AARYN

The back tunnel of the disformed cave was darker than the main cave because there was no natural light, and they generally only left one or two lanterns lit.

Blinking out of the memory of that awful fight between Reth and Gar, Aaryn stared at Gar in the low light, not for the first time aware of Gar's sheer size, the heaviness of his brows and the tense strength of his body.

The younger male stared back, his face taunt and wary.

"Did Reth ever apologize?

" Aaryn asked, more softly than he felt.

"Several times. Too little, too late. He'd been thinking that stuff for a long time. It was kind of relief to get him to admit it, honestly.

"

Aaryn shook his head.

"He doesn't talk about you like that when you're not there.

"

Gar snorted.

"Because other people would think he's a bad dad if he did. Don't fall for the bull**, Aaryn. I'm not saying my dad's wasn't a good King. He was a **ing awesome King. He was just a **ty dad. To me, at least.

"

Gar said that with such casual certainty it stole Aaryn's breath. He wanted to argue. He wanted to defend Reth. But he also wanted Gar to see his own value—and equally wanted tot ake his friend—his brother—by the shoulders and shake some reality into him.

Gar couldn't expect to proactively influence the lives of those around him, then not answer for it when those choices went wrong.

So, Aaryn was, once again torn.

From the day Reth had lost his temper, Aaryn had always sensed that Gar needed something to keep him tied to his roots otherwise he'd just spin off into… something unhealthy. So he'd tried to have Gar's back. And after a few days of awkwardness until Gar was convinced that Aaryn hadn't told anyone, Gar had seemed to accept him as well.

The running joke in the Hryehryn family for the past few years had been that if they needed to get through to Gar, they needed Aaryn to be the messenger.

But now… now Aaryn understood the frustration that Reth had felt. He, Aaryn, stood there, watching Gar embody all of the former King's strength and stubborn pursuit of what he believed was right. The glory of Reth's strength was his ability to single-mindedly aim for a goal, no matter who might try to get in his way. The primary reason he was so loved was because he'd put himself on the line, body and soul, so many times for his people, his Kingdom, and his family. Even his critics couldn't claim he didn't live what he believed.

But in Gar, instead of that strength and single-mindedness being coupled with the tempering cautions of tradition and legacy, it was hog-tied to a calculating form of intelligence and a reckless disregard for what anyone else thought.

And for the first time, Aaryn stood in the line of fire of the consequences of Gar's choices.

"Did you bring this human into Anima, Gar?

"

"No.

"

"Did you know they were here?

"

Gar didn't answer, just stared at Aaryn, waiting—Aaryn thought—for the explosion.

"Holy **, Gar,

" Aaryn breathed, shaking his head.

"You knew. You knew? And you didn't tell anyone? Not even your mom?

"

Gar leaned into Aaryn's face and whispered.

"My mother is the biggest badass this side of the portal. No one calls my dad on his bull** better than her. Trust me, she would have applauded.

"

Aaryn's upper lip curled up.

"You really don't care, do you? You really don't give a ** what happens to other people because of your choices.

"

"C'mon, Aaryn. You've been around long enough now. You know no one gives a ** about what I do.

"

"That's just bull**! Grow up, Gar!

"

"Here we go.

" Gar rolled his eyes.

"Here we go? Here goes what?!

"

"Your little Reth role-play. Don't think I haven't noticed it before, Aaryn. You're like a mini-me of him sometimes when you're feeling righteous.

"

Aaryn shoved him with one hand and Gar, caught off guard, stumbled back one step, but caught himself a warning in his eyes. Aaryn didn't care.

"Is that what this is about? Is that why you've started hiding things from me? I've become to much like your dad?

"

"No,

" Gar snarled.

"Then what is it, Gar? Stop pretending you don't matter. Stop pretending you don't affect anyone. You already matter—and you know it—and we need you here! Present! Doing the ** you do better than anyone else. This entire **show with the humans is going to explode and you're still walking around like a moody teenager!

"

"I **ing AM a moody teenager!

"

"Then it's time to grow up!

"

"Well, thanks for the update, Reth,

" Gar sneered.

Aaryn shoved him again, and this time Gar growled.

"Getting pissy? Good! Because even if your dad was an asshole to you, even if he was unfair, even if your life has sucked—and I've gotta tell you, Gar, I'm going to argue that with you one of these days—it's tough. Your attitude is **, and you know it. Grow up! There's people out there that need me, need YOU, and you're so busy **ing staring at your own navel to realize it!

"

Gar growled a warning.

"I've done my part. You're the one who's abandoning everyone.

"

"BULLSHIT! We can't be alone, Gar! We need the other Anima just like they need us. And unless we're going to be the next wolves—which I refuse to allow to happen—that means we have to live in the hierarchy. We have to follow the crown. I refuse to let the disformed be the tribe that breaks the tribes again. I'm a wolf, Gar—I know what it does to your tribe when everyone thinks you're the people that turned everything bad. We already deal with prejudice—you want to give the rest of the Anima a reason to agree with those assholes?!

"

"No! But that isn't the only other option. If you don't leave, you can—

"

"I'm not leaving, Gar. For **'s sake, I'm LEADING. I have to do what's best for them, and what's best for them is not following me, but being a part of the entire people—

"

"Bull**! You **ing coward! You're leaving us and bailing just because my sister has you by the balls and ** is getting real!

"

Aaryn's rage exploded. He didn't even think, just hooked a heel behind Gar's ankle, and shoved him, sending the thicker, heavier male to the floor and leaping after him, blocking a blow Gar threw instinctively, and fighting to get him into a headlock before the stronger, bigger, Gar could turn the tables on him.

"You never… NEVER… disrespect my mate,

" Aaryn snarled through his teeth as they wrestled for control.

"Fucking pussy whipped. Fucking coward.

"

A roaring growl ripped from Aaryn's throat as Gar wrenched him to the side, throwing him off. Aaryn rolled to his feet and turned, to find Gar on his feet and turned to face him in the sparring stance.

They stared at each other for half a breath.

Then Gar muttered,

"Coward.

"

Everything within Aaryn conspired then—that boiling pot flipped it's lid and everything—all his anger, his grief, his sense of injustice boiled over and landed on Gar.

Aaryn launched himself across the cave and to hell with what came of it.

*****

IMPORTANT NOTE about the future of this book in the author note below, please read!