ELIA

Gahrye walked into the bedroom with a hesitant smile as Reth walked out. Elia watched her mate's back and listened carefully to make sure he was actually leaving.

"How are you doing?

" Gahrye asked carefully.

"Fine, fine,

" she said distractedly, listening for Reth's footsteps in the cave, to make sure they didn't turn or stop.

"So there's something I wanted to—

"

"Shhhhh!

" she shushed him.

Gahrye's eyes went wide.

"What's wrong?

"

"I need to make sure he's gone,

" she said, still listening.

"Are your ears better than mine? Can you tell?

"

Gahrye listened for a moment, but shook his head.

"I think he's gone, Elia. I can't smell him either. Wait… You want to be away from Reth right now?

" he asked, surprised.

"No!

" she said, looking at him like he was crazy.

"But you do.

"

"I do?

"

"Yes! Gahrye I had this terrible dream the other day. You have to go. You have to get over there and talk to Kalle and find out what she knows and—

"

"Oh, thank the Creator,

" he said, his shoulders slumping as he put his hands to his face.

"Why? What's going on?

"

"I was coming to tell you the same thing,

" he said into his hands.

"I was going to wait another week, but I have to go, Elia. I have to go soon.

"

"Better than soon, you have to go now,

" she said firmly.

Gahrye blinked and she watched the flames of hope flare in his eyes.

"Why?

"

"Because everyone's distracted here. I'm feeling good today, which means I can do more and I need less help. Reth's not busy, he'll be with me, so you don't have to. And he hasn't even noticed when you didn't come for a day. This is it, Gahrye. We need to know more about the histories, we need to understand how to frame this to the disformed. And with everything that's going on with Lerrin and me… it's just a good time because Reth's busy. If we wait I'm worried he'll have more time and be paying better attention. Plus… plus I kind of want you back here before I have the baby. I'm sorry, Gahrye. You can't stay. You need to get over there and make sure Kalle's okay, then come back. If we can get Reth used to you being gone, I think you can disappear for a day every week or so. Then when the Bears wake up we'll get permission and… and it'll all be easier.

"

Gahrye's jaw dropped.

"Every week or two?

"

She nodded, fighting a smile because she didn't want him to get too excited. She didn't think any of this was going to be easy on him.

"We need to be able to get information from Kalle, and you can't tell anyone—not even Reth. Even if something happens to me, Gahrye, I'm serious. I dreamed about it. You can't say a word to anyone. Everyone tells someone and it's just… It'll be a disaster.

"

He nodded carefully.

"Okay. Then… okay.

"

"Good. I'll miss you, but I'm so happy for you,

" she grinned.

"Can you do me a favor while you're there?

"

"Name it.

"

"See if you can figure out some kind of old tradition we could reawaken—something that gives me a reason to meet with a group of people alone, without the King.

"

"I thought we were building you a private network?

"

"We are, but I'm realizing once I have a baby and things are back to normal… it would just be useful to have some kind of old traditional to fall back on if there's ever questions, or something happens and someone gets discovered.

"Oh, and see if there's anything about the bears and the traverse, or the Protectors, too. From what Reth's told me it sounds like the Bears think they know more about the voices than we do. The reason he had to agree no one would use it is because the Bears think no one can cross safely at all, ever. Gawhr thinks the voices are the true enemy of the Anima. And that makes me wonder if we're going to find out they have something to do with the prophecy. Like, maybe we've been assuming it's the humans, but what if it's not? What if this is something else? Anyway, I don't know what we're looking for. But keep an eye out. Anything to do with the bears and the traverse—or the Protectors.

"

"Okay, Gahrye said, bobbing a little on his feet.

"I can do that, okay.

"

They looked at each other then and Elia smiled.

"I'm so glad you're going to see her. Please give her a big hug from me.

"

"I will, of course.

" But he didn't expand on it and Elia could scent his tension.

"What is it?

"

"It's nothing you need to worry about.

" Gahrye flapped a hand at her and turned away, but she didn't let him put her off.

"Gahrye, please. Surely we're well past hiding things from each other at this point?

"

"No, it's not that, I'm just… the voices, you know… they had a lot to say about Kalle and me and… the whole situation. I'm just… I really want to get over there, but I'm really nervous too. I need to make sure everything is… okay.

"

Elia nodded and took a deep breath.

"Then you should just leave right now. Go get your things and leave.

"

Gahrye frowned.

"I can't leave you here alone.

"

Elia rolled her eyes.

"I'm better than I've been in weeks—even better than I was when we were over there, Gahrye, seriously. I'm healing. And this is the perfect time because Reth's in the City. And when he comes back I'll distract him. He's seen you, so he's not going to register that you aren't around today. If you can get back tomorrow night, or the next morning, it will be fine.

"

"Wow, okay. Are you sure?

"

"I'm certain,

" she said, beaming a smile at him.

"Go get her, Gahrye. Just don't forget to look for that stuff!

"

"Of course not.

"

He hurried over to her side and hugged her quickly.

"Thank you,

" he said into her hair.

"Seriously, Elia, thank you. I know it's not easy to hide things from your mate.

"

They pulled apart and she looked at him.

"Don't do it at all,

" she said seriously.

"Don't hide things from her. There's no point, Gahrye. Especially when you two have so little time together.

"

He nodded, then squeezed her hand and turned away.

"Creator bless you,

" Elia said, teary and trying to hide it.

"Have fun. Be careful. And be safe!

"

Gahrye darted out of the room and around the corner of the tunnel. She listened hard again until she was sure his footsteps were out of the cave, too, then she slumped back onto her pillows.

He was right, she wasn't supposed to be alone. But she really did feel better. Except for that creeping dread about Reth not being close. But she would take a nap and hopefully not wake up until Reth came back.

She nodded to herself and snuggled down into the blankets, praying for Gahrye's safety, and Reth to come back soon.