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Heart pounding, Harth’s mind began to turn to combat, to how she would throw herself out of reach until she could shift-and whether Tarkyn would help her or not.

But Tarkyn’s hand on her shoulder tightened as she shifted her weight. And to Harth’s surprise, though the Queen’s eyes glittered, she didn’t leap into her beast.

Instead her chin rose and she regarded Harth down her nose. “I’ll accept your criticism when it has become your responsibility to care for and guide an entire people. But until then, consider keeping your mouth shut,” she snapped.

Harth stifled the urge to bite back and did as she was asked. She didn’t respond. Peace... she was supposed to be seeking peace...

The Queen waited, then a few moments later, nodded her approval. “So you do have some control.”

But Harth still didn’t respond. She knew it was a little childish, but everything in her screamed in fear and injustice.

.....

The Queen’s expression flattened. “I’m sorry, Tarkyn, I cannot let her walk free. She is clearly in resistance to me-which means she resists our people and our way of life. I can’t leave her an opening to harm any of us.”

Harth scoffed. “So you harm my alphas, but I’m the villain for being defensive against that?!”

“No,” the Queen snapped. “I protect my people against the unknown, and if you were smart you’d understand that and try to work with me!”

Harth’s head spun. She could vaguely register Tarkyn pleading with her to look at the bigger picture-that if Elreth kept lines of discussion open, Harth could help her alphas in their negotiations. If she was a prisoner, no one would listen.

She had to bite back her anger. “Work with you in which way?” she asked finally.

Elreth tipped her head. “Provide information. Guidance. Insight.”

“You want me to betray my people.”

“Are we enemies, or allies?”

“Right now? I don’t know. I would have said we shared a common enemy, but all I see is that my people have fallen out of the hands of the humans and into yours!”

Elreth shook her head. “I hold two of your people, not your entire race.”

“The two most important. And one of them is... hurt.”

The Queen’s lips went tight. “It is unfortunate that his bondage was necessary. But we didn’t have the resources to put enough males around him to keep him safe-not to mention that he might have harmed any one of them. No, I will not apologize for binding him.”

Heart breaking, Harth wondered how were they ever going to get through this? Instinctively, she looked up at Tarkyn and her heart yearned to be with him and... just be. For none of this to be happening.

*****

~ TARKYN ~

Tarkyn stared back at her, pleading. “Why don’t you let me talk with her, El?” Tarkyn says.

“Because I can’t leave her free.”

“Then lock me up with her.”

There was a beat, then, “You’d submit to that?”

His immediate response was yes, of course. Just to be near her, he’d do anything. But he made himself think it through.

It could be a massive blow to his power if his soldiers were seen to be holding him like a criminal. It would undermine the trust not only of the Guard, but of the people of the Tree City. It would weaken his position to be effective in guiding towards peace...

“A compromise?” he offered.

“What?”

“I’m in need of medical assistance. Give us a cave. Give me food, treatment. Let her stay with me. But keep guards on the place.”

Elreth frowned as if she was considering it, examining it. But he smelled Harth’s scent go prickly.

‘You have resistance to this idea?’ he asked her in the quiet of her mind.

‘Please don’t tell them,’ she sent back. ‘But the caves. I... I would prefer a place with open light and air... I can deal with the guards. But being closed in. It will... it makes me panic. That cave we were in today... I couldn’t breathe.”

Tarkyn struggled, his primary instinct to protect his mate and keep her from harm doing battle with his reason-to keep her safe, he needed her closed in. And he needed to be seen to act towards his Queen as he always had so she couldn’t accuse him of being swayed.

“How about... how about the Outsiders cave?” he suggested to Elreth. It was an old space, formerly used by the Protectors, before they were an acknowledged tribe, when they still suffered great prejudice from some of the other citizens.

It was on the edge of the city, high up one of the mountain foothills and remote enough from the city center that they wouldn’t be seen or heard.

Harth gave him a sharp look at the word “cave,” but he sent, ‘trust me,’ then turned back to Elreth. “We can’t escape it except by the trail, so it’s easy to guard with small numbers so our limited resources aren’t being used. Birds can fly in to help with the healing. And we won’t have to be... restrained.” He gave a small smile so Elreth would think that was about wanting to complete the bond.

Elreth looked at Aaryn. The King just shrugged. Tarkyn wondered how protective he felt of the space, since he’d been one of the Outsiders since he was young. But he should have known. Aaryn’s heart had always been for the comfort of those who weren’t accepted by others.

“We aren’t using the cave anymore. And she is an Outsider...”

Elreth gave him a look that said she wasn’t impressed by the weak joke. But then she looked at Harth and her brows pinched over her nose.

Tarkyn held his breath.

“I’ll say yes,” Elreth said finally, and Tarkyn almost sagged to the floor with relief. “But you’ll be checked periodically, and will have to answer the questions of the healers. If there’s any sign that Tarkyn is being manipulated or hurt, you’ll be put in chains, Harth. Remember that.”

His mate shuddered, but Tarkyn just pulled her tighter against his side and tried not to smile too broadly. “That won’t be necessary,” he said. “You’ll see her heart, El. And when you do... I know you’ll love her too.”

But Elreth sighed heavily. “I hope for your sake that is true, Tarkyn.”