Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

RETH

Not for the first time, Reth grieved the loss of this male as a leader for his people. If only he had taken more time for the wolves. What Lerrin spoke now was true—the deceit that drew the wolves into conflict with the crown began in their resentment and pain. Had he taken more time to understand them, to ally with them, instead of seeing them as irritants, and eventually enemies…

They were all learning from this.

Then his eyes snagged on Behryn's face. His brother, pale and drawn, jaw tight and eyes tighter... his own thoughts echoed a second time.

If only he'd taken more time to understand, to ally…

He took a deep breath and let his pain and regret show on his face.

Behryn looked startled. Both of them looked away as Huncer spoke up, but Reth resolved to pull Behryn aside at the end of this and be a brother to him, rather than a ruler.

"The picture you paint is both wise, and hopeless," she said quietly. Many of the elders nodded. "You identify what the danger is, but not how to bring it into the light. You learn the lessons of the past, but cannot apply them to the present.

"We are all here for the same reason: to keep the people safe, and in peace. There must be a way to begin working within them, the people, to draw the truth to light. To open the floor and allow them to speak freely, or… something. What about a petition held to the people? Reveal our concerns—ask for their help?"

"The risk," Reth replied, "is that many of the people only want to be with their loved ones and live in peace now. They are weary and frightened of further conflict. And a demoralized people are a weak people. Forcing all of them to confront this… it could backfire."

Huncer frowned. "Wake up, Reth. You speak doom for your people. Be certain you are not coloring the people with your own brush," she snapped.

Reth blinked and almost snapped back, but he forced himself to consider her words. Was he only discouraged because of his own weariness? Was he underestimating his people?

"I do not believe Reth puts his heart on the people," Aymora said. Reth turned. He'd almost forgotten she was here. It was unlike her to stay so quiet. "He is right to be cautious about bringing them any more reason for fear or bloodshed. What they need—all of them, but especially those who are taking it into their own hands to deliver what they see as justice—is a vision.

"Reth, you gave them a vision of the future—the ways we can and will lead our young. The ways the tribes can step forward in new ways to support each other. But all of those things will take time. What vision can we set for them now? What reason can we find to celebrate and bolster their hearts for stepping into the future together, rather than protecting themselves, or their tribes? How can we inspire them?"

There were murmurs, whispered discussions, shaking heads, nodding heads all over the room. Reth considered the question.

What would bring the people to a place of excitement for their future?

"Elia," he breathed.

Several of those close to him turned from their conversations, some of them frowning, including Lerrin.

Reth blinked and realized he hadn't told them. He straightened in his chair and scanned them all. "You know that my mate has returned and is heavily pregnant. The Creator has seen fit to bless us with an offspring who is, miraculously, almost grown already."

There were several shocked looks, and one or two of the female wise-women nodding, including Huncer. They'd suspected this already? Or had Aymora told them?

Reth rubbed his chin again. "What you likely do not know is that your Queen is no longer purely human. She is now Anima. She shifts. Her lioness is powerful and beautiful and… she has been made new."

More than one mouth dropped open around the room. Under different circumstances, Reth would have grinned. "I do not know a better symbol to give the people, to show them, than their Queen, so devoted and… and committed, that she has become them. To see the changes wrought in her—the strength she now possesses. She is impossible, and perfect," he said, pride creeping into his tone. "However, she is also very, very weak right now. The babe's rapid growth has eaten away at her body. It's why she hasn't been among the people. She must rest and remain off her feet to give our daughter the best chance of entering this world safely."

"She has become Anima, and yet she is… weaker?"

Reth sighed. "Only for a time. Her strength in her lioness is… staggering, frankly. She's almost as big as me. But the beast comes forward to often—and she hasn't yet learned to control it—because her human form is frail and at risk. Their wills are at war, I believe.

"But the point is, she is a symbol for them. Her transformation. Her commitment. She will lead them into this new age that we envision. Elia and our cub…"

"Is it definitely a cub?" one of the males asked.

"Yes," Aymora interjected. "And fully so—she has shifted in the womb already."

The murmurs that rose at that were gratifying to Reth for a moment. Just for a breath, the flashing of admiration in the males for an offspring so strong, fed his pride and his lips twitched toward a smile.

But then it all came crashing down.

"Bring her out!"

"Let her show the people who she's become—show them her lioness."

"Inspire them with her journey, let them see anything is possible!"

And it hit him then, what he'd done. What pressure he'd suddenly passed to Elia. They were all going to want to see her now. See her shift, see her rule. The people had always taken great pride in their Queens. Elia's reception from the people had been out of character for the Anima. They'd forced Reth to do the Rite just so they could have a Queen again!

And he was with them. He wanted Elia, strong and proud, showing her people who she was now, and what she could do.

But the Elia in that bed? The one with the shadowed eyes and gaunt cheeks? Whose arms were thin, her joints seeming too thick for the rest of her?

That Queen was not ready to lead. That Queen had a much bigger job ahead of her first.

"Not yet," he said, shaking his head. "Her health, and the health of our offspring is still at risk," he said quietly.

But the room erupted in arguments, demands for their Queen.

What had he done?