ELIA

She wasn't sure what had passed between Lucan and Reth—they obviously knew what their words meant. But the smile that Reth gave at the end was chilling, and whatever it meant, whatever had spurred it, Lucan didn't like it. A growl puttered in his throat when he saw it.

But Reth merely turned to her and beckoned her to his side.

"Come, mate. We have accusations to meet.

"

Eyeing the massive wolves who never stopped staring with their cold eyes, she trotted to his side, doing her best to watch Lucan and the wolves without being obvious about it.

To her surprise, Behryn and several guards materialized from the shadows as they all began to walk, so they made a significant crowd on the path back towards the city.

She wondered why Lucan hadn't seemed surprised about the guards—until she realized all of them had been able to smell each other this whole time.

Of course.

Stupid Anima super-senses.

Her heart began to slow as they walked, but her hands were shaking with the rush of adrenalin she'd had when she ran into Lucan. It has been terrifying—then utterly confusing when he didn't reach for her, and none of the wolves attacked.

"Reth, what—

"

"I'll explain when we reach the others, Elia,

" he muttered without looking at her.

"There is a protocol. Please… stay silent until we reach the council.

"

The council? She almost said the words, but bit her tongue. He'd asked her to be silent. So instead she filed through all the questions she had in her mind, and kept her eyes on Lucan, who stalked along at her other side. She wondered why Reth let him walk so closely—but figured it must be something to do with this protocol.

She wasn't sure of all she'd said, but she understood treason, and that the accusation was levelled at her. It was laughable of course—she couldn't understand why Reth hadn't just brushed it off. But she trusted that he knew what he was doing. So she kept walking, and waited for her answers.

*****

RETH

"Call the security council, and warn the wise-ones,

" Reth muttered to Behryn who stormed along on his left, off the side of the path because there was really only room for three, and Lucan wasn't going to humble himself.

Behryn nodded and took off, pulling two of the guards with him.

Reth took a deep breath and tried not to ground his teeth. Lucan obviously didn't have all the information—which would work to their favor—but this entire episode was going to get ugly. And even if they made it through, even if Elia came out unscathed, it left a very, very serious question in Reth's mind about the state of his people.

Lucan didn't bring the old traditions without support.

Which meant at least the majority of the wolf tribe was behind him. Which mean likely a good chunk of the serpents were, also. And probably the goats.

Would others follow them too, when they heard the story of this night?

Would all of Elia's good work tonight be undermined? Or had she saved her own skin?

Only time would tell.

Reth stalked on, brushing Elia's hand with his own as they walked in an attempt to give subtle comfort. He couldn't be seen to be protecting her now until the Security Council had heard the accusations.

*****

They sat in the Council building, Brant in the central chair since Reth couldn't run council under the circumstances. The older man sat with his legs apart, his walking stick clutched in one gnarled hand, and his other arm braced on his knee.

With his dark, wrinkled skin, he looked like a tree that was pissed off about being pulled from his bed.

"We would hear your accusations now, Lucan,

" Brant growled, his eyes narrowed at the Wolf Alpha.

"The horn was called tonight. We would know by whom.

"

"My people, Brant,

" Lucan replied shamelessly.

"It was necessary to separate the King and Queen to allow access. She ahs been so closely guarded, we could not bring the traditions in the usual way.

"

Brant snorted.

"You could have brought the accusations to us without the traditions, Lucan, and you know it.

"

"She stated this evening that she would adhere to the traditions—we couldn't be confident the King would allow her to answer the charges if he were forewarned, Sir.

"

It was the most humble Reth had ever seen Lucan. It had to be an act.

"I disagree, but however, it has happened now. The Council have convened. You stand not as judge tonight with us, Lucan, but as petitioner.

"

"Yes. I understand.

"

"Our decision will be upheld by the Anima. Do you forfeit your vote on the council until its completion?

"

"I do.

"

Reth blinked. He'd thought Lucan would try to dance through some loophole. But with Lerrin also on the council, who knew who had been prepared for this advance.

"And you, Reth?

" Brant said, turning his bright blue eyes on him.

"Do you also forfeit your vote until the completion of this petition?

"

"I do.

"

"Very well,

" Brant said.

"Then we convene and we will hear the petition. Tell us why you called the horn tonight, Lucan, and what charges you bring against our Queen.

"

Lucan shot Elia a look so dark with malice, that Reth had to swallow an instinctive growl. Even Lucan wouldn't physically attack her here, among the council and elders. But that he desired to was hidden from no one.

"The Queen has misrepresented herself to the people, hidden truth from them, for the purposes of increasing her own power. She has infiltrated Anima from the human world, we believe, in order to bring her people here.

"

"What?!

" Elia barked.

Reth hissed at her, and Brant turned a stern face to her.

"You will be silent until the council asks you to speak,

" he said in clipped, authoritative tones.

Elia closed her mouth, but didn't back down, staring at Brant, her jaw hard.

Reth wanted to kiss her. And tell her to shut up.

But instead he kept his own council, as he knew was required, and waited. Lucan wasn't done.

"Is that all?

" Brant asked carefully.

"No. She also conspired with her mate to break the Rite, remove the true Queen from her chance to rule, and has continued to attempt to undermine the position of the wolf-female, Lucine in a personal attack that does not befit the Queen. She deserves banishment, or death.

"

As Elia's eyes went wide, Reth clenched his hands to fists so tightly his nails broke the skin on his palms.