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When the door closed behind the shaking Elreth, the room got darker. But with the high windows in the tree, it wasn’t enough to affect either of them.

Zev’s smile grew as he prowled towards Tarkyn, who’d stood at the other end of the cell, waiting, so he wasn’t a threat. Zev flipped the spear up with a quick twist of his wrist, and any hope Tarkyn might have had that he didn’t know how to use a weapon of that design went out the proverbial window.

Shit.

Zev stalked straight up to him, bringing the spear level and pointed straight at Tarkyn’s throat.

Tarkyn braced-would the male simply slay him?-but he felt the way Zev braced as the cold of that blade reached his collarbones.

So the male knew how to use it, but didn’t know as well as Tarkyn how to defend against it. It was a position that gave Tarkyn a fighting chance if the male decided to kill him.

His heart beat so hard he could feel it thrumming in his skin. But he kept himself still and waited for Zev to talk.

“Captain of the Guard and Defender of the People?” Zev said, his voice low and dark. “Where are your fangs?”

.....

“I’ll fight you for dominance if you wish,” Tarkyn said easily. “But at this point, for the sake of my mate and yours, I’m still hoping for peace.”

Something flickered behind Zev’s eyes then and Tarkyn made a mental note that his instincts were correct. The male’s heart was true. His vulnerability was his much weaker, much more fragile family.

They stared at each other for several breaths, then Zev snarled and threw the spear aside.

It clattered to the wooden floor, rattling against the bars of the prison before it came to rest.

Neither of them looked at it.

“Thank you,” Tarkyn said simply.

“Sit down,” Zev growled, suiting his own words. Tarkyn, surprised, followed his example. A moment later when they were both sitting, he waited. But Zev just regarded him suspiciously and didn’t speak.

Tarkyn sighed. “There’s an old tradition in my people. One that, to my knowledge, hasn’t been used in my generation. But I think it would apply here.”

“What’s that?” Zev asked through his teeth.

“When there is a problem between the people of the same tribe-a division that we cannot seem to cross-the leaders of the respective factions take a seat at a fire together. They call it sitting in council. And no one leaves until the decision has been made-the terms of the negotiation completed. It is a commitment both parties make-”

“That is not the way of wolves,” Zev said sullenly.

“Maybe not, but I know my mate told you I’m a male of honor,” Tarkyn offered. “I’m doing everything I can to find a way to peace. Perhaps all we need is time and... consideration?”

Zev thought about it for a minute, his eyes narrowed, but thoughtful.

At first Tarkyn thought he’d give in. But then Zev set his jaw and shook his head.

“It’s too late for that. She tried to destroy my family. She keeps us from our people. She bound me like an animal. I vowed I would kill her for that.”

“Her?”

“Your Queen.”

Tarkyn let his own jaw tighten. “I can’t let that happen.”

“You won’t have a choice.”

“You say that, but you were just presented with the opportunity-a fault of mine that I do not plan to allow you again-and yet, here we are. So I have reason to believe there’s still hope. If I’m wrong, if you just let me volunteer because you think you’re going to kill me, we will have a problem. So, tell me clearly, Zev. Is there a way forward for us? Any way to peace?”

“Not while that bitch is in power,” Zev replied without hesitation.

Tarkyn’s hackles rose and he stiffened. “I’ll need you to soften on that position, because I can’t help you if you’re threatening my Queen.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

“Liar,” Tarkyn snapped. “If that were the case you would have killed her, or tried to kill me already. Your people are on our land, under our eyes. Elreth will listen to me. I can keep her from taking them. I can keep them free.”

Zev’s jaw rolled, but he didn’t say anything.

Tarkyn tensed. “I’m working really hard here not to push you, Zev. I know you’ve been pushed to your limits, and it’s not fair. Nothing that’s happened here is fair. But you’re leading your people to war and we outnumber you at least three to one. And you’re currently sitting in a cell. If you do this, you will lose.”

“You know nothing about my people and what we can do. Nothing.”

“So tell me.”

“Why, so you can beat us down and take us as slaves? I’m not an idiot.” Zev quivered and had to roll his head on his neck, his eyes rolling briefly towards the high windows, then the door.

Tarkyn could feel his tension.

“I’m very aware that you aren’t stupid. But you are young, and you’ve only faced one enemy. I’ve been through war. Twice. And I can tell you, you don’t sleep easier at the end of it. That’s the great lie behind it all, Zev. You meet the enemy, and even if you win... your body and mind remain at war. You think beating my ass, or killing my Queen is going to make you feel better. Feel safer. It’s not.”

“Says the enemy who wants me to submit,” Zev growled.

Tarkyn loosed a frustrated breath. “If you won’t believe me...” he trailed off. Then, in a burst of inspiration, Tarkyn reached for Harth in his mind, relieved to find her still close.

‘Tarkyn! Are you ok-‘

‘I’m fine. Can you still reach Zev?’

‘I... yes.’

‘Please, Harth. I’m going to show you my memories... please show them to him.’

Then he focused on Zev again. “Perhaps, if you won’t believe me, you’ll believe my mate. I’ve asked her to show you my memories-will you be able to tell that they’re memories, not... created thoughts?”

Zev nodded once, tightly.

His body braced against the thoughts, his stomach twisted with dread. But, praying that his mate wouldn’t hold any of it as his weakness, Tarkyn made himself dig back, deep into his memories and open them to Harth.