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*****

ELRETH

They were both quiet for moment, then Elreth voiced her fear. "Maybe that's my fate?" she said. "Maybe if I'm dominant I'm supposed to stay alone? And not mate at all?"

Gar groaned. "You're going to force me to be serious about this, aren't you."

"Gar, you do this stuff. You understand it. I've never… I don't understand. And Dad makes it all sound so simple—but when I went to see Aaryn last night to try and sort it out, he was already with someone else."

"He was mating someone else?" Gar said in a very deep, rough voice that rolled into a growl. And when he turned to look at her there was not a hint of a tease on his dark features.

"You look just like dad when you do that," she said, surprised.

"Whatever, El, I'm serious. He kissed you and then he went and found someone else to mate?"

"Not mating," she sighed. "But… they were hugging. And he was… holding her."

"Who?"

"Does it matter? The point is… obviously I was more upset about our fight—about him walking away—than he was if he could just go hang out with someone else and… be okay."

Gar sighed and sank back down. "Look, El, the thing with males is… we aren't always good about how we react if we think a female isn't going to take us. Good males love strong females. But sometimes having to compete for everything gets old. Sometimes you want someone who likes you as you are, you know? Where you don't have to prove yourself. A person where you just… get to be you."

"You sound like Dad."

"Enough, El—"

But Elreth kept talking. "I do let Aaryn be himself. That's why we're friends."

"Sis, you make everyone fight for everything. Not just males, everyone. Maybe sometimes, with Aaryn, just… let him win?"

Elreth squirmed. "But he does win. Lots of times!"

"Then maybe acknowledge it when it happens. Don't steal it from him. Let him know you know he won."

"But how do I let him know that when he's not even speaking to me right now?"

"Does he know you want to talk to him?"

"Of course. I always want to talk to him."

"Does he know, right now, this minute, that you're here talking to me about how much you wish you could get your cat on with him?"

"Well, no. That would be embarrassing."

"Would you be embarrassed if he came and told you that he wanted to get it on with you?"

"No!"

"Then what makes you think he'd embarrass you?"

She groaned. "Because he's the one who got mad and walked away. I might not mate, but I've noticed males have this tendency to lash out when they're angry," she finished dryly. Gar had a reputation for his temper.

But her brother just snorted. Then he went quiet. "Look, El. If you really want him—if you really think he's the one, then you should be willing to take the risk that he'll hurt you. He should be worth the risk to you."

Elreth blinked.

No matter how she looked at that statement, she couldn't see any way that it was wrong. "Gar?"

"Yeah?"

"When did you get wise?"

"I've always been wise, I just hide it better than you so people won't come to my house when I'm trying to sleep and force me to have deep and meaningful conversations with my wisdom."

She picked up the pillow and whacked him with it again. He chuckled, but then he pulled her into his side. She sighed heavily.

"You got this, El. There's no one stronger than you. You can handle this. Even while you're dominating the whole Kingdom at the same time."

She groaned and covered her face as her brother laughed. Then she pushed up and away.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "Now, go tell Mom you're home and stop leaving without telling her you're going. You're worrying her. Too much. And that pisses Dad off."

"I don't give a fuck about pissing off Dad." All the softness was gone from his tone and he didn't meet her eyes.

She stared a moment, wondering what had happened a few years ago when he'd started fighting their father. But he always blew her off when she asked and now... now she just didn't have the energy. "I love you, brother."

"Yeah, love you too," he grumbled.

She got up from the bed, but before she got out the door, she turned. "Hey, Gar?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you keep leaving?"

He didn't answer immediately, and when he did, he didn't look at her. "Because Dad's shadow is heavy to walk in."

Elreth nodded and bit her lip. "Are you mad? That I challenged him, I mean?"

Gar laughed. "Hell no, sis. You're a gift from the Creator for that. I really, really didn't want it. More power to you, Majesty."

"Then… why are you so angry all the time?"

Gar sighed. "Just leave it, Elreth."

"Okay. Thank you again for helping me. Wish me luck."

"You have the devil's own luck, Elreth. But… I hope things work out with Aaryn. He's a good male."

"Yeah… me too."