Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

RETH

Anger curled in his chest like smoke rising off the flame of his rage when he caught sight of her. Everything in him clenched. He'd been sensing her presence like a gnat buzzing nearby, but he'd dismissed it, so certain she was nowhere near, he'd convinced himself she was merely on his mind.

Then he'd turned just in time to catch a flicker between the trees, behind a large, mossy boulder at the edge of the clearing, and caught sight of very familiar, wide, blue eyes staring back at him.

He'd almost roared.

It was a blessing that the soldiers were in the middle of an exercise, and his pause would be taken merely as a distraction. He turned back to the men and pretended to continue inspecting them. But the light was growing low and they'd be finishing at the end of this exercise. Lucky for him.

He felt her presence fade—and for a split second, he almost went after her. Did she even have anyone with her? Was she alone out here? How had she slipped the guards? Were they helping her? Had she convinced them to help her resist his orders?

He was close to trembling by the time all the males were filing away, back into the forest, returning to the City and he was left alone with Behryn, who walked the field to ensure no weapons had been left, forgotten.

"What troubles you, brother?" Behryn asked him when Reth caught up to him.

Reth blinked. Was he that obvious? Or did Behryn just know him so well? "Has there been any… disturbances in training lately?" he asked carefully. "Distractions?"

Behryn frowned. "None that are memorable. I mean, the usual clashes between youths learning their strength and urged toward dominance. But… that isn't what you mean?"

"No. I meant… anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps the thefts, things moved around, anything like that? This location is so remote compared to the rest of the City, it occurs to me that it's a prime spot for our… intruders to infiltrate."

"None that I'm aware of Reth, but you're right. I'll keep a closer eye on things."

Reth followed him around the field for another minute before speaking again. "Have there been any issues with the guards for Elia? Have they had any problems with her? Or have you found them… disobedient, at all?"

Behryn grinned. "You think your wife's recklessness influences my guards, Reth?"

"Y-you know of her…recklessness?" Reth asked, stunned.

Behryn frowned. "We're all aware that she resists our ways, Reth. It's obvious in everything she does. The other day I saw her bow back to a sheep." He brayed a laugh and shook his head affectionately. "Don't worry, though, the guards are all under strict orders to let me know immediately if she heads into anything dangerous. So far, she's been very good, though she often complains to her cohorts about their presence. She hasn't tried to evade them, if that's what you're wondering."

"Yes, I was just… I know the leash feels tight for her at times," he said distractedly. How was she getting away? "What does she do with her time, mostly, when she's not with me?"

Behryn stopped scanning the grass and turned to face him. "Reth, what's going on? What are you worried about?"

"I don't know, that's the problem. I worry she is… putting herself in danger."

Behryn put a hand to his shoulder. "She's a grown woman, brother. Whether we like to think of our mates that way or not, the truth is, there will always be a risk of them making a stupid decision. But Elia doesn't strike me as truly reckless. Perhaps I shouldn't have used that word. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"I'm not frightened, I am…"

"Worrying like a den mother," Behryn said, clapping him on the back. "But you have no need. She spends every waking hour that she isn't with you with her Cohorts—and occasionally taking audiences. But even then, the Cohorts remain with her. If the guards complain about anything, it's the boredom of spending so many hours circling the same trees every day while they wait for her."

"Does she spend… more time with one of the Cohorts than the others."

Behryn's smile dropped slowly off his face. "Ah… and so we get to the heart of it."

"What?"

"It is normal for a Queen to spend more time with her Advisor than anyone else, Reth. She needs his guidance for all her other dealings during the day. Gahrye is a good man. Despite his… limitations, he is intelligent and he reads the wind as well as I do. If she was going to choose a male, I doubt she could have picked better. But you do not need to worry. She has eyes only for you, brother. I know that for fact."

Reth's chest warmed, a little, and he allowed himself to be distracted. "How do you know that?"

"I know that, because both Gahrye and the guards have complained about how frequently her scent… rises. And always when you become the topic of conversation, or she finds you with her eyes. Mark my words, you'll get a cub on that one soon," Behryn said, his voice only slightly strained.

The Anima didn't breed as easily, or as often as humans and sadly, the Creator had never seen fit to give Behryn and Hollhye a foal, though not for their lack of trying. Reth knew it was a deep grief to both of them. He gave Behryn a sympathetic face, that Behryn turned away from and returned to scanning the grass.

"Of course I hope you're right," Reth said carefully. "But—"

"She has no heart feelings for Gahrye, Reth. Don't let yourself be distracted by petty jealousies. Fight the fight before you, not the one you think lurks in the shadows."

If Reth had been in beast form, he would have flattened his ears. But he understood why Behryn thought that's what was going on, so he sighed and nodded. "I am not truly worried. But something feels… uncertain about her days right now. I want to scent it out."

"So, ask her."

"I plan to, but…"

"You don't think she'll be honest with you?" Behryn said, surprise in his tone. "She doesn't strike me as a liar."

"She's not," Reth said flatly. "She does have a habit of seeing things differently though. Sometimes the question I ask is not the question that is answered."

Behryn burst out in braying laughter. "Oh, Reth. That has nothing to do with her being human. That's because she's female!" He laughed again and Reth rolled his eyes.

"Of course, thank you, brother, for your endless help."

"You're always welcome," his friend chuckled and patted his arm again. "Don't worry, brother. I've never seen a mate so completely in the thrall of her husband before. You are truly blessed."

"Yes, I am," he reminded himself as he farewelled Behryn and turned for the forest. He didn't bother walking to the path down to the city. It wound around and would take too long.

He walked straight into the trees and, waiting for the shadows to swallow him from Behryn's sight, prepared to take his beast form.

He would travel much more quickly that way, and find her wherever she might have gone. Likely Gahrye's tree. He didn't imagine that Candace was interested in training. And Aymora would simply have yanked Elia into the field, thrown her at Behryn's feet and demanded it.

So Gahrye's it must be.

He just prayed he could keep his anger in check enough to return to his human form when he got there.

Would she blame him if he bit out the Advisor's throat?

With a shake of his head that soon became a shake of his mane, he gave himself over to the shift.

His animal eyes marked the boulder where she'd squatted, and he found the scent.

Then he began to run.

*****

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