Nodding, the priest moved to stand before Sumi. “Now, before these witnesses and our gods, have you, during your pledge time, allowed your body in any way to be tainted by the lineage of any male, other than your pledged?”

“No. I haven’t.”

The priest inclined his head in approval. “You understand that this disclosure is sacred, and to lie will endanger your immortal soul and result in your death?”

“I do, and I swear on my immortal soul that no male, save Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, has touched me. The gods themselves know this to be true.”

He turned to Dancer. “And you, Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk, have you violated your pledge oath to your lady and left any of your lineage with any other female?”

“No, Reverend Father, I have not.”

“Have you kissed, or carnally touched, any female other than your pledged?”

“No.”

The priest narrowed his eyes accusingly on Dancer. “You understand that this disclosure is sacred, and to lie will endanger your immortal soul and result in your death?”

“I do, Reverend Father.”

She expected him to move on with the ceremony, but instead, the priest lifted Dancer’s chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “You are stralen, and the last time you were here, you were not. So again, I ask you for the truth, under grave penalty. Have you lain with any female other than your pledged?”

Why was he badgering Dancer so? The priest was actually beginning to piss her off.

“I have been with no other female, Reverend Father. Princess Sumi is the lady of my heart and universe. She is the one I am stralen for, and she knows this.”

The priest turned back to her. “And do you, Princess Sumi of the Most Sovereign Blood Clan of eton Anatole, accept the pledge and troth of Dancer of the Warring Blood Clan of Hauk? Are you willing to bind your sacred and royal lineage to his?”

For the first time, she saw real fear in Dancer’s gaze as he returned to staring at the floor as if reliving every time Dariana had slashed open his back and left him here to bleed. How could he think for one instant that she would deny him?

Damn you, Dariana.

Sumi walked around his muscled body and paused in front of him. Smiling, she tilted his chin until he met her gaze. “You are the most handsome male I have ever seen, and there is no other I would ever accept.”

Closing his eyes, he cupped her hand in his and held it to his cheek.

She moved to kneel on the cushion next to his while the priest blessed a long, silken cord that was made of burgundy and red braids that symbolized the joining of their two families.