Brianna (29 page)

Ban stepped back as he finished adjusting Brianna’s hair.

Shaking his head in wonder, he said to Char, “How did you ever find someone to do such delicate work?”

Char admired his wife. Gattan red diamonds were absolutely perfect for her coloring. He was more than pleased to put the collection it had taken him years to amass on display, especially when the setting was his beautiful wife.

Brianna sighed to herself in the mirror and turned to face Char. “I feel just like a princess.”

Ban snorted as he took her hand. “You are a princess now, Coz, remember?” Escorting her towards the door, he stopped in front of Char and held out Brianna’s hand. “Yours, I believe.”

Char winced. How could Ban say something so stupid!

“I am
mine
, Alalakan don al’ Bandalardrac, and don’t you forget it!” Brianna snapped imperiously snatching her hand from Ban’s.

Ban locked his gaze with Char’s and winked. “Said the wrong thing, didn’t I?”

Char nodded and held out his hand to his wife.

With a haughty glance to Ban, Brianna placed her hand in Char’s. “I chose to marry of my own free will. I always had a choice. If you treat women like they’re possessions, it’s no wonder you can’t find one to love.”

Turning her back on Ban, Brianna tugged her husband towards the door.

Glancing over his shoulder to his cousin, Char winked back.

*

Head high, Brianna stomped down the hall. “‘Yours, I believe.’ Does he really believe that horseshit? What an ass!”

Char chuckled. “I tried to warn you.”

Cupping Brianna’s elbow, he slowed her progress. “Easy.

You don’t want to fall down the stairs.”

She sniffed. “I will not fall.”

Pulling her arm free, she placed her hand on the railing and descended the stairs carefully.

Ban caught up with Char at the top of the stairs and flashed a smile. “Singy doesn’t stand a chance.”

Because Ban’s remark still rankled, Brianna sailed down the stairway much less intimidated than she might have been by rooms full of people who were all taller than she. That in itself was a unique experience. She was used to being taller than almost everyone else, especially the women. Standing in the receiving line with Char and his parents, Brianna, for the first time in her life, felt short.

As Char and Brianna received their guests, Ban wandered through the crowded house. Char’s bride was the main topic of conversation. Everyone was very curious about her, especially those unmarried women who had been hoping to be in that position themselves. Singy had spent most of the afternoon belittling Brianna in every way she could to everyone she met.

Most of the guests, however, had taken one look at Brianna’s exotic beauty, her challenging dragon, and the fortune in red diamonds she wore and had known that Char was more than content with his wife. Singy was a fool if she thought he was still interested in her.

“That should be everyone, Char,” Xdana said. “Find Brianna a comfortable sofa.”

Sighing, Brianna made herself comfortable. “My feet are killing me.”

Meri cocked her head to the side. “What?”

Char leaned over. “Do you want me to get you something?”

Brianna waved him away. “No. Go mingle. Everyone will think you’re afraid to let me say anything without your approval.

I’m more than a setting for valuable jewels.”

Char grinned. He should have known that anyone who could face down the Dowager Hardan queen would have no trouble with his relatives.

Meri immediately made Brianna stand back up so she could get a closer look at her bridal net. “I have never seen such delicate weaving,” she said with wonder. She herself wore her own bridal net, an ancient net of silver and pale emeralds that had been handed down from mother to eldest daughter in her family for generations. “Whoever did this weaving for Char could make a fortune on Mediria.”

Brianna smiled to herself. She’d overheard numerous comments about the jewelry she wore, a fair amount of it envious. From what she gathered, Gattan red diamonds were extremely rare and almost impossible to purchase. Char must feel something for her if he gave her such valuable jewels.

Meri and Brianna had just settled themselves on the sofa when Ban sauntered over. Handing Brianna a glass, he said, “Char said this Deslossian red is your favorite. You have to be thirsty after all that hello’ing and how-do-you-do’ing.”

Char smiled to himself as he saw the men gather around Meri and Brianna.

Next to him, Jamiros frowned and took a step forward.

Placing a hand on his father’s arm, he said, “No, just watch. Ban will be more protective of his cousins than any Aradab grandmother.”

They watched as the men began to rapidly find other, less well-guarded prey. After the last rake disappeared, Ban sent a glance that spoke volumes to Char.

“You didn’t have to chase all of them away, Ban,” Brianna muttered crossly. “How do you expect me to meet anyone?”

“Those men are not worth knowing, Coz,” Ban answered.

“They’re only interested in sex.”

Meri had trouble stifling her giggles. “Believe him, Bri, he’s an expert.”

“Humph!”

As the hour passed, Char watched as Brianna, Meri, and Ban talked among themselves. Many groups of people watched them furtively, but none other than older men and women made a move to join them. Glancing around the room, his gaze was drawn to a pair of faces wearing satisfied smirks. Singy—and Crystas. They were the reason none of the young women approached Brianna. Could they possibly think he’d dissolve the marriage when Brianna carried the heir?

Sensing a presence next to him, Char glanced over his shoulder and saw his brother’s smiling face.

“How goes the great introduction, Char? Why isn’t your lovely wife surrounded by every rogue in the family?”

“Ban,” Char answered. Then he continued in a noncommittal tone, “Crystas hasn’t been introduced to Brianna yet.”

Rodane frowned. “I apologize, Char, but Crystas is going to be difficult. She never expected you to come home with a wife, let alone one who is pregnant. She always assumed she’d carry the Alalakan heir.”

As Rodane crossed the room to stand next to his wife, Char walked over to stand next to Brianna.

Both Meri and Ban had seen Rodane join Crystas, and both knew what was coming.

Meri leaned closer to Brianna. “You’re about to meet your sister-in-law.”

Brianna looked toward the woman who stood next to Singy.

So that was Crystas. She’d been here all evening and had made no attempt to introduce herself. Meri had told her some things about Rodane’s wife, but Meri had also told Brianna that she really should form her own opinion.

Crystas was tall and elegant. At six feet six inches in height, she was slender and supple as a willow. Fitting her well-toned body like a glove, the lavender dress she wore had a scooped neck with short puffed sleeves that displayed her slender arms.

Her shoulder-length, honey brown hair was pulled back in a severe style that emphasized high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. Head held high and shoulders thrown back, Crystas glided across the room on Rodane’s arm.

As Meri gripped her hand and Ban patted her shoulder, Brianna began to feel very uneasy. Then she began to get angry.
Just who the hell does she think she is to snub me?

Well, we’ll see just how much the “carrier of the Alalakan heir”

can get way with.

Rodane halted in front of Brianna and bowed deeply.

Conversations ceased. Everyone wanted to observe the meeting between the new sisters-in-law.

“Brianna,” Rodane said simply, “I’d like to introduce my wife, Alalakan dem al’ Crystas.”

Taking the hand Char offered, Brianna allowed him to assist her to her feet. She refused to let this obviously antagonistic woman tower over her more than necessary. “I’m pleased to meet you, Crystas.”

Crystas looked down her nose at her new sister-in-law and said nothing.

Rodane glanced at his wife in amazement. This direct snub was unforgivable. He tightened his hand on her elbow.

Inclining her head, Crystas said in a somewhat envious voice, “Rodane did not do your coloring justice. Your hair is certainly…red.”

“All the better to display Gattan red diamonds, don’t you think?” Ban asked in a devilish voice. “How are you, Coz?”

Crystas’s voice was tight. “Bandalardrac Hardan, what brings
you
here?”

“Alalakan don al’ Bandalardrac,” Rodane said in a firm voice, “has come home to his clan.”

The whispers that ran through the crowd gave Crystas time to regain her composure and return her attention to Brianna. “So you carry the Alalakan heir. Are all women from your planet so…

fertile?” Crystas smiled when she spoke, but her tone of voice left no doubt that the question was an insult.

Brianna was not one to be intimidated. “Do all women on your planet take so many years to…conceive?”

Char hastily stepped from behind Brianna.

At the same time, Rodane’s grip on Crystas’ arm tightened.

Eager anticipation shot through the crowd.

Xdana was too competent a hostess, however, to allow a public squabble between her daughters-in-law. In seconds, she was standing between them.

“Brianna, you haven’t met Jamiros’ mother, Alalakan dem al’

Jenneta.”

Brianna broke eye contact with her hostile sister-in-law and turned to face Char’s grandmother.

A wide smile and lively brown eyes met hers.

“Hello, Brianna,” Jenneta said, “it’s a pleasure to meet the woman who finally brought an end to Char’s wandering ways.

You must be something very special.”

Relaxing, Brianna smiled. Char’s grandmother sounded very friendly. “At the time, he didn’t give me much of a choice.”

“Char forced you to marry him?” Crystas purred.

“No, he didn’t,” Brianna answered flashing a contemptuous glance at her sister-in-law. “No one forced me to do anything. I chose to marry Char.”

Jenneta chuckled. “I would be very disappointed in my grandson if he couldn’t convince such a lovely woman to marry him.”

“So he kept you in sensual thrall until you agreed to marry him,” Crystas interjected snidely.

Sighing, Brianna glanced at the people surrounding her.

Crystas just wouldn’t let it go. She could feel Char’s intense outrage and Rodane’s silent disapproval. Only Meri’s hand on Ban’s arm kept him from a scathing retort. Even Jamiros and Xdana were obviously unhappy with Crystas’ comments.

Char’s grandmother, however, watched them both intently— as if she were waiting for something.

Brianna sighed and in a determined voice said, “Very well, Crystas, if you want a scene in front of the entire clan, you may have one.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Crystas said smugly.

Brianna watched the calculated thoughts flash across her sister-in-law’s face. Starting a cat fight would certainly not endear Brianna to the clan. Obviously, Crystas was hoping Brianna would make a fool of herself.

Crystas had miscalculated—badly.

Using a tactic Crystas never expected, Brianna attacked, “I’d like to see your dragon.”

“What?”

“Your dragon. All Alalakans wear them. As soon as Char explained their importance, I insisted on one for myself. I was also very specific about the design I chose when Lorilana applied it to my shoulder; its message is quite clear. The fire is mine, and I will fight for me and mine. I repeat, Crystas, where is your dragon?”

No one so much as coughed.

Jenneta’s eyes flashed as brightly as Brianna’s.

Crystas raised her chin, but said nothing.

Rodane answered for her. “Crystas wears no dragon. She chose not to do so until…”

“Until she carried the Alalakan heir?” Brianna finished for him, her hands resting on her protruding stomach. “Well, that’s not going to happen now, is it?”

Crystas glared at Brianna.

Thoughts whirling, Brianna glared back.
It’s so obvious why
she hasn’t been pregnant yet. Why haven’t these people figured
out Crystas is on birth control?
With a steely voice, she attacked. “Eight years of marriage and no pregnancy? I’m curious, Crystas. Are contraceptives available on Drakan?

That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t really want to have a baby, but you don’t want to give up the prestige of being married to the Alalakan heir, do you? Do you enjoy holding the future of the Alalakan clan in your power?”

A shocked look on his face, Rodane turned to his wife, as did every guest in the room. Grasping her upper arms, he spun her to face him. “Is this true?”

“This is not a topic to be discussed in public, Rodane. I can’t believe that anyone would be so ill-bred as to mention it,”

Crystas snapped.

Anger rippled through Rodane’s voice. “You’re the one who began this with your immediate snub of my brother’s wife, the woman who carries the Alalakan heir. Answer me. Have you been preventing conception?”

She still tried to stall. “How can a woman who hasn’t even been here an entire day make such an accusation? Can it be she who is trying to sow dissension? She is, after all, an
alien
.”

The total disgust with which Crystas spoke astonished everyone. Heads turned and murmurs were tossed back and forth. The Alalakans were an extremely open-minded clan in a very open-minded society.