Ceremony of Seduction by Cassie Ryan Page A

away and looked from one to the other. “I’m glad for the chance to finally get to know you. You’ve only existed in my wishful fancies for so long. But for now, maybe you’d better explain to me exactly what this coming-of-age ceremony entails.”
    King Darius looked decidedly uncomfortable. The queen smiled a knowing smile and reached out to lay a gentle hand on his arm. “Why don’t you go and help the cook decide on what dessert to serve our lovely daughter on her first night home, darling?”
    Did I say something wrong?
    He cleared his throat, never meeting Alyssa’s eyes and beat a hasty retreat to the sounds of the queen’s soft chuckles. Annalecia placed a hand on Alyssa’s arm. “Why don’t we walk in the water gardens while we talk?” They rose and Alyssa followed her mother outside, their arms linked at the elbows again—both women afraid to let go of the other for any long period.
    The water gardens turned out to be a large open garden with thousands of exotic looking plants interspersed among breathtaking waterfalls. The falls emptied into small ponds teeming with brightly colored fish and frogs. The scents of fertile earth competed with the mist of water and the aroma of flowers. The gentle gurgling sound of the water, accompanied by soft frog croaks and other sounds of the night blended around them. The moon shone down on them, bathing everything in silver light and a gentle breeze teased Alyssa’s hair.
    “Did I ask something I shouldn’t? About the ceremony, I mean?”
    Her mother chuckled and led her to a cushioned bench in front of a large pond. “We may be a society that must have sex or at least sexual energy to survive, but no father is comfortable talking about his own daughter having it. It is much like a human father not wanting to talk about the feminine cycle.”
    Understanding dawned as well as dread. She’d accepted that most everything with the Klatch centered around sex, but she hadn’t thought the ceremony would too. Although she probably should have known. Stone had kept his comments vague, probably to keep from scaring her.
    Taking Alyssa’s hands in her own, the queen turned to meet her gaze. “I’ll be as forthcoming as I can about the ceremony and any questions you may have. I know you haven’t known me as your mother for long, but I went through the ceremony as well and I know knowledge can make it easier.” Annalecia squeezed her hands. “Have you been mated?”
    Alyssa had never had a talk with her mom growing up about anything. She’d found out about her period from listening to her sisters talk, and anything else she’d wanted to know from books or the Internet. But having this open, wonderful woman who genuinely seemed to care about her offer to give her information felt wonderful and different. “Mated?” she asked. “I’m not sure what you mean. Is that a Klatch term?”
    Her mother’s brows knit together for a second and she seemed to be searching for the correct term. “I believe the human equivalent is losing your virginity?” her mother said, sounding not quite certain.
    Understanding dawned, as did a hot blush that crept up her neck and cheeks. She couldn’t convince herself to meet her mother’s eyes as she shook her head from side to side.
    Annalecia let out a breath of relief. “Good, then at least there’s no irreparable damage. I’m not sure how much Stone told you, but having the essence of a Klatch man touch you before your coming-of-age can be deadly. A human’s essence can make a full-blooded Klatch royal sterile, or just weaken your system permanently.”
    She stared open-mouthed at her mother. “But my roommate, Debbie, she fu…I mean, she had sex all the time and she’s apparently a Cunt. Aren’t they just another faction of Klatch?”
    “The Cunts are a product of a Klatch and human mating. They have different constitutions. They aren’t as sensitive to human essence, but are even more sensitive to Klatch essence.