ELRETH

They had determined the security patrols and guards, and planned the wider patrols by the time the guard returned with Gar.

Elreth braced when the door opened, knowing it had to be him, and uncertain how she felt.

She'd wanted to see Gar succeed. Wanted to see him be more for a long time. Wanted her father to see that he was more. But the moment Aaryn had said his name, everything inside her had flared with anger or fear.

Elreth loved her brother, and knew he had a good heart—and a much better head on his shoulders than he generally chose to display.

She also knew he was a match in an oil field when he wanted to be, and the idea that he'd hold such a position of influence—a position that required him to make decisions independently, and to bring the needs of his people to her, to challenge her if his people needed it… the very thought made her shudder.

Would her brother show up next week with a formal petition in retaliation of the day she'd told her friends when and where to spy on him and he'd turned out to be… pleasuring himself?

She shook her head. Even Gar wasn't that petty.

Was he?

And besides, although the Elders recognized that the disformed had organized, and were in need of a leader, Gar wasn't the Alpha of a formal clan. At least, not yet. He couldn't bring a petition—not like that.

Elreth didn't realize she was muttering under her breath until Aaryn caught her hand and held her gaze for a long moment to silence her.

When he took his hand back, he quickly signed 'This is a good thing.'

Elreth snorted, but turned it into a cough as Gar, for the second time that week, was brought before the Elders of the tribes and treated with respect.

Elreth realized she was clenching her teeth and forced herself to relax. Then she looked at her brother and her breath caught.

Gar was a large male. Often shirtless, usually in a vest when he did wear shirts. His skin golden brown, and his hair dark like their fathers, though when it reflected the sun, the light struck red and bronze sparks in it.

He'd never grown a beard, and Elreth had long suspected if he did it would grow in red—which was why he was so careful to shave.

Normally he was rugged, strong, and dark—dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes.

But the male that stepped into the center of the circle tonight was… a pale reflection of himself.

Oh, he kept his shoulders back and his chin low. He met their eyes with an almost fierce defiance.

But Elreth knew her brother.

Those hands clenched to wide fists would be shaking if he let them go.

Those lines at the sides of his mouth meant unless he concentrated his voice would come out of his throat too high, cracking.

He stood facing her with his feet shoulder width apart like he was preparing to take a blow. His eyes dared her to say it, but everything in his body screamed fear.

Her brother was afraid.

Of her? Or of the position he'd found himself in?

"Thank you for coming, Gar,

" she said carefully, ignoring the sigh from Aaryn next to her.

"I hear it's been an interesting day.

"

Gar nodded once.

"You could say that.

"

They stared at each other for a moment and Elreth knew a moment of grief that her brother was here and she felt… conflicted. She felt like she faced someone who may or may not be an enemy.

It shouldn't be that way.

Forcing herself to keep her seat as if him looming over her didn't matter, she held his gaze.

"Can you tell me… have you taken the position as Alpha of the disformed?

"

"I… it would seem that way,

" he said, a hint of sheepish awe in his voice. He glanced at Aaryn, who smiled—which made Elreth want to growl.

"The disformed are very central to our current difficulties, Gar. You were here when we found the evidence of a human intruder on Anima. And I had planned to come find you today and ask for your help locating Hholdyn if he hadn't returned.

"I've spoken to you before about the potential to position you as an Emissary—someone to bridge the gap between the disformed and the rest of the tribes. You were… hesitant to take that role when I first proposed it.

"

Gar raised one eyebrow, his look of skepticism. She realized she was speaking to him very formally. He could mock her if he wanted. Here it was appropriate. Hell, she spoke to Aaryn that way here, too.

"It's true,

" he said, dipping his chin,

"I wasn't sure I wanted to play that role before.

"

"And now?

" she asked baldly.

"Whoever takes Alpha of the disformed will take that kind of role whether they intend to or not. We plan to integrate the disformed fully within the Anima. We need people ahead of them capable of bridging that gap. More than capable, we need them willing.

"

Gar's jaw rolled.

"I'm willing,

" he said simply.

"This isn't a short-term thing, Gar. This isn't a job for a week or two. This is your life, unless someone takes it from you.

"

She saw it then, the flash of light, the spark of passion that always entered her father's gaze when the people had come under threat—or he thought they would. It was a flame of anger, the reach of protective arms, and the purely male arrogance that said,

"I'd like to see them try.

" But here it was, in her brother… her not-so-little, younger than her, pranking, irresponsible, subversive brother.

Her brother felt a father's protectiveness over the disformed.

Had she entered an alternate universe.

Then she remembered that night he'd joined them at the cave—the simple way he'd slipped in among the disformed, they way they embraced him. Didn't see him as any different than themselves. There was no separation.

It was exactly the way she wanted to see all of Anima—disformed or not, all of Anima simply… together.

Her father had integrated the training and education of the youth before she was born. She and Gar had been raised, both in their home, and among the tribe, to believe that every Anima had value, and should be heard.

Many other families, even in other tribes, felt the same. But not all.

The tensions between those who saw a chasm of difference between providing for the disformed, and embracing them were still unavoidable in some circles.

Was her brother the male to build that bridge. Was he really the one to hold the reins of power that might change the fabric of their society?

Elreth sighed. It looked like she was about to find out.

"Welcome to the party, Gar,

" she said, then took a deep breath to strengthen her own resolve. She knew just how to handle her brother.

"It's a little different than the parties you've been at before.

His eyes narrowed.

"You might be surprised,

" he said, his voice a low, guttural drawl.

*****

IMPORTANT NOTE about the future of this book is in the author note below. Please read!