33. Zarios

Chapter thirty-three

After a brief shower and breakfast, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I called from my seat on the sofa. Sorcha was in the next room, drying her hair.

Kiaza walked in, her clipboard at her side. "Good morning. I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Of course not," I said, though if she had come half an hour earlier, she may have been.

"Great. I wanted to make sure we were all prepared for tomorrow."

My eyes widened. "Tomorrow?" I asked.

She nodded. "The final part of the mating ceremony. It was scheduled for tomorrow night."

My stomach dropped. I'd forgotten all about it. "Cancel it," I said. "I plan on getting rid of that silly practice anyway."

"What silly practice?" Sorcha asked as she walked in.

"Nothing for you to worry about. An outdated mating ritual I'd forgotten all about."

"What is it?" She insisted.

Kiaza looked to me, but she didn't say anything, letting me explain. "As a Grand Clarak, you're expected to show you have the strength to lead by going through an arena match. It isn't to the death, just the last left standing. It's thought that the Grand Clarak's intended should go through a similar physical test to prove themselves."

She didn't have the shocked response I was expecting. "What does it involve?"

"When we've been away, a challenge bracket has been held, now with only two left. They will battle, then the winner will face you. And if they win, they're supposed to be able to petition themselves to me, but in the end, it's my choice. It's ridiculous."

"I'll do it," she said.

I pulled her into me. "You don't have to. You're mine, and I don't care what anyone says."

She raised her brows at me. "You don't think I can win?"

"Of course I do," I said easily. "I just hate it. No one should have to fight in an arena to prove their worth as a spouse."

She shrugged, as if we were talking about the weather. "Well, I guess tomorrow, I do."

I sighed. "You won't let me get you out of this, will you?"

"Nope," she said with a smile. She landed a kiss on my cheek.

"Fine. Kiaza, continue with plans as normal." Though I didn't doubt her, the way I felt about it was true. It was, in the best of terms, archaic. We had moved past things like that a long time ago, but some of those practices remained, like this one. I wanted Valcor to let go of that past and move forward. That was my job as Grand Clarak, and one I took seriously .

"Sounds good," Sorcha said. "I just want a few hours to prepare beforehand."

Kiaza scribbled furiously as Sorcha went back to our room. "Kiaza," I said. She glanced up, her glasses bouncing slightly on her face. "Thank you. For everything. I would be a disaster without you." I knew I didn't say it to her enough. For a moment, I had suspected her during the tour, and I should have known she wouldn't betray me.

She smiled lightly, tucking her things away. "It's no problem, sir. I love my job." She got up to leave but paused at my door. "You know, we do need a new captain of the castle guard."

I followed her gaze, agreeing with her assessment. When she said that, an idea formed. "Could you do me one more favor?" I asked.

I put in my request, and she pulled out her smaller notebook to scribble once more. "I will make it happen," she said before she rushed out the door.

When Sorcha came out a little while later, I all but swallowed my tongue. She was in her full leather practice armor, the same as the first day we met. It hugged her perfectly, and all I could imagine was tearing it off her. Her sword sat on her side, the purple stone in the middle glowing bright.

"You're stunning," I told her.

She rolled her eyes, her hair band hanging from her mouth. "I'm not meant to be stunning. I'm meant to be a warrior." Her words were muffled slightly, only making her cuter.

"You can be both," I said, standing up to meet her. Her hair was neatly tucked in a ponytail behind her. My hands circled her waist, pulling her close. "I love you," I said, just wanting her to hear it. "And the results of this won't matter."

"They matter to me," she said. "But I still love you too. Come on," she said, tapping my shoulder. "You need to help me prepare for tomorrow."

I smiled. "Gladly."