ELIA

The crowd was silent. For a moment she feared she had asked something that was in violation of some tradition, or some new strange rule she didn't know. But a moment later, a strange song rose—beginning with the deep, resonant grunts she'd heard Reth make when he approved of something, soon followed by the calls, then the barks, the howls, the cries…

Within seconds, a chorus, in harmony, echoed over the amphitheater as the Anima cried out their approval of her request.

"You… you won them,

" Gahrye said next to them, shaking his head in awe.

"I don't know how, but you did it.

"

"Enough to get out of this ridiculous fight?

"

But he just looked at her sadly.

"No,

" he said, putting a hand to her arm. He swallowed hard.

"They are accepting your terms. They are accepting you. It is… I don't understand… they see you as Queen, but they want the challenge. I don't get it, Elia—

"

"No! Anima! Cease! The Queen cannot be challenged because her life is not her own!

" Reth cried, his voice hoarse.

"Reth, no—

" she breathed.

"What do you mean?

" Brant asked him, as the people's calls cut off and faded.

Reth looked at her she she shook her head, but his jaw was set.

"She cannot fight. She cannot risk it. She is with cub!

"

Elia closed her eyes.

Reth's voice was tortured when he continued.

"If my mate were taken from us now she would take the royal line with her. You cannot ask that of her, Anima. That is a decision solely for the pleasure of the Creator.

"

The crowd murmured, voices rising in hope and celebration—offspring were always something to be grateful for in Anima—or grumbling in anger. Elia bit her lip, but then made herself straighten her face.

She… she couldn't be sure of this. Could she? Was Reth certain? She knew he believed it, but if it was so early, surely there was no way they could—

"Bring a wise-woman to test her scent!

" Brant called over the crowd.

"Two wise-women, please. For the certainty of the people.

"

The people murmured and whispered. Elia looked at Reth, whose eyes were pained, but also steely. He was determined. She feared what his protectiveness would cost them. Would the people forgive him for interrupting what they wanted? Would they forgive her for not believing about the child—if there was a child?

Was there a child?

A minute later, two women, one Leonine, the other a tall, thin Avaline, trotted up the stairs to the stage, looking carefully at Elia. They both bowed as they approached, and she received them. But Brant was the one who stepped forward.

"Can you scent her? Is the King correct?

"

She looked at Reth again, but he was staring at the women.

"May we touch your hand, Sire?

" the Leonine asked carefully.

Elia nodded and offered her palm, then tried not to stare as the woman cupped her hand in her own, and both women leaned in close, scenting her wrist, then dragging their noses along her forearm, inhaling deeply.

"It is very early… very early,

" said the first.

"But there is a cub.

"

A wave of quiet cheers and applause rose, but Brant turned to the second woman.

"Do you scent it also?

"

She looked at Elia a moment, and Elia saw the measure of her—the quiet question in herself. But the woman nodded.

"There is a cub.

"

Cheers rose in the amphitheater, and even Brant smiled, his eyes shining when he looked at Reth and clapped him on the back to congratulate him. Elia accepted the bows of the women, along with their murmured congratulations, then turned.

Aymora stood at her side her eyes silvered with unshed tears. She reached one hand out to take and squeeze Elia's, but made no other move.

Gahrye just stared at her, shaking his head. And for a moment, Elia's heart broke when she saw pure envy in his eyes. Then he smiled and bowed over her hand.

"Congratulations, Elia,

" he murmured. His eyes caught Reth's over her shoulder when he straightened, and he nodded.

Elia turned then, to find her husband, her mate, and see the pained hope in his eyes before he turned back to the people.

"The Queen cannot be challenged for the safety of her offspring,

" he said firmly, and the murmurs that rose in response seemed to agree with him.

But next to him, Lucine growled.

"You do everything in your power to stop your mate from proving herself, her worth, her strength to the people. I am not afraid to fight! If she is so strong and true, she should not be either. She could face me, even with cub, and—

"

"Accept your defeat, daughter!

" Reth roared.

"You have come today seeking to deceive the people about your King, and when that did not work, now you seek to threaten the life of a cub?

"

"I seek to find the answers for our people! To bring them strength! You seek to pad your own furs with a woman you have desired since you were a cub!

"

Reth growled and Lucine growled back. Lerrin stepped forward, his eyes bright and gray, his beast eyes, and Elia cried,

"No, Reth!

"

Aymora grabbed her arm when she tried to go to him, and Gahrye stepped to put himself between Elia and the wolves.

When Elia tried to push past him, Aymora tugged her back.

"Think of your cub!

"

With a snort, Gahrye boxed Elia behind him, crouching to meet any attack on her behalf.

There were too many people, too many tall shoulders. Elia could see Reth, but not all of him, and she could hear the snarls and growls between him and the two wolves.

"Please! Reth!

" she cried.

"Keep the peace!

"

Reth started to turn, to look for her and Lerrin took that moment when his attention was distracted to leap.

Reth whirled back to face him just as the wolf-man slammed into his side and he was thrown off his feet.

"RETH!

" Elia screamed.