~ HARTH ~
When Harth had been reaching maturity, the females in Thana had often spoken to her and the other young females about mating, choosing mates, and the drive that could happen between Chimera who were attracted to each other.
She'd seen it at work, too, and wanted that—seeing a male whose attention was laser-focused on his mate, who clearly desired nothing more than her. And the female who flourished under that love.
She'd ached for that. Yearned for it. Prayed for it.
And she'd been blown away to have found it in such a wonderful man.
But this…
Tarkyn's ragged demand that she meet his eyes as he loved her and the intensity of that, the intimacy of being so together in that moment… then the tenderness with which he'd carried her to lay her down… it stole her breath.