n

n

nRETH

n

"What the ** were you thinking, Reth?

" Behryn yelled in the lantern light of the Cave half an hour later.

n

"I wasn't thinking about you, that's for sure. C'mon, Behr, it's none of your business. My mate and I—

"

n

"You and your mate just announced to the world that the King was at home and getting busy, outside, and unattended!

"

n

"Behryn,

" Elia sighed.

"Why does it matter—everyone will know anyway.

"

n

"It matters!

" The massive man turned on Elia with eyes flashing with anger, and Reth growled and stepped between them. But Behryn stared him down, then looked at Elia over his shoulder.

"It matters because the guards weren't with you which means they'll know you were unattended.

"

nElia gulped.

"It was a mistake. Things got heated and—

"

n

"You're supposed to be the thoughtful one here! You're supposed to be the one with the rope around his nose—you couldn't keep him quiet one time?

"

n

"I did. Twice, actually. It was the third time that—

" Elia started, stifling a laugh. But Reth was so tense he was beginning to shake. She put a hand to his shoulder and whispered to him,

"He's not going to hurt me. He's just angry. You're fine.

"

nBut Reth snarled. Behryn threw up his hands and stormed away from them both, across the great room, but then turned on his heel and stomped right back up to put a finger in Reth's chest.

"You will tell me where you were, how you got outside without the guards seeing you leave, and we will have new guards posted at the exit—

"

n

"I told you, Behr, we were in the mineral pools.

"

n

"Don't **ing lie to me! My hearing is better than yours, Reth, and that was no tunneled echo. You were outside—the entire Tree City knows it!

"

n

"They don't know that no guards were with me unless you tell them.

"

n

"The guards know! Which means all the soldiers do, because they had to debrief on shift-change and you know how they love to tease you about mating roars, Reth. It's only going to take one person to put two and two together—

"

n

"Then I guess our job is to make sure they can't,

" Reth said, in a voice of stone.

n

"Tell me where you went! How you got out!

"

n

"No.

"

n

"Reth, I wonder if—

" Elia started, but he whirled on her.

n

"No. It's ours. Only ours. We will have one thing that is sacred!

" he snarled, then turned on Behryn.

"One thing! One place that is only for my mate and I and you will not be the one to steal it from us, Behryn.

"

n

"But the security—

"

n

"It has been in this cave longer than I have and never discovered,

" Reth insisted.

"Nothing has changed except that you now know it exists. So, the answer is no.

"

n

"But the wolves!

"

n

"The wolves don't know it exists, either. And if anyone asks, we'll… I don't know what we'll tell them but we'll think of something.

"

nBehryn stood before him, face pale, hands in fists, shaking with anger.

"I swore to protect you with my life,

" he said quietly, eyes ablaze.

"I have given everything over to keep you safe, to protect your mate.

"

n

"And I am eternally grateful for it, brother, you know that,

" Reth said seriously. Genuinely.

nBehryn nodded.

"But you now tell me you—you, Reth—would put a barrier in my way. An access that our enemies could use, and you will not allow me to guard it. To ensure your safety. You will not even tell me where it is!

"

n

"Because I know the risk is so low—

"

n

"What if it were Elia here alone, Reth? What then? What if she were the one who'd figured out how to get out of the cave, but wouldn't tell you. How would you feel?

"

nReth went very still. Behryn nodded.

"Not very comfortable when the shoe is on the other hoof, is it, Reth?

"

n

"Behryn—

"

n

"Reth, just tell him,

" Elia sighed.

"If he understands how safe it is, he won't freak out and… and hopefully we can stop having guards soon anyway.

"

nReth and Behryn exchanged an entire conversation in one look:

nBehryn raised his eyebrow to say, she doesn't appreciate the risk she's in.

nReth agreed.

nBehryn said you have to make her understand.

nReth said he would.

n

"Tell me. Where. It is,

" Behyrn said through his teeth.

n

"No,

" Reth said.

"But hear me brother, the reason I won't tell you is because I know the risk is much, much lower by the hiding. The more people know, the far more likely we are to have a breach. The escape was created by my father, and no one has ever discovered it. We truly are safe. I need you to trust me on that.

"

nBehryn's jaw twitched. He rolled his shoulders and shook his head.

"You will regret this, Reth. I know it in my bones.

"

n

"I pray that isn't true, brother,

" Reth said sadly pulling Elia into his side.

"It is a very needed and necessary escape. I'm sorry, but it will remain private.

"

nElia gave him a grim smile and put a hand to his chest, and for a moment, everything they'd shared that afternoon flashed in his head—her hand on his chest, her lips on his chest, his lips on hers, her hair in his hands, her cry in his mouth—it all rattled through his head and threatened to tighten his groin again, which had to be impossible.

nShe was like a drug.

nHe put his hand over hers and smiled down at her, and Behryn made a growl in his throat that would have marked him wolf if they hadn't known better.

nBut he also knew Reth, and knew when his brother would not budge. Reth was rarely stubborn—only for a very good reason.

nHe could hear Aymora laughing in his head and shook it to rid himself of the sound.

n

"I'm sorry, brother,

" Reth said again.

"Truly. But I need you to trust me on this.

"

nBehryn flapped a hand to dismiss Reth, and stormed out of the cave, muttering under his breath about stupid, cocksure lions.

nWhen he'd gone, Elia looked up at him.

"Are you sure, Reth?

" she asked quietly.

"He seems pretty worried.

"

n

"I am certain,

" Reth said, pulling her chin up for a quick kiss.

"But I do need to go soothe his shattered nerves. So, are you okay?

"

n

"I'm the best I've been in a long time,

" she said, smiling.

"You go do your work. I'm off to start mine.

"

nReth smiled.

"That's my Queen.

" Then he bowed over her hand before leaving the cave himself and running after Behryn—only to find him already gone from the clearing.

nReth groaned. Bastard had run because he knew Reth couldn't keep up.

n****

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