The first thing I do when a young girl shows up and leads me to a tent is dive into the bathtub they dragged inside for me. The water is cold and the soap is thin, but I don't care. I'm filthy and itchy, and the reminders of Dramon still cling to my body. All of it needed to go.

The water quickly turns murky in color, but I feel much better.

I change into the grey leather dress that's folded on my bed and make a makeshift pad.

"Queen?" the girl calls from outside. "Is everything alright?"

She's probably concerned about the sound of ripping cloth.

"Yes." I don't bother to tell her that I gave up that title in all of its senses. The less the Clan knows about me leading trouble their way, the better. I know that I'll make this worth their while. I'll work day and night to pay Rexon for welcoming me to his Clan.

Besides, there's no need for alarm. I doubt that Dramon will seek war for me. I didn't mean much to him while I was in his bedroll, and I nothing should change now.

"Your beast..." the girl calls from outside.

I rip the flap of the tent aside. "What? What's happening to Treysa?" I'm ready to cane anyone that's hurting her.

"No... she um... she is mating with another beast."

I groan and grumble, "Treysa, you whore."

Ironically, I'm the one who is still legally married and meeting another male in his home.

"Shall I stop her?"

I sigh. "No. Let her have her fun. Where is your King's tent?"

Her eyes widen, as if she's thinking that I'm about to get some fun, too. I wish it were that simple. I wish I wasn't haunted by Dramon, insecure about my body, or have so much history. Maybe that way, I would have easily slipped into Rexon's furs.

"Rexon and I have unfinished business," I clarify to the wide-eyed girl. That doesn't seem to help my case, though.

She numbly leads me down a path of the camp. People are preparing for dinner. This Clan is similar to mine and Dramon's, but different at the same time. The people here are more tattooed, more bare-chested and chatty. I notice they have nearly no children or women— even less than other Clans.

Their beasts are similar to Treysa's breed, but not the same. They're smaller and have arrow-shaped heads and long legs. Treysa is built for handling blows. These seem to be built for speed.

"It is up there," she points to the tent on the hill. Another thing I notice about Rexon's people is that they use actual hide to make their tents, unlike Dramon who uses plants that drape down.

Stop comparing them.

I thank the girl and try to hide my struggle up the hill.

"Rexon," I call out as I approach.

He appears, and I look behind him to observe the horizon.

"Why is your tent so far away from camp?"

He nods to the left. "It gives me a good view of what's coming my way. Like husbands atop of birds that are determined to get their wives back."

"You don't have to worry about Dramon. I'll deal with him if he brings trouble."

"I am unworthy of this Clan if I can't handle a single male," he counters.

I purse my lips. There's no way he's getting knocked off his high horse.

His tent is open, but I can't see much from here.

"You asked me to come."

"I did."

I look at the tent again. "Why? To..."

"I will not ask you to go inside, Venus. I would not tarnish your reputation."

I appreciate that. Even if we went inside to talk, the Clan would think otherwise. The last thing I need is to be known as the Rider Queen who lost her Clan and became a bed-warmer of every powerful man she crossed.

I don't need men to fuck power into me. I have it within me, fighting with my insecurity.

Rexon extends his arm, and it's then that I notice the elaborate cane he holds. It's a beautiful sandy color and is carved with swirl designs.

"Here."

He called me here to give me a gift?

"Where did you get this?"

"It belonged to my grandfather."

I shake my head. "I can't accept that."

"We are not in The Capital's council room, Venus. You do not have to fight me on everything I say."

I frown. "I didn't only disagree with you in the council room."

He smirked. "I know. You gave every Rider King a headache. Sadly, none were painful enough to blow Zoro's head off his shoulders."

I giggle and immediately slap a hand over my mouth. When was the last time I laughed?

Rexon's eyes lock on my hand. "Put some medicine on that injury." He thrust the cane into my free hand, and then he disappears into his tent.

—

The next day, I walk up to the blacksmith and offer to help. He's a strong, mean-looking old man, but I've stared down death. He doesn't intimidate me.

He's grumpy, but doesn't dismiss me. He assigns me a hammer, and I spend that morning swinging away. This is a great way upper workout. The fever burned out a lot of my strength, so I need to get back in shape.

The Clan is starting to warm up to me. The men sometimes nod in my direction as a sign of respect whenever we cross. They don't approach me, and I'm not sure why. I'm always the one that has to strike conversation. By day three, I'm mentoring a few of them by giving them tips.

Every morning, I secretly watch their training sessions. I miss leading my Clan through a sweaty work-out.

I've polished dozens of weapons, scolded Treysa for spending the day fucking her newfound boyfriend, and am on my way to making friends. This is... refreshing. I'm almost ready to forget about Dramon, but not yet. Throughout the days, I glance at the horizon in search of him. A part of me apprehensively waits for him to fly in any minute.

Instead of seeing him, I see Rexon. He stays away, but it's impossible for him to hide with that size.

"Human," Tej— the blacksmith master, calls out to me. He doesn't seem to care about my previous titles. I like his bluntness. It's different.

"Yes?"

"You are about to ruin that dagger. Stop striking it."

He's right. I got so lost in my thoughts that I over-did the hammering.

"Thanks Tej."

"Focus on swords, not on King Rexon."

"Hey— I was not— I..."

He takes the hammer from my hand. "Go daydream elsewhere before you hammer your hand off."

I laugh at him. This grumpy old man, who hasn't led a Clan or bled in battle as much as I have, treats me like an airhead of a granddaughter.

"Careful, Tej. I'm starting to think that you care about me."

Now he's the one who is sputtering.

"Venus," one of the men calls for me. "Your beast is mating again."

I groan. Why won't Treysa stop sleeping around? "Who is this animal she keeps going at it with?"

"It is King Rexon's beast."

Winds, Earth, Fires, and Waters. Please tell me I heard that wrong. Treysa is fucking Rexon's beast?

I squeal my horror.