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*****

AARYN

He'd only briefly considered not going to dinner.

Elreth was due to make the announcement of who she'd appoint as a Cohort—which meant the younger Anima would use it as an excuse to dance again. He'd braced himself to watch Elreth and Dargyn at the top table, but he needed to speak with her. They had to clear the air—not to mention that he had to get her onside for the disformed. If all else failed, he'd dominate the peacock and just insist on speaking with her.

They had to get past this. He had to… he had to know for certain there was no more hope.

His stomach twisted with nerves at that thought and he ran a hand through his hair.

He sat at a table with four other males and two females. It had been a little tense when he'd first joined them—two were in the cave this morning—but when he acted normally and didn't get aggressive, everyone calmed down.

His role within the disformed was really one of setting the tone. It was up to him to lead by example. But it was true that the disformed each experienced more than their fair share of targeting and unexpected attack. They weren't always able to keep normal conflict in perspective. He was glad that the ripples hadn't spread too far. Yet, anyway.

Turning his attention back to Elreth at the head table, he frowned.

He sat too far back to scent her. But he could see the tiredness in her. The kind of weariness that a simple lack of sleep didn't account for. Most didn't know her well enough, but the way she kept fingering her hair meant that she was feeling emotionally fragile too.

An image of her in Dargyn's arms. Of her welcoming him—he growled and shook the image away. If that's what she was doing, if that's what she'd decided, he would have to find a way to live with it. And tormenting himself with imagining her mating with someone else wasn't the way to do it.

But Elreth wasn't the only Anima in the market feeling fragile that evening.

As those around him looked forward to another night of dancing and music, he sat back on his bench and tried to keep his heartrate low. He could get through this. He'd gotten through worse in the past.

Hadn't he?

*****

ELRETH

She was more nervous tonight than she had been the night before. But also more excited. If this worked…

She didn't let herself think about the maybes or what-ifs. If she got this wrong… if she had misjudged… if it wasn't as simple as she thought…

It didn't help that the only person she could speak to during the meal was Gwyn. And that every time her friend smiled, Elreth wondered if she was thinking of Aaryn.

What would it do to her and Gwyn if Elreth won Aaryn?

What would it do to them if she didn't?

"Gwyn," she said softly at one point.

"Yes?"

"I want you to know… no matter what… I'm grateful for everything you've done for me in the past few days."

Gwyn blinked at her. "Um, you're welcome? Are you okay, El?"

"Yes, I'm just nervous. I just wanted you to know. That doesn't change."

Gwyn looked at her like she was about to press, but there was a lull just then and Huncer stood once more, calling for silence. "The Queen has an announcement."

Elreth stood, wiping her hands on her thighs, but she kept her gaze steady and smiled out over the crowd, remembering that what she was about to do was a good thing. Then, without intending to, she found Aaryn in the crowd.

He stood, chin down and face blank, his silver-white hair falling over his eyes. But his attention was wholly on her and the intensity… She swallowed hard. She had a speech to give.

"I come begging your mercy again, Anima, because tonight I am, once again, going to break tradition."

There was a low murmur across the crowd, but she smiled wider and forced herself to break the gaze with Aaryn. But she could feel his eyes following her.

"There is a good reason for a ruler to appoint Cohorts immediately after they take dominance. The security and certainty it offers the people is foremost among the reasons. However… there has never been a female dominant before. A dominant Queen, and as such, my rule is unique. It will present unique challenges—and unique strengths.

"With this in mind, I have decided not to appoint a primary advisor. Not yet." That murmur rose in a wave, louder this time, but she kept talking. "Instead, until we are able to understand exactly what unique needs my Rule will present, I will be calling on the wisdom of several older, wiser Anima—each an expert in their fields. I will ask these individuals to attend me whenever their knowledge might be of use. And when the time comes to appoint an advisor, they will also be given the opportunity to speak into who my choice should be. I have high hopes that just the right individual, with the right range of skill and understanding, will become clear. To all of us. And that they will, in the end, accept the call." She chuckled, which gave the people freedom to laugh as well, and the tension was broken.

"So, I ask your mercy and patience," she said when the chuckles had died down. "But I also ask you to celebrate with me. Though we are experiencing a lot of change, I am also confident that we will walk through this season stronger and smarter than we have ever been. So please, raise your glasses with me, Anima of the Tree City. And let's celebrate the new season that we find ourselves in!"

There was a rush of applause and raised glasses as Elreth tossed back the small amount of wine left in her glass. But then she caught Aaryn's gaze and her smile faltered.

He stared, his face a picture of pain… and fear?

*****

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