Chapter 93: Only in the Pride

RETH

He'd lain there, holding her, for almost an hour, shocked by the waves of emotion rolling through him—love, possessiveness, protectiveness, fear, delight… Emotions whipped around each other, a storm of chaos in his heart like he'd never experienced before. She had cracked him open like an egg, and even though he wanted it—wanted her—the sheer power of the feelings was overwhelming.

She was suddenly everything.

He'd never imagined a moment in his life when the balance of his decisions would weigh to any side except for his people. But staring at her as she slept, Reth knew… he knew…

He'd let all of them die to save her.

And, Creator forgive him, he knew how wrong that was.

As she'd drifted into sleep he'd been unable to resist curling his body around her, like a mother with a cub, shielding her with his body, warming her. Holding her. And as she'd slept, he'd prayed.

Keep her safe.

Let the people see her.