Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

LERRIN

Twenty minute later Lerrin was beginning to breathe more easily. His body was still weak, but the pain was beginning to ebb.

"You're amazing," he said softly. Suhle had sat right next to him. He felt good enough to lift an arm—wincing—to put over her shoulders. She tried to scold him, but he wanted to be closer to her.

Neither of them had spoken much after he'd forced down the paste she gave him, then drank a good deal of water, trying to rid himself of the flavor.

But now the time was passing and the guard would be there soon. He could feel Suhle tensing under his arm.

"Don't worry," he instructed. "This is a time for making decisions. I doubt… I doubt whatever action they decide to take will happen right away. I'm guessing they'll want to announce it to the people first. So… we'll have time. No matter what."

"You can't know that," Suhle said. "And if they don't banish you…."

Her hand tightened on his thigh, and if it hadn't hurt, he knew his cock would have sprung up again. Instead, he reached for her hand with his other hand, and held it there, resting on his thigh.

"Are you nervous?" she asked him quietly.

"Not really. It's strange. I get frightened when I think about you. But the rest? Not really."

"I think Reth might think… might suggest that if you go, there are others that could go with you."

He turned his head to meet her eyes then. "You mean us, right?"

She nodded. "I cannot be here without you, Lerrin," she murmured. He would have kissed her again, but her eyes were shining with unshed tears.

"Shhhhhh, don't fear. There's every chance—"

The door swung open again and one of the largest guards Lerrin had ever seen—almost as big as Reth—strode in looking serious.

"Get to your feet," he said sharply.

Suhle scrambled up, then helped him to his. He groaned with the effort, his back and right leg, screaming the hardest. But his entire body urged him just to lay down and not move anymore. But he kept his feet, and Suhle straightened his clothing.

The guard watched, his face an unreadable mask. Then he opened the door wider, and two more guards stepped inside.

One of them bore an uncanny resemblance to one of the wolves that had attacked him.

A growl rolled in Lerrin's throat—instinct because he was vulnerable, and there was a very present threat.

But the bigger guard started towards him. "Shut your mouth and keep your teeth closed, or we'll string you up and carry you there."

They surrounded him quickly, one of the guards pushing Suhle out of the way with a lot more force than was strictly necessary.

His growl became a snarl and all three turned on him. "You don't have to threaten me, I will go willingly!" he snapped. "But do not touch her again!"

"You should be grateful that she's even allowed to visit you," the big guard sighed.

"I am," Lerrin said, holding the male's gaze. "But that doesn't mean she should be treated like furniture. She is a female. My female. And she has done nothing wrong."

"That's arguable," the familiar guard muttered, but the bigger one slapped him on the chest. Then they positioned themselves behind and beside Lerrin, one on each arm, the biggest behind him.

Goodbye my love, he sent to Suhle without looking at her, not wanting to drawn the attention of the guards to her again.

Go in peace, Lerrin. I'm praying Reth will have mercy.

Lerrin didn't think it was Reth he had to worry about, but with his heart skipping in his chest, he sent her an image of himself kissing her gently, then followed the guards out.

His legs trembled and on the first step he wondered if his knees would give way. But the strength seemed to return to his limbs the longer he moved.

It was a good thing the guards had hold of his arms when he stepped down from the door to the ground outside, though. He almost pitched forward and ate the dirt. But they caught up and swung him back upright.

The motion made his stomach scream, but at least they hadn't let him fall.

It was odd to be outside, especially in the bright, afternoon sun. The trees left dappled shadows on the ground that climbed his skin when they walked into them. But Lerrin found himself simply enjoying the air on his face and the dirt under his feet.

As they reached the trail and headed for the security building, he saw the tall, equine disformed—Gahrye—walking towards them.

The male's eyes widened, but the guards all dipped their heads towards him, and he received their casual salute as if he didn't think about it.

"Has Suhle already left?" he asked. "I understand she was helping prepare the prisoner for the meeting?"

The tallest guard, behind him, answered. "We left her back at the tree. I don't know. But you should be able to follow her scent."

"Thank you!" he said, nodding to Lerrin, then disappearing down the trail behind them.

Despite the pain, Lerrin turned his head to follow the male's progress.

Why was he searching for Lerrin's mate?

Then the Guard shoved his shoulder and pain exploded, radiating out from the point of impact to the rest of his body. Lerrin groaned, and thanked the Creator for Suhle's pain paste. Without it he doubted whether he would still be on his feet.

But the uneasiness in his gut that had started with this meeting, now extended to his mate and what she might be facing.

Gahrye, the Queen's Advisor, was trusted by Reth—mostly—and certainly by Elia. But did that mean he was a good male?

Not necessarily.

Lerrin didn't look back again, there was no point. Gahrye would have disappeared down the curve in the trail by now. But he took a deep breath and sent to his mate.

The Queen's Advisor is coming to find you.

Oh? She sent back, but he detected no fear in her tone.

You know him?

We met the other day when I went to talk to Reth about you. He's disformed as well.

Lerrin nodded and ground his teeth. That didn't mean the male wasn't a threat!

Don't worry, Lerrin, Suhle said in his head, her voice a calm, soothing balm to his tension. He's a good male.

Lerrin prayed so.