Rivka stepped forward and gestured toward Zasha’s belly. “May I?”
“Of course.”
She placed her hands on Zasha's belly, and she smiled as she picked up on the essence of the heir. The tiny embryo revealed itself as a male, who liked all things apple flavored, the sound of his parents’ voices, and music. She could see him as he would be one day. Skin the color of mocha, with a healthy splash of cream, almond-shaped green eyes that sparkled with mischief, and facial features that were a blend of both parents. She pulled her hand from Zasha's belly. "The baby is healthy, happy, and opinionated. It likes anything apple flavored and loves the sounds of mommy and daddy's voice along with music."
"Oooh." Zasha covered her mouth, as tears welled in her eyes. "It told you all that?"
"Yes."
"I told you, Rivka was a special woman," Phelan whispered. He placed a sweet kiss on Zasha's forehead. "Thank you for putting our minds at ease, Rivka."
"Of course, would you like to discuss the bonding ceremony now?" she asked.
"Yes, why don’t we move back to the couch?”
Once they were settled, Rivka opened her bag and pulled out a notebook and a pen. Together they outlined a beautiful ceremony, a unique bonding that would combine an Earth marriage ceremony with a Shar on the mansion grounds. She was excited to share their cultures with others. Too many people still had a horror movie mentality about aliens. With luck this would help change some minds. Fifteen minutes later she'd gathered her things and set an appointment to meet the entire wedding party in a few weeks.
"I'll think of the vision we discussed for the ceremony and show you what I come up with in a few weeks. In the meantime, if you have any concerns about the little one I'm always just a call away."
"Thank you, Rivka," Zasha said.
With one last hug they lead her out of the study to the front door and said their goodbyes. On her way down the drive a mountain of a man in all black approached her. His dark brown locks glistened in the fading sunlight and fell to his shoulders. Long, dark, lashes framed chocolate-brown eyes that should've been warm, but weren't. His aura was a brilliant red. Without out a doubt this was the General. Their eyes met, and her heart raced. Her knees threatened to buckle, and only her strength of will kept her upright and appearing unaffected.
He nodded. "Star Priestess."
"General." She gave a quick curtsy before she hurried to her car, his gaze singeing a hole in her back. Her hands shook as she unlocked the car, slipped inside, and placed her key in the ignition. Heat infused her body as she drove down the driveway and tried not to embarrass herself by speeding, or looking back to where she knew Bastien D'Shar still stood. What kind of power does he possess to affect me like this? I'll be finding out soon enough as I plan the bonding ceremony.
Chapter Two
Bastien watched as the Star Priestess disappeared in her car. He'd seen her numerous times over the years, but he'd never had this reaction. His heart pounded in his chest, his cock came to life, and his palms grew clammy. A frown curved his lips down. No! After all this time she couldn't be his mate. A sense of dread settled over him as he recalled the words off his Sensei when he first received The Purge.
"This is only a temporary fix, like putting a patch on a waterfall. It'll slow it down to a trickle, but it's indefinite. At any time the feelings can come flooding back full force to knock you on your ass."
"I'll risk it," Bastien said, confident he could handle whatever came.
"This won't just block The Wanting if you run into your mate, Bastien. It'll inhibit your ability to feel. There's a reason it's looked down on and thought of as being taboo. You can turn into a cold, uncaring bastard, if you're not careful."
"I'm here to win wars and mold men into warriors, not make friends, or run for a political position."
Sensei sighed. "You're young. I urge you to give this more thought. Once it's done, it can’t be changed. Your only option will be to let The Purge run its course."
"This is my destiny, Sensei."
"You can be a good soldier without it. I've seen too many of my warriors do this and go down a dark path. There is no worse fate than killing the one you've spent so many years training and accepted as a part of you."
"That won't happen with me. This path was foretold by the Star Priestess herself at my birth. I must do everything in my power to ensure I'm ready when the time of war comes. If that means sacrificing The Wanting, it's a price I must pay."
"This is a heavy burden to carry. You've come to me younger than most of my pupils and have grown at an exponential rate. I've been amazed, and proud, of the decisions you've made, and the strength you possess. This thing you wish to do now I don't support." Sensei shook his head. "The spirits cry out against this. One day it will cause you great strife. A man conflicted is a man tortured."
Bastien had witnessed the deep connection Sensei had with the spirits. The things he said always came to pass eventually. Still, failure was not an option. A war would come, and he had to be able to lead his people to victory. As it stood now, he wasn't ready. He'd reached his plateau. He needed an edge to get him beyond it. Attachments and emotions slowed you down, made you soft. That split second of hesitation could lead to your demise. It wasn’t a mistake he could afford to make. He'd been preparing to fight an epic battle against an unknown source since he was eleven, and this was the final step.
"Then so be it, Sensei. This is my final decision."
The man nodded. His cloud of dark greenish-blue hair swayed round his pale green face. "Lay on the slab, and I will begin."
The second the bare skin of his back touched the black, stone surface a chill seeped through his skin and down into his bones. He shook, teeth chattering as his limbs began to tingle and go numb. "W-what's happening?"
"The Purge has begun."