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n*****

nRETH

nWhen he woke from his beast, he was naked on a stone floor. His side ached terribly, but when he tried to push himself up, his body shook and he almost lost himself to the shift again.

nFor the first time, fear crept into his heart. What had happened? How had he come to this place, and why wasn't it being appeased by his beast form?

nHe groaned as he rolled over, towards the light, and found himself in Aymora's den. In a cage.

nShe and the other Pride leaders turned when he groaned, and rushed over to the bars.

"Don't open them yet,

" he croaked, raising one palm towards them.

"I'm not sure yet. Just… give me a minute.

"

nThe young Leonine were pale, watching him from behind their elders. He needed to be stronger. Aymora stood, her jaw tight and fists on her hips. She said something to Haydn, who was next to her, staring at Reth worriedly, but Reth was too busy biting back a wave of the urge to shift, to pay attention. But he knew from her tone, and her posture, he was going to pay for this later.

nSoon he was able to sit up an scoot himself back to lean against the rock wall, facing the others.

nThen a door behind them slammed, and Behryn appeared, next to Aymora, staring wide-eyed at Reth.

"What's going on?

"

nReth growled.

"The shift. I can't stop it.

"

n

"Did you scare off the Silent One?

"

n

"He killed it,

" Haydn said quietly. They were all silent for a moment, ignoring Reth's shame.

nHe gritted his teeth, squeezing his eyes closed to help him focus.

"I lost control, Behryn. And it's getting worse. I've barely been able to stay myself for more than a few minutes since I shifted. It's getting harder every time, instead of easier—and I'm staying myself for shorter periods. I don't know why. But it—

"

n

"I do!

" Aymora snarled. Reth's eyes flew open and he stared at her in shock, as did the other men.

n

"What?

" Reth asked hoarsely.

"What's happening to me?

"

nShe pointed a finger at his chest.

"What's happening is that the mating bond was established, but hasn't been allowed to snap into place. I tried to warn you, Reth. This is what comes of taking a human wife—you should have listened to the histories!

"

n

"I don't have time for histories right now. I need to know what to do to to stop the shifting!

"

n

"You need to mate!

"

n

"I was about to,

" he ground out, glaring at Behryn, who shifted on his feet.

"But I got called away.

" He winced, holding back the shift.

"And now… I can't mate her as a lion. She doesn't have a beast form.

"

nAymora snorted,

"She wouldn't be the first female to take her husband as a beast—some even enjoy—

"

n

"Do not finish that sentence!

" Reth snarled, then had to breathe heavily for several seconds to get himself under control.

n

"Stay calm,

" Aymora said, the heat out of her voice.

"Just relax.

"

nHe gave her a look, but took a deep breath and spoke more quietly.

"This is her first time. And our mating bond. I will not… sully it that way.

"

nAymora nodded, sighing.

n

"I need that tincture you have, Aymora,

" he said finally.

"The one you gave me when I was an adolescent.

"

nAymora's lips thinned.

"You are so much stronger now, Reth. So much more of yourself. I can't even be sure it would work.

"

n

"Well, there's only one way… to find out…

" he groaned.

"Please. It's getting worse.

"

nAymora threw up her hands, growling.

"We can only try, I suppose.

" She hurried over to a cupboard near the kitchen and looked through the bottles there.

"We need to wrap that wound too, otherwise you're going to get infected, which won't help with the urge to shift.

"

nReth nodded.

"Just give me the medicine first, then wrap it quickly. I'm not sure how much longer I've got.

" He shivered and rested his head back against the wall, breathing deeply, fighting to keep himself under control.

nThoughts of Elia—her face, her smell—helped at first. And he focused on that, on their memories and the way he'd loved her for so long. But he could feel desire rising in him the longer he thought of her. And if Aymora was right, that was only going to create more problems.

n

"Hurry,

" he snarled.

n*****

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