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*****

RETH

He swallowed hard and tightened his grip on Elia's fingers, focusing on the warmth of her skin and the pleasant flush still there. Not on the terrible images in his mind.

"If the people decide that they somehow believe Lucine is the correct Queen—that she should have been Queen this entire time—they will declare it first. There will be a vote, and judgement will be called. She'll be called to the stage if she isn't already there. And the people will install her.

"

"How?

"

"They will acknowledge her. Normally it should have happened after we mated—as you experienced—and then the public acknowledgement. I suspect they will skip the part of celebrating our union, under the circumstances…

" he trailed off, his body trembling. He worked to keep himself calm for Elia, but the truth was, when he though of Lucine at the head of the people, the wolves with that kind of power… he was filled with rage. He cleared his throat.

"They will stand for her, as they did for you at the Festival. She will be expected to name Cohorts—which, if she's been prepared, she may do on the spot. Otherwise they'll call a feast for the next day and she'll do it there.

"

Elia's nostrils flared and her smell filled with the edge of a Lion, ready to pounce on an enemy.

"What will happen to me during all this?

" she asked softly.

He growled.

"You will be ignored from the moment the judgment is made. You will be expected to leave out of respect. If you attempt to make yourself heard, you will be removed forcibly. People will not… they won't look at you. They'll pretend not to hear you. It will be like… you're invisible,

" he said, swallowing hard.

"Except for those in your pride. They will be allowed to speak with you. But no more than necessary. They should make sure you are provided for, and… and alive. But they will not help you thrive.

"

Elia shook her head, her face open with shock.

"You people are ruthless,

" she said.

Reth squeezed her hand again.

"It isn't a permanent state. It will improve with time. It would. If you were here.

"

"Where else would I be? Reth, if you're here, I'm here. I don't care what—

"

"Elia,

" he said, his voice tight.

She went very still.

"What?

"

"If Lucine is installed, things will become… very complicated.

"

She sucked in a breath, blinking hard.

"Will they expect you to… mate her?

" she asked, her voice high with horror.

Reth growled.

"They can't force me to mate anyone,

" he muttered.

"But the ruling… I suspect that I would have to share it with her. She would have the public position that should be yours. Her power in the people would increase. Her tribe would strengthen. And while that was happening, you would be hidden from the tribes. Which would complicate things further since our scents are mingled. That would make Lucine territorial over the King…

" he groaned and let go of her to claw his hands through his hair.

"This whole thing is just a **show,

" he growled.

"There must be a way that we could stay together? Publicly?

" she asked.

Reth shook his head.

"The only way would be for you to Dominate Lucine—to challenge her. She wouldn't go down for anything short of death, that's why we were all so certain she'd win in the first place. It was an act of the Creator that you are here at all, Elia. Lucine is a fierce fighter. Fearless. And she is warned, now. She was overconfident in the Rite. If you were to challenge her now, she would have your throat out before you could step sideways. She would not risk a repeat of her earlier embarrassment.

"

Elia swallowed.

"Then maybe that's what I need to do?

"

*****

ELIA

His eyes that had been shadowed and downcast, snapped up to meet hers, alight with the fire of his fury.

"Absolutely not!

"

"If your Creator is so great, and has this great plan, why is he letting me get pushed out of this?

"

"We do not know yet that he has.

"

"We're at risk of it!

"

"Risk is not the same as the eventuality of it.

"

"Well, then, maybe challenging her is a risk I have to take—and you can just pray something happens that will give me the upperhand. Like last time.

"

"Elia, please—

"

"I won't let her have you, Reth.

"

"She will never have me! You know that!

"

Elia shook her head, her stomach churning.

"What you're describing if they choose her, is that in everyone's eyes she will be the one who has the right to you—to your status, to your home, to your… body. And I'll be seen as the… usurper.

"

"The what?

"

"I'll be the one that took what wasn't hers.

"

Reth blinked.

"Yes, but—

"

"There is no but, Reth. I refuse to live as if we are doing something wrong, just by being together. I will not let them take you from me.

"

"They can't!

"

"They can if they kill you,

" she insisted. A growl broke from his throat. But she shook her head.

"If they try to take you, Reth, I'll go with you.

"

"You will do no such thing.

"

"Reth, I will not stand by and let them hurt you. I will fight for you.

"

"No, you won't.

" His eyes began to glow and his voice got deeper.

"You won't intimidate me away from—

"

"Yes, I will! And you will submit, Elia! You cannot take the risk of your own death for the sake of mine that cannot be avoided!

"

"Are you kidding me right now? You can't possibly expect me to keep going if you're gone? Reth? You can't—

"

"Elia, do you have no idea of what has happened today? You must treat yourself with the utmost respect and care now! You cannot put yourself int eh way of any harm—not even for me?

"

"Why not?

"

"Because you're going to have a cub!

"