Although she was leaving the Ram name behind, Alaric and Aayina would act as chaperones for her sisters until Bahni was wed or 25. So although he was no longer required to chaperone for three of his own siblings, he was gaining three new sisters to fill those spaces. Aayina's youngest sister, Ekaja, was Debuting next year. 
"Can I pinch you?" Aayina asked with a dangerous glint in her eyes. 
"If I say yes, do you promise to leave a mark?" he smiled as he grabbed her arms to pull her into a kiss. And he tried not to yelp when this simply allowed her direct access to his backside.
That would leave a mark.
"Are you ready to bleed for me?" Aayina didn't leave the circle of his arms to ask.
"Vicious woman," he taunted, walking with her under his arm so they could stand before the two licences. One would stay with them and one would be stored in the Archive of the Information Bureau. "Price your finger and show me your love," she demanded, not hesitating to stab the provided little pin into her own finger, and imprint both pages. 
Alaric followed suit, not knowing if there was any magic involved in the bloodied certificates, but still feeling the effect of them all the same. He was now married, the woman at his side likely far smarter than he was, and certainly more capable of keeping her wits, and yet she'd still chosen to marry him. Aayina grabbed his suit jacket lapels and pulled him into a fierce kiss.
His wife.
Alaric suspected he had a less than charming smile on his face but couldn't wipe it clear, "you're stuck with me now Aayina," he warned.
"How will I ever survive?" she laughed at him and curled her arm through his. "Let's go see how everyone else is," she led him from their private moment to an Estate filled with jubilation and people. 
Derbie and Ban were already seated, the Ruma family absent due to the impending birth of her niece or nephew. They didn't seem to mind the absence, focused on each other as Derbie kissed Ban's bloodied finger as if to heal it. In between them and the next newlyweds, Calvin and Danilo sat looking far too guilty to not have been caught at some shenanigans. Next to Danilo, his brother Borka sat with his new wife Deepa, and the other Ram sisters sat clustered between them and Aayina and Alaric. On their other side, Blair and Hida kept making loudly blunt statements and being shushed by Edwina and her new husband. Daro's family had only sent his sister, Celestyn, to represent them, so Alaric had taken the opportunity to sit her with Gavin and Eniola. His youngest brother was a natural caretaker, and even if Celestyn was eight years older than Alaric, and nearly twice Gavin's age, he'd help her feel included.
It was customary for each family to toast the newly weds, and despite hosting this mega-wedding, Alaric was himself excluded for obvious reasons. So Blair stood up, the next eldest, and although she still acted willful and provocative, she'd come home drunk far less frequently and Alaric had hopes of a decent speech. "I shall start with the obvious congratulations to all the now married Couples," she lifted her wine glass and smiled as everyone else lifted theirs. "May you all have long, happy marriages, healthy children in your lives, and as much love as you can get from each other." It was a little risqué but tolerable, so Alaric gladly cheered her and took a drink.
THAT was the mistake.
He'd had a simple, if boring, table red served. Somehow, Blair had managed to replaced his drink with the clear, almost spicy liquor favoured in Hinikia and Alaric nearly died as he drank it like wine instead of aggressive spirits. Thankfully, she spared the guests and new spouses, but Alaric could tell by their grimaces that his siblings gave that, except for Edwina, she's altered their drinks too. Even little Hida gave a grossed out face.