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*****

RETH

"Aymora, the lion's blood—you said that made the baby stronger, right?

"

"Yes,

" she said.

"At least, her scent is stronger, and the others agreed that your healing helped keep her alive.

"

"Maybe that's the key to all this as well?

"

"I hoped, but… you won't be here with us. Even if it could help you be stronger in your pregnancy, you won't be close enough to us for it to happen regularly. And… we still don't know for sure what effect it might have on the babe if it's not Anima. We don't know yet, and won't for many months. Even if it's a human baby and develops faster, we still wouldn't likely know for at least six or seven months.

"

"Then, that's how long you have to win the war, Reth.

" Elia said with a quivering smile.

"You win within six months, and then even if this is a problem, I'll still be sane and I'll come back here, and Aymora will give me lion's blood and… all will be well. See?

" she said, her voice shaking.

"I've already solved it.

"

They all stared at her, the worry creasing their brows.

"I'm joking,

" she said, a little too loudly.

"We know,

" Gahrye said.

"We just… aren't in the mood to laugh.

"

Elia nodded. Reth squeezed her thigh again and took a deep breath.

"Next,

" he rumbled quietly.

*****

On and on. They had to cover all the details. Educate the ones that would be traversing. But every second they sat there, Reth felt his time with Elia slipping through his fingers. They were interrupted three times by reports from scouts and soldiers—once to let them know the Bear King had agreed to come meet with Reth in two days, which took a huge load off of his shoulders. And another to advise scouts had caught a wolf archer approaching the Tree City. So far it appeared to be a lone sniper. But Reth shuddered to think who the target might have been.

Behryn sent three fists out, after that, to patrol the outskirts. The look he gave Reth after that said everything. Reth dipped his chin. He knew. That's why they were at this table.

He had to get Elia out of here before the ** hit the fan. At least, he thought that's what the human phrase was. He'd always liked that one.

He turned to look at her while Brant and Behryn discussed the patrols and she felt his gaze and turned to face him.

"Hi,

" he breathed.

"Hi,

" she whispered back.

Everyone at the table could hear them, of course, but they were all polite enough not to look or interrupt.

"Do you have any final questions?

"

"Only one,

" she responded. Reth looked at Brant and Behryn and waited until they'd finished their discussion, then told Elia to go ahead.

"The only thing left is… how do we communicate? I'm going to be gone for so long. I know we've talked about the pregnancy, and we've talked about the war. Neither of those is a short thing. I have to be prepared to be gone months. At at minimum. When your father sent you, you were gone for two years? So… how do we communicate? How long will it be until we can check if it's okay to come back? Or until you'll send someone to us to update us? I don't want to wait months with no word at all, but I know you'll be fighting. How does all of that work?

"

"Once a month we'll send a message or scout through to update you on our progress,

" Reth said quietly, looking at Behryn for confirmation. Behryn nodded.

"They will pass you information from me, and bring back any messages you wish to pass on. No person should be sent through the traverse unless the stakes are dire. That will leave you with less support—and there's always a risk they'll be taken by the wolves and tortured to find out where you are. So you who are on that side, you don't move. You stay there until you hear otherwise from us.

"

"But what if… what if… you lose? How would I know?

"

"I will not lose, Elia,

" Reth growled.

She leaned into him and held his face.

"I know you won't. But even you are not indestructible, Reth. Or what if you're hurt, or taken prisoner? What if all of you are?

" She turned to the others.

"Presumably the wolves will target you, knowing as they do that you're in positions of power. If all of you are hurt, or sick, or taken… how long do we wait to hear something before I send someone back to check on you?

"

"You don't.

"

"Reth, that's not realistic—especially if I have our child—

"

"No, Elia. Listen. If you aren't hearing from us, it means the wolves have somehow taken the territory of the portal and it isn't safe for us to send someone through. That means it isn't safe for you to turn up on the Anima side. You must wait for us to contact you.

"

"But—

"

"There are no buts, Elia. Trust me on this. You said you can see that you should have trusted my judgment before. Please, love, I know this for truth: I will move hell to get to you. I will move hell to let you know what's happening, if things are dire. But I will not allow you to throw yourself away on a needless risk.

"

Elia swallowed hard, the look in his eyes was bright steel. He loved her. He wanted her. And he wanted to protect her—even from herself, if necessary.

Her stomach sank.

"Okay. I hear you.

"

"Do you, truly?

"

"I do. If… if we don't hear anything from you, we continue as we are. We don't send someone through until or unless there is literally no other option.

"

Reth's shoulders sagged.

"Yes. Yes, that's right.

"

"We will send a messenger every three weeks,

" Behryn said suddenly. Everyone turned.

"It will be good training for the young ones as long as we hold the portal territory, since the traverse is actually the most dangerous part. And that will allow you to send word back to your mate, Elia—which I know will be of vital importance for morale on this side,

" Behryn grinned.

Elia took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Behryn. I wish there was a way to show how grateful I am.

"

"Thank me by staying safe, Elia,

"

She nodded, and vowed to herself, as well as to them, that she would do exactly that. No matter what it took.

She, and her cub.