AARYN

Aaryn pulled his leathers on in short, sharp tugs, his chest still tight with anger—and something else he couldn't put his finger on, but it was about letting Elreth walk away. Something about that made his skin crawl.

Especially when she left without touching Aaryn again, but as she passed her father, shooting him an uncomfortable look, her father's nostrils flared and something lit in his eyes.

Aaryn was still pulling on his shirt when the door closed behind her and Reth grunted, then walked over to take one of the big chairs in the Great Room. Aaryn eyes him warily, but when Reth sat, Aaryn dropped into the couch, trying not to let himself think about what he'd almost done on that couch a few minutes earlier.

Holy shit. Good thing the shock had settled his body down.

He pulled one foot up to rest on the other ankle and stared at Reth, waiting. He wasn't going to make this easier for the male who'd barged in on them.

Did no one in this family knock?

Actually, as he thought about it, even Elreth tended to just walk into his home and announce herself as she arrived. It was part of being royal he supposed. It was a rare event indeed when they weren't welcome in a room.

That could get interesting.

"You might want to start barring the door," Reth said, no humor in his tone. "Royal Quarters are often interrupted. We learned that lesson the hard way too."

"Noted," Aaryn said through his teeth.

Reth sat back in his chair, leaning on the arm, his temple resting one extended finger. "Did you feel it?"

"Feel what, exactly?"

"The mating bond. Did you feel it snap into place?"

Aaryn glared. "How the fuck do you know that? Is nothing sacred in this family?"

"Very little," Reth said blandly. "But, your scents are entwined, which means the bond has been formed already. Interesting, since I gather my daughter still hasn't—"

"If you finish that sentence, I swear on the Creator, Reth—"

"I'm doing my best to be patient here, Aaryn. I know it's been a highly emotional day, and you've just suffered a shock. But you'd do well to remember who I am to you. And to her."

Aaryn continued glaring. "Yes, I felt it," he said reluctantly. "She did too."

"In that case, I won't waste my breath asking you two to slow this down for the sake of… well, everyone. But I will make one thing very clear: This isn't a game. She is not a pawn for your… ambitions. And if I ever find out you've used her, I will not hesitate to end you, mating bond or not."

Aaryn huffed a dry laugh, but Reth didn't smile. Aaryn's eyes narrowed. "You're threatening to kill your daughter's true Mate?"

"If her true Mate doesn't own up to who he really is and what he really does, and the division of his loyalties. Yes."

"Division of loyalties? You think there is anyone in my life that I'm less loyal to than her?"

"I think you're the only Anima alive that can change her mind. And as her true Mate that becomes even more of a risk. You'll influence her without either of you even realizing it. If she doesn't know about the… responsibilities you have, she won't measure what you say with the appropriate caution."

Aaryn held his gaze. "What responsibilities is it that you think I have?" he said through gritted teeth.

"The Dominant among the disformed. Impressive, given your youth."

"Not as impressive as Elreth. And she's younger."

"True."

Aaryn waited him out.

"You want to tell me how that happened? For you, I mean," Reth asked quietly. "And why you didn't want to tell me about it?"

Aaryn swallowed. "No." It had never occurred to him that Reth would be hurt by that decision, but here he was staring and a shadow in his eyes.

But then Reth's lips twitched towards a smile. "You know, you remind me of me at your age—except more… angsty."

"Please do us both a favor and don't tell my mate that."

Reth chortled. Aaryn wasn't joking.

Reth's smile faded quickly. He leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees and hands clasped loosely. But everyone line in his body spoke of the authority he carried around his shoulders like the mane of the great lion within. "I didn't tell her what I know. Yet. But I will if you don't. She needs to know."

"She will. You might have noticed there's been a few things going on lately."

Reth shook his head. "Nothing—I mean, nothing—that undermines her rule is less important than you having a chance to take your mate."

Aaryn bristled. He mirrored Reth, leaning forward on his knees. "And if you ever imply again that my concern for my mate is more about taking her body, than binding with her soul, I will tear your throat out. And I will not hesitate. She is not your possession, Reth."

"Or yours, Aaryn."

Aaryn snorted without humor. "Trust me, no one knows that better than me. She's made sure of it." But he sobered quickly. "I will tell her about the disformed. But I will do it when she has less pressure on her shoulders. Unless it becomes relevant earlier, there's no point in adding to her burden," he muttered.

"She's Queen. She needs to be burdened with this."

"This? There is no 'this', Reth. The disformed organized in the event that, oh, I don't know, a Ruler decided to banish them from the Tree City?"

The muscles at the back of Reth's jaw twitched. "I told you that was never going to happen."

"And I told you that you underestimate who you empowered by voicing the very idea. Speaking of unintentional influence…"

Reth didn't react. "If ideas are so important, then go ahead and share this one with Elreth."

"I told you, she carries enough!"

"She needs to know everything she carries, whether you think it's a risk or not!"

"Maybe that's the difference between being her father and her mate. I disagree."

"Actually, Aaryn," Reth growled, his eyes flashing the gold of his beast, "that's the difference between being a Ruler and a Revolutionary. One carries a Kingdom, the other carries a cause. Don't ever mistake them as the same thing, noble pursuit or not."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Did Elia ever tell you that she and Gahrye were the originals to organize us?"

Reth looked like he'd swallowed his own tongue.

Aaryn gave him the cold smile he usually reserved for prey. "It appears that perhaps not all Rulers see things your way."

Reth looked away from him for a moment, his jaw twitching before he looked at Aaryn again. "You take pleasure in hurting me, Aaryn?" Reth said quietly, in the wounded tone Aaryn hadn't heard since he was eighteen and he'd snuck Elreth out to get drunk for the first time and she'd almost fallen off the Hill Cliff. Reth had used exactly that tone when he'd confronted Aaryn about getting the young Elreth out from under Reth's safety and putting her at risk.

There had been a distinct tension between them for weeks after and Aaryn had felt the lack of Reth's fatherly care in his own life. It had been very effective in making sure Aaryn thought twice about helping Elreth defy her parents.

"This isn't about you and me," Aaryn snarled, hating that the blow landed. "My position means the disformed will be an asset to Elreth, not a threat."

"You hope," Reth said, low and hard. "But you're right, this isn't about you and me. No. It's about you and your mate. And take it from me, Aaryn. If you destroy trust there, nothing else will ever fill the hole you create in your own heart. Or hers."

Aaryn wanted to growl, but he'd watched Reth and Elia for years, yearned for the kind of connection they had. He swallowed. "Thank you for the advice, Reth. I will tell her—when the time is right."

"Not good enough. Vow to me that you'll tell her before the Flames and Smoke."

Aaryn scowled, but Reth didn't back down.