Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

ELIA

"But… how? How could him humiliating you make Reth stronger?" Elia clawed her hands into her hair. "I don't understand how what happened last night could make anyone happy, but most of all you? Everyone was staring and… and… he threatened you!"

"He made it clear what the boundaries are around you—males shouldn't touch you. At least, not right now, so soon after the claiming. I imagine he will relax on that later. And I'm to give you more space when we speak. Frankly, I was just glad he didn't tear my throat out for accepting the position. He had reason to."

"What?!"

"Elia, the future of our people is entirely reliant on future generations. The Anima population is small—so much smaller than humans, for example. If we do not breed regularly and with the strongest of our people, we will cease to exist. Having a ruler like Reth… knowing where we stand, who is strongest, and that he will carry his line forward, it fills the Anima with hope. And strength. There is strength in understanding your place, and knowing it is sure."

"Even when it's at the feet of someone who's snarling threats at you just for touching someone else?"

"Especially then. Seeing his strength reminds me of what he could do—but does not. I do not have to be concerned about what would happen if we were attacked, or if someone were to challenge him. I have complete confidence in his ability to manage what—and who—needs managing. That frees me to focus on other things.

"The last time the Anima had a weak ruler our world became chaos. Dominance shifted several times in a few years, none of Kings ever really finding their feet before they were challenged and displaced. The people were tense and unhappy—we stopped breeding for a time. It was…" He shuddered and shook his head. "The instinct to avoid that, runs in our blood. We are happy to have a King like Reth. And you should be, too," he said, the edge of warning in his tone.

Elia blinked. "I am… so thankful… to have Reth. But… I just…" she trailed off, trying to remember what he'd said the night before.

…Elia, the dominance hierarchy is everything to Anima. Without it, we have no compass. Understanding who is above you and who is below you is crucial to your security in our world. The people would be afraid if I stopped dominating them—do you understand that…?

She'd thought she had. But thought he'd gone about it wrong. She'd thought he could dominate without being a brute about it.

But… they liked it?

"But you were nervous yesterday, looking for Reth when I arrived. You asked if he was okay with everything—you seemed scared!"

"Of course. Just because I want Reth to be dominant doesn't mean I enjoy his attention. And I'll be honest, I was surprised he didn't overrule your choice of me as an Advisor. It could be perceived as weakness on his part, and with the problems you've had with the wolves… it just seemed like a risk. But I guess he feels confident about it. He could have disbanded me last night, for touching you. And he didn't. So that makes me more confident. I woke this morning with new hope."

"This is very different to what I'm used to," Elia said finally.

Gahrye sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't think to explain this in more detail earlier. I know your world works differently. I just… forget how little you've been exposed to."

She shook her head and they walked on for a minute in silence, Elia turning it all over in her mind. She could see that what Reth had told her was true—their society was pleased by his strength, and demonstrations of it. Obviously. But… "Why does it have to be so aggressive?"

"It's only that way at times, Elia. There are many things that happen between Anima that demonstrate dominance but have nothing to do with aggression—remember those lionesses we watched that first night?" Elia nodded. "There was no aggression—it was respect. The females knew who to listen to, and who should listen to them. It made them certain of themselves, their places, their roles. That's why, when aggression is used, it's effective. Because it isn't used all the time."

They walked on, and Elia decided she had to shrug off the pinch between her shoulders. This was their home, their people, their ways. She didn't have to like it, but it was her home now, so it seemed… wise to try to understand it, at least.

"And this is why people are upset about me wanting to strengthen the weak?" she asked quietly.

Gahrye sighed heavily. "I truly appreciate your heart for that, Elia. I do. But… I also understand why it makes people uneasy. If you begin to put weakness in the place of strength, the entire society will be weakened until eventually it will crumble."

Elia snorted. "No big deal, then."

Gahrye chuckled. "No, nothing big."

Elia folded her arms, hugging herself. "I'm going to need your help navigating this, Gahrye."

"I'll do my best."

She shook her head. "No, I need more than that—I need you to promise that when you see me uncertain, or beginning down a path that isn't… right for the Anima, you get my attention. I don't care how tense, or formal things are. You interrupt me and make sure I understand. Because until I see this working in practice, I don't think I'm going to really be able to grasp it. I can't quite find my way past seeing people… debased."

Gahrye gave that some thought. "What happens in your world when someone is powerful and has to reprimand others."

"If it's bad, they do it in private, usually. To let the person keep their dignity and privacy. And the good ones don't mock or embarrass the person they're correcting. They just clearly express what's expected, then tell them how to do it and… it's up to the person involved to make it work. Or not."

"So, your concern about last night was that it happened in public?"

"Mostly. But also the depth of his aggression seemed an overreaction to what you'd done."

"It was a mark of his regard for you."

Elia snorted. "No. It really wasn't."

"I assure you, Elia, that's exactly what it was. Do you think if he'd had to mate Lucine he would have claimed her a week later and acted that way? I can promise you, he would not."

That name sent a dart of adrenalin to her chest, but she reminded herself that Gahrye didn't know—he was referring to Lucine because she'd wanted to kill Elia.

"No, you're right, he wouldn't have. But—"

"You said to interrupt you when I saw you taking a wrong path?"

Elia took a breath and nodded. "Yes. Please."

"Very well, then hear me, Elia," he stopped and turned to face her. She did the same. "Reth gave you value in front of all of his people last night. He showed how deeply precious you are to him—first by claiming you, then by setting such a strict boundary around you. Last night he told all of Anima to regard you with the highest respect that can be afforded a mate of the King. And Anima heard him, loud and clear."

"But—"

"Make no mistake, Elia, last night, Reth marked you the most precious person in Anima. His aggression towards me wasn't about me—it was about you. And it was an honor. There are women in this city who cried themselves to sleep last night for the hope they lost that the King might tire of his human wife. Even though his wife doesn't show him the same regard."

Elia's mouth fell open. Gahrye's expression didn't waver.

"I… what are you…"

"You challenge him every time he does this, Elia. You stay weak where you're told to strengthen. You rely on his strength to carry you—and he gives it to you willingly. If it were any other King, they wouldn't be strong enough—there would have been far greater consequences already. But he is so strong, he has carried all of this—you—and he will continue to do so. But you do not help him by remaining resistant. Or by trying to stop him drawing these boundaries. To the Anima you appear to… not value him as he values you."

Elia's eyes filled with tears that she had to blink back. She'd had no idea. She'd been telling people she didn't value Reth? She ran a hand through her hair and gritted her teeth. Well, then, she was just going to have to change that.

"Thank you, Gahrye," she said finally, and nodded. "I think I understand. Now… tell me how I make sure to never do that to him again."

Gahrye smiled.