Alburet stepped forward, taking Stacia into his arms, dipping her while kissing her deeply. As he did the room erupted into cheers with many coming to their feet to applaud the passion that was on display. A minute later a bit of laughter ran through the room as the kiss lingered. After another moment Alburet brought Stacia back to her feet, taking her arm in his to face the crowd. Both of them were smiling broadly, with Stacia a touch short of breath as they walked down the aisle.
Stewart and Grimgar opened the doors wide, allowing the couple followed by the crowd to exit the temple. Alburet helped Stacia into the carriage that was waiting for them, before climbing in himself. He glanced out the window where the rest of the crowd was lining up for their own carriages or walking to get back to the inn.
“Thank ya, master,” Stacia said as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Me entire body tingles in joy tha’ ya really did wish me to be ya wife.”
Putting his arm around her, he grinned, “I still think I got the better end of this deal, Kitten. Now tell me what happens next.”
“We be given a small break to relax before we go down to the reception. You have a duty as the groom to find a man to pair with each of the other maids. Just do ya best as to who ya pair with whom, hopefully there will be a youn’un about for ya to pair with Emily. Other than that, there is the food, the toast by me Da’, then the giving of gifts to us. Finally the dancing, which starts with a formal dance by ourselves, then the money dances.” She snuggled into his side during her explanation.
Alburet shook his head at how similar and different the traditions here were compared to what he was used to. “What’s the point of finding someone to pair with your sisters?”
“It goes back to helpin’ spread the Dark Lord’s followers. It was the easiest way to try matching up people to see if a match could be made. It was nay unknown years in the past for the groom to go to a temple and asked to be married without havin’ someone lined up. Hence the selection of possible brides and then the groom then tryin’ to pair up the others with matches.”
“Different from my world, but I can’t fault another’s religion. So, how long exactly do we have alone before we have to get to the reception?” Alburet asked, his voice growing heated as his hand gently slid along one of Stacia’s thighs.
“Nay tha’ long, sadly,” Stacia said breathlessly.
Recalling a point he had wanted to address, Alburet was about to speak when the carriage came to a stop before the inn. He got out, helping Stacia down then looking around. The graveyard beside the inn was bedecked in red and black, with tables scattered amongst the tombstones. He took her arm, leading her into the inn to the cheers of those who were already there, leading her up to their room where a bottle and two glasses waited for them.
“Why is the reception in the graveyard?” Alburet asked as poured her a drink then himself one.
“It be tradition, though I never thought to ask why,” Stacia said as she sipped her wine. “Mayhap it comes from the time when the Summoners and Necromancers were hunted for their classes.”
“Could be,” Alburet said as he pulled Stacia into his lap. “There was something I wanted to speak with you about, Kitten.”
Stacia set her glass down as she shifted in his lap to get comfortable, even as that caused Alburet to shudder. “Oh, sorry, master, am I bein’ distractin’?” Her voice was contrite but also hinted that she knew what she was doing.
“Naughty little Kitten. Hold still for a moment, please,” he replied, clearing his throat. “I wanted to address the fact we’ve had extra people join us in bed before now. I’m not saying it will never happen again, but now that we are married it is a lot less likely to happen. Are you okay with that?”
Stacia tilted her head so their foreheads touched, her eyes filling his vision. “The only thin’ tha’ matters to me, master, is ya happiness. Iffin ya want no other, tha’ makes me happy. Iffin ya want to have a great orgy filled with others, tha’ will also make me happy. I look to ya to guide me in all thin’s, show me what ya want and I will do me best to follow. Others might call this weak or shallow, but me heart knows tha’ ya are the only thin’ in th world tha’ will make me happy. I ask, though, tha’ ya do nay coddle me, or try to keep me safe from harm by lockin’ me away. All I be wantin’ is to stay by ya side.”
Alburet closed his eyes as emotion washed through him. He couldn’t be this blessed, it shouldn’t be possible. Stacia was submissive to her core it seemed, which fit him like a glove. He knew she could hold her own, having seen her wield her blades before, as well as her abilities now that she was a succubus. “I will do so then, Kitten, but you must also speak to me. If anything bothers you, tell me right away. If there’s something you want or desire, tell me so we can work on making it happen. You being happy will make me happy, and that means we must both communicate.”
“As ya wish it, master,” Stacia replied softly before she leaned into him. “A kiss?”
Alburet kissed her at her request, deep and passionate, trying to help her feel the depth of his feelings. They kissed for minutes, breaking here or there for a breath before kissing again, therefore it came as a surprise when a knock came at the door.
“Sis, it be time,” Erin’s voice came through the door after the knock.
“We’ll be right out,” Alburet replied as he set Stacia on her feet. “Shall we, my darling wife?”
“As me husband wishes,” Stacia answered, taking his offered arm with a broad smile.
“We do need you to find another way to address me besides master, though, when just out in public,” Alburet softly told her as he opened the door.
“As ya wish it, asthore,” Stacia replied without hesitation.
Raising a brow, he looked at her as she closed the door, her other arm still through his. “Asthore?”
“Treasure, be another way of saying it. It was a way of speaking of a valued loved one. It has fallen out of use over time, but me family remembers it still.” Stacia said as they went down the steps.
“Ah, so I am your treasured loved one,” his smile broadened as he understood.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, there was a clear path to the door in the otherwise standing room only bar. Smiling and nodding to those who congratulated them, the pair walked through the room and out the door to find a very large crowd gathered in the graveyard. A cheer went up as they appeared, filled with applause and whistles as Alburet led Stacia to the obvious spot for them at the large ornate table where her family stood. Alburet did note the empty chairs next to each of Stacia’s sisters, obviously waiting for him to find someone to fill them.
Chapter Fourteen
As the couple reached the table Alistern spoke up, his voice carrying easily. “Family, friends, and complete strangers who wanted free food and drink,” he had to pause as people laughed. “Thank ya for comin’ to the reception for me eldest daughter, Stacia, and her husband Alburet. The toast will come after the food, so let me nay delay us. The food will be brought out to each table in just a moment. Take this time to grab a seat and enjoy our hospitality.”
People began to claim chairs, those that weren’t already seated. Alburet pulled out Stacia’s chair to seat her, then he went down the table seating each of the sisters, leaning in just a touch to speak softly to each of them in turn. “I will do my best to find someone suitable for you, please be patient with me as I do.” Each of the sisters gave him a nod but otherwise stayed silent until he got to Emily.
“Eww, boys. I don’t want one,” Emily said to him softly, her nose wrinkling.
Chuckling, Alburet crouched down next to her, “I will do my best to find a friend for you, then, okay?”