564 Choices - Part 2

RETH

He was stunned speechless. He and Behryn stared at each other—Behryn suddenly no longer angry, but now wary, watching for Reth's reaction.

Reth didn't know what to say. His head spun with the ridiculousness of it—and a certain conviction that to say that word would lose him his best friend forever.

"But…" he started, then trailed off.

Behryn nodded. "I know."

"But there is no choice!" he said, his voice strangely high and strangled.

Behryn's face fell. "Reth, she's my mate. She's a part of me. I don't agree with what she's seeing, or how she's handling it, but… she's my True Mate."

"I know, that's my point! There's no choice. You can't… but I don't want… except…"

"Precisely," Behryn muttered dryly. "You see my predicament."