RETH

Reth pulled her into his chest and told her everything. Everything about the wolves. About Suhle. About Lerrin. About how close it had all come. Her grip on him got tighter and tighter with every word.

Then he told her about the challenge.

She pulled back from his chest and met his eyes, her own wide and worried, her tears threatening again.

"Why? Why would you agree to that? Why would the Creator want that?!

"

"Because it is the truth, Elia. It is the way the Anima were made. We follow the strongest, the best protector, the one who can hold the greatest number safe.

"

"But… but if he cheats—

"

"If he cheats it will be under the eyes of every Anima in the WildWood. Everyone will know it. No one will submit to the Alpha who stole the throne. He knows that. He has… he has truly submitted himself to the best course, Elia. He must truly want to see his people safe. In this way, far more so than in war, he is accountable.

"

"Or he just wants to tempt you to a place of his choosing so he can ambush you!

"

Reth shook his head, proud of her thinking, but she didn't understand.

"No, the Hallowed Grounds are part of the Tree City territory. We've had patrols and Sentries on it since before all this began. No, Lerrin has offered to come to me, to take the risk of my ambush, to propose this. He is… I don't know what he's doing. But he has truly offered himself and his people to come to us.

"

Elia gaped.

"You sound like you trust him!

"

"No, I don't,

" Reth growled.

"That male, his father, and his sister have too much to answer for. I will never trust him. I will take his throat, Elia, do not fear. He will pay for what he's done. But I concede that he has chosen honor, at last. He did not at the beginning but… all of us need to be able to turn from our wrongs. He is doing so, I believe. My question is whether his people turn with him. Even if I win, there is still so much at stake.

"

"If you win? If? Reth, you could take him in a heartbeat!

"

Reth growled his approval and pulled her in for a kiss.

"You are beautiful and fierce, my Mate. And I love you. And I love that you believe in me. Of course I hope to win, but I do not underestimate Lerrin's strength—both in heart and in body. He has a speed I do not possess, and his mind is extremely sharp. He proved that in building the plan Suhle revealed to us. No… I do not underestimate my foe. Of course I hope to beat him, and easily. But I do not expect that.

"

Elia's brows pinched in again and Reth shushed her, stroking her hair.

"I wish you could be there to see. The traditions are clear on this, Elia. And the people will follow. This is truly the best way this could have ended. I am only sad because… because the risk is real and I yearn for you and… I do not know how this will end. Not with certainty.

"

"Here we are again!

" she spat through new tears.

"Always walking into the unknown, always fighting just to be free. Reth, when will it end? When will the Creator decide that we can just love each other?

"

"I don't know,

" he said honestly, shrugging.

"All I know is that He has control I do not have. I can fight against him, knowing I will lose. Or I can be at his mercy and… submit. I can offer myself and find peace there, regardless of the outcome.

"

Elia dropped her face into her hands.

"This just all seems so backwards!

"

"His ways are not our ways, Elia. But his ways are good. He has never taken me down a path that did not end in victory. I trust that he will bring me to that end with this as well.

"

She snorted, more in fear than anger.

"And if He doesn't?

"

Reth sighed and combed her hair back from her face.

"If He doesn't, then there is something good to come out of that. I don't know what it is, Elia. I would not pretend to understand. I would not choose to leave you and Elreth if there was any option open to me. Know that. Be certain of that. But hear me: If I am ended tomorrow, keep watch. Because the Creator has some good to come out of it.

"

"Good? How could there be good? What good could ever come of death?!

"

He held her gaze and didn't waver.

"Without death, you and I would never have been able to mate.

"

"What?!

"

"I haven't told you this because I didn't want to hurt you, but my father would not have approved if he'd known I went back for you. That was why I went in secret after speaking with my mother. She saw the beauty of my heart for you. But my father, even when I first returned as a twelve-year-old, warned me against mating a human for the weakness it would bring to the line.

"

"What?!

"

Reth nodded.

"His death paved the way for us to be together. The death in the Rite of Survival—so much death, and the brutal kind of death that I abhor… but without it, you could not have been chosen for me. Without the death of Lucine, you could not be safely in the human world. Death is a part of life my love, it comes to all of us. We do not want it when we are young, and yet… sometimes it is a necessary tool.

"

Elia shook her head.

"I can't… I can't see it that way.

"

Reth shrugged.

"Just know that if I say I accept the future, whatever it will be, it does not mean I wish to leave you…

" he trailed off, then looked down, sliding his hand down to lay it on the side of her belly.

"Or you, little one,

" he whispered.

Elia whimpered and pulled him into a hug that lasted a very long time. When they finally pulled apart, she was trying to bring her emotions under control. And he admired her for it.

She wasn't happy about it, not at all. But she turned her face to his and kissed him, murmured her love, and her prayers for his safety. And he returned the favor, holding her close and pleading with the Creator to bring them both back together soon. Safely. Whole. And without fear.

He felt himself tugged back before she did. Then he faded for a moment, her hands beginning to shift as his bulk wavered, then returned under her palms.

"Reth! What—?

"

"It's time, Love. Be brave!

" He kissed her again, felt his entire body shudder and twitch, something pulling at him as if from the center of his chest and out, through his back.

"NO! Reth, please!

" she grasped for him, panicking. But he buried his hands in her hair and took her face while he still could, laying his mouth on hers and breathing his love against her lips.

"I love you, Elia. Forever. No matter what comes, I love you. Remember.

"

"I love you, Reth!

"

"Forever, Elia.

"

"Forever!

"

And then she was gone.

*****

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