AARYN
He ushered her back to the cave. Some of the guards would likely hear them anyway, but he wanted her to feel safe, to be able to think without distraction. Keeping one hand at her back, he led her back to the Great Room, then turned to her. But Elreth had her arms folded and was beginning to pace. She stared at the stone floor of the cave as she crossed back and forth in front of one of the couches.
"No, Aaryn. You're King. You can't. We can't risk you."
"We'll have no Kingdom if this doesn't work, El. I need to go. And I need to go now."
"Absolutely not!" she snapped, fire in her eyes and her hair whipping when she snapped her head to turn on him, stalking to him, one finger leveled at his chest. "I forbid it! We will scent the others for truth, and—"
"El, there's no time. You know that. I don't want to. You know I don't want to!"
