Chapter Fourteen

Holden

Taking his hand in mine, I tried not to race toward the village. Nelson had made up his mind, and I didn't want to wait to get the process started.

Instead of the hut I'd taken Nelson to when he first arrived, we headed toward Banir's new home, in the trees. Much had changed for the head of the forest council since his mate had arrived, including his personality. He did everything to keep Lonnie happy, and the outer-worlder seemed to do the same for him. Something I never expected to happen. And when we walked up the steps to their new home, we were met by a very pregnant Lonnie, instead of Chauncey, the minotaur assigned to be my relief security officer after being dismissed from his previous position.

"It's good to see you, Nelson. Holden." Lonnie smiled softly, a completely different glow on his face, as he rubbed his belly. "What brings you up here? Has a new outer-worlder arrived?"

I shook my head as Nelson stepped forward.

"I'm ready for the mating ceremony. I'm ready to be mated to Holden."

Lonnie smiled wide as he clapped his hands together. "I'm so happy for you. Let me get Banir, and we can make all the arrangements."

***

Two days later, after I'd finished my shift, I met Nelson in the center of the village. He wore a white shirt and matching pants that Lonnie had believed would be perfect for the ceremony. His clothing rippled in the light breeze as I held his hand, with Lee on my other side. Banir and Ahmed stood in front of us, and the rest of the forest council joined us in a circle around them. Others from the village stood behind to bear as witnesses.

"Do you, Holden,"—Banir started the ceremony— "understand that by mating with an outer-worlder, you are responsible for them and any children they may bear in the future?"

"I do." Even though I knew two of Walter's previous mates had reneged on their commitment to him, I didn't plan to do the same to Nelson.

"And do you, Nelson of the outer-world, understand that once you are mated, the magic of the Enchanted Forest will change your body to make it possible for you to bear children? So, you are not only making a commitment to Holden but to our world."

"I do." My mate squeezed my hand as he spoke.

"Do you, members of the forest council, promise to accept this union and bear witness to the magic that will unite them?"

"We do." Many voices echoed in unison with no objections.

"And do you, beings of the Enchanted Forest, promise to accept this union, bear witness to the magic that will unite them, and help raise any children that will be born of this coupling?"

"We do!" Many hoots and hollers followed the chorus of voices.

Ahmed stepped forward, placing his palms on top of our heads. "With the magic granted to me by the Enchanted Forest, I declare Nelson of the outer-world and Holden of the Enchanted Forest to be mates. May the magic keep you happy and healthy and bring us many babies."

More cheers erupted as the crowd tossed flower petals into the air. Our ceremony had been slightly different than the one I'd attended for Lonnie and Banir—Lonnie's doing, I guessed —but none of it mattered in comparison to the part of the ceremony that came after.

"If you'll excuse me." I picked up Nelson and rested him over my shoulder, the way I had on the day he'd first arrived. "I'm going to take my mate home and finish our mating without all of you around."

Through the chuckles, it was Nelson's moan I heard after I tapped his butt. And, even with him over my shoulder, I'd never run home so fast, anxious to complete our ceremony and have Nelson making that noise many more times as we progressed from practicing to creating new life.