AARYN

For a moment he didn't register the cold silence next to him, he was too busy watching Elreth pummel her brother.

But then Elia spoke up. "Thank you, Aaryn," she said, her voice suddenly bright.

He blinked. "Why? What for?"

"For recognizing that your female is an entire person who can live or die by her own choices and doesn't need you to make them for her," Elia sniffed, then her eyes snapped to her mate in a heated glare.

"You're right, he should definitely just let her run off and do whatever she wants with no accountability, no expectation or concern for her welfare," Reth growled.

"That isn't what I said!" she snapped.

"It's what you want though, right? You want to do whatever the hell you please and not have to answer to anyone for anything."

"No! I just told you, you should trust me!"

"Trust you—when you were the one who'd been lying for TWENTY YEARS?"

"You knew all the important parts!"

"Then why did you go pale when I asked you about it? If what you'd hidden was nothing, why was it worth hiding?!"

The words had the exasperated air of an argument that had been running in circles for too long, too many times, though it was the first time Aaryn had heard them so sharp with each other.

"Reth," Aaryn said quietly, "I didn't mean to start anything—"

"Oh no, don't you apologize, Aaryn. At least you only lied me to for a couple years. It's not like you're my mate!"

"How many things have you held to your precious crown over the years, Reth? How many?"

"Nothing like this! Only other people's stories!"

"Exactly! And I trusted you to know when it was important to share things with me—"

"Do not equate the confidences of our people—our friends—with hiding things from your King and LYING TO YOUR MATE!" Reth roared, and Aaryn whirled, startled, instinctively half-crouching, poised to fight or flee as the most massive predator in WildWood roared his rage.

But Elia barely blinked. She stood facing him, her face pale and drawn, hands clenched to fists at his side, as he loomed over her, snarling.

Aaryn registered that the grunts and thuds from behind them had stopped as well. The entire family stared at Reth, who quivered with rage. But Aaryn could detect something else in his scent as well.

Deep, bone-deep grief.

"I am sorry, Reth," Elia said through her teeth. "I'm sorry your ego can't handle the idea that I had… something that was important for me to do alone. But if you cannot trust me to make that judgment after a lifetime together… I don't know what to say to you."

"How about, 'I was wrong, here, let me fill you in,'?" he muttered.

Elia shook her head.

"Now who's being stubborn?"

Aaryn gasped, Reth's tone was so petty, so sharp. He'd never heard the man speak to her that way. To know that she was still keeping their secrets was a relief. But Aaryn was horrified to realize that he was the one who had lit this fire.

He didn't know what to say. But as it turned out, neither did Elia. She shook her head, muttered something about alpha-male bullshit, and began stalking back to their tree.

But even though her head was up and her shoulder back, Aaryn had caught the glint of tears in her eyes before she turned away from them, and it broke his heart.

"Reth, maybe it's me you should—"

"Shut it, Aaryn, this is between me and my mate."

He was left gaping while they both stormed away, just a few feet apart. They hadn't even reached the tree when Elreth's hand slid into his and he turned to find her, staring worriedly after her parents.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, rubbing a scratch on her upper arm. Then he looked around to find Gar, standing where they'd been fighting, also watching his parents. And for the first time in years that Aaryn could remember, his expression wasn't one of anger, or self-satisfaction… it was fear.

Gar looked in his direction, but caught eyes with Elreth, who shook her head and then both of them turned back to watch their parents stomp into the house—her father slamming the door behind them.

Elreth blew out a breath. "I've never seen them like this."

"They need to have a good fuck and get over it. That's sexual tension—"

"Gar, would you stop and be serious for once in your life!" Elreth snarled.

"I am!"

"Oh, for—"

Aaryn caught her eye and signed, 'Remember control.' She shook her head and took a deep breath, but when she spoke her voice was much calmer.

"Gar," she said through her teeth, "We're having a meeting tomorrow with the disformed. I'm going to try and make an alliance or… something with them. Will you come?"

"No."

Aaryn glared at him, but Gar folded his arms and his brows pinched in.

"Why not?" Elreth sounded like she wanted to stamp her foot. "Why won't you work with me instead of always against me?"

"Because I don't work with anyone. I do what I think is right, and what I'm good at. And I'm not going to do it because Queenie tells me to."

Elreth made a frustrated noise, but Aaryn shook his head and signed 'Remember control.'

She sighed. "Okay, fine. Suit yourself. But if you change your mind, I want you at the table. I'll make sure you know when the meeting's happening."

"I'm not coming."

"Well, then, it won't matter if I tell you the right time, then, will it?" she growled. Then she took Aaryn's hand and said, "I've lost my appetite. Do you want to come back to the cave with me?"

"Sure." He squeezed her hand and gave Gar a look, shaking his head.

"Make sure she doesn't put a leash around your neck and start walking you," Gar muttered.

Aaryn was going to stop and give the male a chance to show his strength—and take a hit to his ego—but Elreth tugged on his hand and growled, "Come on, ignore him," and led him back towards the cave.

The thing that was strange to Aaryn, though, was that as they stepped into the mouth of the cave, he looked back over his shoulder.

Gar was still standing where they'd left him, alone, and staring at the door to his parent's tree.

*** 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!