Chapter 63: The Meeting And The Outcasts!
The afternoon was quiet and cold when Cael called the meeting.
He gathered them outside the cave entrance, where the snow was piled high, and Neve would not accidentally overhear from inside. Ryker came first, moving with the easy confidence of someone used to being summoned.
Kael followed shortly after, still carrying things with him like he was not quite settled into the space.
Sorin appeared from somewhere in the village, freshly showered and looking more stable than he had at the festival.
Aldric came last, moving slowly, hesitant, clearly wondering why a large bear was being asked to sit in on a leopard tribe meeting.
Aldric had left his sister asleep in the small cave that had been set up for them. Now he was standing without his one supporter, looking out of place among the confident mates gathered around Cael.
"Anything wrong, Cael?" Ryker asked, like he was already preparing for a problem.
"A lot of wrong," Cael answered. He glanced back at the cave entrance. "Neve is asleep. Let’s keep our voices down. We shouldn’t wake him up."
He took a breath and straightened up.
"I’m Neve’s second bonded mate, as you all know," he said. He felt the pride in those words, in the position they represented.
Ryker’s lips twitched, and he lifted an eyebrow. "Are you here to brag? Just to let you know again, Neve will bond with me after winter."
"Then am I going to be after you?" Kael asked. "Because I’m also scheduled for after winter."
"Oh," Sorin muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The leopard tribe is more chaotic than I thought. Neve sure have a lot of lovers."
"Ha...ha," was the only contribution Aldric could make. The sound came out small and uncertain.
They all looked at him, including Cael, and the bear immediately looked down at his feet.
"Okay, stop talking," Cael said sharply, snapping his fingers to get their attention back. "I didn’t call you here to brag or anything. I also don’t want to hear about your bonding or mate schedules or whatever. Neve’s life could be in danger."
That sentence got their full attention.
The casual energy disappeared immediately. Even Aldric straightened up slightly.
"What’s happening?" Ryker asked. His voice had changed from teasing to completely serious.
"The other tribes wanted Neve to come to their territories," Cael said.
"No way!" Ryker yelled. "That can’t happen!"
"Relax," Cael said, and he smirked slightly. "I already rejected the idea. Neve did too. So instead, they’re sending representatives from all the tribes here. After winter." He paused. "I don’t know what their actual goal is, but they claim the leopard tribe is too small to protect Neve. They say the outcasts will hear about him and come for him."
The murmuring started immediately.
They were all talking over each other now, agreeing with the threat assessment, worried about protection, and concerned about what would happen when outsiders arrived.
"Stop!" Cael snapped his fingers again, loud enough to cut through the noise. "Listen to me."
They looked at him.
"We’re going to take turns protecting Neve," he said. "I’m going to be busy building the tribe’s defences, so I need all of you to help." He looked at each of them in turn. "You’ll rotate watch. Make sure he’s never alone with anyone who could be a threat."
"I’m up for it," Sorin said immediately, lifting his hand.
Cael nodded. "Thank you. You must be Sorin."
Of course, he remembered. Sorin was the one whose scent Neve had picked up this morning. The one from the eagle tribe.
He looked at Ryker. "You?"
"Yes," Ryker said without hesitation.
"Kael?"
"Obviously," Kael said. "I’m going to give my all to defend my love."
Aldric was quiet for a moment, but when Cael looked at him, he nodded quickly. "I’ll help."
Cael did not particularly want to agree to Aldric watching Neve. But he needed the numbers. He needed coverage. He needed to know that Neve would have someone nearby at all times.
He sighed and thanked them all.
"So we’ll start tomorrow," Cael said. "But I need to discuss this with Neve first. I wonder if he’ll agree to having constant protection."
"I agree."
The voice came from behind them.
They all turned.
Neve was standing in the cave entrance, wrapped in one of the animal skin blankets, looking sleepy and warm and completely unconcerned about having just woken up. His hair was slightly messy from sleep. His eyes were still a little unfocused.
He walked toward them.
"You’re awake?" Cael asked.
"I heard everything," Neve said, moving closer. "Thanks for choosing to protect me. That means a lot."
They all flushed.
Even Ryker, who was normally composed, had colour rising in his cheeks.
"We’ll do anything for you, Neve," Kael said, and the others immediately agreed, nodding and making small sounds of assent.
Neve smiled at them.
Then his expression changed slightly, became more serious.
"But who are the outcasts?" he asked.
The silence that fell was immediate and complete.
They all looked at each other like they had been waiting for this question and were uncertain who should answer it.
Finally, they all looked at Cael, waiting for him to answer. Even Neve turned to him.
"Tell me, Cael," Neve said softly.
Cael met his eyes and felt the weight of the question settle on him.
He took a breath.
"The outcasts are," he started carefully, "the ones who were banished by the dragon king. They are his enemies. They were cast out for crimes against him or against the tribes. They wander now, outside of all territories, unwelcome everywhere."
He paused.
"And they hate him with everything they have," Cael continued. "Which means they would want to hurt anything or anyone the dragon king cares about. They would want to hurt you."
The snow fell silently around them.
Neve said nothing for a moment.
Then he nodded slowly, like he had just understood something significant.
"So I need protection," he said.
"Yes," Cael confirmed.
Neve looked at each of them in turn. At Sorin and his forty per cent. At Ryker and his mid-range interest. At Kael with his planning expression. At Aldric and his nervous loyalty.
"Thank you," Neve said with a grin. "All of you. I also can’t wait to bond... with all of you."