AARYN

Gar's mouth dropped open. But it was Aaryn who stepped up to Dargyn's chest. "If you lay a fingertip on her that she hasn't invited—"

"Wow. Cool off, Aaryn. I said kissing, not mating."

"I don't care. She's innocent of all this and—"

"Take a step back, Aaryn. I don't force myself on females."

"No, you just convince them they're special, then never touch them again."

Dargyn's eyes narrowed. "And you don't?"

Aaryn bared his teeth. Gar stepped between them quickly, one hand to Aaryn's shoulder, the other to Dargyn's. "Look, guys, this isn't.. I mean, this is my sister we're talking about."

They both looked at him and he grinned and shrugged. "Sorry, I'm never going to see it."

Aaryn felt sick to his stomach. What had happened? Had they mated and Dargyn was just saving Elreth from having to answer questions?

He couldn't smell her on him—not like that—but if they weren't true mates, that wasn't always a solid measure. Depending how much.. touching they'd done.

Aaryn shuddered. "Just go, Dargyn," he said darkly.

The male smiled again. "You should have made your move earlier," he said smugly. "You snooze, you lose."

"Whatever, Dargyn. The difference between us is that I'll still be there to pick up the pieces for her after she realizes how hollow you are."

"Sure. Keep telling yourself that, Advisor.. oh wait.." Dargyn shrugged and started walking, letting his shoulder smack Aaryn's as he passed. "See you at dinner? Oh, wait..." He laughed and Aaryn had to clench his hands to fists to stop himself grabbing the guy and putting his face in the dirt.

Dargyn was a submissive. He talked big, but in truth, they all knew he wasn't ever going to be any kind of Alpha. And Aaryn wasn't going to treat him like one.

There was a horrible minute where he had to stand there, staring at the prick's back while he walked—as slowly as possible, it seemed—to the trail, before he disappeared into the trees.

When he was gone, Aaryn couldn't stop staring at the spot where he'd been.

"Look, Aaryn," Gar started.

But Aaryn cut him off. "No offence, Gar, but you have no idea what's going on the past few days—"

"Actually, I do," Gar said quietly. "And take it from someone who's really good at running from their problems, you don't want to run from this one. Go talk to her."

"Not right now."

"But—"

He whirled on his friend, Elreth's brother, and leaned into him, shoving every ounce of his authority as the Alpha of the disformed to his voice when he said, "I said, not. Right. Now."

Gar didn't give ground, but he shut his mouth, his lips pinching to thin lines. "She talked to me. About all of it."historical

"Good. Then tell her to talk to me herself. Don't do her dirty work for her, Gar."

Then with one last warning look, he turned on his heel and headed out of the meadow, towards the forest—not the cave. His heart beat too quickly and he felt sick to his stomach every time he flashed on Dargyn's smug grin.

But even though Gar called after him, he didn't stop.

He couldn't take hearing another word just then.

*****

ELRETH

Waking like that, with Dargyn there and smiling at her. The low softness in his voice. His lips.. it only pressed home to her how much she ached to have that from Aaryn.

How had she been so stupid, for so long? How was she supposed to make this right? How could she win him back from..

Elreth blinked and sat up.

Was it that simple?

She filed back through the memories of that night when he'd kissed her..

They had stood there, staring at each other, the loudest sound of the forest was both of them panting. She had felt cold, suddenly and pushed off the tree towards him. "Why did you stop?"

His throat bobbed and his eyes were tormented when he said, "Because it isn't like this for everyone—with everyone, El. But you aren't.. this isn't.. you don't want me."

She'd talked him around and he was shaking by the time she started on the buttons on his shirt, then slid her hands inside, that little noise breaking in her throat again.

They both sucked in when she reached his stomach, her fingers playing against the ripples of his abdomen.

He dropped his head back, sucking in hard, but grabbed her wrists again. "Why? Tell me why, Elreth?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want me? Why now?" Then he opened his eyes and met her gaze. And she hadn't understood. She hadn't known what he was really asking!

"I don't know. I'd never thought about it before but when you looked at me like that—and then you kissed me!—it was like something inside me burst into flames—"

He'd groaned and gently pushed her hands away, stepping back to put space between them, and her stomach had dropped.

"I can't do this," he'd said hoarsely.

"What? Why?" She'd been angry, still wanting him. Still not understanding what it was that he was asking!

"Because you aren't.. you're just discovering.. your feelings right now aren't about me, Elreth. They're about you."

Except.. he'd been wrong. He'd been completely wrong. She just hadn't known how to show it. And now—with Dargyn coming to her and Gwyn still seeking Aaryn.

Now she knew how to tell him. How to show him what he meant to her.

She was sure of it.

She just had to pray he came to dinner that night.

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