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That sounded sufficiently official.
Randa nodded decisively and decided to follow her certified bridal orders.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bloodshed and violence and savagery were the natural elements of the life. Conan knew; he could not, and would never, understand the little things that are so dear to civilized men and women.
Robert E. Howard
Randa marched from the bridal dressing room, full of resolve. She hurried up the wedding chapel’s sweeping staircase and onto the second floor. Then it took her ten minutes to select the best themed room.
By that point, her burst of sexual bravery was waning a bit. It occurred to her that she should maybe change into a more seductive outfit. The green maid of honor dress wasn’t very sexy. It did match the olive-colored House designation at her temple, which she appreciated. But maybe something red or lacy would be better for seducing her Match.
Unfortunately, she didn’t own anything red or lacy. And if she took the time to buy red or lacy clothes, she’d chicken out completely. It was now or never.
Pulling her phone out of her dress pocket, she texted Kahn. Suite 4. Hurry.
Thirty seconds later, she heard him racing up the steps. “Randa!” He burst through the door, scanning for danger. “What’s wrong?” He frowned in confusion when he found her standing there alone. “What happened?” He quickly checked the closet and bathroom for intruders. “Are you okay?”
Randa closed the door, sealing them in the suite. “I’m fine. I’ve just decided to Phaze with you.”
He blinked. “Huh?”
His confusion did not help her confidence.
“I don’t want to renounce you. Not ever.” Randa continued, outlining all the reasons she was right to lock him in a bedroom. “We’ve built a strong foundation for our Match. We’ve practiced touching, so I’m not triggered. I’ve joined your House. Stone Phase DNA tends to be more recessive, so there’s even a higher chance than average we’ll eventually have a Light Phase child.”
Most children inherited their mother’s powers, but some took after their father’s. Having more Light Phases would be a blessing for the world. Not only would it help sustain the Element, but they were simply the best. The best people. The best House. Randa hoped all of her sons and daughters were Light Phases.
“Sweetheart, that isn’t why…”
“And I love you.” She rushed to finish, while she still had the courage to say it. “That’s the most important reason we should be together. Because I love you and you love me back.”
“I do love you back.” Kahn’s expression was somewhere between tender and exultant. “I love you so much my new therapist will probably consider it a problem.”
“Don’t listen to her.”
“Believe me, I won’t. I can’t. My feelings for you keep my heart beating.” He came closer, careful not to touch her. That hesitancy needed to change. Randa had been practicing, damn it! She wanted more touching. She needed to show him that.
“You’re sure you love me?” She couldn’t help but ask. “It’s not just because I’m your Match?”
“I love Randa. And I will still love you just as much a month from now. A year from now. Six hundred years from now. You just went through something traumatic, and I want to support you. You don’t have to rush into…”
She cut him off. “If you recall the guidelines for our Match, I am the one who chooses when we Phaze.”
Kahn’s brows drew together. “Yeah, but that was supposed to be so you could feel safe…”
“I get to choose.” Randa interrupted again. “And I have chosen this place for us.” She waved a hand around the themed space. “Try to guess why I picked it.”
Kahn surveyed the interior, which was decorated with piles of faux furs and dangling vines. The walls held close-up paintings of dragon wings in the rain. The centerpiece of the space was a bed suspended from the ceiling via chains. Magical-colored fabrics draped all around it, creating the illusion of a private tent in an enchanted forest.
His mouth curved. “Barbarian?” He ventured.
“Barbarian.” Randa concurred. “Well, as close as Secret Wishes Weddings gets to it, anyway. Most of the rooms are themed to pirates or cowboys. One had robots. We’re not dealing with robots.” She suppressed a shudder. “This room is more suited to misunderstood- romantasy-book-boyfriends, rather than the true savages I prefer. But I’m confident we can make my secret wish work.”
Kahn’s forehead compressed, his smile fading. “Savages? Plural? No, there had better only be one savage you secretly wish for.”
Randa bit back a grin at his possessive tone. That was more like it. “It’s not much of a secret, actually. I’ve already captured the man I want.” She reached behind her to lock the bedroom door. The small sound echoed through the suite. “It turns out I’m an even bigger savage than he is.”
