n

n

nGAR

nGar watched Tarkyn closely as the male organized his people. He didn't trust that the Captain would keep his hands off her, and given her fears, no way was he letting any other male touch her. Tarkyn gave him a challenging look more than once, but he didn't breach the space between them.

nRika was restless watching them discuss who would return with her to the Tree City, and who would go after the other humans. She kept looking behind them, searching the forest, until finally Gar realized the horse thing was gone.

n

"He'll be fine,

" he muttered quietly.

"Horses aren't a food source for Anima. As long as he's learned about the silent predators, he'll be safe around here. He's too big for most of them.

"

nRika nodded, but her forehead still wrinkled into lines.

"He's the only friend I had for a month,

" she said finally, quietly.

"The only thing that's come with me from home.

"

nHe squeezed her hand and silently prayed the creature would stay close and she'd find him later.

nBefore he could reassure her again, Tarkyn spoke up.

n

"We can't let her walk free, Gar. She's being taken to the Queen. She's from an enemy faction. Even if she's your mate, we can't just let her roam as any Anima would.

"

nGar tensed, pulling Rika closer to his side.

"She isn't being bound.

"

nThe way she tensed when he said the word

"bound,

" Gar knew his instincts were right. Terrible things had clearly happened to his mate. He wouldn't let the Captain's over-developed sense of responsibility break his mate's mind.

n

"Gar—

" Tarkyn stepped forward, reaching for her, and Gar flowed between them, putting Rika at his back and snarling at the male.

"You do not touch my mate!

"

nTarkyn's face went cold.

"I have no designs on your mate. I have a responsibility to keep the Queen safe!

"

n

"And we will. I will walk her to the Tree City. Your guards can circle us. But they do not touch her!

"

n

"Gar, be realistic—

"

n

"I am.

"

nThe two faced off for a moment, but Tarkyn flapped a hand at him, rolling his eyes as he turned to the guards, reassigning their positions around the couple.

nGar could finally breathe. Despite Rika's fear, despite the threat of Tarkyn and the Anima in general, his heart sang.

nRika was there and she wanted to stay. His mate was at his side and about to enter the Tree City with him!

nGar looked down on her, and couldn't help smiling as she warily watched Tarkyn. He inhaled her scent and his senses came alive.

nHis mate. Holy **. Rika was his mate. His whole world was about to change.

nHe just prayed she'd accept him soon. That she'd let go of her fear and surrender to the bond. Every time she said or did something that seemed to indicate she was beginning to embrace him, she would tense and her scent would go spiky with alarm.

nGar wanted to snap the neck of the male that had given her reason to fear so deeply—and made her so wary of him, Gar, the male who would never do anything but put himself between her and danger.

nAs they readied to move, Gar offered his arm with one brow raised. Rika's cheeks colored a little, but she slid her hand under his forearm, then around to cup the top of it. She had to reach up to do it.

nShe was strong and capable for a human female. But by Anima standards, she was still very weak. His heart thundered when one of the guards, hovering on her other side, got too close, and a growl erupted in his throat before he'd even thought about it.

nRika stared at him strangely. The guard submitted reflexively, but he looked back and forth between Gar and Tarkyn, clearly seeking guidance about whether to resist.

nGar growled at Tarkyn too, for good measure. The Captain just shook his head.

nOnce they were walking and everyone had found their places, Gar found his attention shifting from keeping the others at bay, to watching Rika herself. Everything about her fascinated him—the way her hair fell around her shoulders, the sunlight that broke through the tree cover casting sparks in it until it seemed like every tone and color was there, just waiting for his fingers to comb through and find them.

nAt one point she stumbled—just barely—on a tree root and he used the excuse to pull her closer, to help her keep her feet.

nWhen she thanked him, he caught himself smiling and frowned immediately.

nFuck. He was turning into Aaryn.

nGar grimaced. He finally understood the ridiculous obsession Aaryn had had with his sister—and later that Elreth had developed for him in return.

nHe thought he might, just might, understand why his parents always stood so close, and looked for each other in a room when they weren't touching.

nHe should have been focusing on how to thwart the humans that were threatening at their borders—and within it. He should have been concentrating on how to prepare the disformed for the Rite of Veneration.

nYet, there he was, consumed not with political navigation, or even the saving of lives. All he could think about was being close to her.

nHe inhaled deeply, slowly, taking her scent into his mouth and rolling it around like a fine wine.

n

"I don't think I've ever seen you smile so much,

" Rika said quietly.

nGar cleared his throat, scowling as the males nearby all grinned.

"I'm just… very relieved that we got you out safely,

" he said honestly.

nTarkyn snorted.

"Out of the frying pan, into the fire,

" he chuckled.

n

"What do you mean?

"

nThe captain turned to meet Gar's eyes over his shoulder.

"I'm talking about the fact that you might have gotten her away from the humans, but now you have to walk her into the Tree City—to your sister. And somehow convince her not to banish you for pulling this stunt. Oh, and not to kill your mate, either.

"

nGar sobered immediately.

nWell, **.

n