Read Accepting (The Return of the Nine book 2) for Free Online Page B

grinned on the other end of the connection. “Well, if you girls are having fun up there and you are sure that this is the man for you, we will wait until you can make it down here to have a party, but we will have a reception for you, Tiera, make no mistake about that.”
    The threat was in the air, and looking into her mother’s determined face, she knew that if she and Tonos did not make it down to Gaia in short order, Teva and Renault would make their way up to the mother ship, and they would bring the whole neighbourhood with them.
    “I love you, Mom. Never doubt that. Thanks for wanting me to be happy.”
    Teva smiled, “And if he doesn’t make you happy, Nine or not, we will come up and kick his ass.”
    It was Teva’s standard I love you, and Tiera, with tears in her eyes, waved goodbye to her mother.
    As the screen went blank, a chirp near the lav got her attention, and she saw the box provided by the delivery chute. The moment that she removed the parcel, the slot closed and became almost invisible against the wall.
    “What is this?”
    Ziggy took the box from her and put it on the bed. When she opened it, her smile ended in wobbling tears.
    “It is a bonding gown for the People of the Air. You get into the shower, and I will lay out the pieces. It will go on better if we can get the layers on in the proper order the first time.”
    Bemused by her friend’s knowledge of the clothing, Tiera went into the lav and took a quick shower of light and air.
    It was her wedding day, and she wanted everything to go right.
     

 
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    The knock on the door froze both ladies in place.
    Tiera looked up at Ziggy, and her friend since grade school smiled. “At least you know what you are getting into. I am learning more about Rothaway’s ways with every day, but it is still an adjustment. It will be nice to have another Gaian to share the fun with and even better to have my best friend with me in this new world.”
    “I will always be there for you, Ziggy, even if we are worlds apart.” Tiera reached up and squeezed Ziggy’s hand the moment that her friend finished the hairstyle of the People of the Air.
    “Same here, Tiera. You can come to me with any questions. You know that I can find the answers.”
    They laughed and hugged before walking to the door and greeting their men.
     
    The attendant at the entrance of the bonding garden took in Tonos’s wild appearance and handed Rothaway the privacy lock.
    They walked quietly to the gardens, and Tiera threw cautious glances to Tonos. He seemed under control, but his wings had their blade-like appearance, and his eyes were rimmed with red once again.
    As they reached the edge of the gardens, Rothaway pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, and Ziggy kissed her cheek.
    Tonos led her into the gardens and following Ziggy’s earlier direction when they were putting on the three silk under dresses, the heavy silk over dress and the corset, she breathed deeply of the flowers that seemed to be always in bloom on this part of the ship.
    “Tonos, are you sure that you want this?” They were approaching the altar with the hilt of a knife sticking out of it.
    “I am sure. While I found Signy fascinating when I met her, I believe now it was because you were imprinted on her mind, and it bled out into the air around her.”
    His fangs made his speech precise and slow. They had grown a quarter of an inch since she had seen him earlier in the day.
    They stood in front of the altar, and he turned to face her.
    She shivered as she realized that if a woman could stand in front of one of the Nine in rut and manage not to scream and run, it must be love.
    “Take the dagger from the stone.” His voice was a low rumble.
    She followed his direction and hefted the knife that had a rough surface on the handle to catch her genetic code.
    “Cut my wrist, here.” He showed her the point and helped her line up the dagger for the quick slice.
    When blood beaded and