AARYN

It caught Aaryn off guard when, as they reached the bottom of the stairs, he was shoulder tapped and turned to find his former Second, Garthe, standing beside him, face somber.

Elreth didn't let him go but turned with him to see who it was. When Aaryn glanced at her she signed, 'I could bite his throat out for you.'

He choked back the laugh and looked at Garthe.

"What is it?

" he asked shortly.

"I wanted to tell you congratulations. And… and that I was wrong. And I'm glad that I was wrong. Truly.

"

Aaryn measured the male for a moment, but decided this wasn't the time to challenge him.

Garthe was a strategist and an excellent liar. He might be telling the truth. Or he might be lying through his Leonine teeth. There was really no way to know except to ask very specific questions and scent him for truth.

But Aaryn measured that it did no harm to receive the good wishes, so he nodded once.

"Thank you.

"

"Congratulations, Sire,

" Garthe said to Elreth, who tilted her head.

"Thank you,

" she said quietly.

Then with another bow of his head, Garthe melted back into the crowd, leaving Aaryn uncertain whether he should feel uneasy, or relieved.

But he didn't have time to think about that now. They had a dance to dance, and a people to impress.

The truth was, it still bothered Aaryn that they hadn't announced the date for the Flames and Smoke. He feared an ongoing delay. But as they made it to the dance floor and began to sway together, turning and drifting around the room, it gave Aaryn a much better feel for what was going on amongst the people. Both the good, and the bad.

He pulled Elreth into his arms, growling at her to submit—so that she giggled and teased him—but most of his mind was on the eyes of the people following them.

Many in the crowd were ecstatic. The tables full of disformed, the families and tribes who were less prejudiced, or who had disformed in their packs or herds, the advocates—there were many who were happy to the point of tears. And it lifted Aaryn's heart to receive so many waves and smiles, teary-eyed calls of congratulations, and softer greetings from those close enough to be heard easily.

They couldn't deny that the bigger part of the Anima were happy for them and ready to see this mating occur.

But the others…

Aaryn's shoulders began to tense when his eyes fell on a cluster of Anima near the main aisle, all speaking with intensity, their hands gesturing, their eyes cutting back and forth from him and Elreth, to each other.

One of them accidentally caught Aaryn's eye and he didn't miss the flash of anger in the male's gaze. But he also submitted, nodding his head to Aaryn, and ceasing his agitated gesturing.

There were groups of leonine that clearly thought Elreth should be marrying a Lion, who kept shaking their heads. Though they looked more sad than angry.

As he pulled her into his arms and they slid across the floor, he was forced to admit to himself that keeping the date of the Flames open had probably been the right idea.

Many would talk tonight. Many would observe over the coming days. Those that were not strong in their initial stance would shift with a few days to think it through.

The question was, would they shift in favor, or against the union?

"Hey, hey, don't let them get to you,

" Elreth said, tossing her hair over her shoulder as he pulled her into a turn.

"We always knew there was going to be some who wouldn't celebrate. Let's show them how happy we are and forget about them until tomorrow.

"

"What if tomorrow is too late for those, though?

" he asked, watching over her shoulder as two males almost came to blows, clearly arguing about he and Elreth given the way he kept throwing his hand towards them.

"It is never too late, Aaryn,

" Elreth said quietly, kneading at the back of his neck.

"And it also isn't on you to fix this. I'm the Queen. If they have true concerns or fears, it's me they'll come to, and rightly so. And I will tell them that no matter what they think of you, or us, or the disformed, the Creator chose you for me. No one can answer that.

"

He stared down at her, frowning as she smiled, and stunned once again by her strength of will.

"It's as if you believe you can simply will them to agree with you,

" he chuckled.

"I'm afraid the world doesn't work that way.

"

"You might be surprised, Mate,

" she said with a wink.

"I'm only just getting started with my female wiles. Pretty soon I'll have you eating out of my… what's wrong?

"

They had just taken a turn on the opposite side of the dancefloor and Aaryn had caught sight of Reth and Elia, standing close to one another, but both facing the same way, their expressions tight and pale.

"Your parents,

" he said softly, then turned her again so she could see them.

Her face fell.

"It's so sad to see them this way,

" she said.

"And they aren't dancing? They never miss the dancing!

"

Aaryn nodded, he knew. Then Reth looked at him, and their eyes held for a moment. The older man smiled and raised the glass he held, nudging Elia with his free arm. She startled and looked and then she, too, smiled and raised a glass.

He bowed his head to them, then turned Elreth so she could receive their wishes.

Neither of them spoke until they'd circled around to the other side of the floor. Elreth's hand was tight on his shoulder, and his on her waist.

They looked at each other and her face was strained.

"Promise me if we ever get in a fight, or if I ever hurt you, that you'll keep talking to me. Not just… get angry and shut me out like that.

"

"I vow it,

" he said.

"Me too,

" she breathed.

He shouldn't do it here, publicly, but he couldn't resist. He tipped her chin up and took her mouth briefly, a simple press. Because she gave him joy. And no matter what else they might face, she was right.

They were in this together. Forever.