n

n

nRETH

nHe was holding himself together by the tips of his claws. He stood at the edge of the path, less than a day's travel from the city, shuddering. His skin quivered and his beast tore at his insides. But he had to speak to them. He wouldn't be able to keep it together long enough to get to Aymora. He'd accepted that now. But that meant he needed a plan.

nHe called to the pride males again. They were coming on swift feet, but they'd kept their distance as they were instructed, leading him in the right direction, but not getting close enough for him to feel threatened. It was a risk to bring them in, but he had to do it.

nHe couldn't go back to Elia like this—and his beast0-self was driven by nothing else. He'd terrify her. She didn't even know he could shift. He needed Aymora and her soothing tincture. And he needed Behryn, and his steadying presence.

nDamn. What was happening to him?

nThe young ones arrived first—less of a threat. It was wise of the elders to send them, but they were all nervous, trying to keep themselves proud and strong, but looking at each other as much as him.

n

"You're fine… for now,

" he panted.

"If I tell you to run, you do it.

"

n

"Yes, sire,

" they all replied. He nodded, focusing on keeping himself as calm as possible. But with the wound on his side, his instincts for protection were kicking in harder and harder.

nAnother shudder ripped through him, and he growled. The young ones tensed. He wasn't going to make it until all the elders were close. But then Haydn crept up from between two trees beside him, and Reth heaved a sigh of relief. The elder was a steady presence, but not dominant. A good choice for the first approach. He nodded, and Haydn padded toward him silently, eyes down and shoulders lowered.

n

"There's not much time,

" Reth said through his teeth. The elder motioned for the younger men to get behind him as he nodded to Reth.

"I can't control it. I don't know why… Tell Aymora it's been an urge since the ceremony, but… it became a struggle when the mating… was interrupted before we left to get the Silent One. I need her to stop the shifts… I can't return to the den, to my mate, until she has—do you understand?

"

nHaydn nodded again, still not meeting Reth's eyes.

n

"You're a good man... Get Behryn, too. He'll help talk me down. Even… even my beast recognizes him. He might be needed if something happens…

"

n

"You can trust us Majesty, we won't let anything happen.

"

n

"If it comes to it, you sedate me, understand? I won't punish anyone if that's what it takes. Do not let me put any of the people under threat!

" Letting himself think about that, feel the tension of it was a mistake. He shuddered again, and groaned, rolling his head on his shoulders to desperately push back the urge to shift.

"Do you understand me, Haydn?

"

n

"Yes! Yes, we do, Sire. Don't worry. Everything will be fine.

" But he was already shrinking back into the trees, gesturing for the others to disappear too. He could sense the shift coming, and Reth's scent was wary and prickly.

n

"Thank you, f-friend,

" he gasped, holding on with gritted teeth.

"I won't forget this.

"

nBut the men were gone.

nHe held out as long as he could. His last thought was a prayer for Elia's safety.

nAnd that she wouldn't abandon him if she learned about his beast.

n*****

nELIA

nHe'd been explaining for almost an hour. It wasn't that she had a hard time understanding the concept—after everything else that she'd seen in the past week, it wasn't really a stretch to believe these people could change their skins. And, as she thought about it, it explained a lot about the metaphors they used, and the ways they referred to themselves.

nShe'd assumed when Reth referred to himself as a cub, he'd been indulging his animal nature. But, no, she learned. He really had been a cub. As well as a child.

nIt was… mind boggling.

nGahrye was half-amused, and half-hurt, she realized. The fact that he couldn't do this when everyone else could was a blow to him. Made him stand out negatively. Elia was trying to be sensitive to that, while still trying to get her head around the fact that it even happened.

n

"Are you the only one who can't in the whole of Anima?

" she asked carefully a while later.

nGahrye shook his head.

"No, every tribe has two or three. Except us. I'm the only Equine.

"

nShe put a hand to his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I mean, I haven't had that exact experience, but I was different back where I came from too. The only one without a family. And… no one really understood. It made me feel… wrong. Even though I felt like I wasn't. Except I knew I was different… it was just a lot.

"

nHis eyes came up to meet hers then, with a flash.

"Yes,

" he said quietly.

"That's how I feel.

"

n

"Do they exclude you? I mean, you were at the stall the day we met. Do they still buy from you?

"

n

"Yes, mostly,

" he sighed.

"The worst time was when I was young. The children can be cruel. Now it's more peaceful, except when I run into the older ones—and the fact that none of the females want me. They're afraid their children will be wrong too.

"

n

"You aren't wrong, you're just different,

" she said, rubbing his back.

nHe shrugged.

"In the eyes of others, it amounts to the same thing.

"

n

"Well, I can tell you, if you were in the human world, you'd be very desirable as a husband,

" she said, smiling.

"You're tall and handsome, you're kind and funny, and you actually want to marry. That's big where I'm from.

"

n

"Do the men not wish to have families?

" he asked, confused.

n

"Not at your age, not usually,

" she said. Then she smiled again.

"So if it ever gets really bad here, see if you can find a way into the human world. You'll have a wife in no time,

" she joked.

nGahrye laughed too, but his eyes were distant.

n