GAHRYE

The urge was there to lick his lips, but Gahrye forced himself to stillness. This little turtle of a man was no match for him physically, but there was great intelligence, and a wealth of balls behind his soft façade. Gahrye did not underestimate the male's ability to corner him in an argument. So he was very careful with his words.

Shaw had put his pen down and was staring at Gahrye, his eyes alight with whatever it was about him that always put Gahrye on edge. There was something wrong with this male.

"So, let me make sure I understand,

" Shaw asked quietly.

"You entered the portal and nothing spoke to you until you began to walk?

"

"Yes.

"

"And when they first spoke, it was to tempt you with riches and favor among people.

"

"Yes, but the people of Anima, not here.

"

Shaw's brows popped up and he made another quick notes.

"Very well, then you say you tripped, then began to run, and they changed their approach? Was this because you were close to getting out?

"

"I don't know, honestly. It seems like I had to be more than halfway through, but maybe not. I was moving a lot slower at the beginning. So perhaps it only felt like halfway because of the time. I don't know. To be honest, it felt like time stands still in that place. I didn't… I didn't feel time passing.

"

Shaw stared at him, the strangest look on his face. Then he made a hurried note.

"That is… very interesting,

" he said carefully. Then, after one last note, he looked up again, his eyes glinting with something raw.

"That is the part that confuses me, Gahrye. I have heard dozens of these stories over the years—both those I interviewed, and the records from earlier Anima. And in every account, the slowing of your movement is connected to them having some kind of hold on you. Yet you say you were not tempted by what they offered to you?

"

Adrenalin spiked through him, but he reminded himself that Shaw couldn't hear his heartbeat, or scent the change in him. So he kept his face blank, and nodded.

"Truly, no. It appealed in the broader sense. But I was never drawn to their offers more than the task at hand.

"

How he wished he could touch Kalle, just to feel her there with him. But they couldn't let Shaw know.

Shaw pursed his lips.

"And then you tripped—over what, do you know?

"

"A rock in the path.

"

Shaw frowned.

"A… rock?

"

"Yes. On the path.

"

"And then you began to run, and they began to threaten you.

"

"Yes.

"

"With what?

"

"I'm sorry?

" Gahrye asked, scrambling to remember what he'd said a minute before.

"What did they threaten in your life? You, or someone else?

"

"Both,

" he said, mentally shying away from the images the voices had given him of Kalle, their threats that she would never be his without them. The niggling fear he'd had ever since that there was perhaps some kind of connection with the voices that he didn't remember.

Were they just utterly wrong? Or did they still have a means to remove her from him?

He glanced at her and found her staring at him, worried. He prayed Shaw wouldn't notice and forced himself to turn back to the male, hold his challenging gaze.

"Look, Shaw, I don't remember all the details. I was running. I was afraid, and I was trying to stay focused on my task. But I know they threatened to kill me. I know they threatened Elia. And I know when I got out, I was so relieved… I never wanted to go back in there again.

"

Shaw examined him through his glasses as if he were a worm under the eye of a bird.

"It is odd, also, that they would threaten the Queen when she is not your mate. Not actually connected to you as family. The voices always play to the deepest relationships—

"

"Gahrye is Elia's Cohort,

" Kalle interrupted.

"And as a disformed, no one else has ever given him the recognition or power that she provided to him. I've watched them together. They're very close. Plus, he vowed to her mate that he would protect her. Perhaps the voices mistook his dedication to her as something… more intimate?

"

Shaw snorted.

"Impossible. They do not make mistakes like that.

"

Gahrye frowned.

"I love Elia,

" he said, confused.

"She is my best friend, my Queen, the most… central figure in my life. She brought me to a place of status when others shunned me. Before I came here, there was no one I cared about more.

"

"Before?

" Shaw said, his head tilting.

"You have developed feelings for someone here?

"

Gahrye frowned and shook the statement off, but his heart was pounding.

"Elia and I have only grown closer by sharing this experience. But that is not what I meant. I meant that she is my family, in practice. My own family care for me but they are… baffled by my inability to shift. They allow me to live my life and do not burden me with… responsibilities to them.

"

Kalle shifted in her seat and something new entered her scent—something angry and protective. She was hurt on his behalf—and wished to confront those that had hurt him.

Gahrye made a mental note to kiss her for that later. But forced himself to keep his attention on Shaw. The man's scent was confusing—part frustration, part satisfaction, and something else… something Gahrye couldn't identify. As if something twisted him up inside. And yet, it was something he did not fear or wish away.

It was a very strange combination, one Gahrye had never smelled before.

"Very well,

" Shaw said after a moment.

"I accept that you were under extreme stress at the time of this event and that it has been some time since it occurred. But I would like to go back to the records and look into a few things, then perhaps meet again. Would you agree to do that—in a timely manner?

"

Gahrye snorted.

"I will do what I can, outside of my duties to the Queen,

" he said carefully.

Shaw's face flattened.

"I have to tell you, Gahrye, I find it intriguing that you have had such a… resistance to meeting with me. I am usually the Anima's greatest asset on this side of the traverse. I have been willing to allow Kalle to assist you since your duties are far more suited to her work. But, may I ask why you wish to avoid speaking with me?

"

Gahrye huffed. There were the man's balls.

The question was, did Gahrye tell him the truth?

He looked at Kalle briefly, then turned back to Shaw, smiling at the irony of his own words.

"I apologize if I have seemed standoffish, Shaw. But frankly, you smell wrong.

"