Taming the Queen of Beasts

AARYN

Aaryn trembled, but he clung to Reth and didn't let the tears come.

"I wish…. I wish I could see the day you're in my position," Reth whispered. "With your own young, and Elreth a mother… I'm praying you'll have that chance—and I'll keep asking for you. The Creator is going to find me very annoying person when I get up there."

Aaryn coughed a half-laugh, half-sob.

They pulled back to stare at each other and Aaryn knew…

"Thank you," he croaked. "Thank you for never rejecting me even when I thought you should. Thank you for making me a part of your family even when I didn't realize it was what you'd done."

Reth pushed back, holding him by his shoulder. "You've always been one of us, Aaryn. I didn't have to make that happen. You just were. And I'm grateful that you were. I pray… I pray when I see your father he'll understand that even though I was instrumental in removing him from your life, I always tried to make sure you were watched over and provided for. And now… now you have a chance to do that for others. And I know you will," he said as Aaryn opened his mouth to reassure him. "It's already in you to help and provide for those who are weaker, Aaryn. It's the only reason you can be Elreth's mate. She needed someone stronger than her. She might not yet realize that's what she got, but I do. And I know how often you put your strength aside to choose hers, and… you're an example to me, Aaryn. I mean that. In my old age it became easy to influence others, to make things move the way I wished them to. Watching you with my daughter, it's been an inspiration."

Aaryn was overwhelmed. "I… I don't know what to say. You've always been—"

"No, Aaryn, let me give to you this time. Okay? That's why I came to find you. I couldn't leave… I couldn't walk this road without making sure you know: You're doing it right. We see it. And we're so grateful. Both of us. If… if we can't be here to encourage you, we just want to make sure you know that. Keep following your heart. It's leading you true."

Aaryn gaped. But Reth wasn't finished.

The older man cleared his throat and squeezed Aaryn's shoulder again. "Take care of her. She needs you. And if we're not around… she'll need you even more."

Aaryn nodded, but his head spun. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't be real!

"Is there anything we can do—I can do?" he asked Reth earnestly. "Anything?"

But Reth shook his head and looked over his shoulder, then sighed. "No. I wish there was. Just… soothe a father's heart by letting me put her in your hands. I know I already did, but this…" His voice rumbled into nothing and Aaryn wanted to weep at the grief that swept over Reth's face as he reached up, pinching his nose, his eyes screwed tightly shut against whatever he saw in his mind.

"You're going to be amazing, Aaryn," he said finally, opening his eyes, now red and bloodshot. "I wish I would be here to see it and celebrate it all with you. I love you, Son."

"I love you too, Reth. Thank you. For everything."

The words felt so empty. So hollow. So… insignificant next to what this male had meant in his life. But he couldn't think of any better, and apparently, neither could Reth.

"I'll see you later," his surrogate father, his father by the Flame, the former King rasped. "I vow it."

p Aaryn nodded and fell into a final hug.

He didn't look up when Reth tore himself away and stalked off into the night, because he couldn't bare to see the last of him.

*****

ELRETH

She had just finished answering to the Women's Council for calling the Elders first and not bringing them into the decisions about the healers, when she turned, looking for Aaryn. She thought she'd seen him pass and go outside. But before she could take a step, there was a servant asking whether the market meals should be prepared on a normal schedule the following day. Then Tarkyn had sent a messenger because the birds were being gathered and did Elreth want to address them before they left?

She did, but it was too soon. She turned from relaying to the messenger to call her in one hour before they were to leave—which reminded her, she needed to talk to Gar—when her mother appeared at her elbow.

"Hey," she said, distracted by a group of elders approaching the stage, clearly coming to speak with her. "Are you okay?"

Her mother shook her head and Elreth froze, turning from the approaching elders to face her mother—pale. Her eyes shadowed.

Elreth's heart stopped, then raced ahead, hammering at her ribs.

This was risk. This was war. They couldn't know how this was going to end, and her mother—

"I need to talk to you, El."

Elreth stared at her a moment and almost argued. There were too many things. And her mother was strong. She was going to go face these demons, then she and Elreth's father would win, just like they always had. Some perfect, Creator-driven solution would appear and they would walk out of the ashes of this conflict and celebrate—

"Now, El. There isn't much time," her mother said, using her own Alpha Authority—the only pressure that had ever made El's knees want to give.

Elreth nodded, then turned to the approaching elders. "I'm sorry, I need a few minutes." Then she took her mother by the elbow and dragged her off the stage and out of the market, setting her face in grim determination so no one would intercept them.

But as soon as they were out in the dark and on a trail, she let go and folded her arms. She felt like she needed something across her chest.

"What's going on?" she asked dumbly, as if she didn't know.

"I needed to tell you," her mother breathed as they walked through the night together, "that when this all comes to pass, you aren't to question yourself, or your choices. If… if I'm not here to reassure you… there's nothing you could have done, Elreth. Nothing you could have changed.

"I've watched your father shoulder the burden of the people for twenty years, and I see it in you as well. It's what makes you both good rulers, because you take responsibility. And that's… that's a blessing to everyone in WildWood. But this… me… this conflict…" Her mother stopped walking and turned to face her. Elreth stopped too, turning more slowly, holding her breath.