Epilogue
“I take it things are much better since the Ceremony of Cleansing?” Sylvan asked, when Brand joined him for a drink.
“Does it show?” Brand grinned, gesturing to his face. “I suppose it does,” he said, answering his own question. “Ever since Allara and I got bonded, I can’t seem to stop smiling. My fucking cheeks hurt and I still can’t stop!”
Sylvan laughed and clapped him on the back.
“That’s what I like to hear! Praise the Goddess—I was hoping the ceremony would help.”
“That and the new suite you gave us to stay in,” Brand told him. “Tell the truth—did you know it had a breeding chair in it?”
“It did?” Sylvan looked surprised. “No, I didn’t know—honestly.”
“Well, I guess we’ll chalk it up to a happy accident, then.” Brand grinned and took the drink his commanding officer was offering him.
“I take it you made good use of this ‘happy accident’ then?” Sylvan raised his eyebrows and took a sip of his own drink.
“Let’s just say we got in the chair the night of the ceremony to ‘try it out’ and this is pretty much the first time I’ve been out of it since,” Brand said, grinning even wider. “I’ll have to ask if Allara and I can take it with us when we leave.”
Sylvan frowned.
“You’re still determined to leave the Mother Ship? Why?”
Brand sighed.
“Well, you know how it is. Though everything is perfect between Allara and me, things with everyone else are, well, awkward. She’s afraid that when people see her, all they’re going to think about is how she’s the female who tried to kill her mate, you know?”
“We won’t think that,” Sylvan objected. “Honestly, Brand—even the Council has said that if the ceremony was a success she’d be free to move around the ship again.”
“I appreciate that, Commander—really I do,” Brand said earnestly. “But I feel like we really do need a fresh start.” He sighed. “So I’d like to tender my resignation to the High Council immediately. I’m going to take Allara someplace we can have a new life together—just the two of us.”
Sylvan shook his head.
“I’m afraid I can’t accept your resignation. Not unless you agree to take a new post immediately.”
“A new post?” It was Brand’s turn to frown. “Where?”
“Well…” Sylvan smiled. “Remember you told me that things had gone so well on Darden Three they wanted a Kindred ambassador to come and stay there and further the new connection between our peoples?”
Brand couldn’t believe it.
“And you’re offering it to me? The Darden Ambassadorship?”
Sylvan nodded.
“I think you’ll be an excellent fit. You opened communications with them in the first place and the Dardens already love you. Do you think you and Allara could be happy there?”
“Are you kidding? You’re sending us to a tropical paradise, where we had our honeymoon, to live? And you want to know if we’ll be happy?” Brand couldn’t contain himself, he gave the other male a big hug. “Yes, we’ll be happy!” he said, pulling back at last and laughing for sheer joy. “Thank you, Sylvan! Thank you from ‘the deepest part of my heart’ as Allara would say.”
Sylvan laughed and clapped him on the back.
“You’re welcome, Brand. We’ll all be sad to see you go, but I think this is exactly what the Goddess had planned for you all along. I know it’s been a bumpy ride getting there, but I’m sure she intended you and Allara to be together from the first.”
“You’re right.” Brand nodded thoughtfully. “It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it. I can’t imagine loving anyone as much as I do my sweet little Q’ess wife.”
“I love you too, husband,” murmured Allara’s mental voice in his head. “When are you coming back to bond me some more? I miss you!”
“I know that look,” Sylvan said, smiling. “It’s the look of a newly-bonded male whose mate is wanting him.”
“She’s calling for me,” Brand admitted. “I’m sorry, Commander, but I think I’ll have to have a drink with you later.”
“Go.” Sylvan’s smile widened. “Enjoy this part of your Joining. It’s incredibly special.”
“Thank you—for everything,” Brand told him. Then he sent a message through their new link back to Allara.
“I’m coming, sweetheart so get the chair ready for me. And just wait until you hear what I have to tell you…”
The End?