[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
NAME PRONUNCIATION: Sarayu is "Sah-RAH-yoo"
*****
~ JAYAH ~
Jayah hurried through the WildWood, cursing herself for her rush, but unable to rest until she saw her mate again. She'd thought once she was moving the urgency to get back to him would ease, but as she felt him drawing closer, it only increased.
She'd spent the entire day distracted and preoccupied until, back at the Healer's Tree, Sarayu had finally become frustrated with her.
"Whatever flea is in your fur, Jayah, go see to it. You're making me anxious. And you're over-crushing those herbs. They'll only be good for tincture at this rate."
"I'm sorry," Jayah had replied, her heart pounding. She'd tossed the pestle down on the bench and covered her face with her hands. "I'm just distracted."
Sarayu had grinned. "You're not normally so… fluttery. What's his name?"
Jayah was so shocked, it had taken her a beat too long to reply to her friend. "I'm not… that's not…"