AARYN

He walked slowly into the market, weaving between the tables the next morning, looking carefully up at the stage. He'd forced himself to come to the meal even though his mother wasn't going to brave it this morning. He was worried Elreth would be alone on the stage and looking shaky, like she had yesterday. He'd been determined to help her if she needed it.

But he should have known.

At first when he saw her up there, he softened. She was sitting very tall, looking down on the market, speaking with one of the staff who was down on the floor. She looked… very Queen-like. Then she nodded and the Sheep moved on and Dargyn leaned into her ear, and she burst into laughter.

She looked like she was about sixteen.

That was the thing about Elreth, she was such a mix. There were parts of her that were still a child. Charming, excitable parts of her. And there were parts of her that had been old and wise from the moment she'd entered the world. It was just… how she was. He wasn't shocked by it anymore.

But now… with Dargyn on one side and Gwyn on the other, he'd wished he hadn't come. Dargyn was leaning into her ear again, whispering something, but speaking with his hand that kept brushing her upper arm, very close to her breast. Aaryn's teeth clenched.

He knew that move.

But of course, Elreth beamed.

Gwyn watched them both but didn't seem bothered by the public display of… whatever that was.

Aaryn snorted the air from his nose.

Dargyn had always been a friend, and he'd always had something like a crush on Elreth. But he'd never pursued her before now. Was he stepping forward out of concern for her? For what she needed with the new pressures around her? Or was the male purely selfish, seeking to be close to power? Aaryn didn't know. And he feared he couldn't ask without his feelings bleeding through, so he was going to have to leave it in the Creator's hands.

The thought burned.

He should find a seat. He should sit down. But every hair on the back of his neck stood up when Dargyn leaned in, not just his head to whisper to her, but actually leaned closer, his arm on the table so he boxed her into her seat. He had turned from the rest of the market so Aaryn could only catch him on profile, but Elreth's smile faltered.

She went from beaming and confident to very, very uncertain. Then she blinked and her spine snapped straight. She rolled her eyes at him and shook her head, pushing on his shoulder like she was joking, but it was so very obviously her trying to get him to give her space.

Aaryn growled in his throat and almost started towards them when Dargyn didn't immediately give her space. But then a server arrived with a platter and they both leaned back to give the male room to place it down on the table.

He waited, but Elreth kept eating, and kept one elbow on the table—on Dargyn's side.

And she was smiling. And she laughed her real laugh at something he said.

And he was standing here staring at her like a love-sick puppy.

Growling at himself he turned. He was close to a table full of other disformed, who all smiled and waved. He waved back. He should join them, and eat. Sit with his back to the stage and ignore what was going on up there. But Elreth's words the night before haunted him…"What do you know about Dargyn, though? Is he… I mean, I know he's a flirt, but he seems like a good male. Is he… gentle? Do you know?..."

Aaryn shuddered. One more glance at the stage and the way Elreth had just rested her hand on Dargyn's arm and pointed at something for him to see and Aaryn turned on his heel and stormed back out the way he'd come.

He shouldn't have come.

He wouldn't make the mistake again. He wouldn't have to, actually. Tonight she'd name her Cohorts and then she'd always have someone to talk to up there. And he could just… not be there.

That would be better for everyone, he told himself.

****

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