AARYN

The tension between Gar and Elreth crackled—not with excitement or thrill as Aaryn felt with her sometimes. But with a weight of evaluation that frightened even Aaryn.

What had passed between these two that Elreth seemed suddenly frightened of her brother? Or, maybe more accurately, what her brother could do? Aaryn knew she wasn't scared of fighting him physically. So why did she seem nervous that he was here, stepping into responsibility—something she'd been urging him to do for years?

Aaryn looked back and forth between them, but they stared at each other as if they were unaware that anyone else was even present.

"So… is this some kind of initiation?

" Gar said, the edge of humor in his voice.

"Do I have to run naked through the City and prove my allegiance, El?

"

It was the wrong thing to say and Aaryn's stomach sank. Even Gar seemed to realize as soon as the words left his mouth that this wasn't the time to taunt her.

Elreth's expression didn't change, but her smell got harder, like he'd just proved something.

"You're invited here for two reasons,

" she said, not dignifying his jibe with an answer.

"First, we need confirmation that you're the one we approach, as Alpha, when we need to… work with the disformed.

"

"I already said yes to that.

"

"Even in the middle of the night, Gar? Even when you're tired? Even when you've been dealing with people all day and then we call you in after dinner to talk to us for three hours about the security and economic impacts of your decisions?

"

"Like right now?

" he countered.

"Yeah. Even then.

"

"Being Alpha isn't a joke. This is no initiation. This is your opportunity to vow your loyalty. To prove that you take this role seriously, and that you will remain submitted, both to me as the Alpha of All, and to the hierarchy—leading your people into unity with all of Anima, not only your own… ideals.

"

Gar tipped his head.

"You're asking me to vow, El? Do the other Alphas do that? It's not enough that I tell you that I wouldn't ever try to trip you?

"

"You'll forgive me if I struggle to feel confident of your intentions in the long term, Gar.

"

As Gar's lips pursed and his jaw rolled again, Aaryn shot Elreth a look of fierce disapproval. That wasn't just a criticism of Gar's conduct in the past. She was potentially casting doubt over her brother's integrity. In front of the elders.

"I'll vouch for him,

" Aaryn growled.

"I've seen him at work in leadership. His heart is true.

"

Elreth froze. Then turned to look at him slowly. He'd never seen her look quite so much like a cat that had been startled so all its hair stood on end.

"You are the Alpha that led them to this place where they need an adjustment,

" she snapped.

"And now you've conceded to a male that could, on a whim that only he understands, decide to take his so-called tribe and abandon us.

"

There was a sharp intake of breath from one of the elders, and Aaryn signed, 'Out of line!' to Elreth, whose jaw went hard. But then she dropped her head and exhaled for a moment. Everyone watched as she seemed to pull something around herself—strength? Discipline? Then she lifted her head and turned back to her brother and eyed him skeptically.

"I apologize,

" she said through her teeth.

"I know… I believe you would not do that.

"

Gar nodded once to accept the apology, but the fear that had been in his gaze was beginning to give way to a steely resolve that both heartened Aaryn, and made him nervous.

He believed Gar had the strength to do this—and the skill. But he couldn't fault Elreth for being concerned about what action he might take when he was angry or irritated.

Gar's self-discipline tended to be applied only when he had decided the situation warranted it. Aaryn prayed he felt that way about this conversation.

"You said there were two reasons you brought me here?

" Gar said after a moment of playing the staring game with his sister.

Her lips pursed.

"Yes. First is to both acknowledge you as leader of the disformed, and gain your agreement to help us bring the people together. The second is to see what you know about what Hholdyn found when he defied orders from both Tobe and Tarkyn. Have you heard his tale of disappearing scents? A cave in the mountain? What do you know about it?

"

Gar's eyes slid to meet Aaryn's first and he cleared his throat to hide his surprise that Aaryn hadn't, apparently, told her about the cave yet.

Aaryn didn't react. He couldn't afford to, now.

Gar looked down once, then met Elreth's eyes again, his hands still clenched at his side.

"The cave is a certainty. I've been there. I used it. It was once my… hideaway,

" he said gruffly.

"Clearly the human found it.

"

Elreth's eyes widened slightly and the muscles at the back of her jaw twitched, but she didn't speak. Just nodded for him to go on.

"And the trail… well, if there's any Anima whose judgment I'd trust on a trail—scent, or otherwise—it's Hholdyn. The question isn't whether it's real, but what it means. I've never heard of anything like that before.

"

"Are you aware of any conspiracy or group within the disformed who might be attempting to deceive, or even actively work against the rest of the Anima? Who might have brought humans into Anima, or be working with humans somehow?

"

Gar tipped his head and gave her a confused look.

"You know I do, sis. Why even ask? Is this what you do in the annals of power—pretend you don't know things so you can blame them on others?

"

The Elders shifted in their seats and looked at each other with sharp concern. Aaryn put his face in his hands. Oh, Gar.

"I am not aware of any conspiracy to work alongside humans to work against the Anima!

" Elreth spat.

"If you are saying I am—

"

Gar raised his hands.

"I just meant, you knew that we crossed the traverse. That we were having contact with the humans in their world. There is no grand conspiracy. The disformed are only trying to find their place. Not take yours. But you asked that about the humans as if you didn't know. You all knew,

" he said turning to look at them,

"that we were crossing. It's been something convenient to ignore, that's all. So let's talk about it like it really is. Seems like it's a little late to pretend we probably haven't had something to do with this whole mess—whether we meant to or not.

"

**** SPOILER ALERT - FOR THOSE READING KING OF BEASTS ****

The chapter following this one begins a reveal that links with the plot twist at the end of Volume 2

/ Early Volume 3 of FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE KING OF BEASTS. If you haven't read to at least Chapter 452, do not move further in this book until you have watched Gahrye read the wind! But NOTE: The reveals in this book are different sides or angles of the same issues.. If or when this book would correlate or reveal twists in KING, I will warn you so you can make the choice whether to continue reading, but rest assured, each book contains information and reveals that the other does not.