Mated to the Warrior Beast

168 Uncertain

~ HARTH ~

Harth had never imagined that she would be so grateful for the months she’d spent fleeing the Chimeran guards and borders set by Kyelle and Lhars. She never imagined that those weeks she’d spent trying to work past the guards without calling alarm or attention would provide such an... education of the terrain around the encampment.

Although the route she and Tarkyn took to reach the peninsula was much longer and more arduous because they were climbing through the mountain foothills above the ravine—they soon found the trail Zev and the others had used and were able to follow it, though it faded in places since they’d passed the day before and there had been some rain overnight.

But as they began to descend towards the valley bowl and the distant coastline, they were discussing their plan for approaching Zev.

Harth had explained to Tarkyn what Zev required—that he disavow his Queen. And while she’d known he wouldn’t, she was surprised to find Tarkyn far more thoughtful on the issue of potentially deceiving Zev than she might have thought.

“I don’t want to lie to him, but if I can find a way to phrase my position so that he hears what he wants to hear…” Tarkyn said thoughtfully.

Harth was uneasy at the idea, and the closer they drew to the Chimeran territory, the more tense she became. Something about his hope to trick Zev didn’t sit well at all.

“I don’t think you should do it. I think… I think you should just be honest with him,” she said quickly. “He’s already so tense—I could feel how cold he was, Tarkyn. It was chilling. I’ve never seen him like that before. He’s not a violent male, not usually. But he had three months hunted by the humans, then came here and got locked up. I think it loosened something in his mind. He’s already unpredictable. If he learns you lied to him—”

Tarkyn shook his head. “I don’t want to lie to him outright. He’d smell it on me. I’ve never been good at it unless it was to an enemy. That’s not what I mean.”

.....

Harth’s heart warmed that he didn’t even seem to realize he spoke of her people not as enemies, but she didn’t interrupt him.

“I just… I just need time with him and I’m trying to figure out how to get it,” Tarkyn said, frowning.

They lay on their bellies on an outcropping of rock, looking for a way down the final hundred feet to the forest below. Tarkyn warned her not to stand or even crouch—that their silhouettes might be caught by sharp eyes if there were Chimeran guards or patrols out this way. Even at a distance, he said the bright, sunny sky behind them would make them visible.

So they lay there, scanning the terrain below while he measured it.

But Harth’s eyes caught on a promontory, a spot where the foothills extended into the forest, towards the coastline, with jagged, rocky cliffs and hills.

She knew that part of the land. It was almost sheer on the side opposing them, and it pressed deep enough into the forest that she’d used it twice in an effort to hide her movements when she’d had to get outside the boundaries.

There was a cave at the base of those cliffs—and a trail that led directly to the eastern side of the encampment where her tent was located.

Harth blinked. “I have an idea,” she whispered.

Tarkyn looked at her, then began to press his long body back, away from the edge, back towards the cover from below—rocks and trees that would hide their passage from prying eyes.

When they reached the shadows, he turned to her and waited patiently until she got her thoughts clear.

“I think… I think that there’s two parts to this thing with Zev,” she said. “The first is that he wants to feel safe with you—like you’re on our side.”

Tarkyn nodded. “And the second?”

“The second is that there’s safety in numbers. And the others haven’t had Zev’s experience with the Anima. They’ll be… more open to peace than he is, I think,” she said—sure that she was right about the Chimeran attitudes, but uncertain whether Zev might have had time to sway them before she reached her people.

Tarkyn nodded again. “So, what’s your idea?”

“I think that we take the risk of waiting for nightfall, when it’s late, to get to the encampment. We can get in around the guards—I know a path through that I used to use to get out… unless they’ve changed their patrols. But regardless, I think if we can get into camp—you’re my mate, no one would think twice about you bedding down with me—then when we confront Zev, it’s when you’re already there. already there with me—maybe we’re at the breakfast fire, or maybe… I don’t know. I just know that if you meet other Chimera before you have to speak to him there’s a sense of safety that comes with that.”

“And accountability,” Tarkyn said, his voice warm with approval. “That’s very sneaky, though, Harth,” he grinned.

She shrugged. “I don’t want to mess with his head, but I think… I hope that being back with his people and safe will make him relax more. And I think… just like he did with Elreth—he needs to see that you could have caused trouble, and didn’t. That you’re safe to be free. And with the Chimera, mates are sacred. When they learn we have an ardent bond, they’re going to help me protect that, whether Zev’s there or not.”

Tarkyn’s expression went very serious. “Because if they hurt me…”

“It will hurt me,” she said, nodding. He seemed far more disturbed by that idea than she was. For her, it was simply normal.

But the longer they discussed it, the clearer it became, until they were agreed.

So, they crept no further towards the encampment than Harth was certain would be outside their normal borders, then waited for night to fall.

*****

~ ZEV ~

Zev and Sasha curled together on the furs in the warm glow of the dying fire for a long time, Zev holding his family as they slowly drifted off.

Zan fell asleep first, then Sasha’s breath slowed and evened.

Zev would have held her all night, but she started to stir, her body looking for a comfortable position. So he turned and laid them both gently down on the furs, intending to lay with them. But as Zan settled onto the fur in the crook of Sasha’s arm, he startled away and wailed, his voice thin and demanding, echoing in the cave.

Sasha came away with a start, but Zev put a hand to her shoulder and waited for her to blink, then look up at him.

“Let me take him,” Zev said softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “You sleep. I’ll get him asleep again, then I’ll come back.”

“But—”

“Let me do it, Sash. I haven’t had time with him when I could think straight. Just relax. I’ll handle him, okay?”

Sasha gave a soft smile and reached up to cup his face again. “Thank you.”

When she sighed and let herself settle back down into the furs, Zev scooped up his son, along with the smaller fur they’d made the nest from to keep him in position and then, cradling his son in his arms, wrapped in the warm furs, he walked to the mouth of the cave and stood there, looking out at the thick forest, the distant coastline, and the twinkling lights and glowing tents below.

He should have smiled, he knew. He should have breathed deep and felt satisfaction to be there, holding his son, in a land where the Creator had said they would be safe.

But instead, all he could feel was a fierce sense of protectiveness for his tiny, fragile son, for his weak-in-body, but so strong in mind, mate. And for his people.

When he lifted his head towards the darkness to the east, knowing his enemies were out there, planning… waiting… he had to swallow a growl.

He gathered Zan closer, higher on his chest, inhaling deeply of his milky, soft scent.

“I will keep you safe, son,” he whispered, never taking his eyes from that midnight dark in the distance, knowing it hid the lights and shadows and resources of those that would take him down if they could. “I will keep you safe, even if it means giving my life for you. I vow it.”

And as his son squirmed in his arms, but didn’t open his eyes, Zev nodded to himself.

The vow wasn’t hard to make, though it might cost him everything to keep. But he would do it.

He would not bring his son here to die at the hands of a female who couldn’t see beyond her own muzzle.

The Creator had brought them here to make his people safe. And Zev would achieve that, no matter what it cost.