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Merry Christmas!

*****

~ TARKYN ~

“I’m really excited for the day you can come meet my people,” Harth said hesitantly, almost shyly. He hated that she felt like he might not want to hear what she said, and he squeezed her knee.

“I would love that. We just have to make it happen in a way that doesn’t create greater turmoil. If Elreth is still speaking to me when we return, I’ll suggest it. I’m the right person to lead truce talks.”

Harth’s eyes went distant and her smile grew. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Kyelle and Lhars, and Skhal and Dhunken and... gosh, they’re going to love you, Tarkyn. I wish you knew them before all this. You’d love each other. I know you would.”

He hoped so-and didn’t doubt her intentions. But the soldier in him flinched.

“I look forward to meeting them and speaking with them and showing them how I love you,” he said carefully. “But Harth, understand... just as Zev made my Queen wary, I am a soldier and strong... with my Alpha power... any strong Chimera is going to feel threatened by that. It will be a very vulnerable place for me-and for them. You may need to be patient before expecting a group hug.”

.....

But Harth only tossed her hair over her shoulder. “They’ll love you because you’re mine,” she said stubbornly. “The Chimera cherish mates.”

Tarkyn was grieved that she hadn’t seen that side of his people.

“The Anima do as well, Love. I promise you. You haven’t seen the best of my people-only their worst, really.”

Harth chewed her lip, playing her fingers on his chest. “When you talk about them they seem like different people. People I would want to meet. And love.”

“They are,” he said simply. “You’ve arrived at a time when we were all just only beginning to find our feet after the war with the humans. So much happened, Harth. We lost so many–and such important people. Elreth especially... she walked out of that war victorious, but completely alone.”

Harth frowned. “Her mate left her? But he seems so attached–”

“Aaryn has only ever loved Elreth,” Tarkyn said with a chuckle, remembering the pain and angst the male experienced before Elreth sensed the bond. “But he was taken from us for a time by the humans. We didn’t think we would get him back. And Elreth was... well, you can imagine. She’d already lost most of her family. To lose Aaryn too... it broke her. She’s still recovering. Still finding herself in this new world.”

Harth snorted bitterly. “I don’t think that woman is having any trouble finding herself.”

Tarkyn frowned and cupped her face, made her meet his eyes. “I know you don’t trust her. But trust me. Elreth is... far more vulnerable than she lets on. She is so strong, but that becomes her weakness. She thinks she has to be that way all the time–unflinching. She thinks that showing emotion makes her weak. And so she stifles it. But to keep going, she has to be... hard. Brittle. This confrontation with Zev, it’s her worst nightmare. She was only just beginning to believe that the humans had truly been routed from our world. Then she stumbles on a human woman and child, and a male wolf–the tribe that almost killed her father when he was King–and they’re all from the human world?” He went silent for a moment, considering what his Queen must have gone through in that moment.

“She attacked them. I saw it. She had the guards take Sasha down when she was holding Zan!”

Tarkyn nodded. “I’m not saying she’s faultless, Harth. I have had... words for her. When I spoke with her while you were at the house I was very forthright. And I will continue to be. But I’m trying to help you understand... you aren’t seeing Elreth’s true heart right now. You’re seeing the cold statue she thinks she has to be to get her people through this.

“One thing has always been true of Elreth: When she realizes she’s wrong, she turns to a new path. She makes amends. And she lives differently. She can be very stubborn, but when she breaks through that... she is very humble. Like her father.”

Harth shrugged one shoulder, obviously struggling to believe him. But could he blame her? She’d seen so much evidence to the contrary.

Then again, someone had to be the first to trust. Tarkyn was grateful the Creator had shown him that early in his life: it seemed many of the conflicts between Anima were a result of everyone waiting for the other to soften. To reach out. To understand. Whether it was on an individual or tribal level, leaders or followers, it didn’t seem to matter. Everyone stuck their ground until the person or group they thought needed to change would give.

But while both parties needed to move, when neither was prepared to be the first... nothing changed. Instead, both stayed in place, stewing in their wounds or fears-real or perceived-and blamed the other for being unwilling to move, when they also stood still.

He feared he and Harth were the only things standing in the gap between the stone and the hard place.

“Harth...” he said hesitantly. She looked up at him, concerned. Tarkyn swallowed. “I want to meet your people. I want to show them that the Anima are not brutal. We are not ruthless. We are only flawed. As I’m certain your people are also. Please... trust me. Trust my heart and my willingness to see the truth in others. The problem here isn’t that Elreth is your enemy, it’s that she fears your people are hers. Events before your arrival have made her feel unsafe. And because of her losses... she’s frozen. She doesn’t want war. But she fears it will come to her-and she’s afraid to put herself in a position of weakness, to be taken advantage of. She fears learning the truth the hard way. She fears that your people misrepresent themselves and their intentions-because she’s experienced that from others. Can you understand?”

Harth nodded, her jaw tight. “I understand that,” she said carefully.

“Then, please... believe me... the very best thing we can do is create safety for Elreth and the Anima people.” He stroked her face. I am more than willing to walk into the fire of the Chimera. But I ask you: Your people have suffered even greater wounds at the hands of the humans. Can you truly be certain-utterly certain-that they will never lash out as a result of that pain? That they would never subjugate another to reassure themselves that they won’t be harmed again?”

Harth frowned and looked down.

*****

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