n

n

nTHANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Your Golden Tickets have earned a total of FOUR chapters for mass release this week, so strap in for FOUR chapters, one every half hour, beginning NOW! To earn more chapters at the end of the month, keep blessing Reth & Elia with those Golden Tickets!

n*****

nELIA

nWhen Brant and Behryn left she was exhausted—and frustrated with herself. She couldn't even talk to people for a couple of hours without needing to sleep?

nWhen Reth had leaned down to pick her up, she'd wanted to sink into his arms, then into the furs—still in his arms. But she knew… she knew if they did she would only fall asleep. And she was desperate for some time with Reth that wasn't full of fear or tension.

nIt was a relief when he agreed to stay in the Great Room for a while.

nThen he sat with her, and she almost cried from the sheer joy of just being close to him—his fingers in her hair, his hand sliding up and down her calf.

nBut then he curled his head onto her belly, holding her hip with one hand, and the flat of her pregnant stomach with the other, and he began to talk to Elreth, and Elia wept.

nSilently. Without hiccups, tears streamed down her face at the sight of her huge, strong mate, tucking himself around her belly and murmuring to their daughter. All thought of sleep left her. She wouldn't miss this moment for anything.

nAs he rumbled and murmured, made jokes, and told stories to her stomach, Elia rested one arm on his massive shoulders, and dragged the fingers of her other hand through his hair just to be touching him.

nThere was a place, just below the hair at the nape of his neck where his skin was lighter, not as burnished by the sun, and she touched it, traced it with a fingertip. It seemed an oddly vulnerable spot on her hulking, alpha male. A visible match to the tenderness he was displaying that squeezed her heart in a whole new way. And she knew she'd never recover.

nReth has a friend was protective and fearless, open and authentic.

nReth as a lover was generous and selfless, passionate and… he lit fires in her that she'd never known existed.

nReth as a King was admirable and so strong, he made her feel like there was nothing to fear.

nBut Reth as a father…

nShe loved Reth with every fiber of her being. She had since the first day they'd been reunited. But this? Reth as a father was devastating. All that power and strength held in check to touch with such gentleness, his voice an intoxicating mix of delight and love, protectiveness, and curiosity. And his smile…

nWhen he'd look at her stomach, right before he'd leaned down to put his cheek against it, she'd felt a flash of jealousy—just for a moment. She didn't want him to look at anyone else with the same delight he felt for her. But then she remembered who that smile was for, and her heart broke wide open.

nShe leaned forward, putting her arms as far around him and her stomach as she could. Weepy, she tried to kiss his head and between the bulk of her stomach and her swollen breasts, she could barely reach her lips to him. But she pushed, then rested her forehead on him.

nReth sighed happily and moved his hand from her belly, to cup her arm.

nFor a moment they just held each other, and Elreth, without speaking.

nThen, clearing his throat to cover for his emotion, Reth began to talk again. And Elia's heart broke all over again.

n

"You'll be like your mother, I think,

" he said, his voice low, vibrating against the side of her belly.

"Strong, even if others can't see it. They might underestimate you because you are female, Elreth. Don't let them. You are every bit as fierce and as powerful as me. You are my daughter. Anima will tremble when you walk.

n

"But don't ever let your power be a weapon, little one. Watch your mother. Listen to her. Hold onto her heart of love for people. Use the compassion she shows to bring your people close. Earn their loyalty with your love and honor. Do not frighten them into it. If you can do that—take the best of both of us—you will be the best ruler Anima has ever seen.

n

"I know you can do it, Elreth,

" he whispered, then kissed her belly.

"And I cannot wait for the day I can see it.

"

nA sob broke in Elia's chest.

"Oh, Reth!

"

nShe shook with her tears, overflowing out of love and relief and pure joy. He shushed her and pushed up to sit, pulling her into his lap and holding her close, stroking her hair as she clung to his neck.

nHer tears dripped from her cheeks to his collarbone. But neither of them let go.

n

"I love you so much,

" she whispered against his chest.

"I was so scared without you, Reth.

"

n

"Shhhhh, Love. It was terrible, I know. But you're here now. Don't focus on that. Focus on what we have, not what we lost.

"

n

"I'm still scared, Reth. I wake up scared. I want to smile and something will startle me and… I'm just scared all the time.

"

nHis arms around her tightened.

"Tell me,

" he murmured.

"Tell me what scares you.

"

nShe shivered.

"I'm afraid of the shift—afraid that I'll get lost and not be able to come back to you. I'm afraid of not being to deliver Elreth safely. I'm afraid of losing you… even more than the others, Reth, I'm so scared of losing you. Aymora's story—

"

n

"Her story is tragic and I wouldn't wish it on anyone,

" he said firmly, but quietly.

"But it is not our story, Elia. Don't let yourself go there.

"

n

"But it could be. When she described how she felt about her mate… about his goodness and his strength. How she didn't question him because she was certain he would be the hero… those are all the things I feel about you, Reth. That's the things that you are.

"

nHe grunted and his fingers fisted in her hair.

"Thank you, Love.

" They breathed together, then he sighed.

"Thank you,

" he repeated.

"But can we agree that you have never hesitated to question me?

"

nHe chuckled and it broke the tension. Elia found herself in that strange place—crying and laughing at the same time. She pushed back far enough to meet his eyes and linked her fingers behind his neck.

nHe stared at her with such love, his dark eyes glowing for her. One of his huge hands flattened against her back, the other lifted to use a single finger to push strands of hair back from sticking to her tears.

nThey stared at each other then, and Elia's heart, overwhelmed with too many different emotions, just stilled.

nAs her mate stared love and adoration, promises of protection, and certainty of his own ability to keep her safe, Elia could finally, for the first time in months, breathe easily.

nShe wasn't sure how long they sat like that, just drinking each other in and wallowing in their love. But it was a moment she'd never forget. It touched her soul. And when Reth tipped his forehead against hers and whispered her name, she closed her eyes and kissed him—tenderly, softly, and with every ounce of the love she felt.

n*****

nARE YOU ON FACEBOOK? I've just returned because I want to be friends with you! Find my (BRAND NEW) profile as Aimee Lynn (search

"Aimee Lynn NovelFull

" and find the profile that has the same image as my profile here on WN) and introduce yourself! Let's be friends!

n