ELIA

The fact that they hadn't rushed the stage on learning that she knew she'd had contact with Anima in the human world was a good sign. A very good sign. Gahrye had had Behryn come to a meeting and describe to her what the guards would do in the event that the people revolted. While none of them thought it was a true risk, she'd gone home that night terrified.

Behryn wasn't shooting the breeze. He knew his people and knew that with the wrong triggers, they could turn on her bodily. And he had a plan in place to get her out safely if they did.

She'd swallowed hard and tried to convince herself it wasn't something she needed to worry about. But they story of her childhood had been the moment she'd known was the greatest risk. And they were… enthralled.

She wished she could turn and celebrate with Reth, who she could feel cheering her on. But turning her back before her story was complete would be a sign of weakness. She couldn't do it.

She took a deep breath and continued. This portion of the story wasn't without its own risk, either. Or emotion.

"Human children reach the age of independence later than Anima. When I was seventeen years old, and still somewhat reliant on my parents and their resources, they were… killed in an accident that stole them both from me within days.

"

The parents among the Anima, or those who'd lost their parents early, all shifted in their seats, their foreheads furrowed and eyes sympathetic. Their care made her throat pinch.

"I was forced into independence early, and while I was old enough to do so, it was… a very difficult time in my life. Out of my grief and early independence, I did not always make the best choices. I wish I had had the support and wisdom of the tribes to draw on during that time. Had I, you may have had a different Queen standing before.

"I tell you this because my world is different. There are… structures in place. But no bonds. Without a family group, without a pack or herd, I was left floundering and forced to find my own way, very quickly.

"But in the years following their loss, I found my way to a place of learning—and when I had finished my first stages of education, I stayed on there as an… assistant. Someone who learns through helping a more experienced… wise person.

"

Her palms were sweaty and she gripped her skirts again to dry them.

"The last thing I remember in my own world before coming to Anima was a feast not entirely different to this, though it would have looked and smelled odd to you. I was at a place where the learned and the great mingle with those who are trying to learn, and those who would… champion the causes. They come together to celebrate and to… share resources. I had hoped that night to find someone who would patron my further learning. I had prayed it would be so. And while I envisioned that person to be someone from my own world, in truth, I was taken from that life and brought into this one. And I have since learned and grown in ways I could never have imagined. I… I much prefer the learning I have received here in Anima. But…

"

Her stomach tightened.

*****

RETH

She let the word hang in the air and his stomach clenched.

What was she doing? She was supposed to tell them the difference in how humans viewed the Rite, and why that affected her decisions. There had been another debate in their earlier meeting about Lucine, and how Elia should frame that for the people. Reth was convinced Elia couldn't overcome a millennia of tradition by simply telling them of her different values. But Aymora believed it important for the people to understand Elia's motives, since they saw Lucine as strong and capable, and part of their distrust of Elia was in how she had measured Lucine differently that night than they would have.

Elia had agreed and he'd seen the speech she'd planned.

There was no 'but' in that speech.

"…One of the differences in our peoples, born of the human value for the mind and the heart over physical strength, is that in my culture, we value life above all. The greatest regard and status are given to those who save the lives of others at cost to themselves. And the deepest contempt is given to those who take innocent life.

"Not knowing the Anima, not understanding the Rite, when I was faced with an opponent I did not know, and who could not fight back, I brought my culture and tradition with me. To a human, refusing to kill Lucine of the Wolves did not lower her value in the eyes of others, it raised it.

"It is a stark difference between our people, and an urge I continue to wrestle. I was taught by my family group, by our traditions, to value life above all—and while I admire the strength and resilience of the Anima in these ways… I know I will continue to battle this particular issue. But I give you this assurance: I am committed to ensuring that while I rule in Anima, Anima tradition will rule. While I will not take a weapon to one of my people who has not, in my estimation, earned death, I will not stand in the way of your traditions. You have my word. Where the old Rites and traditions come to bear, I will submit decisions to my Mate, to our King,

" Reth sucked in a breath at that, at the clever wisdom she showed in grouping herself with the people in submission to him,

"or to the leaders or groups who are rightly charged with the decision. I will. Not. Interfere.

"

Her shoulders rose and fell once, and once again, the market was silent, but this time not in shock, or thrall, but because her words were being measured. The Anima were looking to their leaders—most likely the very people who hadn't stood to acknowledge her at the beginning.

In the end, it would be their responses to this aspect of her rule that would determine how the people felt about it.

Reth prayed they would accept her compromise. And as she continued, laying out her efforts to strengthen—though she didn't outline the training he was giving her, for which he was grateful—and her desire to hold her place among them, Reth's skin began to tingle.

He saw faces lighten. He saw children urged to listen. He saw people learning to love his mate, softly, carefully, but still…

They were turning to her. Not away.

He also saw, and marked Behryn, who nodded that he too had noticed, some of the Lupine pack leaders at the edges of the space, their eyes growing heated, their stances tense. He saw whispered conversations, and, before she was done, he saw no less than five wolves leave the Reading.

And as she finally drew her speech to a close, and with pink cheeks, asked the people's blessing, as Gahrye stood and asked the people to acknowledge her, Reth was among those who took their feet.

His heart sang for her—for the light in her eyes that all the Anima had seen, for the scent of her passion that they had caught, and for the joy they had felt in her as she described her wonder and excitement at being in Anima.

He was moved to see his people stand and, one by one, with the exception of the wolves who had left, the leaders that had refused to acknowledge her at the beginning, slowly got to their feet also—some quickly, others reluctantly.

Elia had won them. She had done it.

Festival of hearts, indeed.

Reth shoved his chair back and walked quickly to join her at the front of the stage, putting his arm around her waist as she bowed and received their homage.

She was warm, and beautiful, and overwhelmed. And he could not be prouder.

She didn't turn to face him, instead acknowledging different people in the crowd, but over the shuddering roar of their calls, she said,

"Did that really just happen?

"

"Yes, love,

" he shouted back, beaming at her.

"It really did.

"

It was only by sheer discipline that he didn't take her in his arms and kiss her on the spot. But in truth, the emotion running deepest for him in that moment was relief.

His mate was finally Queen not just over their Kingdom, but over their hearts.