AARYN
Aaryn whirled as he stood. Anger flared in his chest when he saw the King—the former King, he reminded himself—but he instinctively bowed as the massive Leonine, with tension lines crinkling his warm brown eyes, limped closer. Reth's mate, the Queen—Elia, she always growled at Aaryn to use her name—was at his heels, her eyes bright, but her mouth set in a thin line.
"Dad!" Elreth's voice broke and she leapt up, throwing herself into her father's chest. He caught her in his thick arms, though Aaryn saw him grimace when she hit him. "Dad, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking—"
"Don't you ever apologize for doing exactly what the Creator made you to do," Reth growled. For some reason he looked at Aaryn then, before turning back down to his daughter and pulling her out to arm's length so he could meet her eyes. "This is exactly what I wanted, too," he said quietly. "I'm proud of you. Don't cry, El, this is what you were made for."
