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*****

~ ZEV ~

Zev’s entire body hummed with tension as he prowled across the grass towards the center of the valley. He was bracketed by Lhars, Skhal, Kyelle, and Sasha. After some discussion, they’d left Jayah back in the trees with Zan. And Skhal with her, watching over both of them.

Zev hadn’t said it out loud, but if things went the direction he suspected they would today, he wanted Jayah stuck with Skhal on their side. Sasha would lose her mind if the healer wasn’t there at the end of the day.

Tarkyn and Harth were strangely absent and at first he’d let it bother him, but then he realized it only meant that Tarkyn was returning to his favorite Queen, and Harth had decided to go with him. And Zev realized that was just good riddance.

The day he and Sasha ruled Anima the two would find themselves treated to the same imprisonment which Zev had endured—and asked for their patience, just as he had been.

He pushed away the inevitable thoughts and fears for their son that always rose when Zev thought about being caged and shook his head. They had resources now. Help. Zan was going to be fine. Even if it took some time.

What he needed to focus on was these people gathered on the other side of the valley. The red-haired Queen now approaching with her massive brother at her side, along with an older advisor Zev hadn’t met but had scented when he was among them, and another male Zev didn’t recognize who seemed very young to be alongside the Queen.

.....

No mate, bitch Queen? Interesting.

He smiled. His advisors outnumbered hers.

It would take a couple of minutes for each party to reach the middle where they’d agreed to meet. But their people were each spread out through the trees and at the valley’s edge in the meantime to see and hear everything that occurred.

Zev smiled. There would be no hiding anything from anyone here. Even if the Anima wanted to attack, they’d have to cross the space between peoples to do so. And after very recent events, Zev was confident he now had a brake to apply to keep the bitch Queen from advancing.

He prayed it was so.

It depended on just how ruthless she truly was.

The shaky, quiet voice that had been echoing in his head ever since his conversation with Skhal insisted that ruthlessness was measured by the circumstances in which it was applied—just as Zev had had to… but he didn’t have time to analyze that.

When they finally reached the center of the valley, Zev stopped, his friends and mate behind him and they waited seconds for Elreth and her advisors to reach them.

“You’re outnumbered,” he pointed out as soon as she joined them.

Elreth raised an eyebrow, though he could see her bristling.

“I don’t need numbers behind me to humble myself,” she said quietly. Zev caught the glance that her brother shot her—seemed the idea of humility was surprising in their family.

Shocking.

But he had to admit to himself it wasn’t the response he’d expected from her.

“I don’t believe we’ll find a lot of value in rehashing old events, but I wanted to thank you for leaving without hurting any of my people significantly,” she added a moment later when he didn’t speak.

Zev narrowed his eyes. What was she up to? “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t enjoy killing—or harming—anyone who’s done nothing to hurt me or my family.”

Elreth gave him a flat look. “Well, I’m grateful. I mean it. And for that reason, I didn’t come here to accuse or even negotiate. I’m well aware that I started this. I see that I need to be the one to stop it.”

In any other tone, those words would have raised Zev’s hackles, they ran so close to a threat. But the female didn’t look threatening. She looked tired and… disappointed?

“I’m sorry that it took so long for you to be returned to your people,” she said, eyeing Zev. “I know you will struggle to believe it, but I had planned to free you the very day that you escaped.”

Zev huffed and shook his head. “I thought you didn’t want to rehash old events?” he said through his teeth.

Elreth’s expression didn’t change. “I just want you to understand that my heart has changed—was already changed. Had we had one more opportunity to speak, I don’t believe we’d be here today. But again, I’m grateful that you agreed to come. Because… I believe I know the answer to our issues here today. I’ve been praying for clarity for some time and… I think I finally understand.

“You see, we fought a common enemy. I wish I had understood that clearly right at the start, because I know the truth that the Creator doesn’t allow events to occur without purpose. To bring our peoples together when we both fought such a cunning enemy to such… cost… It can’t be coincidence.”

“No, it can’t,” Zev growled.

Elreth nodded. “We keep learning and growing—all of us. We keep seeing new things and understanding new things. We’re all just children at the end of this. Children of the Creator, all of us growing and developing, right? Like our own offspring—”

“Can you get to your point, please?” Zev snapped.

Elreth sighed. “My point is that I can see that what is needed here is… humility. And willingness to give—”

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Zev muttered.

“No, I’m not.”

Zev shook his head. “Humility? Your humility is sudden—and very obviously attached to the remorse that occurred when you were suddenly outmaneuvered. Beaten. Defeated. That’s not humility, Elreth, that’s being humiliated. Which is different.

“And you talk about giving? Where was that idea when you attacked my mate with our son in her arms, and abused me for protecting her?”

To his surprise, Elreth didn’t snap back. Her eyes didn’t flash. She didn’t shove out her lower jaw, or raise her chin to look at him down her nose as she had in the past.

She slumped. Her head went down, her shoulders forward. “You’re making my point for me,” she said quietly.

Her brother gaped at her, and the other two seemed similarly shocked.

“I admit it,” she said, her head still low, but eyes lifted to meet Zev’s, one hand up in surrender. “I was wrong,” she said clearly. Then she looked around at those who stood behind him. “I was wrong,” she repeated. “I created more conflict than was needed. I did not look at… any of this from any perspective except my own—and I made decisions in fear that cost your leaders in pain and…” She trailed off, swallowing, then turned back to Zev, locking eyes with him—not angrily. There was no heat in her. But her sudden softness was disarming. Zev scrambled to pull the defensive wall around his heart that he’d found so easily for these past few days.

“I would never have hurt your son—not on purpose,” she said distinctly. “When I smelled Sasha and Zan, when I saw them, I didn’t see them. I saw—and smelled—the people who had taken my family from me. Who almost stole my life, my mate, and my people. They came so close, Zev. So close. I am still not recovered. I assure you, had her scent not been that of a pure human… but it doesn’t matter. The reality is, I didn’t take time to think or pray or consider. I reacted, and in doing so, you’re right, I put Sasha and Zan both in danger.”

Elreth stopped speaking and drew herself up, not with pride, but determination. She took one step closer to Zev, still focusing all her energy on him. “You need to know that there is nothing in our world more precious than our offspring. Nothing. That is a… a cord that binds our people. I suspect the deeper we dig, the more we will find.

“But I realized that you will never have a chance to discover those, as I’m beginning to, as long as I remain a barrier between you and peace.”

Zev’s adrenaline shot up. Where was she going with this? What was she going to offer?

He was so stunned he was forgetting his anger—but he reminded himself of it quickly.

It was very convenient timing for her to suddenly see all of this so clearly.

“What are you saying?” he asked through his teeth.

Sasha gripped his arm and sent, ‘Zev! Listen to her. Listen to what she’s saying!’

He was relieved to feel his mate’s touch—they’d embraced before walking here, but not spoken in any depth about their earlier argument. Zev had been far too busy getting everyone ready. But he couldn’t let himself be distracted from this.

He was beginning to scent victory.

Elreth looked at him, unimpressed, but pleading. “I’m saying… don’t punish my people for my mistake—my failure,” she corrected herself. “Don’t punish your people for the harm I did. I’m certain if we can discuss this, I can find some way to make amends, or offer safety in a way that will show you that my remorse is true, and my heart for peace is real.”

“I’m sure you can, too,” Zev said, inwardly cheering.

Elreth took a slow breath, her eyes pinched, but relief playing on her features. “Good. Please, tell me. What will it take, Zev? How can we walk away today in the unity of peace?”

“It’s very simple,” he said, his heart pounding. “You’re Alpha of your people, I’m Alpha of mine. We both use the same hierarchical structures and basic laws. So here, Elreth, Queen of the Anima, in front of your people and mine, I challenge you formally for dominance.”

A gasp rippled around the valley from both sides.

Elreth’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “But—”

“You said you want to make amends. You said you don’t want me to punish your people—and I won’t. I am not a hateful leader, Elreth. I am not a ruthless tormentor. Fight me. If you win, my people will submit to you because I will submit to you.” Then he flashed a warning smile. “Can you say the same?”