LIMITED EDITION PAPERBACKS available in giveaway only! In light of WebNovel's move towards offering books in other formats (we'll see if we get there!) I have a very limited number of approved paperbacks for giveaway ONLY, and no more will be coming. So, this month, if you purchase the top tier of privilege (50 chapters for King of Beasts, or 45 Chapters for Queen of Beasts) then comment on the last available chapter "I want a paperback!" You will be entered into the draw. Check out the comments where I've posted a picture of the books!

*****

ELRETH

Her head was spinning. She stood, half naked in the water, and her instincts screamed.

He was keeping something from her.

But just as strongly came the conviction right behind it that he was afraid. And that made her step carefully. He'd shown real fear back in the cave—and true concern for her. It could be as simple as the fact that he'd learned things through the disformed's use of the portal that other Anima didn't know. He might not want to scare her. But the way he'd reacted when she almost touched it—he was never aggressive, not with her. Never physical. That had been panic in his eyes, not anger.

He'd been terrified she would step inside. Why? She knew the portal was dangerous. She'd never been completely clear on why, both her parents just making it clear to her after they learned that Gar had crossed that he had taken a very, very stupid risk. And not one she was to repeat. But the secrets of the portal were held to the Elders for a reason. A reason she respected. Now that she was Dominant, she would be informed. She simply hadn't asked. She could have asked Aaryn—it sounded like he knew. But that was the rub.

His response was touching—he didn't want her to be hurt or in danger. But it also meant that he had information that she didn't, and that rubbed her fur the wrong way.

What did he believe he was protecting her from—and why panic like that without filling her in? He'd been so clearly uncomfortable, so insistent that they get out of there…

What was he trying to avoid telling her?

Then, when she'd almost gotten the courage to ask him straight out, he'd started running on the trail. Now they were here, tension and desire crackling between them—Aaryn very clearly willing to pursue anything that would get her mind off the portal.

The question was, would she let him?

Because, deep down, there was something in her that was scared to ask. Scared of what the answer would be.

The tension between her parents lately, the way secrets had almost torn them apart after over twenty years together… could she and Aaryn survive something like that? What if it was better not to know? What if it was better to let him have his secrets?

What if it wasn't better, but it would still destroy them?

Elreth's tension ratcheted up a notch—wound tighter by the heat in Aaryn's eyes as he stalked towards her, and the challenge she'd issued by not stripping the wet shirt off for him.

Her mother had told her once that what was hidden was often of far more interest to males than what was flaunted. She'd never really thought about it until she saw his face when he looked at her in that wet shirt.

His gaze was always appreciative when she was naked. But that… that expression had been pure joy.

The temptation was there to just enjoy her mate and forget about this unfortunate little incident. After all, he'd been protecting her, not lying to her. But…

But…

The water rippled around her waist as Aaryn slid close and put his hands to her waist. "Hey, beautiful," he said, teasing, flirting.

She looked at him without smiling. "Hey."

He stood over her by inches, his head down to stare at her as he slowly trailed his hands up the outside of her thighs, then under the wet linen. It sucked at her skin, wrinkling up above his hands until he reached her waist, then he paused and dragged his eyes up to meet hers.

She met his gaze, that challenge still in her own—the question. If he knew it was related to the portal, he didn't let on. Instead he inched in until his belly touched hers and, keeping his chin low, his pupils large and round, he said huskily, "Lean back a little."

He gripped her waist so she had some resistance.

Elreth raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Why?"

"Because I want to try something, but I need a little room."

"You're the one who's not giving any space, Aaryn."

His smile curled up on one side. "That's not the kind of space I need."

Still a little angry and a lot nervous, she was also mightily aroused by the look on his face. Blowing out a breath, she raised her hands to his shoulders, then leaned back a few inches.

"Like this?"

"More."

She gave him a skeptical look, but did as he asked, leaning back until her head curved back down towards the water and her breast, still shrouded in the wet fabric, were pressed skyward.

Then Aaryn put his mouth to her nipple over the fabric and rolled his tongue.

The sensation jolted through her and her breath caught. She twitched in his arms, but didn't pull herself up because that felt incredible and she didn't want him to stop.

Instead, pressing her hips into his, she used one hand to hold him to her breast, and the other to keep her balance.

"I have you," he said softly, his lips fluttering against her breast. "Relax."

"I'm curled backwards in a river, Aaryn," she gasped. "You know how I hate getting water up my nose."

He snorted, which kind of killed the mood, but Elreth was relieved. Everything within her tingled—she wanted him. But she was off-balance. Uncertain. And doubting her mate. A feeling she very much did not enjoy.

"Relax," he murmured a moment later.

When she shifted her weight and clearly tried to, but then almost fell, he pulled her close and she straightened.

"Wait," he said, his eyes alight with heat for her, "I have an idea." Aaryn kissed her and walked her backwards until they were in deeper water, then sank down until, with his feet on the silt below he was buoyant and almost sitting in the water.

"Come here," he rasped, pulling her legs around his waist.

Elreth, her breath coming too fast, held his shoulders and let herself sink into the water until she was floating. Aaryn pulled her by the thighs, urging her to lock her legs around him, then pulled her into his lap.

She gasped as they came in contact. He was already aroused, but the shock of the cold water right alongside the warm, velvet iron of him was curious.

Aaryn blew out a breath. "You're so beautiful, Elreth," he said, his voice a bare husk. "I can't stop wanting you."

She groaned and closed her eyes, telling herself to give in to the languid ripple of the water against her skin, and the stroke of his hands as he held her there so she wouldn't float away. She reminded herself that she could think about portals and disformed later. She didn't want to ruin this moment with her mate. Pushing aside the questions and the twist of worry, in her chest, she curled her legs around his waist and let herself go, sucked in as his hands slid along the backs of her thighs, then cupped her bottom, then cradled her back.

"Oh, El," he rasped.

*****

AARYN

She opened her eyes as he feasted on the sight of her—her partially open mouth with that full lower lip, the cord of her neck as she let her head fall back into the water. He brought up one of his hands with the tinkling splash of water, to stroke from her jaw, down her neck, then down until he cupped one of her breasts where it pressed out of the water, the ripples of water-logged fabric looking like snow on a mountain.

"Aaryn, I—"

But he was already leaning forward, one hand flat to her back and laid his mouth on that wet mound again and her breath stopped.

Laving it with his tongue, she twitched against him, and he couldn't resist. He couldn't wait. There was no restraint this time. Still sucking on her nipple, he positioned her and entered her, sliding home without resistance—both of them groaning with the delight of it.

All thoughts of the portal, the disformed, her tension fell away as she took him in and he nearly wept with the joy of having a mate who wanted him, truly wanted him.

The water slowed his thrusts, but it didn't matter. The contrast of cold water and warm skin, the view of her as she arched and flowed through the glinting water, her breasts floating, bobbing to meet him almost undid him. He shook with the tension of holding back, his mouth open and slack at the sheer beauty of her, her hair floating around her head, her eyes closed and mouth open, trembling whenever he pushed forward.

"I love you, El," he rasped.

"I love you too, Aaryn," she whimpered. Did he imagine the resistance in her, the desperation? But she reached for his shoulder and pulled herself into him with the next thrust and he forgot about everything but loving her, needing her, and showing her that.

The rest could be dealt with later.

*****

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