(August 2021) READER SHOUT OUT: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the very, very generous gifts you gave in July. I am always a little embarrassed when readers give extra on top of paying for my content. I am truly humbled. I want to say a special thank you to these readers whose generosity made my jaw drop: DaoistDavPrw, PBMamaRae, Nessa52283, MoonGoddess21

*****

ELRETH

The power of her body was terrifying.

The power of Aaryn's Alpha was intoxicating.

The two fighting each other left her breathless.

Her hands trembled as she picked up the towel and wrapped it around herself. And even though she was smiling, her stomach fluttering with the force of the authority in him, the sheer masculine dominance of him, she was also terrified.

He'd dominated her.

And she hadn't even wanted to fight it.

She gave him one last look, then fled like a child. Her mate was the most gorgeous, sensual, powerful thing she'd ever seen. And it scared the shit out of her.

Never in her life had another Anima had the pull on her to keep her away from what she wanted to do. Never had a simple word or touch from anyone ever called to her, as if they tugged on her bones.

If he'd used that authority to demand she stay in the bathing pools, take him, and not leave until they were both sated, she would have done it.

She would have done it.

She couldn't do that!

She was still dripping water when she made it to her room, so she rubbed herself down with the towel, then let it drop to the floor. Pulling on a light blouse and a clean pair of leathers she tried to focus. She had to catch the elders while they still met, before they broke to go to lunch and she wouldn't know when they'd be together again.

She had to apologize—and mean it. Find a way through this with them.

But all she wanted to do was run back to Aaryn, throw herself into his chest, and never leave.

She finally understood why her parents were forever staring at each other, always pawing at each other in shadowed corners when they thought no one was watching. Why her father's hands never failed to reach for her mother when she passed, or hers for him.

Why they spoke about the months they'd spent apart when her mother was pregnant as the darkest in their lives.

She tried to imagine being torn from Aaryn, not being able to see or touch him and her stomach felt sick.

What the hell was wrong with her? It was like he'd cast a spell on her and she needed to shake it. She was Queen! She was dominant! She had responsibilities. She had commitments. She had given her word…

And she had a twirling ache in her belly that gnawed at her like hunger. Except far, far more pleasurable.

She blew out a breath and reached up to braid her hair, trying to settle her mind while her fingers were busy.

She had to let the elders know that they could challenge and ask her questions. Aaryn, too. She had to brace to allow them to ask revolting, offensive questions of him. She had to let that prepare and equip her to answer those same questions from the people. To put down the arguments and to bring the people alongside.

She couldn't be distracted or unfocused. She couldn't be weak.

Creator's Light she was weak. Even then, fully dressed and in her right mind, all she wanted to do was go find Aaryn and begin again.

How had her parents ever gotten anything done?

She spluttered a laugh and started out of the bedchamber. But before she'd made it past the dining room she heard the door to the bathing pools open, and Aaryn's heavy footsteps.

She gave a stutter-step and almost turned around, but she knew if she saw him, touched him again, she wouldn't let go. So she squeaked a rushed, "I'll see you later!" and ran for the door.

She didn't miss the half-laugh, half-sigh he gave that chased her out of the cave.

She wished she thought it was funny.

*****

AARYN

He dressed quickly and fled the cave almost as quickly as Elreth had—almost. He didn't want to risk running into her again and pinning her to a tree, and to hell with the elders.

Holy shit, yes he did.

As he stepped into the meadow he raked a shaking hand through his hair and began to panic. Literally panic.

How was he going to focus? How was he going to think straight with images of her splayed out before him in the flickering light of the lanterns, eyes closed and breath heaving—

He growled and pushed away the images.

He had a very, very important job to do. And he needed to do it without pointing the way by his crotch.

Clearing his throat and sending a pleading prayer skyward, he began to jog, but cut through the trees instead of sticking to the trail. He couldn't let himself risk catching up with Elreth if she hadn't hurried. And he needed to get to the disformed cave. At least a handful of them were bound to be there, and they could help him spread the word.

He had to measure his words extremely carefully. Just as he would keep the disformed's confidences, so he would keep Elreth's. In fact, more. He had to be so careful, walk such a tightrope to bring the two together without betraying either.

A new kind of fizz began in his chest, twisting and fluttering, sending his nerves into his throat. Well, it was better than being twisted up with desire, he supposed.

Tonight, the disformed council would meet, along with any of the people who chose to attend, and together they would finally begin the first steps to establishing themselves as a true Tribe. They would plan their petition to the Queen, and she would hear it because he was her mate and she knew that the disformed had value despite being unable to shift.

Tonight the process began that would finally bring the disformed onto the Kingdom stage of the Anima. History was about to be made.

The question was, just how many of their secrets did they give up to achieve that?

*** URGENT INFO RE GOLDEN TICKETS -- STARTS TOMORROW! ***

This message was posted 17 August AFTER publication so you are not charged for the words:

The new App update which opens all of this up is supposed to land tomorrow (ish) so keep an eye out for it. We learned new details about the gift system. Please read below carefully and do NOT give multiple small gifts in the hopes of earning Golden Tickets. This new system does not work that way:

You can earn Golden Tickets in the following ways:

1. Spend over 300 coins in the previous month and earn 1 ticket. (So, all those small gifts will earn you a ticket for next month!)

2. Have a membership and earn 1 ticket each time the membership renews.

3. Buy a gift worth over 300 coins IN ONE PURCHASE for a book and THAT BOOK will automatically receive a golden ticket. (Big gifts, like a wand, or a crown, will give the book multiple tickets.)

4. Every 500 coins you spend on unlocking chapters or privilege tiers will earn you a new ticket to be given to the book of your choice.

THANK YOU for all your support. Once we have gotten through August and I can see what QUEEN needs in terms of tickets, I will provide a reward system for you to gain a mass release or other rewards in gratitude for your Golden Tickets! Watch this space!