Taming the Queen of Beasts

WANNA SNEAK PEEK? Are you reading QUEEN OF BEASTS but have never read FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE KING OF BEASTS? I'm looking for a couple volunteers to read a scene and make sure it gives enough information for those who don't have the background of KING. If you're one of those, and would like to read a minor spoiler scene ahead of publication, let me know! (You can just click comment at the bottom of this chapter.)

*****

<strong>ELRETH</strong>

Watching Aaryn fight was thrilling. He'd never looked more powerful, or more desirable.

But Elreth's heart sank to her toes when after several long minutes, a dozen of the Equines still stood, while only Aaryn and two of his males remained on their feet.

The fight wasn't won, but it was about to be. There was no way Aaryn could overcome the seven or eight who kept a wide circle around him. It was only a small balm that none were quick to move in on him, to give him the chance.

The other two disformed continued fighting for dominance, but the attention of all the Anima remained on Aaryn, as their leader, and because the Equine had clearly targeted him as their strength.

Where the hell was Gar? What the fuck was he doing missing this? He would have taken six or eight of the Equines out by himself, easily, before things got this far!

Her mother's hand landed on Elreth's elbow, holding her back. She hadn't realized she'd been leaning in, preparing to jump into the fray herself.

"If they're beaten it isn't the end of their journey, El," her mother whispered. Elreth shook her hand off and stalked around the circle, looking, measuring. Was there any way she could call the fight for any victor other than the horses? Any way the Equines had broken the traditions?

But there weren't. She knew there wasn't. And as she came to a stop halfway between the fight and the rest of the disformed, watching with dismay, her shoulders slumped.

The only mercy she could offer was to call the fight for the victors with Aaryn still on his feet. Allow him to hold his strength and not be dominated.

She was judge. It was within her rights. But would also be seen as interference…

She was still chewing over the goods and bads of stepping in when a warmth appeared at her back a split second before hands jerked her elbows back and she was forced to bend forward, her hands yanked up behind the small of her back in angles that threatened to break her shoulders.

"Stop!" A voice called from behind her and another gasp rippled through the onlooking tribes.

Elreth growled and struggled, but just one ounce more pressure on her right arm would snap it out of the shoulder joint.

Who had her?

She inhaled, seeking the male's scent, then her jaw dropped with shock as she realized it was one of the disformed. One of the warriors who'd stepped forward with Aaryn right at the beginning.

"Hold!" the male screamed.

The Equines around Aaryn all stopped moving, their hands coming up as they turned and caught sight of Elreth, bent forward and gritting her teeth against the pain in her arms.

"One more step and I will take the Queen!" he growled.

*****

<strong>AARYN</strong>

He'd been just preparing to launch himself against the guard whose attention was split between him, and one of the other disformed still on his feet. This male obviously thought he was more needed in the other conflict and was considering jumping out of the line of his brothers around Aaryn.

Catching the male's uncertainty, Aaryn had turned so he could watch the male out of the corner of his eye and take advantage if he created a gap. But then a voice rang out over the Hallowed Ground.

"Stop!"

To their credit, none of the Equine actually relaxed their guards, though their eyes flickered, as Aaryn's did, to see who had called.

What he saw lit a bonfire in his chest.

One of his own males, a Protector, no less, had Elreth in a hold, her arms yanked up behind her, her face twisted in pain.

She snarled and fought, but Aaryn knew that hold. If the male just pressed a hair harder on her right elbow, the shoulder would pop out of joint.

Clearly Elreth knew it too, because she was doing everything in her power to ease the tension on that limb.

A snarl ripped out of Aaryn's throat and the Equines around him jumped to block him as he stepped forward.

That male had his hands on Aaryn's mate! On the Queen!

But there were bodies between them.

Aaryn wanted to scream. To curse himself, and the Creator. Protectors be damned, his inability to shift and sink his teeth into that male were a curse!

"Hold!" the male called and everyone froze, including Aaryn, as Elreth grunted with the pain of the hold. "One more step and I will break the Queen!" he growled.

Aaryn was forced to stand there, one eye on the males around him in case any of them broke the order, the other on his suffering mate.

His skin felt too tight and he clenched his teeth so hard he feared they would crack.

Then the male spoke, and Aaryn's eyes widened.

"The disformed are a force," he said, his voice quavering, with effort or nerves, Aaryn wasn't sure. "The disformed are trained, and we are strong. But our skills lie in the shadows. We have never claimed—or yearned to become—the warriors who stand between Tree City and the enemies of the WildWood. We are spies and bodyguards. We are trusted by the Queen because we do not seek the glory of battle, but the quiet victory of stealth.

"My Queen, while your soldiers focused on defeating their enemy, they overlooked a single attacker, able to slip around and take you. Which I never wanted to do," he said sadly, and his grip loosened on her arms.

Then suddenly he stepped back.

Aaryn watched Elreth snap up straight immediately, turning on her toes, hands raised in the defensive stance to meet any new attack. But she froze when she found only the male, kneeling before her, offering his hands in supplication.

"I had no desire to harm you, Sire. I am your loyal servant. But… I ask you to judge this battle on power. Who do you see that has taken the most powerful step tonight? Who do you see that would win their fight for the Anima as a people, and not just a clash against a foe?"