The Dare of Truth [slash]

Chapter 22

~*~ Three months later ~*~

The bonding ceremony of Othric and Kalish was the most beautiful party the city had ever seen. There was no distinct color code for a lashran bonding like white was for a human wedding, but using Kalish's suit as a template, Fyn had decided on cream and red as the main theme. Othric had given him plenty of leeway to organize the party, and the journalist had made full use of it. And now, the hotel's roof terrace was decorated with hundreds of big flower pots and little trees cut into perfect spheres. Since the weather also played along, the dinner tables had been put outside as well.

Othric and Kalish made their vows under a little arch made of leaves and red flowers. The sire looked splendid in a red suit with a cream shirt in complement to his future mate's outfit, and Kalish practically glowed from within with his beautiful crimson hair brushed to perfection and the happy blush on his cheeks.

Fyn was incredibly happy for both of them. He stood close by, wearing his new green suit, with Eondar by his side. The sire looked good enough to eat in a silvery grey three-piece that matched his eyes perfectly. During the ceremony, Sheldon and Cerise had been taking care of little Anessa, but when everyone went to get some champagne, he managed to get her back from the proud grandparents. Now, the little girl slept peacefully on his shoulder.

It had been really amazing how easily the sire had accepted the baby. No discussions, no "if's" or "but's". All he had said, had been, "I guess, we need a house with a garden in a few years then. Kids need space to run." For the moment, Fyn's apartment was still big enough for the three of them, but they had already started to look around for a bigger place.

The photographer was also Fyn's personal hero since he got up at night whenever the baby was crying. He had such a calm and careful hand with the child that Fyn was almost a bit jealous. Practically from the first moment on, Anessa had adopted the tall sire as if he were her biological sire.

But Fyn had learned a lot as well in these last months. Anessa was, all in all, a very uncomplicated child. She ate like a horse, had no problem with being passed around, and already showed a great curiosity for everything that went on around her. But now she was exhausted from all the new things she had seen during the party and needed a nap on her adopted sire's broad shoulder. She almost looked like a flower adornment in her fluffy pale pink dress that matched her hair. The little tufts on her head had grown, retaining that incredible color of cotton candy mixed with brown sugar.

Fyn's heart melted whenever he looked at Eondar and the baby. He was almost ridiculously happy, and, on top of it, felt that he actually deserved it. The past three months hadn't been easy, but now he was ready to put the events involving Sylair behind him for good.

The lifebearer had written a series of articles about the events, and Jordan had put them on the front page. There had been a lot of uproar involving the people Sylair had threatened, and there was even talk of establishing a trading embargo on the wilder islands of Zarn. Viper had recovered from the shot, but was sentenced here in Valkyrie Falls since he was an Avran citizen – Fyn and Eondar had been called as witnesses. All in all, a great deal had been achieved in the name of justice, and two days ago, an official letter had arrived from the office of the committee for the Avran Journalist Award. It was the highest award a journalist could get in this country, and they had nominated Fyn. The award ceremony would be held in two months.