175 Of the Tribe

ELIA

Huncer stared at Lucan. "The women recognize the King's natural bias and wish to remove it. We ask that judgement be removed from the throne, and held by the Tribe."

Lucan gaped. "She has no tribe! What Tribe calls for her justice?"

"Were you not at the Festival, Lucan?" Aymora asked, and to Elia's giddy pleasure, she had no sarcastic tone whatsoever.

Lucan frowned at her. "I left early."

"Well, you must have missed it. Elia gave her throat to Reth in a Pride tradition and we embraced her. Brant and I adopted her tonight—another reason the women believe judgment should be removed from the throne, and given our close ties to both of them I agree. However, regardless, she is one of us. She is Leonine."

Lucan's mouth dropped open and his eyes snapped to hers, widening even as the rest of his face twisted in rage.