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nRETH

nThe call erupted from his throat—so deep it came from his toes. It ordered the other males around the fire hear and submit. They all fell back, away from both Reth and Elia, giving the women room. But most of the females were giving up too. A moment later, only the lioness that challenged Elia remains. Much as Reth would have liked to tear his arm out of the female's grip, this had to be Elia's fight. He watched her continue to stalk towards the woman touching him and he repeated the call, saw her chest rise and fall in response.

nShe padded over to the woman, so close her scent was strong despite the smoke, and Reth huffed again. Without taking her eyes off the other female, she lifted a hand to his chest and spoke through her teeth.

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"Let go of him,

" she said through her teeth.

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"Why?

"

nElia blinked.

"Because he's my mate. You're handling my mate like he belongs to you.

"

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"But you don't want him,

" the woman growled.

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"You know nothing about what I want,

" Elia shot back.

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"You wouldn't even fight for him!

"

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"I am now.

"

nThe lioness sneered, her eyes narrowed and her hands clawed into his forearm hard enough to leave half-moon cuts where her nails pierced his skin.

"He deserves more than a queen in name. He is King. He deserves a mate. A wife. A partner and—

"

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"He'll choose for himself what he wants. We're talking about what I want. And I want your hands off him. Right now.

"

nReth felt… proud. Elia stood, her hands in fists, her chest and shoulders heaving with her breath and the lioness trembled. She was the dominant female of the pride, a wise-woman, and one of his dearest friends. But Elia didn't know that, he realized.

nShe only knew what she felt—and what the smoke was giving her the courage to speak. His hope that she would choose him truth, not just in name, rose.

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"I don't want to see any more blood on the ground tonight,

" Elia snarled.

"But if that's what it will take—

"

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"It won't,

" his friend sighed.

"But know that you choose a good man. One of the best among our kind. If you don't appreciate him there are many that would happily take your place.

"

nElia stepped forward so they were chest to chest, though she was several inches shorter.

"Let. Them. Try.

"

nAnd her scent was rock-hard. Certain. Unshakeable.

nReth roared and his people called back, breaking into a shuffling dance that circled them as the lioness faded away into the crowd and he pulled Elia into his chest.

nShe was trembling. Not untouched by fear, he realized, but staring it down and moving ahead anyway.

nTrue courage.

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"You're amazing,

" he whispered into her ear, then pulled back far enough to meet her wide eyes as the people circled them, shifting, calling and weaving, but leaving a few feet of space around them.

nTraditionally, the dance was a recognition of the couple's belonging to the people, but even more to each other. He knew she didn't appreciate what was happening, but found he didn't care as she never took her eyes off him, and she let her head drop back as he buried his hands in her hair and kissed her, open-mouthed.

nShe clung to his shoulders and kissed him back, and the crowd called again.

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