GAHRYE

Gahrye actually stopped breathing when she reached inside to pull out the little golden ring.

Kalle's eyes widened at what she drew out, then she stared at him.

"I told you I would get something more… permanent,

" he said gruffly.

She stared at the ring again, her mouth open, and Gahrye looked at it for the fiftieth time, trying to see it as she would.

He'd had a tiny, golden horse, it's mane and tail flying, it's legs curled into a gallop, cast by a jeweler. But he'd been afraid it would catch on her clothing, or scratch her skin. So the jeweler had suggested covering it in a round of resin, or crystal—Gahrye didn't know what the material was, exactly, except that he was assured it would keep its clarity over the years—and circling it in gold.

So, when Kalle looked down at the ring, she saw what appeared to be a tiny horse, glowing from the center of a small, oval of amber, and circled in gold.

"Gahrye, it's so beautiful!

" she whispered.

"How did you do this?

"

"Truly, I didn't do it. I only told the male what I wanted and he made it for me. I wish I could have done this with my own hands, Kalle. But it is me… my heart for you. And I want you to keep it with you always.

"

He took it from her fingers and held her hand as he pressed into onto her finger, over the leather ring he'd given her earlier, and they both stared at it.

Then she looked up to hold his eyes with her own, shining and silvered with tears.

"I love you so much, Gahrye.

"

"Merry Christmas, Kalle,

" he said softly, then took her mouth and buried them both in a kiss that he never wished they would never have to leave.

*****

After a lunch with Eve that would have been enjoyed even in Anima, he and Kalle had gone for a walk in the gardens in the snow.

Gahrye still struggled being closed into the square space of the house for too long at a time. It had become their habit to take a walk around the grounds every day, and apart from the hours they spent naked, it was his favorite time of day.

The numbing cold of this world had been a shock—snow in Anima was rare. But the air was so much dryer that even when it was that cold it wasn't difficult to warm the caves and trees. But the humidity of the city of Kalle's home meant the cold seemed to penetrate to his bones. Even Gahrye was relieved when they crunched back to the back of the house that afternoon and Kalle suggested he take a shower to warm up.

When they got back inside Eve had disappeared for a nap. The house was quiet and mostly dark. The downstairs formal sitting room here they had sat together for a time after lunch, glowed with lights and smells—pine, cinnamon, and both decorations and lights glittering on a massive tree in the corner that baffled Gahrye. Why bring a tree inside to die when it was already so beautiful outside? He didn't deny that the room seemed warmer with the tree in the corner. Only that the tree seemed like it would be wasted. Perhaps they used it for wood, after?

Gahrye headed straight upstairs, Kalle on his heels.

"You get in, I'll find a dry sweater,

" Kalle said quickly, squeezing his hand as they parted and Gahrye headed to the bathroom.

He found it difficult not to be touching her when she was within reach—he still didn't quite believe that she would always be there to be touched. It was like his body pulled towards her, like a magnet. But he forced himself to drop his grip on her and go into the echoing bathroom, turning the water on to warm while he stripped off, then stepped inside.

Showering was a human tradition that he found he enjoyed, though he wished the water was a natural spring or waterfall, rather than the echoing tile, glass and metal. But he couldn't deny it was far more convenient than bathing when he was in a hurry. And the rush of the water reminded him of the waterfalls of Anima.

So, as had become his custom, when he stepped into the spray, he dropped his head back, closed his eyes, and let the water rush around him, playing down his body and imagining that he was home—with Kalle.

It was the only way his life could be better, he decided, was if he'd been able to take her there, rather than being here with her.

But he didn't regret a thing. He would happily never see Anima again if there was a way for him to stay with Kalle and fulfill his purpose as well. He doubted it would be possible, but he prayed so.

He was so consumed with a little daydream of walking Kalle into the Tree City and introducing her to Elia and Reth and the other disformed, that he was started when the door of the shower rattled and two ice blocks suddenly appeared on his skin.

He sucked in and flinched, Kalle laughing, as her freezing hands played across his chest. He grabbed her wrists and twisted, pulling her under the warm spray. It hit her full in the face and she shrieked, Gahrye laughing and holding her there, keeping her hands gripped in his and refusing to let her touch him, though she struggled to get them to his skin again.

But with her elbows pushed together as she wrestled against his grip, it made her breasts push together and jiggle, and it wasn't long before he was distracted again.

Taking both of her wrists in one hand, he lifted her hands above her head and walked her backwards into the wall of the shower. She hissed when the cold tile hit her back and he raised his eyebrows.

"Serves you right,

" he grinned, but his voice was low and dark, and he pressed his body against hers to warm her.

With her hands lifted, her breasts rose too, her nipples peaking against the cold and poking at his chest. Sliding one knee between her thighs and keeping her hands pinned to the wall above her head, he stroked from her thigh, up her stomach, to cup her breast and thumb that little peak, appreciating the dusky rose of it.

"Kalle,

" he breathed.

"I think I know a nice way to warm up.

"

****

"WHY CAN'T I READ THE LAST CHAPTERS RIGHT NOW?

" *****

(Added after publication so you aren't charged for the words) I have had the question several times lately,

"Why aren't there any new chapters releasing for me on King of Beasts?

"

At the end of November I released 30 chapters out of the privilege system so that all readers, whether they were privilege or not, would see the resolution to the main plotlines in King of Beasts. However, because the book was still updating in December, there is still 20 chapters of fluff

/fun content that won't filter out of privilege until the book is marked

"Completed

" on 1 January.

If you are worried about spoilers before moving to Queen of Beasts, you do not need to be. There is nothing new in those 20 chapters that will be spoiled for you in Queen. Those chapters are mostly fun

/fluffy resolution for our lovers. If you don't want to buy privilege with no more chapter updates, you can jump into Queen, then beginning 1 January, the system will release the last 20 chapters, 2 per day, until they are all out of privilege.

Thank you for your support of this book. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get all the content out of privilege for December, but if you wait until 1 January, you will read everything those readers read!