ELRETH

She really shouldn't have had the fifth glass of elderwine. But watching her parents make small talk with some of the Anima they hadn't seen in a while, then leave without ever taking the floor… it had put a pit in her stomach.

Her parents never left a feast without dancing. Never.

And they never left with space between them as they walked out, either.

She'd always cursed their public displays of affection—told them they were gross and mocked them for being too old to do the things they did. But she would have begged and pleaded, given just about anything in the Kingdom to see them groping each other on the dancefloor again—leaving when they thought no one was watching to head off to the Weeping Tree.

Hmmmm, the Weeping Tree.

She stumbled in the turn and Aaryn chuckled and swung her back into stride, nuzzling her ear as they continued around the floor.

She wouldn't normally let him do that in front of people. But most everyone who was still there was drunk. She'd just seen Gwyn pass in Dargyn's arms, both of them cackling like birds watching the frogs try to fish.

Although, she couldn't really judge. She was a little loose herself, it was true. When she'd seen her parents leave so clearly unhappy, she'd tensed up and started trying to lead the dance.

After the third time she tripped over Aaryn's foot, he'd pulled her to the side of the floor and made her meet his eyes.

"Let me take the lead here, and let's try to enjoy ourselves,

" he whispered, signing, 'We'll both talk to them tomorrow.'

She'd stolen one of the wine glasses from a passing tray, thrown it back—much to Aaryn's amusement—then put her arms back around his neck and let herself go.

And go, she had.

Two hours and twice as many glasses of wine later, Aaryn suggested they head back to the cave before she had any more.

She wasn't drunk, she was just loose, she told herself. But it was true that she tripped on something as they left the dancefloor, and Aaryn hadn't seemed to know whether to laugh or tell her off.

At least, not until she pulled him behind the door to one of the kitchen entrances and kissed him silly.

Now they strolled through the dark forest, alone on the trail, and she had her head back to look at the pinpoint stars that twinkled in the gaps between the tree canopy and Aaryn was looking at her and as long as she pushed her parents, and the Anima who'd left the feast when they started dancing out of her mind, everything just felt beautiful.

She kept swinging back into his arms and letting him dance her down the trail, his hands on her waist, his breath on her neck. She felt giddy—and a little out of control.

Then she pulled her head up and caught sight of his chest when his vest flapped open and bit her lip as she put her hands flat to his stomach underneath the leather and dropped her lips to his neck.

He sucked in and buried one hand in her hair.

"El… **…

" His voice was quiet and rough, the curses kept coming when she nipped at his ear, then whispered,

"Why don't we go to the Weeping Tree?

"

He pulled his head back to meet her eyes, then he smiled.

"Sounds like fun to me.

"

She grinned back, then turn and ran from him.

When he didn't follow, she called him a name, then leapt into beast form to see if she could sober up a little before he reached the tree.

*****

AARYN

It was an entirely different feeling walking through the dark forest toward her knowing he no longer had to hide. No longer had to pretend. No longer had to restrict his time with her—could now touch her in front of others.

And touch her he had. It was intoxicating.

That night they'd been the exact kind of couple she usually hated. But she hadn't cared, and he never had. There was limited happiness in life. He wanted to grab what he could with her, any moment it was possible.

And tonight she'd gotten a little drunk.

Drunk Elreth was hilarious. He hoped she didn't trip on her way to the Weeping Tree and break her tail or something.

But he also didn't rush after her, and he wasn't sure why.

There was a creeping dread in the pit of his stomach he wanted to shake, but feared he couldn't. They'd known there would be critics after the announcement, but in truth, it had gone better than he'd expected.

Except… except it seemed like there hadn't been enough of a problem.

Was he stupid to think so? Stupid to be looking for trouble that hadn't happened?

Even if his instincts were right and they were going to find out there was a bigger problem than tonight appeared to present, there was nothing he could do about it just then.

He should be running after her, hurrying to be at her side, to take her in his arms with no none nearby.

But he was content to let her run ahead. To meet her there. To enjoy the night. Why?

Because it had come home to him that no matter what else happened, tonight meant he would enjoy her every night for the rest of their lives.

No more hiding. No more pretending. No more restraint—except for the waiting, but even that was a step closer to ending every moment.

No, Aaryn realized, for the first time in his life he was on the cusp of being exactly where he had always wanted to be: Leading the disformed into integration, Elreth in his arms and at his side, and no more lies.

Well, only a few. And those utterly necessary.

He took a deep breath and stepped off the trail for the last part of the hike to the Weeping Tree. He felt like a different male.

Because he was.

He was, very suddenly, blessed. So he would take a moment to say thank you to the Creator who chose Elreth for him, and made all of this possible.

And he would prepare himself to enjoy the coming days and weeks.

No matter what, they were doing this. And he, for one, couldn't wait.