Taming the Queen of Beasts

ELRETH

They hadn't actually bonded? What was wrong? Had the healers been wrong?

She looked at Gar, her mouth open and he met her gaze, his pleading and tormented and… oh fuck. Rika didn't know.

Her mom rushed forward to hug Rika, exclaiming about what a surprise that they were back. Her dad made a muttered joke about coming early not being anything he'd ever struggled with that Rika didn't hear and everyone else ignored. Elreth tipped her head at Gar as he followed his mate into the room—she was his mate, right? But she still hadn't accepted it? Elreth had been so sure she was getting there.

When Gar stopped next to her, his arms were folded across his chest and he was watching everyone closely. Suddenly glad that she hadn't decided to go over and interrupt them, El rubbed his back and prayed her oblivious father didn't put his foot in it, since Rika was clearly happy and more relaxed than she'd been since she'd arrived. Something had to be going right.

Their parents both made a fuss over Rika, but El caught the moment her father noticed the bond—or lack of it. He frowned and leaned a little closer to Rika, then when she was distracted, his head snapped to look at Gar, but he didn't look disapproving, or worried. He looked sad.

As her mother and Rika caught up, her dad came to stand on Gar's other side, and Elreth had to bite back a smile when he stood exactly as Gar was standing, frowning at their mates. Looking at them from the side, El decided someone who didn't know them would have struggled to tell them apart at a glance.

"Well, it's just as well anyway," her mother was saying to Rika. "Elreth was just telling us that she wanted to do a family tonight in the cave—and we were sad that you weren't going to be there, so this is perfect!"

"I need to talk to you," Gar muttered under his breath as he nodded when Rika turned to make sure he'd heard.

"What's going on?"

"Something Rika remembered… about the humans."

Elreth looked at him, but their mother was hurrying forward to hug him like he'd been gone for a month, rather than a little over twelve hours, and he was reassuring her that there was no emergency.

Elreth met her father's eyes over their little clutch and his lips flattened. She shrugged. Aaryn had accepted the bond far faster than her. But then, their bond had connected even before they'd mated, so she wasn't sure why—

  "Why don't us girls head over to the cave so I can figure out if everything I need is over there, while you guys catch up?" her mother asked brightly, as if there were no ulterior motive at all in giving Gar time with their dad.

Elreth almost snorted, but her stomach was sinking for Gar. Her brother could be an ass, but he was her brother. She wanted him to be happy. She prayed Rika was going to be able to do that for him.

"Sounds good," she said. "If Aaryn gets home I'll send him to find you guys," she added to her father, who nodded, then slapped Gar on the back and suggested a walk.

Gar stepped forward to pull Rika into his arms and make sure she was fine, but she seemed more excited than any of them, telling him to go and she'd see him in an hour. Then he kissed her, and because it was what she would have done if there'd been nothing wrong, Elreth pretended to gag.

But damn… she really hoped this was just a slow start for them and nothing more serious.

*****

GAR

Gar walked through the trees towards the weeping tree alongside his father and wished the ground would open up to swallow him. It had been worse than he'd thought… there'd been no judgement, no accusations, no fear…

They'd pitied him.

He wanted to bite someone.

And the really sad part was that even his oblivious father had caught it right away. There was no chance people were going to be too preoccupied to notice.

"So," his father said once they were out of earshot of the meadow, "interesting trip, huh?"

"You have no idea."

"How did it go… apart from the obvious?"

Gar wanted to cover his face, but he made himself keep his eyes up on the trail ahead. "Honestly? It was a difficult start, but then it was amazing."

"I'm happy for you, Gar," his father said, slapping his back, then rubbing it gently. "Do you want to talk about what was difficult at the beginning?"

Gar shrugged. Did he? "I guess… I guess I got in my own head about maybe scaring her. And she felt like I didn't actually want her and it was just… it wasn't a fun conversation, but it was good for us, I think. We both relaxed after that."

His father nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. I know what you mean, those conversations are never pleasant, but they're usually the best ones to have in the long run."

They walked on for another minute without speaking.

"So, the bond…?" his father finally asked.

Gar shrugged again, but wanted to snarl. "It just never… showed up. I mean, I think I kinda felt something this morning, but… I don't know, Dad. I guess she hasn't accepted it yet. But she seems happy and she's not faking."

"Is there still fear for her, do you think?"

"Sometimes. I'm not sure why, but she got nervous when we got back to the house. But she didn't freak out or anything. And things went fine. We just had to spend some time talking first."

His father nodded again. "I think maybe you're wise to plan on that for a while. Lots of talking. Lots of waiting."

Gar wanted to nod. He wanted to agree and to just let it all go, and wait and he was sure if he did, he'd look back on this moment and wonder what he'd been so worried about.

Right?