“Please. Open it. Read it.”
Hearing his voice for the first time had an immediate effect on me. The five words that he spoke lacked emotion. They were just words said in a voice that I wanted to continue to hear. Mesmerized by his voice, I had not listened to what he had said. Wait! What am I supposed to be doing? This is not how I remember any of the other ceremonies.
“Zara, please read the letter.”
He tapped my shoulder with the back of his hand. The envelope was right at my eye level. There was no mistaking what he wanted done. I slowly reached for the envelope and brought it down to my lap so I could read it without raising the level of my eyes.
Dear Zara Faith Evans:
Congratulations on your admission to Michigan State University and welcome to the Spartan Family.
Totally confused, I reread the first sentence of the letter over again a couple of times. Michigan State University? My name is clearly on the letter. But … how?
“I don’t understand.” I say in a whisper more to myself than to him or anyone around me.
“Zara.”
For the very first time, I allow myself to elevate my eyes and look at the man that is to become my future … I think. Before I can stop myself, I gasp at seeing his face. He is more than attractive; I don’t have the words yet to describe how good he looks. My eyes find their way to his and they lock. Even the sound of my mother’s threatening throat clearing cannot break our eye contact. It isn’t until I hear my name in her harsh tone that I remember my place and return my focus to my trembling hands.
Then something happens that causes the entire hall to go silent. He kneels down in front of me and looks me in the eyes.
“I am not your Dom. I am not your husband. I am here for you and I will take care of all of your needs. Take this time to discover who you are and what you want. It is my sincere hope that in four years from tonight, you will again be waiting for me within the center circle. At which time, you will be ready to complete the ceremony freely. Nod … if you wish for me to take you to college.”
I am in shock. I have no idea what will happen. I nod my head … yes.
Straightening to his full height, he extends his large hand out to help me to my feet. I am shaking. For the first time in my life, I do not know what to expect. I find my mother’s eyes and stare into them, attempting to convey my love for her and my need to take this unexpected opportunity.
“Aubrey.”
That’s all Father had to say to end the silent communication between us. The tone in which he said it made it clear what was expected of her. Her eyes dropped to the ground directly in front of her. Slowly, my mother lowered herself into the kneeling position that my father’s tone demanded. There would be no point in hoping for more eye contact with my mother. She is no longer my mother. She is now my father’s slave.
I flinched as the man standing next to me begins to speak. No longer to me, but to the entire hall, ripping me from the realization that this decision has more far- reaching ramifications than just this ceremony.
“Thank you all for coming this evening. This ceremony has been rescheduled for four years from tonight. Thank you.”
With my hand still in his, he leads me out of the circle. We pass the collar that I have prepared to wear my entire life. We pass my mother in her kneeling position with her hands in her lap, her eyes affixed to the floor directly in front of her. We walk past everyone: the King council, Doms with their subs, Masters with their slaves, and the section of unattached males and females that are whispering as we pass. We are walking away from everyone and everything that I know.
About the author
Alexandria Sure is an avid reader and has written her first novel as homage to fans the genre she loves. She hopes that others will enjoy her novel as much as she enjoyed writing it. Sure is from Michigan, and adores her family, her rescue pup and her mighty Spartans.
She also follows the work of several other authors and has especially loved following their author pages on Facebook. This has given her the opportunity to get to know the people behind the characters that she has grown to love. She hopes her readers will check out her Facebook page, so she can get to know them, as well.
Watch for details on the Spring 2015 release of Before Him Comes Me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexandria-Sure/283345031858469
Email: [email protected]
Speak (The Voice trilogy Book 2) Page 20