Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

LERRIN

He'd been to countless security council and elder meetings in his life—first as his father's apprentice, then as his Second. But he'd never seen one dissolve into chaos.

This looked like it might be the first.

Stunned, Lerrin watched as the elders clustered around Aymora, or in small fists, discussing, arguing, using their hands as they spoke with passion about their position on the decision to be made.

He had been forgotten, he realized. It was a relief on one hand. His pain was increasing again, and he was becoming worried he might not be able to make it back to the tree before his body gave out. But on the other… he had truly hoped for a decision on his future. To know which way the wind blew so he could turn his nose to it. Instead…

He watched Reth carefully. The male was unreadable, his shoulders rigid and face a mask of tension. But of all of them in the room, he was the only one who seemed to have a handle on himself. Yet, he also likely had the most to lose.

Lerrin found himself filled with reluctant admiration.

He leaned over, his ribs creaking painfully as he waited for Reth to lean closer to hear him. "I would have made the same decision," he said quietly.

Reth nodded once and his eyes flashed with gratitude. Then Lerrin slumped back into his seat, breathing through the waves of pain that were increasing, especially when he moved.

The statement was true. If it was Suhle, and Reth's description of Elia's state—the risk to the cub—was true, he would have resisted bringing her out as well. But he also understood the elders upset that he balked.

In the wolf tribe, the group was all. But then, they had the ability to speak and show each other memories and minds. If Elia had been a wolf, all could have experienced the shift with her—could have felt her weakness, but also her hope.

For the first time it came home to him that the other tribes were functioning without this insight into each other's minds and hearts—and how that might affect their decisions.

He couldn't believe it hadn't occurred to him before.

He wondered if Suhle had thought of it, and made a mental note to ask her that evening.

He groaned as the pain began to throb in his skin in the same rhythm as his heartbeat. He prayed she would make it to the tree this evening, and bring some of those herbs. He imagined he wouldn't be able to eat without assistance when this was done.

He wasn't sure how long he sat there, staring at the floor and breathing, waiting for the elders to make a decision, but he became aware that he'd almost fallen asleep despite the pain, when Reth grunted and it startled him and he jerked his head up—to a bolt of pain down his spine.

Damn. This was bad.

"Elders, this decision is clearly going to take some time. But we have a prisoner here, and our meeting purpose was to determine his fate—perhaps we can reconvene this tomorrow?"

Lerrin swallowed a smile. Though he appreciated Reth's willingness to get him out of here, he suspected it was primarily motivated by Reth's desire to be elsewhere.

"Our decision about the Queen will directly impact our decision on the wolf," Brant said as the elders quieted. "He will have to wait until we're certain. And I do not believe postponing this decision would be wise. We should continue to discuss and determine our plan tonight."

Reth muttered something about stubborn males that almost made Lerrin's jaw drop with the irony. But he swallowed it back and pushed his hair back off of his face.

"Then I will order the guards to take Lerrin back to his Tree. And if you have not determined your course by dinner, I will leave to attend the meal. There are other inspirations already planned that need to be announced there. I do not ask you to stop feeding hope to the people, only that you relieve my mate from responsibility before our cub's birth."

There was a low murmur, but then everyone turned back to their conversation. Reth shook his head, but got up and placed himself before Lerrin's chair, putting himself between the wolf and the elders.

"Can you stand?" he asked carefully. "Or do I need to help you?"

"I think… I think I'll be able to," Lerrin said, both touched by Reth's concern, and prickled in his pride.

It was a struggle, and he trembled by the time he was on his feet, but he made it. Reth accompanied him across the room and pushed the door open to find the guards waiting outside.

"Make it a slow trip back," he said. "he's been punished enough for now. If any further injury occurs to him, I will hold all of his guards personally responsible. Make sure every shift is aware."

The guards had barely saluted, when Reth stepped back and gave Lerrin room to move out of the building.

Lerrin caught Reth's forearm and when the King turned, Lerrin forced himself to keep his eyes down. "Thank you for offering mercy," he said, thinking of Suhle and what it would do to her if he were killed.

"I wish it had ended another way, Lerrin," Reth said, his voice quietly regretful. "You could have been an asset to this council, and to the Anima as a whole." He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "What the fuck were you thinking?"

Lerrin looked up, about to answer, but the male had already stalked off, back to his seat, to impatiently await the elder's decision, the door swinging back between them.

Lerrin snorted. He would have shaken his head, but he was worried he might actually lose his feet. Instead he turned to the guards and allowed one of them to take his arm as he took the small steps down to the trail outside, holding his breath against the pain.

Now, if he could just make it back to the Prison Tree, he could rest. He wanted nothing more than to be sunk into the oblivion of sleep… unless it was to curl up with Suhle.

He sighed as the guards started along the trail, their steps small and slow to keep pace with him.

The mercy almost brought tears to his eyes.