In the Kingdom of Nodor, it was custom for a bride to wear an ivory dress on her wedding day. A family member would tie a red ribbon around the bride’s waist, symbolizing her purity, before giving her to her husband.
Mina didn’t have an ivory dress, so she took out a pale yellow dress and a white petticoat from her wardrobe. Also, she didn’t have a red ribbon, and there was no one from her family to assist at the wedding. She didn’t care about Rosalyn or her uncle, but she wished that at least Hugo would have been present. It had been her childhood dream that Hugo would tie the ribbon around her waist before the Fire Mage would perform the wedding ritual. The wedding she will have will differ from the one she envisioned.
Mina looked in the mirror from the bathroom and smiled. It did not matter if it was Inoss or Addanos that blessed her wedding or if she didn’t love Jayden. Mina hoped that, in time, she would learn to love him. She would have a family soon. While Mina hadn’t spoken with Jayden about children, she knew he wanted them. When they spoke in the Royal Palace, Jayden had said that all men longed for wives and children. So did he. Mina always yearned for a big family. She hoped she would get pregnant soon after Jayden and her would start sharing a bed.
After Mina changed her dress and did her hair, she put a few drops of perfume on her wrist and neck and went to the dining room. Apart from Jayden, Caesar, and the man with long black hair, there were five more men. They were wearing pants and shirts. Jayden had a blue and gold floral brocade waistcoat on top of his white shirt and a simple white cravat.
As soon as Jayden saw Mina, he went to her and gave her a chaste kiss. “You look exquisite,” he said to her before looking at his men. He kept his right hand around her waist. “This is Dutchess Minerva Castex, my betrothed and, by the end of this day, my wife, in front of the Gods.” The men greeted Mina. “Mina, these are my most loyal men. We have eaten, slept, fought together, and in many cases, saved each other lives. I am pretty sure you already know Caesar,” Jayden said. He looked at the man with long hair. “You already met Aksel.”
Mina blinked once. Then twice. “Wait. Isn’t Aksel the name of your wolf?”
“Yeah, well, the wolf and I have the same names,” Aksel said and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Why would someone name a wolf after you?” Mina asked.
Aksel shrugged. “The Commander said the wolf reminded him of me,” he said and grinned. He had canines just as long as Jayden.
Mina was starting to believe there was more to Aksel than he was telling. She would find out sooner or later; she just had to be patient.
A man with blond hair and honey eyes smiled at Mina. “I am Herron. Welcome to the family, Andarra.”
“Thank you,” Mina said. She realized that by marrying Jayden, she would get to know his men better. She smiled, thinking that the war had brought eight men together, and they saw each other as family.
“Andres,” said a man with brown hair, grey eyes, and brown skin. “I’m from the Southern Islands, close to the Uzhor continent; that’s why my skin is brown,” he said when Mina looked at his skin. “Where are you from?”
“My mother was from Yeton,” Mina said. “I am half gypsy.” She hoped the men wouldn’t judge her based on her heritage.
Two men, one with brown hair and dark brown eyes and the other with red hair and blue eyes, whistled.
“Commander, you are one lucky bastard!” said the red-haired one. Jayden growled, and the man put his hand in the air. “I assume you have never visited Yeton. Wait until your wedding night!” the man said and grinned when Jayden shook his head. “You are in for a surprise!”
Mina knew what the man was talking about—there was a special dance the wife performed for her husband on their first night as spouses. Mina had learned it from her mother and would dance for Jayden. Her father had told Mina that the first time he saw Emlya, Mina’s mother, she was dancing. That was the moment he fell in love with her. When her mother married her father, she danced only for him—a gypsy tradition passed down from mother to daughter. Mina had practiced the dance many times, imagining Prince Liam was in the room, but as she looked at Jayden, a soft smile appeared on her lips. She wondered how he would react.
After her parents died, Mina sneaked out her mother’s gypsy clothes. They were still at her uncle’s estate. She hoped Jayden had sent someone to gather her things because she needed the clothes for the dance.
“What do you mean?” Jayden asked.
The red-haired man smirked. “Can’t ruin the surprise, can I?” He looked at Mina. “I am Einar.” He pointed at the brown-haired one, “This is my cousin, Arald.”
Another man with blonde hair and blue eyes gave Mina a small bow. “Shaun.”
Jayden cleared his throat. “Well, now that you all met, we should get going. The sooner we have Addanos’ blessing, the better. I don’t like that your uncle told you he wants you to marry Count Dickless.”
“Even if you marry her today, but you don’t ma—” Andres said and frowned. “Bed her, I mean, her uncle can ask for an annulment of your marriage.”
Jayden tightened his hold on Mina. “What I do in my bed is only between Mina and me. And I would like to see Duke Tedric try to get an annulment for something the King agreed on and gave his blessing!”
“I am just saying what her uncle can do, not that I care what you will do once you bond her to you!” Andres said. “Besides, after what happened this morning, I am sure her uncle hates you, and he will do whatever he can to separate you from Andarra!”
Mina knew that what Andres said was true. Duke Tedric was very ambitious and would stop at nothing to obtain what he wanted.
“He can try,” Jayden said, “but I doubt he would take Mina away from me.” He looked at Mina, tilted her head back, and stared into her eyes. “You are only mine, little lamb. I will kill anyone who will try to take you away from me!” His eye turned liquid gold, and his chest vibrated. “Mine!” he growled softly and kissed her.
Mina tried to push him away, but Jayden was stronger than her.
“Commander!” Caesar said. “You need to control your ocxoa!”
Jayden rested his forehead on Mina’s shoulder. “I am sorry,” he said. “It’s this damn Yeltane festival.”
“His ocxoa is the strongest of all of us; it’s normal he is struggling with control! But once he is bonded to Andarra, it will be easier!”
“What does ocxoa mean?” Mina asked. The men froze for a moment before looking around the room. “What?”
“It’s our dark side,” Jayden said and lifted his head.
Arald snorted. “Just because you are still struggling to accept it doesn’t mean is it dark!”
Jayden lifted his head and looked at his men. “If it had been from part of my mother, I would have had no problems with it!” Jayden said bitterly. “Because of him—!” Jayden inhaled deeply. “Beliar take him!”
Someone knocked on the door, and Caesar went to answer.
Mina looked at Jayden and wondered if he knew something about his father. Most bastard children didn’t know who sired them.
Caesar returned to the dining room. Hugo and a young errand boy accompanied him. The errand boy was carrying a traveling chest. He put it close to the door and left.
“Hugo!” Mina said and went to hug her cousin. “I am so happy you are here!”
Hugo returned the hug. “I came to see how you are doing. And since I was headed this way, I decided to bring your things. Commander Jayden sent two women to gather your belongings in the morning.”
Mina looked at Jayden and smiled. “Thank you!” she said.
The errand boy brought in another chest. “This is all of them,” he said, and Jayden gave him a silver coin. “Thank you, sir!” he said before leaving.
“Caesar, Shaun, would you be kind enough to take the chests to Mina’s rooms?” Jayden asked. As his men hurried to do as Jayden asked, he looked at Hugo. “I am grateful you came to bring the chests, and I am sure you want to speak with Mina, but I am afraid we are in a hurry. It is best if you come by tomorrow.”
Hugo looked at Jayden, then at Mina. “Is there something going on that I need to know?” he asked while his eyes were on Jayden’s men. “Mina?” Hugo asked when no one spoke.
“I am getting married today!” Mina said.
“You have gone crazy!” Hugo said. “Or—” his eyes went to Jayden. “Did you touch her?” He sounded furious.
“Why does everyone seem to think I did something with Jayden?” Mina asked in a bitter tone.
“Mina, I—” Hugo said. He seemed embarrassed. “And what do you mean by everyone?”
Jayden folded his arms. “Just because I was born in a brothel doesn’t mean I have no honor! I am marrying her today because your father came earlier, tried to take Mina and have her married to Count Dickless!”
Hugo tilted his head to the side. “To whom?”
“Count Dickman,” Mina said. “He came earlier and...and...he said he won’t give me any coin from what my parents left me.”
Hugo pinched the bridge of his nose. “What is father thinking? Count Dickman is old; he basically has a foot in a grave!”
Jayden growled. “He will have both of them in an unmarked one if I see him near Mina!”
Hugo looked at Mina. “Can I have a word with you? Alone?”
Mina nodded. “We can talk in my room.” She looked at Jayden. “I will be back in a moment!”
Mina smiled at Jayden, and he kissed the top of her left hand. “I will wait for you!”
Caesar and Shaun returned to the dining room just when Mina led Hugo to her room. Once inside her room, Mina pointed to Hugo the armchairs. She opened the doors to the garden, so fresh air could enter and sat close to her cousin.
“Mina, you don’t have to do this. I have talked to Rosalyn, and she regrets having an affair with Commander Jayden. She said she will try to speak to him so that you don’t have to marry him.”
Mina snorted. “I doubt she regrets it! Besides, I don’t need Rosalyn talking to Jayden. And I am marrying him!”
“Why?” Hugo asked.
“I like him. Not in a romantic way, but I do enjoy his company. And I think he likes me back,” Mina said, thinking of how he kissed her.
“Don’t be naïve!” Hugo said. “He wants you for the money!”
Mina stood, fisted her hands, and glared at Hugo. “Am I so awful that no man would ever want me except for my money?”
Hugo’s eyes went wide. “Mina, I didn’t mean—”
Mina ignored Hugo and kept talking. Why was it so hard to believe someone would want her for her? “Just because I am a half-bread doesn’t mean Jayden doesn’t like me! He kissed me, and I liked it! And I know he liked it because he pushed his tongue inside my mouth, and his body was trembling against mine! I am sure he would have done more, but he respects me, and he stopped!” She was shaking with anger. She was also breathing hard.
Hugo opened his mouth, but no sound came out of it. “I am sure he struggles with control because you are one of the most beautiful women I have seen!” Hugo finally said. “And don’t you ever refer to yourself as a half-breed! I hate that! You are my beloved cousin Mina that has a voice of a crystal! Commander Jayden doesn’t deserve you!”
Mina inhaled and exhaled. She smiled and sat down. “I will be the judge of that! Will you come to the wedding and tie the ribbon around my waist?”
“Are you sure you want to marry him?” Hugo asked.
“Yes!” Mina said, and her eyes shined with happiness.
Hugo nodded. “Then I will gladly tie the ribbon and entrust you to Jayden!”