ELRETH

Dargyn was going to walk her out? He’d never done that before.

He’d also never done what he was doing right then, holding her gaze with his own full of… heat.

“Okay,” she said, trying to shrug like it was nothing.

But she didn’t miss that as he followed her out, he stayed very close—even putting his hand to her back when two young cubs ran to meet her in the aisle and cheer for her.

Elreth had always loved children. Relieved for the distraction, she squatted in front of them—a boy, and a girl, just a little younger than she’d been when she met Aaryn.

The male tried to be strong, kept his chest puffed out and bowed like an adult. “I acknowledge the queen,” he said, very formally.

“Me too! Me too!” his companion jumped and grabbed for Elreth’s arm. She was probably six. She was one of the pride, and her eyes were a strange amber color Elreth had never seen before in the human form. Perhaps she was struggling against the desire to shift? “I will be loyal to the Queen!” the little female said, beaming, not letting go of Elreth’s arm. “And the King when you find one.”

“Well, thank you,” Elreth said very seriously. “I appreciate your vows. Your-your Queen blesses you both.”

The little male’s eyes widened. “Thank you.”

Elreth smiled. The little female put her hands to her face and squealed. “When I grow up, I’m going to be Queen!” Then it must have occurred to her that that would mean challenging Elreth, because her mouth dropped open and she blurted, “But only after you die!”

Elreth laughed, and hugged them both—the little male not reaching for her, but not pulling out of her embrace, either. “Thank you, both of you,” she said quietly in their ears. “Now, go back to your mothers and I will see you tomorrow, okay?”

They both trotted off, waving at her over their shoulders and Elreth stood, feeling better than she’d felt all day. As they began walking again, and reached the exit to the trails, Dargyn stepped right up beside her and put his hand to her back again, whispering in her ear.

“That was really cool to watch,” he said. “You’re going to be an amazing Queen.”

She stopped walking and turned, one hand on his arm. “Thank you. Seriously. I’m… struggling to find my feet in this. So, thank you.”

His mouth turned up on one side, tiny smiling lines pressing into his cheek. There was a spark in his eyes that made Elreth’s breath come faster. But before she could say anything, Aaryn cleared his throat from behind her.

“Are you ready, Elreth?” he said, his voice flat and indifferent.

She whirled, her heart racing, to find him leaning against a tree, just to the side of the trail.

“Yes, yes. I mean… yes,” she stammered.

Aaryn arched an eyebrow at her and pushed off the tree to join her on the trail. “Very good,” he said, signing, ‘Did you eat a silly-fruit?’

She pressed her lips flat, but turned and squeezed Dargyn’s arm. “Thank you. That was rough and you made it easier.”

Dargyn eyed Aaryn, but when he returned his gaze to Elreth, he smiled his easy smile and nodded. “Anytime. Which, I guess starts with breakfast tomorrow?”

“Yeah, sure,” she said. She could feel her cheeks heating and she wasn’t even sure why. “I’ll see you then.”

“Bye, Elreth,” Dargyn said, his voice a deep rumble.

“Bye.” She turned and took the few steps to join Aaryn who was waiting on the trail. When she caught the expression on his face, she sighed in front of her so Dargyn wouldn’t be able to see it. ‘Don’t say a word.”

‘All hail the Queen,’ he signed back, his expression dry.