AARYN
When they made it out to the trail down the mountainside, Aaryn put a hand to the back of her neck and began to knead the small muscles there that were tense and tight as the bonds on a catapult.
He opened his mouth to ask her if she was okay, but footsteps crunched behind them, someone jogging to catch up, and they both turned.
Aaryn let a low growl roll in his throat when he saw Gar. But Gar didn't even look at him, just stared at Elreth.
"What are you going to do?"
She tilted her head. "I don't know yet."
"You can't punish them for wanting a life where they don't have to worry about—"
"I don't intend to punish them, Gar, I intend to punish whoever made the fucking stupid decision to allow humans into Anima without any kind of screening or approval from the throne. You did this when Dad was Dominant?"
Gar nodded. "But I was hoping you'd be open to it. I planned to talk to you—"
"When?"