RETH

All the frustration, the anger, the fear he'd been tamping down for days spewed out of him in a wave of aggression.

Reth took Charyn in his grip and shoved back against the wall before anyone could blink. Charyn yelped, whining when the breath was knocked out of him. Behryn called out and leaped on them, gripping Reth's arms and trying to pull him back, snapping that Reth had his hands on a citizen, but Reth didn't care. He held the shirt of the male and pulled him close then slammed him back against the wall again, snarling his threats as Charyn met his eyes—apologetic and firm in the same moment. He did not challenge, but he did not back down.

"You spoke for your King. You countered my orders to one of my citizens?!

" Reth snarled.

"She was so torn, so broken by the decision. She needed to go back, Reth—it wasn't a simple case of desire. She was pulled to it. And because I have a True Mate I understand that—as do you! She considered breaching your orders and I couldn't let her do it. I couldn't let her make herself a traitor because her heart is good!

"

"It was not your choice to make!

"

"She is precious to me. She is family. I saved her from herself.

"

"It was not your salvation to offer!

"

"Forgive me, please. But understand, her gratitude to you for… for being willing… she wept with it. She had been readying to leave—

"

"YOU COUNTERED THE ORDER OF YOUR KING! YOU MISREPRESENTED YOURSELF AS MY AUTHORITY!

"

"No! No! She only believes that you sent a message. That you would allow her go as long as she left immediately, before any conflict occurred. She was so grateful—but she had no time to think it through. She would have figured it out. I… I deceived her for her own sake!

"

"You deceived her for your own ends,

" Reth snarled.

"Reth,

" Behryn said quietly.

"Everyone is tense. Give this some thought—

"

"There is no thought needed. This male is a traitor and harbors ill will for his King—

"

"No!

" Charyn gasped.

"Reth, are you certain—?

"

"WOULD YOU COUNTER YOUR KING ALSO?

" he whirled on his best friend and second and Behryn submitted immediately, along with most of the council behind him.

"You know I do not, Reth,

" Behryn muttered, his eyes to the floor.

"I only ask you to take a breath. You are under immense pressure and this may look differently in the morning.

"

"The male admits himself that he pretended my authority, and countered my order. We are at war—the cusp of death and brutality, and this male pretends to be me to send another citizen to the enemy—possibly to her death!

"

"I know, I know, Reth. It's bad.

"

"It is beyond bad.

"

"I am so sorry, Sire. I hoped she might return—

"

Reth whirled back to the wolf and snarled through his teeth,

"Be grateful I do not tear out your throat, Charyn!

"

Charyn submitted, dropping to one knee and saluting, his eyes on the floor also.

"I submit myself,

" he whispered, his jaw trembling.

"I submit myself to the King and ask for mercy.

"

For one moment, Reth asked himself what he was doing. He knew this wolf's heart was good. But... but these were the moments that had led so many people away from him. This belief that he would over look offences, make room for disobedience... He growled in his throat.

"I cannot give mercy to a traitor. You have left me no choice. You **ing idiot! Why would you do this?

"

"Please, Sire, I acted in love—

"

"Death is stronger than love, you stinking dog. Death ends love. And you sent your cousin to her death IN MY NAME!

"

"I beg you—

"

"I have no way of knowing if you are friend or foe. None. You take action to help me, then hold information back that I would use, then misrepresent me to another… and now you ask me to be kind?!

"

"You can trust me, Sire. You mate would know if she heard me—she would trust me. She would measure my heart, you know she would! My cousin acted in love, and your mate's love for the people was even stronger than her fear. She would have—

"

"You do not let my thought of my mate cross your mind, dog,

" Reth spat.

"I know no such thing.

"

"Reth,

" Behryn said quietly. But Reth shook him off without looking away from Charyn.

"You are a wolf to your core,

" Reth snarled at the cowering man.

"Your loyalties lie not to the crown, but to your pack first and foremost—and you have seen where that took your comrades!

"

"They are not my comrades! I am true! I am loyal to the crown! I gave up everything except my mate and son to stay here, to follow you. And I told you about the encampment and their plans—

"

"So you say, but how can I know now? Perhaps you have been playing into that dog's hands the entire time? Or you pushed your cousin out in direct rebellion of me, I have no way to know.

"

"You know because she told you. You know because I showed you what I knew! You know because without her you would not even know that Lerrin wants peace! We all just want peace, Reth!

"

"THEN YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE BREACHED MY ORDERS, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE SPOKEN FOR ME!

"

They both stopped, panting, staring at each other, Reth snarling, Charyn pleading with his eyes. For a split second, Reth saw what the male meant. But then he imagined the army hearing of this—a single male, giving orders in the King's name, countering the rules set down by the King and…

He couldn't let it be.

He took a deep breath and dropped his grip on Charyn's shirt. But his face didn't soften.

"You are banished,

" Reth muttered.

"What?! No! My mate is here! My son!

"

Reth shook his head.

"Take them with you, or don't. But you are to leave. And you are never to enter the Tree City again. You may take whatever things you need for your trip, but you may not step foot in my region again. Take your divided loyalties to your precious peace-seeker, if that's what you need.

"

Charyn gaped.

"She found her True Mate! Would you truly ask her to stay away?

"

Reth leaned in and Charyn flinched.

"I have no one's account of this beyond yours. And you are a self-admitted liar. Be grateful I do not take your life. I choose not to—that is my mercy—because of the help you have given, and because of the family you have. But you will be taken under guard to your home, allowed to pack a bag, then escorted to the edge of the City. And you will never be welcome here again.

"

"But—

"

"The King has spoken,

" Reth snarled.

"As it was said, so it shall be,

" the elders intoned, though none of them sounded happy about it.

The guards leapt forward to take Charyn between them, and no matter the male's protests, they led him out of the building.

Reth didn't look at him, but turned back to the elders and their sour faces.

Reth didn't like what had just happened either. But he was also done. The time had come for ruthlessness.

There was no other choice.

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