“This is the traditional bonding song,” Korum whispered to her. “It’s one of our oldest melodies—it dates back more than a billion years.”
“It’s incredible,” Mia whispered back, feeling the fine hairs on the back of her neck rising as the tempo picked up.
The couple—who had been standing on the stage this whole time without movement—took a step toward each other. Their arms came up, their palms joining together, and the robes that they were wearing seemed to expand and curve around their bodies, creating a tent of sorts. Only their heads were visible now, and the expressions on their faces were calm, as though they were not about to do something very intimate in front of fifty thousand spectators.
As the music continued to play, Leeta’s mate started speaking, his voice echoing throughou
