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nRETH

nHe'd hoped she'd be distracted by his promise of their arrival, but Elia glared up at him and didn't relax.

"How would you feel, I wonder, if you were suddenly ripped out of your entire life here and taken to my world, thrown into a fight for your life, then forced to marry someone you didn't even know? Would you be willing to hear 'tomorrow we can worry about the rest'?

"

nShe had a point, but it wasn't a convenient time for her to make it. As they walked through the trees, Reth had already shortened his strides for her. But they couldn't afford to delay. The women would already have the flames prepared, and she needed to change into appropriate clothing for the ceremony.

n

"I understand, Elia. I do. Perhaps more than you realize. But if I've learned anything as King, it's that sometimes life forces your hand. The Creator knows what is needed to bring us to the right moments, the right decisions. Perhaps… perhaps this was just what was required to bring you to the life you were supposed to have?

"

n

"You don't know anything about my life,

" she spit.

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"I know that you're an orphan, and you haven't taken a man to bed.

"

nShe stopped mid-step, turning to stare at him, open mouthed. The Guard all crouched, looking for the intruder that made them stop, but Reth just shook his head to the Fist Leader, then turned back to Elia.

n

"How could you possibly know that?

" she whispered, looking around as if to make sure no one else had heard.

n

"I know because those are the terms for the Rite. The Pure One from the human world must be… pure. Unmarried. Unmated. And unattached. We are not without hearts, Elia. We would not tear a woman from her family to bring her here to die.

"

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"But a woman with no family is just a lamb to the slaughter, to you?

"

nHe blinked. Actually, no. But he couldn't afford to tell her that. Not until she better understood the forces at work in the Anima Kingdom. With a glance at the Guard who were all becoming restless, he patted her hand on his arm and began walking again, urging her to follow. When everyone's attention was elsewhere, he muttered under his breath so only she could hear.

n

"I don't expect you to understand. I will try to explain it when there is time and… privacy. But be certain of this, Elia, you were chosen because you were seen to be better, not worse, than others of your kind.

"

n

"Better at what? Dying?

"

nHe had to swallow a laugh, because he suspected she was closer to the truth than she was supposed to be. The wolves… He sighed.

"Better for Anima. Better for me. Better for yourself. Better to be in this world. There is a great deal of work and strategy that goes into selecting the Pure One for the Rite. You were not chosen at random, I assure you.

"

nShe opened her mouth to protest again, but he squeezed her hand and nodded ahead. She'd been so busy looking at him, she hadn't noticed the trees opening, their approach to the Caves.

"Elia, this is your home. For better or worse, this is where the Creator has brought you. I know you don't know me yet, cannot trust me, but I speak the truth: You will not be harmed here at my hand, or by any other if I am able to prevent it. So, come. Come see your new home. Come see your new world. I think once you get past the shock, you'll find it quite enjoyable.

"

nThen they broke through the trees into the clearing and Elia's mouth dropped open.

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