ELRETH

Marryk was staring at Hannah, his hand clasping hers, looking worried and protective. She had to be careful not to trigger his fight in protection of his mate.

"So you have a family in the human world? People who are missing you?

"

"Yes. I lost my parents… I mean, they abandoned me.

"

"Abandoned you?

" Elreth asked, surprised.

"I believe so. My parents disappeared about three years ago. I was seventeen and almost an adult. I think… I think they were just tired of me,

" the girl said quietly, looking down at her hands.

"

"Hannah, I'm so—

"

"Look, it's fine. I was old enough to be on my own—about to start university. But my aunt and uncle took me in and there didn't seem much point trying to make it all work while I was studying. But it was hard. They already had five kids and I was so much older. They used me as a babysitter, and my aunt—she's my dad's sister—she never approved. Because… because she knew my dad didn't approve.

"

"Approve of what?

"

"What I was studying. I'm so different to them. They wanted me to become some big professional, or a scholar, or something. They were both scientists. Big shots. The kind that people pay to research, you know? Like, even I wasn't allowed to know what they worked on. Government stuff, I guess…

" she trailed off sadly. Then cleared her throat and met Elreth's eyes again.

"Regardless, what they did was really important and they wanted me to do it too. But I'm more creative. We never… we never understood each other. They'd… kind of given up on me… before they left,

" Hannah said, with a searching look at Marryk, who squeezed her hand.

Sensing a painful story that probably didn't touch on their situation now, Elreth changed the subject.

"Okay, so… how did you two meet?

" she asked.

Hannah smiled at Marryk, but he was the one who answered.

"When I wanted to get to know the human world the Guardians suggested I study at the university. They said in that crowd it was easier to be different and not draw attention to yourself. So… I was just spending time on the… they call it the campus. It's a big group of huge buildings where they all go to classes ever day. I ran into Hannah in a coffeehouse and we started talking and… the rest is history.

"

Elreth thought Hannah must be more confident in her own world than she was here, if she'd reached out to this male so easily. But she didn't say anything.

"I've been going back and forth to see Hannah for months,

" Marryk admitted with a glance at Gar.

"Once I decided it was definitely time for me—to leave or… or stay… I decided to leave. But I wanted to take Hannah with me. Luckily she said yes. And…. Well, that's when we ran into you guys. So you know the rest.

"

Elreth nodded, chewing over this whole picture. Marryk had been bonded and willing to leave his whole people and life on the chance of being somewhere he was more accepted…

How many disformed felt that way, she wondered. How many were having these conversations with themselves, holding on to their roots with an ever-weakening grip?

And how many of them had been too hopeful when they'd crossed into the human world and possibly given up vital secrets, or… anything else?

Elreth sighed.

"So you two came back here with the intention of continuing on… across the desert… in the hopes of meeting with other Anima who've left the WildWood?

"

"Not just hopes,

" Gar said quietly.

"We know for certain now. It's not just a rumor, El.

"

El took a breath. That was right. Her father…

Elreth groaned and raked a hand through her hair. There were too many moving parts. Too many pieces to this puzzle. Every time she felt like she was starting to form the picture, something else was thrown into the mix that didn't seem to fit.

"Okay, so you'd planned to travel and find this other tribe across the sands and… then what?

"

Hannah and Marryk stared at each other, eyes alight.

"Then hopefully settle down, complete the bond, and have our own offspring,

" Marryk said quietly.

Hannah blushed like she was embarrassed, but when she looked at Elreth, her eyes were sparkling.

"I just want to have a life,

" she said.

"A life where I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not or… I just want to live the way I want to live,

" she said, showing a flash of strength and stubbornness that made Elreth smile.

"I wanted to live where I'll be accepted for who I am.

"

Elreth nodded.

"Don't we all?

"

"Are you going to do that though?

"

Elreth blinked.

"What do you mean?

"

Marryk leaned towards her, shaking his head a little, but Hannah pushed her lower lip out and continued.

"Part of the reason Marryk, and I got along so well was because we'd both felt that way, you know? Like, where we came from didn't like us, or whatever. Like we could start together somewhere else and make a life the way we wanted it. I never thought we'd stay here because Marryk never felt accepted. But now you're talking about making them a tribe and… is that going to change anything? Are they finally going to fit here? Or is it just window dressing?

"

Elreth frowned.

"What is window dressing?

"

"Something that looks good, but hides everything that's wrong instead of solving it,

" Gar said.

Elreth fought a stab of defensiveness.

"We are… definitely not doing that,

" she said through a forced smile.

"But I'm glad that you're protective of your mate. That is a good sign for both of you.

"

She shared a quick glance with Aaryn and they both smiled, then she turned back to Hannah who was still looking skeptical, while Marryk tried to soothe her.

"When I met Marryk,

" Hannah said,

"It was like I finally found where I belonged. I want to see him safe, and I want to see anyone who felt like he did—like I did—safe as well. In a place where they can just be themselves without feeling like they're constantly judged.

"

"That is exactly what I want as well,

" Elreth said firmly.

"But in order to build that, I have to keep my people safe. We are facing a… an invasion, I supposed. We are facing war. With your kind, Hannah. How will you feel if the Anima go to battle with humans?

"

"I'll fight for whoever gives me and Marryk the place we can be together and safe,

" the woman said honestly. Not exactly the message Elreth was hoping for, but probably as good as she could expect.

"Okay, then tell me this,

" Elreth said, locking eyes with Hannah.

"Does anyone in the human world, anyone at all, know where you are right now? Or have even a clue?

"

Hannah's throat bobbed.