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weird rolling gait loosened up her lower back, but her splayed thighs started to ache in a matter of minutes. She had no idea how long this ride was going to take, but she knew it would be longer than would be comfortable.
    The mystery behind why they needed the beasts was revealed when the path moved steeply upward. Amylia dug her fingers into the fur and held on, her belly flat against the beast beneath her. It went straight up the side of the hill at a nearly ninety-degree angle.
    She glanced up, and Artruo was holding on, protecting Kreatha as they climbed up several hundred feet of steep cliff.
    Amylia held on for dear life, keeping her legs tight to the beast beneath her so she wasn’t giving a show to the men beneath her. The Rohul clothing didn’t come with underwear. If she didn’t have her period, she was feeling the breezes.
    When her beast flattened out and regained the horizontal, she breathed deeply and sat up quickly, fluffing out the fabric to disguise the sweat on her skin. Holding on had taken most of her energy.
    The keep loomed ahead of them, and the beasts took them straight in.
    Cheers were called out as Kreatha waved at her people. A second party of men on beasts approached them, and as Amylia tried to head into the keep, Kreatha turned her beast and smiled. “There is your escort. I will speak with you in a week.”
    The dismissal was obvious; she sat back on her tailbone, and her beast came to a stop as the men from the ship surrounded her and passed her by.
    She waited, and the group of men approaching turned toward her. Apparently, it was time to meet her consort.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Facing down a strange security force was not something that she had considered likely, but here she was, sitting with her thighs and groin screaming at her while she waited to meet her soon-to-be consort.
    The only man riding single dismounted and came toward her. He was dressed comfortably in a soft black sleeveless shirt and matching trousers. Why men thought that dark colours were attractive was something she often thought about, but she guessed it didn’t show stains.
    She sat on the back of her beast and watched him grow larger with every step. He was taller than Artruo by half a head.
    When he got within fifteen feet of her, she called out, “Gyrion, I presume?”
    He paused and bowed low. “Lady Amylia, it is my honour to escort you to your new home.”
    She nodded and turned her beast toward him. “Lead the way.”
    He paused, his gold-green eyes surprised. “It is traditional for a queen to ride in with her consort.”
    “I am not a queen, and you are not yet my consort.” She crossed her arms and leaned forward, kicking her feet slowly.
    Gyrion continued his approach, and his head was even with her ribcage. He was a very tall man.
    He stroked her beast. “He is tired from the climb and you would stress him even more?”
    “What about yours? It has walked from wherever your home is.”
    He chuckled. “It is just over that ridge. This is the eastern edge of Kreatha’s domain and the western edge of yours.”
    She shrugged and flipped her leg over the back of the beast and slid to the ground, staring up at Gyrion. “Fine. We will do things your way.”
    He extended his hand, and she slipped her fingers along his. She took in callouses, the warmth of his hand and the smooth, hard texture of his skin. He closed his fingers around her with complete awareness of his own strength, and she found it reassuring that he knew how far to go.
    “You are safe with me, Lady Amylia.” He smiled, and his slit-pupiled eyes took in her slight form. “Are you an adult by your species standards?”
    She laughed. “I am, and I am nearly the same height as Kreatha, so there is no reason for you to look at me that way.”
    He chuckled and started to lead her to his riding beast. The pace he set was a little too quick for her, and she stumbled. He paused and slowed his pace. “Apologies.”
    “It’s fine. I