RETH

He had just left the Security Council—hours of examining the tensions and potential damages of the conflicts between the people, measuring them for rebellion, assessing the guards and who was caught up in the politics of the return of the rebels, and who was cool headed enough to be trusted to manage the others without prejudice.

His head spun with worry and joy, with the yearning for his mate, and an aching stomach that needed food. He'd skipped lunch to get the meeting done so he could return to Elia and his body wasn't appreciating the lack.

As he and Behryn walked out of the building together, he knew he should go to the market, get a meal to sustain him until dinner. But he didn't want any further delay on returning to Elia.

Except… his friend, though no longer angry as he had been, still looked tense and haunted.

"Are you well, Behr?

" Reth asked quietly as they stepped onto the trail together.

"No, but you knew that.

"

"What's going on?

"

Behryn turned to look at him, slowly.

"You're asking me… what might be going on… to create tension? Reth… were you at that meeting?

"

Reth frowned.

"We're all on edge, waiting to see what will happen among the people, Behr. But you seem… especially tense.

"

Behryn gaped at him. Then turned quickly to make sure they hadn't been followed, scanning the forest around them for others, and finding none, rounded on Reth.

"I almost died, Reth, and my mate remains very frightened. While I would like to have the time to spend with her to reassure her and… reconnect… my King has also been separated from his Mate and needs to give her as much time as he can. And possibly more than he should.

"

Reth frowned harder, but Behryn was looking at the forest ahead of them, his hands flying in gestures to punctuate his upset.

"I am to watch over every guard and warrior and ensure they don't use their power and strength to intimidate or harm the rebels—but they must also keep them in line and watch closely to ensure that they aren't going to betray us all—or try to kill you again.

"We have people moving homes and tribes reuniting, returning to the Tree City, so we can't even be certain who is where on any given day. And alongside all of this, the male that almost tore the Anima to their roots, sits in a tree on this side of the forest, healthy and alive, and cared for day and night. Yet, you wonder why I am tense? The tightrope we walk Reth… it has a knife-edge. I feel as if only one of these teetering burdens could tip at any moment, and the resulting sway will bring the others down with it!

"

Reth stopped walking and faced his oldest and dearest friend, his mouth open. Behryn stopped too, glaring back at him.

Reth searched his angry gaze, the question still in his mind.

Behryn was right that these circumstances were difficult, and trying. But Behryn had always thrived on problem solving—the point of pushing himself between Reth and potential obstacles. His fear and anger right now weren't usual for the strong equine.

What was different this time? What had unsettled him so? It had to be Reth's distant attendance. His pressing to be with Elia for as many hours as were possible. It had to be grating on Behryn, whose mate also yearned to be with him. Right?

Then Aymora's words echoed back at him, from that day before Elia returned, when Reth had insisted he was going to retrieve her.

Behryn had argued—just one more pressure when there were still so many. The people needed him. But Aymora had agreed and commended Reth's decision to go…

"Are you serious?

" Behryn had asked her, gaping.

Her smile fell from her face as she turned to Behryn.

"I would give anything—anything!—to be close to my mate one more time. I will not begrudge my dearest loved ones the chance to take advantage of something I would kill for!

" she'd snapped.

Behryn's face fell.

"I'm sorry, Aymora,

" he said quietly.

But then his lovely old friend shook her head and said the thing that had baffled them both at the time.

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to your mate who yearns for you and fights others rather than risking greater distance from you, Behryn.

"

Behryn frowned deeply and Reth spluttered.

"What? Hollhye is here with—

"

"Fucking males and their **ing blindness to anything that doesn't make their cocks stand up,

" Aymora muttered and turned away from both of them.

"Fucking Alpha male bull**…

"

When she'd stormed off into the crowd, Reth had stared at Behryn. Neither of them had known what she was talking about—and Reth, for one, had ben relieved it was only him who seemed confused.

But since then… since that time… that was when the tension started with Behryn. And the night before last was when Behryn had outright challenged him.

Reth stared at his friend, his hardened jaw and tense shoulders.

"What's going on, Behr?

"

"I just told you—

"

"No… with Hollhye. What's happened?

"

Behryn blinked, then looked away, a shadow in his eyes.

"She has asked me to choose.

"

At first, Reth had no idea what he meant.

"Asked you to choose… what?

"

Behryn folded his arms, the most defensive Reth had ever seen him and spoke through his teeth.

"She is terrified, Reth. Me taking that arrow… it shook her to her foundations. She knows Aymora's story. I hadn't thought about it—Drhake was very different to me. But she has been waking with nightmares. She's not sleeping. She's getting angrier and more terrified every day.

"

"Why?! The biggest risk has passed!

"

Behyrn sighed.

"She feels that my loyalty to you outweighs my loyalty to her.

"

Reth's mouth dropped open.

"How could she—

"

"Don't, Reth. Don't let yourself overlook this. We both know what she's seeing .What she means.

"

A cold knot of fear suddenly tightened in Reth's gut at the expression on his best friend's face.

"I… I would never ask you to—

"

"You wouldn't ask it because you don't have to. I've always stood between you and the world as much as I can, Reth. We both know that.

"

"And I have always been grateful for your wisdom and courage, you know that.

"

Behryn nodded.

"That's the only reason I'm still arguing with her.

"

"Arguing with her about what?

"

"She wants me to choose between being your Captain and being her mate.

"

*****

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