“Because you will not be anywhere near any Pantera member ever, if I have my way,” Trip growled.
“Not every member,” Shawn said.
Shawn’s tone wasn’t hostile, but El felt a bit of tension there.Trip even took a second to look over at Trip.No one said anything for a moment.
“I mean, they’re apart of this prophecy too, and even though there are some who are against me and what I stand for, but there will be some who would be open to this merger.”
“We can’t know that, El, and it’s too dangerous.Some may simply pretend to be on board just to get close to you so that they can kill you.”
“I just feel like there’s a better way to go about this.I mean, why do the two species hate each other?Maybe if we can get to the heart of this—“
“There’s no getting around it.You’re talking about centuries worth of fighting, El.I wish it were that easy, but it’s simply not.”
“There has to be a better way.Why would the Mother want this prophecy to come to fruition now?After centuries of fighting and being at odds, why now does she want them to be joined?”
“If we have anything to do with it, there won’t be any joining, because that would mean you have given birth to the chimera, and then died,” Shawn said, his voice deadpan.
“Not just a chimera, but our child,” Trip corrected him.
“Besides that point,” El said.
“There is no besides that point, El.That is the point, and that’s the most terrifying part of this all; us losing you.None of us will stand by and let that happen,” Trip said.
El sighed.El wasn’t sure why she wasn’t as worried about that part of the prophecy; there was no point in trying to get them to see past it.It just seemed to be a mental block for her whenever she thought about if she was to become pregnant.She trusted what Willow had done, combined with the fact that the men refused to touch her.
Ryan came into the kitchen, looking all business, which immediately changed the air in the room.
“Your father is at the gate,” Ryan told El.
“My dad is here?”she said about choking on her food.
“Adam just buzzed him in.I’m going to the door to greet him.”
“I’ll join you,” El said, pushing her plate forward and standing up to join him.
She suddenly regretted eating.She felt sick.Typically, if her father came calling, it wasn’t for good news.The man limited his time with her unless he needed to demand something from her.
Ryan must have sensed her unease because he took her hand as they walked down the hall.
“I don’t like this,” she told him.
“I don’t either.We haven’t found any new information on your mother, and if my people can’t do it, then I doubt he found anything new since our last visit.”
“Then why would he come?I don’t like it.My dad has never just dropped by for a nice visit.”
“He can’t bully you anymore, El.I won’t have it,” Ryan promised her.
“I know, I guess it’s just habit.I spent my whole life feeling vulnerable to him.”
“That’s understandable but no more.”
This time, Ryan stopped and turned El toward him.He cupped her face in her hands.His amber eyes blazed into hers as if he was searing his promise to her.El felt how much he loved her down to the deepest part of her soul.
“I’m so lucky to have you,” she told him.
“Oh no, my mate, it is I who am lucky to have you.You’ve breathed new life into not only my Triad brothers and this Pride but also me.I could feel how much they already loved you last night at the gathering.Today, seeing you out and about and spending time with the elders learning about the Pride, gave them all a renewed sense of support.I’m not the best Alpha, but you will make me better.”
“Every ruler needs someone to lean on, a partner.Maybe that’s what you’ve been missing this whole time, is someone to lean on,” El replied.
