Mated to the Warrior Beast
[COMPLETE] What life is left for a warrior when there is no more enemy to fight? ...He knelt before her in the posture of a soldier giving honor to their Queen. And she didn't even know it. “Harth," he rasped, "I come empty-handed. I bring no weapon. Because I swear to you, I will never choose to harm you. Never draw your blood—in anger, or in fear. I bring no shield. Because I vow I will never defend myself from your eyes, your hands, your mind. I am yours.” ***** After a year of peace in Anima, Tarkyn finds himself... lonely. As the Captain of the Queen's Guard and a lion-shifter, he has met every female in the tribes, but never found his mate. Certain he must have overlooked someone, Tarkyn undertakes a grueling ritual, pleading with the Creator to reveal her. But the ritual presses him to the end of even his formidable strength. Yet, the Creator heard his cry... Discovered on the brink of death by his mate, Harth, and nursed back to health, Tarkyn now faces the most difficult battle of his life. Because Harth isn’t just a stranger to the Anima, she is a weapon of the humans who tried to destroy them. Can the love of a warrior and his enemy bring peace to Anima? Or will they be torn apart forever by war between their peoples? ***** STANDALONE STORY: While Tarkyn's story is a part of the Anima world and fans will be reunited with some of their favorites as side-characters, Tarkyn and Harth are new POV characters and their story is a new plot arc, so their story can be enjoyed without reading the previous books! But please add Falling in Love with the King of Beasts, and Taming the Queen of Beasts to your library to enjoy later! Cover Art by artist: Aenaluck. Find more incredible art and support the artist on www.patreon.com/aenaluck
Freedom
~ HARTH ~
Pieces of her twisted as they fled. Parts of her heart that remembered running from danger too often. Parts that had been thrown into hunts in which she was the prey.
Though Tarkyn held her hand and they only walked briskly, rather than running, she couldn't escape the creeping dread, the tingling sense of horror that at any moment they might be ambushed, or an enemy might break through the trees behind and launch towards them.
They were forced to walk silently for almost an hour, Tarkyn warning her that there were patrols and stations throughout this area of the forest, still close to the Tree City.
They spoke infrequently through the bond, but most of Tarkyn's focus went on their surroundings and their passage. He applauded her more than once for keeping herself so quiet, and commented that she could teach some of the Anima a thing or two. But he obviously felt her fear, because his forehead was creased, and he never let go of her hand.