RETH

He hurried to lunch after the security meeting, glad for once he wouldn't be more than a few minutes late. He hoped to find Elia just sitting down so she wouldn't miss him. But when he reached the stage, her chair was empty.

And so was Gahrye's. Reth swallowed back the growl that rose in his throat.

Aymora and Candace greeted him as he sat.

"Have you seen her?

" he asked.

"Not lately,

" Candace responded.

"But she's been eager to get moving on the Festival, so maybe they're planning for that?

"

Aymora caught his eye, obviously stifling a smile. Reth shot her a disapproving look, but he didn't miss the muttered Alph-male bull**, from her as she turned back to her plate.

He accepted his food from one of the servers, and tried to make conversation with the females, but with every minute Elia didn't arrive, it became harder and harder to concentrate.

Where was she?

His tension must have been obvious, because Aymora kept leaning past Candace to glance at him, though she was wise enough not to speak.

He knew Elia was an adult and could skip meals if she wished. They hadn't made plans to meet, she might even think he wasn't going to be there. But where else would she be? And what could be keeping her?

His patience broke, and he pushed his chair back so suddenly, Candace looked at him, alarmed.

"I'm going to speak to some of the people,

" he said gruffly. Both women nodded, then looked at each other. Reth ignored the amusement on their faces. They didn't realize what danger she was in. Was it possible the wolves had made another move without him knowing?

Was Gahrye strong enough to protect her if they were together?

Would the wolves even keep him alive?

A growl pressed at the back of his throat as he scanned the market, looking for the wolves. He caught sight of both Lucan and Lerrin, neither of whom looked smug—or tense, though Lucan avoided his eyes. That wasn't uncommon since he'd been dominated the last time they spoke.

He was overreacting, he told himself. But just to be safe, he would see if anyone had seen her, had any clue where she was.

He approached several tables, chatting and smiling, pretending he wasn't anxious, only dropping in a casual reference to Elia when he'd already heard how the people were doing. But none of them had seen her.

By the time he reached a table of the Pride females, he wanted to roar.

No one had seen her all morning!

He didn't bother pretending for his own tribe, instead he leaned over the tabletop between two of the lowest ranking females at the table and scanned all of them with a piercing gaze.

"My mate hasn't been seen since I left her this morning. Have any of you seen, or heard anything about her since after breakfast?

"

The females all looked at each other, shaking their heads.

Fadya, the youngest, placed a hand on Reth's arm and offered a patronizing smile that made him want to growl.

"She'll turn up. She probably just got lost in the forest or something. Someone will find her and she'll be fine. She can't have gone far, after all.

"

Huncer, the oldest and highest ranked at the table cut Fadya a hard look. The slight wasn't serious, but it implied that their Queen was little better than an eight year old who might get turned around by their own nose—and tired out as easily.

But worse, none of the women—even Huncer—contradicted her outright.

Was that really what they thought of his mate?

"You listen,

" he said in a low voice that had them all tensed immediately.

But he didn't get to finish the thought because a warm hand landed on his shoulder and the most beautiful voice in the world snapped,

"Get your paw off my mate.

"

Reth's heart leapt, while all the women snapped their heads to Elia, who must have been downwind since none of them scented her arriving. Her hair was wet and twisted up, but her face was stern.

"Elia,

" he breathed. But as he straightened and turned for her, she stepped between him and the table, facing Fadya with her hands in fists at her sides.

"Do you wish to say something to me?

" she challenged the woman, who had whipped her hand back into her lap.

"N-no, my Queen,

" Fadya said, her eyes down, immediately.

Elia snorted air from her nose and Reth wanted to laugh out loud. Did she know what she was doing?

"Your mate worried for you like a first-time mother with her cub,

" Huncer said quietly, her eyes not down.

Elia turned and met her gaze, her own features steely.

"He is Alpha, and a first-time mate. His emotions get the better of him sometimes. I am patient with it.

"

The women all chuckled and Huncer nodded approvingly. Reth didn't know whether to roar his approval, or stand in his own defense. But he stayed quiet. Elia was… doing something. Something that made his heart race and his groin tighten.

Then she turned back to Fadya.

"Do not leave your scent on him, again,

" she said in a too-low voice.

"Your King is not free to be pawed by any female that wishes to do so.

"

"Yes, Sire,

" Fadya said, her voice pinched. Though some of the older women regarded Elia carefully, not as easily convinced.

"Do any of you wish to challenge me for him?

" she asked, meeting each of their eyes.

"I have been ignorant, it's true. I will attempt to fix that now: Reth may be your King, but he is my mate. He is only mine. And you will. Not. Touch. Him.

"

Elia's face was blank, but her was scent rock-hard and Reth had to stifle the mating call. When none of the women answered, she huffed and put a hand to his arm, leading him away from the table, stalking not for their table, but for one of the covered walkways that led to the kitchen.

The walkway was narrow and he was forced to follow her to allow the serving staff to pass them with trays, all dropping their eyes as they greeted them. Elia kept her eyes up and shoulders back, leading him with a determined pace, until they were alone in the hall, and they reached a storage shed that squatted not far from the kitchen.

Without a word, she opened the door, and yanked him inside.

There was little light outside except from thin gaps in the boards and floor, but when he stepped inside and began to ask,

"What—?

" she pushed him against the wall and pressed herself into him.

Delighted Reth took her offered mouth and she pulled him in for a moment, arching into him as he tugged her hair to lift her chin.

"You're mine, Reth. I didn't understand how important it was to communicate that to the others,

" she gasped as he nuzzled her jaw.

"But I'm starting to see. Be patient with me, please.

"

"If this is part of being patient, Elia, you'll have no complaints from me,

" he whispered against her skin, then took her mouth.

They didn't emerge from the little shed until they were disturbed by a shocked server trying to find more trays. The server was female. Elia barked at her for staring at the King, then when the women bowed, they ran back to the market together, laughing like children.

*****

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