LERRIN - Anima

The moon was high by the time he ushered the last of the Security Council out of the tent and past the guards. When he turned, Suhle was already clearing the chairs and dishes, returning order to the tent, and removing the trash so it wouldn't cause the tent to smell.

She also wasn't looking at him.

Teeth clenched, Lerrin stalked over to help her with the chairs that would be stacked against the wall until they were needed again.

"I am fine to do this, Lerrin, you need to rest. You should prepare for bed,

" she said, picking up the cushion she had placed on his chair and placing it on the end of his bed. All without looking at him.

"I want to help,

" he said stiffly, reaching for a chair beside her just as she reached for it too.

Their eyes met over the back of it and her lips thinned.

Lerrin wanted to growl.

"Don't look at me like that.

"

"I should not look at you?

"

"You should not look at me like that,

" he said, nodding at her.

She blinked innocently.

"May I ask what way I am looking so that I might be certain not to look in that manner again?

"

"Suhle—

"

"Please, leave me to do this for you. It's why I'm here.

" She grabbed the chair by one of the rungs that ran up the back of it and began to turn. But Lerrin already had a hand on it and held it to the ground. She was jerked back by her own grip. When she turned to face him again, her eyes were alight with anger.

They glared at each other for moment, then Lerrin took a breath.

"Don't look at me like that,

" he said quietly,

"because I didn't tell them to kill the bears. I haven't given that order. But it is not wise—I would be doing my people a disservice—to give up that territory without some plan in place to regain it.

"

"I'm certain I am not the person to question the King,

" she said through tight lips.

"I only asked you to let me clear the chairs, and you are being stubborn.

"

"Stubborn?!

"

She nodded.

"Stubborn.

"

He let go and straightened, gaping at her. But she only muttered,

"Thank you,

" and picked up the chair to stack it with the others.

"Suhle, I do not want to fight with you.

"

"We are not fighting, Sire.

"

"Sire? Why are you calling me Sire again?

"

"Because that is the appropriate way to address the Alpha and King.

"

But I am not King with you, he sent—then almost swallowed his tongue. It had been instinct—pure instinct—to switch to the mind connection, to cover the words that he did not want the guards outside to hear. He'd done it like breathing and it wasn't until she was responding to him that he realized what he'd done.

Of course you are King with me! You are King wherever you go, whatever company you keep. It is only right—

Suhle—

—you should not punish me for doing what every wolf in your Kingdom does. It is ridiculous that you would expect differently from me. A servant!

Suhle, he sent softly. Look at me.

She turned, brows pinched and eyes aflame, then froze when she saw his expression. What is it? She sent. If she'd been speaking it would have been breathless.

Lerrin swallowed hard. We connected. Fully. I can hear you clearly. There is no… distance.

She blinked. We are standing very close, she sent uncertainly.

But Lerrin didn't think that was it. At all. But he also didn't want to think about what that might mean… so he swallowed and held her gaze. You have no reason to be angry. I didn't give the order.

But her expression hardened. I am not angry. I am… disappointed.

He jerked his head back. Disappointed? By what?

By your ruthlessness,

I didn't give the order!

Not yet. But you put spies in position, she sent, seething. Not to remove a tactical fist, not to attack soldiers, but to murder helpless females who are asleep and have just given birth. And their cubs? You would wipe out an entire tribe when they are vulnerable and unable to defend themselves.

No! That idea sickens me!

Then why did you indulge them?

Because I need options and we cannot know what is to come in the next few weeks.

No, we cannot, she sent furiously. But we can know that one of the possibilities is that the entire Bear tribe will be murdered in cold blood. At your hand.

No. He strode across the room to stand right in front of her. No. I would not do that.

Yet you have emboldened others to do so.

You would have me choose the well-being of an unknown tribe—an enemy tribe!—over my own people? I cannot be King and not prepare for everything. Where there is a door open, I will do everything in my power to keep it that way until I am certain that my people do not need it to escape!

Suhle had stopped cleaning and had been standing there, staring at him. But she suddenly broke eye-contact and turned away, walking over to the bowl where she would wash the dishes.

You are right, of course, she sent. But her tone was flat and dead.

Suhle—

No, you are right. It was wrong of me to expect otherwise. It is right of the Alpha to do whatever is needed to protect his own.

But she would not turn. She did not look at him. And he felt the loss of her eyes like a hole in his belly.

Suhle, please.

He followed her to the other side of the tent, standing behind her while she stacked and rinsed dishes.

You do not answer to me, Lerrin.

That she used his name was a small comfort. But the desperation rising in his chest surprised him. He put a hand to her arm—the gentlest of touches, just to get her attention, attempt to get her to turn her head.

Instead, with a sharp cry, she became a whirlwind, twisting under his hand before he had time to move and trapping his arm between hers in a grip he recognized as preparation to flip a combatant over a well-placed hip. But then she caught herself and stopped before she sent him tumbling.

He was so stunned he froze, as did she.

****

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