AARYN

She was small for an Anima—because she was human before she became Anima. She'd been trained for silence by his uncle Gahrye, and taking advantage of her lighter bodyweight she had developed a creepy ability to move around and appear suddenly next to you, without warning.

She put a cool hand to his arm and looked up at him. "I saw what you did, rushing in to help her—and me—when everyone else was fleeing. Thank you. You're a good male, Aaryn."

He felt his cheeks heat. "It wasn't—"

"Yes. It was," she said firmly, reminding Aaryn of the saying the King—Reth—had always used about her. 'Though she be small, she is fierce.' Reth always laughed when he said it—and always stopped laughing when she gave him one of her looks. Aaryn had been on the receiving end of the mother-version of those looks. He understood why even the King—former King—stepped small around them.

"Let me thank you, Aaryn," she went on, unaware of his thoughts. "You did a good thing today and showed your love for… our family. And your courage. We will not forget it."

He cleared his throat and scratched his neck. "You're welcome, I guess?"

One side of her mouth slid up into a smile and she nodded at Elreth and Reth behind him, clinging to each other, both scowling, but both intent. "Look at them," she sighed. "They are so alike. And yet, they don't realize it. They will fight about this for months, even when no one else cares anymore."

"She loves him fiercely," Aaryn said without thought.

"Yes, she does. And he would give his life for her. But it doesn't stop them both from being more stubborn than mules," she grumbled.

"What's a mule?" Aaryn asked. Over the years he'd become used to Elia's sometimes strange turn of phrase when she spoke without thinking.

She chuckled. "They are… the horse equivalent of a disformed in my world. Half donkey, half horse, they cannot breed. But they're incredibly strong and have great stamina, and… it doesn't matter. Trust me, they're very stubborn. Almost as stubborn as these two," she said, nodding at Elreth and Reth again.

Aaryn snorted. "I'd like to see you introduce Elreth to a mule one day," he said. "A fight for the ages."

"You have no idea," she said, but her attention was very clearly on her mate. Her brows pinched and she frowned. "He was hurt this morning. No matter what he says, he doesn't heal as quickly as he used to. I know it was necessary, but…" she trailed off, smoothing her blouse and shaking her head. "Nevermind. Just… do me a favor, Aaryn, and watch over Elreth for these next few days. Weeks? As she works through all this, she'll need a true friend she can trust."

Aaryn's heart pinched at the word 'friend,' but he knew she meant it well. He nodded. "I will."

"Thank you."

Elreth was rolling her eyes, but her father pulled her into a hug and whatever they'd shared, it was over. When he let her go, Elreth took the few steps over to join Aaryn and her mother, and Reth followed—more slowly, and if Aaryn didn't miss the tension in his jaw, clenching his teeth against pain.

"Why don't we go back to the cave and celebrate?" Elia asked, looking at Reth pointedly. Aaryn wondered if she knew how obvious she was being about getting Reth off his feet.

Elreth and Reth both nodded. Aaryn planned to sink into the trees as they walked away, but before anyone moved, Reth took another step towards him. "Lia, why don't you take El home and… catch up. I'd like to have a word with Aaryn."

Aaryn's stomach dropped as the former King's gaze latched on his. But he didn't blink and didn't back down. Whatever this was, he wanted a word with Reth, too. And he wasn't going to enter the conversation at a disadvantage.

Well, not at more of a disadvantage than was unavoidable.

Elreth frowned at her father, but her mother distracted her, and they both walked away pushing back the curtain of blossoms and leaves that the Weeping Tree was painted in at this time of year.

Reth stood next to him, watching where they'd disappeared for a long minute. Aaryn was about to ask if he was alright, when the older man finally turned and faced him, folding his massive arms across his broad chest and fixing his eyes on Aaryn.

"I think it's time for us to have a chat. Male-to-male," he said, quietly.