me, and I felt all the muscles in my body relax.

He reached out and grabbed my hands in his. They fit together
perfectly and his were as warm as mine, though not as sweaty. I moved to stand beside him and hooked my arm through his outstretched elbow.

The spirits of the villagers, tho
ugh still happy, seemed to have sunk a little. We weren’t their chosen—whatever that meant to them. Rachel was beckoned forward, and she bounced to the front of the stage. The examiner had retired from his position as it was no longer necessary. She beamed a smile at us and stood waiting for her assignment, fingers interlaced in anticipation.

“Rachel, please join Toran, your groom,” said the announcer, and
before he had finished his sentence, she was already bouncing toward him. It was a strange pair. Toran who had been Lil’s guard at introduction was serious, always walking around sharply, taking in his surroundings. I supposed it was the guard in him. Strawberry blonde hair met light brown as Rachel almost tackled Toran in a huge hug. The surprise on his face was hilarious.

The
non-potential girls were paired and seemed happy with their matches. The lean man cleared his throat once again and began, “Please join hands with your spouse.” He waited until all pairs complied before continuing, “Gentlemen, please repeat after me.”

With my hands squeezed in his, Wesley smiled and repeated,

“I take you as my wife. Your life will now be my own, and I offer you mine in return. We shall be forever as one. Inseparable until death,” he confidently said, his eyes boring into mine.

“Ladies, please repeat after me,” he led. I grabbed his hands
tighter, trying to steady my quaking legs, afraid my voice would also quake. But it held firm as I repeated, “I take you as my husband. Your life will now be my own, and I offer you mine in return. We shall forever be as one. Inseparable until death.” I exhaled deeply at the thought of such a pledge. He smiled sheepishly at me, and I returned the favor.

Then the announcer said
, “Gentlemen, you may kiss your brides.” My eyes widened. I didn’t realize this was part of the ceremony. Wes stepped forward, a lopsided smile on his face and a hunger in his eyes. I caught a glimpse of his dimple. I raised my chin as he was about four inches taller than me. He gently cupped my face and leaned down and gently grazed my lips with his own. His breath holding the sweet scent of mint, mingled with mine. The corners of his eyes bent with a smile that matched the one hanging on his lips, and he gently pressed his lips to mine.

It was a chaste intimate kiss, and I was thankful that he hadn’t
pushed for more, although I wasn’t sure what his expectations were of our wedding night. Customarily, consummation was on the menu. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that leap, but those thoughts drifted away as I thanked God again for blessing me with Wesley and keeping me safe from Altair. I found him sunk against the far wall angrily glaring at Wesley and me. I did the only thing I could think of. I made sure he was looking at me, then I kissed Wesley on the cheek and smiled at Altair, hoping he felt the sting of the slap across face.
Safe at last.

The claps and cheers of the villagers resounded through the
ballroom in congratulations and acceptance of our unions. They moved us from the floor, bringing in tables, food, and wine for the wedding banquet ahead. In no time, we were seated—Lil to my right and Faric next to her, Wes to my left and Rachel beside her brother, and Toran to her left. All seemed right in the world for the first time ever. The feast was amazing—meat and vegetables, fruits arranged as if from Eden itself cascaded from tall dishes onto tables below. Wine bottles were passed along as we were able to sample the finest the kingdom had to offer. Luckily, we had been given the corner table, and when finished, we three newlywed couples, sat around laughing, talking, and toasting one another.

Toran and Faric alternated
telling stories of guarding the fortress. For someone so serious, Toran was actually funny with a very dry sense of humor, though he rarely smiled. Sometimes, I wasn’t sure if he was joking or serious about what he said. I’d just have to get used to him, I supposed. Faric was funny and smiled a lot as he told of drunks trying to break in or urinating in the bushes and having to chase them off with their trousers down, pee still spurting out as they fled. Lil nudged my arm and leaned over, “How do you feel about Wes?”

“I’m happy. He actually asked
me for permission to apply for my hand, and I agreed, so I was hoping it was him,” I admitted. She seemed shocked and then hurt washed over her face. I didn’t tell her. She was my best friend, and I should have, but I didn’t know if we would actually be paired. “I should have told you, but—”

“It’s okay. I get it. Application doesn’t equal guarantee. I still love you, Lars!” she said.

“How do you feel about Faric?” I wagged my eyebrows up and
down, eliciting giggles from both of us. My stomach plunged at the thought of Lil and Faric being intimate.

“He seems nice, I guess. I didn’t know who
to expect, but he was definitely a surprise. I almost thought I would be paired with Toran, you with Faric, and Rachel...well, I don’t know who