RETH
She was still frowning at him, waiting for an answer. But, instead he took her hand, kissed her knuckles, and said, "You may be different than our kind, Elia, but you are one of us. I watched the wolf in you make a plan and stick to it. I watched the steed in you push forward even when you were exhausted. And I watched the Lion in you roar. Ignore the taunts and questions of my people. They just haven't looked closely enough, yet, to see what I see. You will find your place here. You will be an excellent Queen."
"But… why me?"
