AARYN

His mate was beautiful when she was angry—and fucking terrifying when she went still like she did now, moving only her eyes to look at Huncer.

"The bond took," she said through her teeth, "But we… chose not to complete it to give ourselves time to consider how to announce it. Were we to have mated, the entire city would have known this morning."

Most of the elders looked stunned. Lhern smiled. But Huncer… the older Leonine's eyes narrowed. "How can you be sure the bond is true if you were able to resist it?"

"I assure you, it was not easy," Elreth growled, her cheeks pinking. He wished she'd look at him so he could share the amusement with her. But he knew she wasn't there yet. He would have chuckled if Huncer hadn't looked so alarmed.

Aaryn cleared his throat instead, and they all turned to him. Whoops. "Waiting was my idea—or rather, Reth's, but I found it wise. I do not wish to create conflict, I wish to remove it. But I will fight for this, make no mistake."

"And the disformed with you, no doubt," Huncer said dryly.

Aaryn's adrenalin shot through the roof. Did she know? "I'm not sure what you mean?"

"I mean, I know that the disformed from all tribes spend time together. Do your disformed friends know? Have you told them you are to be King?" Huncer asked, her voice clipped.

Aaryn shook his head, suddenly grateful for the disruption from his mother yesterday. It only now occurred to him how the elders would feel about not being the first to know. "I have not, but I planned to, later today."

Huncer nodded. "The disformed will be relying on you to champion their cause to the tribes, then. Are you prepared for that?"

He almost smiled, but managed to keep his face straight. "Yes. I believe I can handle that role," he said.

Elreth snorted. "There is no one better to represent them—they themselves will tell you that," she said.

"I have no doubt the disformed will feel that way, but the other tribes may not, have you considered that?"

Aaryn shot Elreth a look, but she was still staring at Huncer. The female still looked thoughtful, Aaryn mentally scanned through what might be concerning her, and unless she knew of his role, that the disformed were organized into a tribe, he couldn't find anything else—

"His father died a traitor—or at the very least, with the accusation of traitor over his head. There will be many Anima that would be concerned for Aaryn's loyalty to the throne."

"Then they will need to keep their mouths shut. Aaryn has never been anything but supportive of the throne—whether it was held by my father, or myself."

Huncer frowned. There was a strange light in her eyes.

"Do you have concerns about my loyalty, Huncer?" Aaryn asked quietly. "Or anyone else here on the council?" he asked, looking at the rest of them. "I'll admit, my father's history is a wound to me, to my life. And especially to my mother. But I believe I have already proven my loyalty to the Anima, to the throne. I believe if you ask Reth, he will stand for me."

Huncer stared at him a moment, then looked at Elreth, before returning her gaze—calculating, and firm, to him. "Reth would be the first to suggest your role as Alpha of the disformed is a mark of divided loyalties, I would think. Has he not spoken to you about it?"

Aaryn and Elreth both went still. He looked at her. She'd closed her eyes and her jaw was tight, twitching.

Shit. How had they all found out? Why hadn't Reth warned him?

Perhaps more importantly, why hadn't the Elders warned Elreth?

No one in the room looked shocked. Aaryn was suddenly very, very grateful to the Creator that he'd been forced to tell her the night before. He couldn't imagine how angry she would be if this had been dropped on her here, in front of these people.

He swallowed hard, but didn't drop Huncer's eyes. "Yes, Reth spoke to me about it. He seemed more concerned that I ensure Elreth was aware of it, than for what he thought I was doing. But… if anyone here has concerns, I welcome your questions. I will not hide from you. But know: The disformed organized only to provide support, and a place of safety in the event that someone—or all of us—were harmed by the tribes. My Alpha status is no different than that of the wolf packs, or the thunder herds."

"And yet, those leaders are known to the elders and the King—or Queen—and are accountable for their actions. You have remained in the shadows, and your people are of all tribes. Your influence breaches the boundaries of pack or herd. Signicantly," Lhern said.

Elreth shifted her weight. "Aaryn and I spoke of this last night, and will speak of it more," she said, her jaw tight. "But I can assure you, I trust him. I have always trusted him. He will not move against me, I am certain of it. He vowed to bring the disformed to the throne, and I will welcome them warmly, embrace them. They are Anima, just like the rest of us."

"Certainly," Huncer said. "But they are Anima who have organized in secrecy, across tribal lines, and under the son of a believed traitor—you must see how that appears, even if there is no real risk? You must see what it will do to the people to hear of this?"

"There is no need for them to hear of it, if this group remains as discreet as you have, apparently for… how long?"

Huncer turned to look at him, then glanced at Lhern, who nodded once. Then she smiled. "We've known about the Disformed Tribe for well over a year, and your status as Alpha since the very first we learned of it. However, there is much about the group that is still unclear."

"Then ask me, and I will answer," Aaryn said. "If your fear comes from the not-knowing, I am happy to make it clear. My goal is, and has always been, to bring the disformed into unity with the rest of the tribes. Not to overthrow them. The only thing I work against is attitudes like the female you removed from this room just minutes ago. And my heart was lightened by that. I wonder if you would allow me to tell the other disformed of it? It would go a long way to developing good will within them."

"Certainly you may tell them. We will not hide why Pehrye was removed from her seat—and another elder will need to be appointed immediately."

"Thank you."

"Thank you. We have many questions. I believe it would be wise for us to ask them now. To understand the lay of the land, and then we could better advise you, Elreth, on how to announce this."

Elreth nodded and looked at him, her face strangely expressionless. He held her gaze for a moment, then turned back to the elders, ignoring the trill of nerves that suddenly flared in his stomach. The only way to bring the disformed into unity with the tribes was to reveal them. They would understand that, wouldn't they?

"I see no problem with that." He wished he didn't feel like he was lying. "Who would like to start?"