Chapter Eleven

JOYCE

She had been crawling the heights of that pressure inside that had built with every slide of him against her and every touch of his hand. She gasped his name and rocked against him, pleading. She had made noises she had never heard and grabbed at him, desperate, begging him! When he finally plunged inside her, for a moment, it was as if he had come home to her, as if she had found the place she was always supposed to be. Her head rolled back, and her mouth dropped open with the joy of it.

The pain stabbed deep inside like a cold water shock on a hot day, and she froze. Sung stilled immediately, though with a shudder that told her he had struggled. She could think again. She was more than just a bundle of nerves. She was aware, aware of the pain. But also aware of him, desperately.

He was… everywhere, over her, inside her, around her, his skin was her blanket and his hand her comfort, his breath in her ear called her name.

"Joyce?" his voice trembled.

"I am fine, just… just give me a minute."

"I am so sorry, my -"

"Sung, if you apologise to me one more time, I swear I will never sleep with you again," she snapped, then laughed when he closed his mouth so quickly his teeth clicked.

Her laughing made her… feel him. Inside, she was awed, suddenly so awed that they were as close as two people could be. She bore down on those muscles again, experimenting, and Sung groaned, burying his face in her shoulder and taking a deep breath. Something was happening; she could feel it. Something rolled around inside him, and he shook to contain it, his breath catching like he was in pain.

"Are you okay?" Joyce asked, slightly afraid that making him stop may have harmed him.

But he lifted his head, and though she could not see the colour in his eyes, she saw them shine.

"Yes, yes… I just… I love you, Joyce," he breathed. "I love you."

Whatever had been inside of him hit her right in the chest. An embrace to her heart that stole her breath and overwhelmed her with emotion. She took his face in her hands as her heart lit up like one of those lanterns in the forest, glowing with warmth and light, and it eased out of her to envelop him.

"Oh. Sung," she gasped. "I love you, too. I think I always have."

She kissed him then, and his breath shuddered across her lips.

The pain she had felt had eased, and as she pulled him in, he groaned, moving ever so slightly inside her, giving her that tingling firework touch of his both inside and out. He tried to hold back, but she kissed him again and whispered in his ear.

"Do not stop," she rolled her lips as he filled her.

He braced himself on the furs, his eyes locked with hers and burning with intensity, and thrust once, slowly. Her head fell back.

"Is that a yes, Joyce?"

"Yes…" she bit her lip slowly as he did it. "Don't… stop…."

With an animal moan, he came alive with his hands trailing from her neck to her breasts, sides, and legs as he continued to roll into her, breathing her name against her skin and clinging at the peak of each thrust.

"Sung!"

"Hold on, my love," he sighed, his massive bicep curled next to her head as the other hand stroked up the back of her thigh, then over her knee, and back up to reach between them. "Hold on to me," he began to play her body like a musical instrument, rolling his hips in time with the slide of his thumb, tongue, and gasp of her name. Joyce clung to his arm and neck, cries she could not stop breaking in her throat at the park of each thrust.

"Mine," he whispered savagely against her neck as she threw her head back, her breath tearing out of her throat. "My mate, my wife, only mine."

Joyce began to tremble, whimpering as she sensed a peak to this tingling wave she had been riding, but each gasp left her breathless only until Sung began hissing between his teeth and slid his hand down behind her hip to pull her up in the exact moment he thrust.

The world zoomed in to a pinpoint of time-space, only where their skins met, as the warmth and light that bound them together suddenly snapped into place, tying their souls. Then the wave crashed over her, and Joyce shouted his name, arching into him as he roared his release and his love for her. A few seconds later, they both collapsed. Sung was careful to brace his own weight on his elbows so he would not crush her, but his shoulder heaving with his breath and Joyce trembling and gasping but boneless content.

***

SUNG

She had just become his world. As he struggled to catch his breath, to find himself again in this body of tingling nerves and rushing emotion, he could not hold any thought beyond her.

Joyce, Joyce, Joyce.

There was no other name on earth that meant more. And no other female alive would satisfy his body, heart or soul.

The mating bond.

He'd had no idea.

Even as he lay there, gasping for air, his face buried in her neck, he wanted her again. This was going to be a problem.

"Sung," she rasped. "Was that?"

"The mating bond," he croaked between breaths.

"Is this like that for everyone?"

"No," he spluttered, his chest still heaving. He did not roll off her, but leaned to the side, taking his weight, so he could take her hand and put it to his chest, over his heart. "Can you feel that? Feel it pounding?"

"Yes."

"You did that, Joyce. No one else, only you."

She turned her head and kissed him slowly, deeply, her breath still heavy. Then when she pulled back, she was grinning like a cat who got the cream.

"What?"

"How soon until we can do it again?"

He chuckled, but it pushed him deeper into her, and they both sucked in.

"I am not sure," he said, smiling slowly. "But we are going to find out."

He could not resist it; he took her back to the pools. At first, it was to let her wash and soak; she would be sore later. At least this time, he remembered towels. They sat in the mineral pool for a long time, always touching but in innocent ways, thighs brushing as they sat close, fingers twined under the water. But as her body warmed to a flush and she wanted to try the colder water, Sung's body tightened. She climbed out of the bench seat in the hot pool and trotted the few feet over to the cold, dipping her toe in, then squeaking.

"It is so cold!"

"It is not really," he said, still sitting in the mineral pool. "It just feels that way because of the heat."

She was still a little self-conscious about walking around naked, but whenever she started to cover herself, he would say her name and let her see the beauty in his eyes.

Not brave enough to jump in, she skirted the pool's edge, walking out of the shadowed ledge where the waterfall pattered from high in the mountain wall. He smiled, watching her tentatively step under the falling water, hissing and squealing at first because of the shock of the cold on her pink skin.

But she kept at it until she stood under the sheet of it, her hands clasped at her chest to hold onto warmth. She looked at him over her shoulder, giggling and puffing with the cold.

"Come on, Sung. Come warm me up," she said and winked at him.

With a grunt, Sung pushed himself up and out of the warm water. He was already hard, but the cold douse might slow things down. Which probably was not a bad thing. The mating bond was driving him closer to her, and it was becoming difficult not to simply throw her over his shoulder and take her back to bed. Instead, he walked towards the waterfall, letting himself drink in the sight of her curved back and buttocks as she shivered under the cool water.

But, seeing him coming, she turned and stretched her arms to wet her hair, dropping her head back under the waterfall. The combined sight of her white throat, completely bared, and her breasts pressed upward, stiff and tight because of the cold, shocked his system, so potent, he almost stumbled.

The mating call huffed in his throat, the deep harshness of it resonating off the stone walls. She heard and recognised it, lifting her head to look at him. Seeing the desire burning in his eyes, her grin shifted to a knowing smile. Eyes still locked on him, she returned to stretching under the water, sliding her hands through her hair and shivering under the stream. When he was only a few feet away, he stopped to take her in, and she let her hands trail down over her wet breasts.

"I am cold, Sung," she said, her voice rough and tight.

"I will see what I can do," he said hoarsely.

Sung covered the last few steps between them in a flash, taking her into his arms and bending her backwards to taste her throat. He let the water bounce off his shoulders and back to shelter her from the chill of it. She laughed, but it quickly became a sigh as he held her against him and let his hands rove. His breath was already heavy when she took his face in her hands and kissed him open-mouthed, but then he slid one hand to her breast, letting his fingertips trail over the fierce point of her nipple.

She gasped, and her knees wobbled. He swept her up, lifting her so they were face to face, guiding her to wrap her legs around his waist. Arms around his neck, she pulled back to smile as he started walking her back to the warm pool.

"I wish I could take you back to my old life," she whispered, combing the hair off his face with one hand.

Sung frowned. "You do not like Anima?"

"No, it is not that! I just meant… all my friends would be so jealous. You are smoking hot. They would not believe me unless they saw you in the flesh."

Sung dropped his head back and laughed, and she kissed his throat again, which turned his laughter into a groan.

One hand supporting her weight, the other sliding up her back, under her hair, he stopped walking to kiss her properly, his breath rasping, getting faster. Hers did, too, thundering in his ear as she gasped and kissed and whispered his name, beginning to roll her hips against him in a way that threatened to bring him to his limit far too quickly.

He had intended to take her back to the bedroom after she had soaked, but her urgency matched him, so as she kissed her way along his jaw, he considered and dismissed several options. She was too new to this for him to get too adventurous. They had plenty of time for that.

"What are you doing?" she whispered when he hesitated.

"Making a list," he muttered, and she laughed. Then he spied the towels he had thrown alongside the pools, intending to wrap her and dry her so he could watch her skin blush. "Hold on," he grunted, then hissed when she nipped his earlobe. "If you want this to last, you will keep your teeth to yourself," he growled, holding her chin as he kissed her deeply, the call pressing out of his throat again.

"Sung…"

"I have got you, kitten," he whispered, lowering himself to the thick towels until she sat in his lap and clung to him, arching her chest into his so her nipples were teased. She groaned and buried her fingers in his hair to pull him in as he opened his mouth on her shoulder, kissing and sucking the skin at her collarbone.

She writhed against him, her body seeking the mating again, and Sung gritted his teeth, stunned by the urgency; that was how desperate he felt for her. Determined to make this less of a frantic coupling, he cupped his hand behind her head, kissing her deeply, slowing the pace of both the kiss and their rolling. At first, she fought him, whimpering, but he sighed her name repeatedly until she dropped her head back, leaning away, bringing herself in deeper contact with him.

They both groaned.

She had found the spot, and her mouth dropped open as she slowly rolled her hips, pressing against him. Yanking his leash tight, Sung splayed his hand at her back to give her some resistance, and her breath stuttered as she climbed toward release.

"That is my girl," he whispered. He let his teeth drag down the line of her throat as he brought his other hand between them. At first, the shift made her whimper, but when he added his thumb, sliding from her deepest core to the point of her pleasure, she cried out.

"Don't stop!" her voice was high and desperate.

"I won't, kitten, I won't. Creator's light, you are beautiful."

"Sung!"

"I am here. I will always be here."

She went rigid, arched back, mouth open in a silent scream as her fingers dug into his shoulders. She sobbed her release, and Sung growled his approval, his breath rasping. He was so close, so close, and he had not even taken her yet.

Then she jerked back into him, her face in his neck, gasping, kissing him, her hands everywhere, her body rippling and liquid under his palms. He stared at her in awe as his body tensed, sensing what was to come. When she opened her eyes and sat up, her cheeks were flushed. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"That is wonderful," she said breathlessly, her hands stroking his neck as they continued to roll together. She twitched at each peak from the added sensitivity of her climax. "But it is not enough. I want you, Sung. I want you inside me, please."

With a heated snarl, he leaned her back, laying her down on the towel, covering her with his body.

"I am not going to last long," he warned her, positioning himself with a shaking hand.

"I do not care."

He invaded her mouth with his tongue the moment he took her body. She cried his name, already shivering, climbing towards her next peak as he thrust repeatedly. She clung to him and held him tightly while crying out her love and need for him. Every word out of her mouth pushed him further and closer to his climax until he threw his head back and roared his love and claim of her. Her – his perfect mate.

The roar echoed up through the cavernous mountainside toward the sky that was now beginning to pink. And far away, across the city, voices rose howls, calls, screeches and brays broke through the dawn light in answer to their king.

Oh, shit, Sung thought as he sagged over her, his breath still coming in gasps.

Completely unaware of their audience, Joyce took his face in her hands and kissed him, her breath coming short and sharp.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit," Sung muttered hoarsely, cursing himself over and over for forgetting where they were and that his roar would be heard by the people.

"What's wrong?" she asked, suddenly still.

"Oh, nothing, sweetheart," he sighed, stroking her arm as he leaned his temple on his fist to take his weight. "Just stupid, alpha-male bullshit," he grinned.

"Well, if this is a part of that, I have decided I am a fan," she said breathlessly.

Sung kissed her again, then led her back to the pool for another soak.

JOYCE

They made love again in the furs, then dozed for an hour. Joyce woke, her chest bursting with happiness and her body sore but tingling for more. She rolled over happily to find Sung lying with one arm under his head, staring at the ceiling. The lanterns were on, and they bathed his skin in a warm glow that made her want to lick him. But she forced herself not to start anything. Instead, she rested her head on his arm and threw her arm over his chest.

He turned his head and kissed her lightly.

"Good morning."

"It is the best morning ever," she said, smiling.

He raised one eyebrow and gave a lopsided grin. "Is that right, Queen Joyce?"

She snorted. "I am no more a Queen now than I was twelve hours ago."

"No less, But tell that to my people," he grumbled.

Then it hit her after everything they said; she had not thought it through.

"They will know," she whispered in horror, her cheeks burning bright with embarrassment.

Sung groaned. "Yes, they will."

Joyce rolled onto her back and covered her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing!"

Frowning, Sung rolled and leaned over her, pulling her hands away from her face. "Embarrassing? You are embarrassed that you own the king in body, heart, and soul?"

"No, I am embarrassed that I am going to walk out today, and everyone will know what we have been doing."

"Why? They see no shame in it."

"Yes, but… it is private."

Sung huffed. "Not in Anima."

She groaned again and pulled a pillow over her face. He took a lot of time coaxing it away from her and reminding her why she should never be embarrassed. And by the time he had, she was so alight and relaxed that she decided she didn't care if they knew.

After all, she had married up. If anyone should be embarrassed, it should be Sung. Sung had been in no hurry to leave the cave. And in truth, Joyce was not either. But she wanted to get this first encounter over with it. If everyone was going to be talking about their mating, let them get it out of the way so she could get past the embarrassment and get on with her new life.

She insisted they go to breakfast. Sung reluctantly agreed. But he dragged his feet.

"What's wrong?" she said after the third time he found a reason to dart back to the bedroom before they left. "Is it going to be bad out there?"

"You will be fine," he muttered and took her hand, kissing her knuckles as they walked through the door.

It was not until later that she realised he had not mentioned himself.

As soon as they stepped out of the cave and into the little clearing, one of the guards whistled, and all five jogged towards them. At first, Joyce thought they must have a message for Sung, but as soon as they reached them, all five dropped to one knee, arms across their chests.

"Good morning, my Queen," they each said, bowing their heads.

Sung smiled at her, one eyebrow up. Joyce was startled. "Good morning!"

"Pleasure to serve you today, Majesty," the man with the double armband that marked him as shift leader said.

"Um, thank you?" She looked at Sung, who grinned and led her between the men, still bowing. They stood, one by one, as she passed, clapping that arm to their chests again and shouting.

"Queen Joyce! Long live the Queen!"

Then they followed her and Sung to shadow them down the path as usual. But she caught a couple of grins from the men towards Sung and his scowl in return. The men never walked closely, but she knew their hearing was too good for a private conversation, so she gave Sung a look.

"What was that all about?" she whispered.

"You will see," he smiled again, but it did not reach his eyes. He was scanning the forest around them, his eyes already shadowed by lack of sleep, now haunted, as if he expected an attack at any moment.

"Sung, what is wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing," he said, shushing her, "I am just tired."

"Me too; maybe we should nap this afternoon," she said slyly.

"Yes, yes, sure," Sung said, but she could tell he had not registered what she had said. She was about to ask again as they descended the path and into the city centre. But then they were suddenly mobbed.

***

SUNG

They had barely entered the circle before the children started screaming and running to them, cheering for their beautiful new queen and throwing flowers at her feet. Joyce looked like she had swallowed a poisoned frog.

Then everyone else began to flock. Sung was torn between joy over watching his people celebrate his mate and anger that they had waited until now and had not believed in her before. He accepted the congratulations alongside the looks that said 'about time'.

But soon, he could see Joyce was becoming overwhelmed, so he stepped between her and the crowd and insisted they let them go get breakfast.

"Got to keep your strength up!" one of the females called, and the crowd laughed. Joyce's face went beet red.

Sung took her hand and led her through the crowd, keeping his eyes and nose open for the brothers. He was unsure when they would appear but knew it would not be long. The pounding began when they entered the market, weaving between the tables. Within seconds, the people started to clap and cheer, and while Joyce looked confused, Sung just shook his head and tried to smile.

Erwin led a group of six or seven other men out, their feet stamping in time with the spears they pounded on the ground at every step. They chanted an ancient tale that had been updated by this group to include suggestive metaphors and downright dirty subplots. The people laughed and cheered.

No chance he was getting out of this quietly.

Sung sighed.

"What is going on?" Joyce asked uncertainly as the people stepped back to give Erwin and the others room to circle him, all still stamping and chanting.

"I have a … uh … meeting with the brotherhood…" he said through his teeth. Joyce frowned, but he just kissed her quickly to the cheers and applause of his people and whispered. "It will only take a couple of hours, I promise. I will see you at lunch," Erwin stood before him before she could respond, and the stamping stopped.

The crowd of watchers went silent as Erwin grinned and bowed with a flourish, his voice raised so everyone near the market could hear. "Our brother has found his mate!" Everyone cheered again. Sung smiled past gritted teeth. Joyce tried to smile, but she was still staring at him with a question. "The brotherhood requests your presence, oh majesty. Sire of our nation, the highest name in all the land."

"Yes, yes, Erwin. An audience is granted," he muttered

There were titters and boos that he had stopped Erwin from making a show. But his friend was not finished.

"Thank you, oh mighty, king Gareth Ollie, the seventh in the royal line to take and hold the throne. As today marks the beginning of your kinship and the great reign of your Queen Joyce Thorpe, we ask for a gift that can come only from your hand!" Sung sighed. He had known his brothers would take full advantage of this day, but this was just making a spectacle! They would pay for this. "Do you have a gift for your people, oh might king?" Erwin was enjoying this too much.

"I will declare today a holiday," Sung ground out. "No trade, no training. Let the people feast and play."

The crowd cheered again, and the children's squeals were so loud that Joyce winced, but she smiled and clapped with the littlest ones, that rushed to her in excitement.

For a split second, Sung saw her, heavy with a cub and pulling another youngster by the hand, her cheeks full and red, her skin glowing as she came to greet him. He blinked, and the mental picture faded, but the feeling it left jolted him to his toes, and he gaped at her.

She frowned and stepped up close.

"Sung, are you -"

"Thank you, fair sir!" Erwin called with yet another ridiculous bow. "And now the brotherhood would take their audience with you, mighty king and leave your fair bride to the hands of the females for safekeeping."

"Just a moment," Sung said, then pulled Joyce into his chest and bent her backwards over his arm, kissing her soundly. He pulled her back quickly, grinning at the befuddled look on her face, and whispered.

"Sorry, I thought we would have more time," then passed her into the hands of Talia, who was smirking behind her. "Pray for our success and good things for the heart of Anima!"

"Pray thee well!" the people shouted in response.

Then the men circled Sung and led him away. Joyce stared, wide-eyed, at his back, and he turned and waved to her from behind his brothers and begged the creator that she wouldn't be harassed too much without him.

***

JOYCE

Joyce just shook her head as the men stomped and sang Sung away. What the hell was going on? And why hadn't he told her he would leave her to deal with all these people alone while they talked about her losing her virginity? Talia tugged at her elbow as the man disappeared from the market. She had a broad, warm smile and put her arm around Joyce's shoulders, which she had never done before.

"Well done," she said quietly, then let Joyce greet more of the children who wanted to bring her flowers or touch her hand. When they ran off, Joyce turned to her.

"I am so confused; what is going on?"

Talia led her around the tables before they were interrupted again and waited until they sat down on the podium before she answered.

"The people are acknowledging your mating and reign as Queen."

Joyce shook her head. "Just because we had sex?"

Talia winked. "Normally," she said. "These celebrations would have happened the day after the mating ceremony. But since things have been delayed… well, let us just be grateful everything is finally as it should be," she said, taking a mouthful of fruit.

But Joyce was still confused. "Where have they taken Sung? What are they going to do with him?"

Talia flapped a hand, the wide sleeve of her cloak floating in the breeze. "Oh, that is just some alpha male bullshit," she said, wrinkling her nose. "Those males have some kind of secret code or something. Every time one mate, the other makes a big song and dances about it."

"Literally," Joyce said dryly, and Talia laughed.

As Joyce picked her food and waved at more greetings, Talia leaned into her ear. "So… how was it?" Joyce felt her cheeks go hot again. Talia squawked a laugh and slapped her thigh. "I knew he would make us proud. I was slightly worried when we had not heard the roar last night. You certainly left us all hanging."

"Heard the – you guys were waiting for that?"

Talia snorted. "We have been waiting for it every night for a week."

"That is just gross."

"In what way?"

"Who sits around waiting to hear that other people have had sex?"

"A people whose lives depend on their ancestry, the strength of their bloodlines and the protection of their history," the bird-woman said frankly. "Joyce, I know this is very different to your world, but at some point, you must try to see things from our point of view. We have not travelled to your world; you have travelled to ours."

"Against my will," she muttered.

Talia frowned. "You would choose otherwise if you could?" Her voice held an edge of warning.

"No, not now. I mean… Sung… No, I do not want to leave. I just meant that it is a little rough expecting me to roll over and become Anima when I was not given a choice in the matter."

"Were you given a choice about the colour of your skin?"

"No, but that is -"

"The colour of your eyes or the heritage of your parents?"

"No, that is not what I meant!"

"How about the time that you were born into the world? Could you choose that?"

Joyce folded her arms. "Those things are completely different!"

"Did you ever think to question them?"

"No, I just grew up that way. It never even occurred to me to…" she trailed off as Talia nodded and raised an eyebrow.

"You live, now, in a people whose lives have looked like this for a millennium. You rule, now, over people who have never seen your world and would never hope to. Take your place, Queen Joyce, without complaint. Or those of us who have been here all along may question why the honour was given to you."

Joyce finished the meal in sheepish silence.

SUNG

When they got out of the city and finally made it to the cave where they had been meeting since they were in their teens, Sung sighed with relief. The taunts from his brothers were merciless but easier to bear where no one else could hear them.

"Only took you a week, brother."

"She is either the strongest Queen Anima has ever seen, or she had tied your tail around her -"

"Do not finish that sentence," Sung growled at Nhor, one of the other Leonine.

The men all laughed and only increased their teasing.

"I thought someone showed you how to handle your carrot years ago, Sung. But maybe we need to have a chat? You see, when two Anima love each other very much, they have a special kind of hug…."

The men laughed and clapped Sung on the back so hard he almost choked. But he kept his chin up. He was the last of the brothers to mate; unfortunately, he had made more than his fair share of jokes and jibes when the others had their days.

He knew he was going to pay for it now.

The teasing continued until they were all seated in the cave. They had not met for months, so Sung dusted off his seat before he sat and waited for the others. They all sat in the circle within a minute, Erwin to his right, chatting and mocking Sung. Sung ground his teeth and reminded himself it was all designed to get him off balance. That they did not think about these things.

But finally, Erwin raised his hand, and the seven other men quieted.

"Sung," Erwin said solemnly.

"Yes?"

"As king, we have witnessed and applaud your service and selflessness. We are grateful to have you as our leader." There were nods and murmurs of agreement around the room. Then Erwin grinned. "But as a brother of the secret keepers, your hairy ass is ours for the next two hours. It is time to taste your own medicine."

The room erupted in laughter and jeers. Sung shook his head and ran his hand through his hair.

"I know you have all tasted the pointy end of my stick in the past," he started, "but-"

"Maybe that is what was wrong? Maybe that is why she did not want to do it?"

The men burst out laughing, and Sung nodded grimly. "Yes, keep them coming."

"The mating bond feeling a little tight today?" Erwin asked. "Suddenly rethinking the wisdom of all those years of jokes and taunts, my king?"

"Do your worst," Sung said as they mocked. "As king, it has always been necessary to be the strongest in the room. If you can't handle it, well…" he shrugged. Erwin raised an eyebrow, and the others made noises of anticipation.

"You heard our fearless leader, men," Erwin said, widening his smile. "It is time for the mating initiation!"

The men leapt to their feet and jostled each other as they descended on Sung. They tied him to the chair in the tradition of these meetings, a symbol of a brother's responsibility to stay in the seat, no matter what was thrown at him.

Sung sighed but knew the only way out of this was to go through it, and it was true he had taken great delight in pinning down his brothers on their mating days. So, it was only fair that he allowed them to do the same.

There was no fast order in the brotherhood, no specific rules. Once they tied him, the others began peppering him with questions in no particular order. It was not a test so much as a good-natured way for the others to find out where he might be weak and offer advice.

"If you have not already, you will have your first fight soon. Tell me, Sung, what is the best way to soothe a female's feelings after you have placed a massive paw squarely in your mouth?"

Sung grimaced. "She needs to hear that I know I did wrong and will endeavour not to do it again."

"What do you do if a male is sniffing around your wife, but she has not realised it yet?"

Sung gave them all a pointed look. "Well… I could have him sent to the camps unless he touched her, in which case I would bite out his throat somewhere, and she would not see it happen."

They all laughed, knowing it was doubtful any male in Wildwood would ever attempt to steal Sung's mate. Mating changes in the Anima were extremely rare, but they did occur.

Around and around they went, some questions little more than jokes, others quite serious. Since Sung was the last male to mate, they had all been through this seven times before and knew the answers. Though Sung admitted that the reminders were not nasty, like remembering that females needed time with other females and encouraging her towards that, rather than becoming jealous of her time.

Things got awkward when one of them brought up the mother-in-law, and Sung had to remind them that Joyce was an orphan.

"Lucky son of a bitch," Nohr muttered. The others howled.

Eventually, the question time drew to a close, and Sung sighed. The next part of the ceremony was uncomfortable. The men went quiet, and all teasing stopped as they waited patiently. Erwin was the secret keeper for Sung as Sung was for Erwin, which meant for this part, Erwin asked the questions.

He took the seat furthest from Sung and locked eyes with him.

"These men stand witness, Sung, of your knowledge, pledge, and secrets. The time has come for confession; absolve your heart, brother. Open to us and leave nothing unturned. What sins do you carry? What regrets? What dreams? Share your burdens, let the brothers carry them, and hold you up to your goals."

Sung let a breath pass before he nodded. "What do you want to know?"

"Name the females you have formerly enjoyed. All of them, and if any feelings remain, confess them."

Sung was glad the ties to the chair were more ceremonial than restraint. They passed over his upper arms but left his hands free to rub his face. He started in his teens, naming names and answering any questions about the relationship his brothers raised. He was winding his way through the twelve years he had been mating, unlike he had now with Joyce. But he now knew the act of mating and what a pale reflection it was.

He shook his head and took a deep breath before locking eyes with Erwin.

"And the last before Joyce was… Lucine."

Erwin's face became thunderous, and the others sat back in their chairs.

***

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