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Chapter 408: Darkest Before Dawn

RETH

When the Captains left—Behryn to rest, Tobe to rally the last groups and bring the warriors to the training grounds at dawn so Reth could speak with them—Reth was supposed to take Behryn to Aymora. But Hollhye, it turned out, had merely waited outside, not trusting Reth to keep his word.

He would have. But the truth was, he was relieved that he didn\'t have to. He wanted one more, private conversation with Suhle before he faced Lerrin—or had him killed.

So when the others had left, in the coldest, darkest hour before dawn would light the sky, Reth trudged through the City, under guard, to Charyn\'s house.

Charyn\'s wife was a quiet, but pretty wolf who bustled through the house bringing drinks and flustered that the King had come to her home. He smiled at her and reassured her that he wasn\'t in need of anything except a little time and privacy with Suhle.

Suhle, called from the room she\'d been given upstairs, came slowly, watching Reth warily, until her cousin and his mate left them to speak privately. Reth knew they\'d likely hear every word unless they were very disciplined not to listen. But he supposed that wasn\'t a bad thing.

He had nothing to hide. The question was, did Suhle?

When they were finally alone, he reached across the table and squeezed the hand she had left resting on its top.

Her hair was down and her face free of that blasted hood, so he could see her quavering smile.

"I am so glad that you are safe," he said quietly. "Relieved, and grateful. How did you hide your relationship with me?"

"You know very few know of our connection, Reth," she whispered. "I was prepared to lie if it was needed to protect you. But in the end, no one even wondered. They pay little attention to the disformed—they are not hateful. They do not mention it, especially as I am a servant. But I am… overlooked. For both reason. Except by Lerrin… I spoke with him honestly about you, Reth. You need to know that. When he was being led in dark directions… he allowed me to speak truthfully. Even it when it hurt him. He is more like you than you know."

Reth sucked in a deep breath. It was a thought he\'d had willingly a few months earlier. But now… now he didn\'t want to think that he could ever do or become what Lerrin had. He shrugged off his discomfort at the thought. "You are so brave, Suhle. I am so impressed. And… you said you have stayed safe. Was that true or were you trying to save the feelings of your family?"

"It is true. As I mentioned, there were issues. I almost left. I would have except… I am so certain that Lerrin can be brought to the place of rightness, Reth. And that will only benefit all of us."

Reth nodded. She was right, if it was true. He was just yet to be convinced that Lerrin hadn\'t either deceived her, or been deceived himself.

"They are trying to breed, Reth," she whispered, without looking at him. "Some of the females give themselves for it. They are… they are trying to grow. This faction is… they are very intentional about it."

Reth growled deep in his chest. "It\'s a power play, and I will not stand for it. We cannot let that kind of sick ploy into our people. Where would it end?!"

"Lerrin works to identify all who are sympathetic to that faction," she murmured. "It is why I am so desperate to return—I can find things out so much faster because they don\'t know to look for me—"

"I\'m not discussing it further," Reth muttered.

Suhle sighed. "When you draw lines that way, Reth, you require people to decide between you and their consciences. You told me you would never ask that of me."

"This is not an operation, Suhle. I do not ask you to resist your own heart about the work you do. I ask you to guard your own safety—allow me to guard it—for the next two or three days when I know there is going to be great violence and conflict."

"But this is the catalyst, Reth. This is why he realized he was wrong. This is the war he cannot fight and fight you as well—he has turned, can\'t you see—?"

Reth flattened his hand on the table far too hard, and Suhle jumped. "He never should have been fighting me to begin with!" he snarled. "You have been spending too much time among them, become too sympathetic. Months ago you would never have fought me on this! Don\'t you remember the events that brought you and I together in the first place? You have never shared your story with me, and I do not pry now. But it is obvious to anyone who pays attention that you were misused. And the thought of that makes me so angry, Suhle. So angry. Why would you seek to work with the tribe that would do that to you—and now to others?"

"When I was hurt," she said quietly, but firmly, "the event was strange. Unique. It was not the culture among the wolves. But something… something has infected their hearts and minds this past year. Not all of them, but enough. I cannot explain it to you, Reth, all I know is that what is happening now is not the Tribe that I grew up in—and even I, who did experience… pain, even I can say that!"

"I will kill them, Suhle. I am putting the wheels in place to end this. No matter what happens with Lerrin, we will not release this battle. We will take the wolves, or we will kill them. But there will be no more of this!"

Suhle smiled. "That is what Lerrin says, too! You two really are of one heart, I wish you could both see it!"

Reth squirmed under her gaze and her grin widened. "Lerrin doesn\'t like it when I say that, either," she said.

He sighed and sat back in his chair. "We\'re sending the first scouts and warriors after the wolves in two hours, Suhle. I have asked the soldiers to bring Lerrin in alive but I cannot be sure they\'ll be able to. It will depend whether he fights."

"He won\'t fight," she said emphatically.

"Well, I hope you\'re right. But I want you to know, regardless, you are not to worry. Whether he is alive or dead, I will protect you from any potential backlash because of this. He will not touch you on my watch."

"Oh, Reth, I don\'t need protection from Lerrin. Go find Craye, and Daryn. Go find Asta, though I still believe she may be trying to settle the conflict. Go find the males that are taking females, and the leaders who encourage this awful breeding program. Let me return and make a list for you—I will bring it back myself. Then you will know…"

But Reth only shook his head. "Not now, Suhle. Later, perhaps. But not now. Not until we know where we stand. I refuse to be the reason you are killed—not now that I have you out and safe. This battle… even if it works out, there are still more than one hundred wolves in the encampment. It will takes weeks to determined who is safe to return—if any are."

"Many are," she tried to reassure him. "Many were manipulated by their packs or frightened to be left in the City without their families. They went not because they hated you, but because they feared the loss. They will gladly return."

But Reth shook his head again. "Understand, Suhle, that even if they went out in fear, the people who stayed will see them as traitors. I can\'t just let them return to their lives."

"Why not?!"

"Because I will then begin a war within our people, instead of without. The people will split down the lines of sympathy anyway. No, Suhle, this has gone too far now. Peace—true peace—is no longer possible. You must see that?"

Given the sadness in her eyes, the lines on her brow, he wasn\'t certain that she did.

But he did not back down. As he got up from his chair and walked around to hug her, then make certain she had all she needed, he did not waver and she did not challenge him.

They both knew, at this point, he was going to do what he felt he had to, regardless.

He just prayed she remained safe if her role in this ever came to light.