“They are doing that,” Sin said unhelpfully.
“But they are also listening.”
And having listened long and well,the Tiger King continued,what is your proposal, human?
Sin translated every word.
Ben turned to face Goya fully, stepping up to him.
“May I just say, oh King of Beasts, that I’m a huge fan. You don’t know me now, but I’ve known you since I was about nine years old. I’m from a different time, a different realm, but you are just as badass there as you are here.”
The white tiger narrowed his eyes.
Flattery will get you nowhere. You are avoiding the question.
“Not even trying,” Ben said.
“I don’t even know how to flatter. Just telling it like it is.”
Your point?
“The Goya I know is always just,” Ben said without directly answering the Beast King.
“The most important thing in the world is protecting his loved ones. He trains his enclave to fight for their freedom and to defend. Never to kill for the sake of killing, to murder even his enemies in cold blood.”
The tiger growled.
Do not think to lecture me, boy.
Sin translated quickly and shot Ben a questioning look, as if to say—“tread carefully.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Ben immediately assured.
“I just think there must be an honorable way to resolve this. To the satisfaction of everyone involved. Without one or more of your clan turning into the very monsters they despise.”
“And too,” he added hastily, before the Beast King could shut him down, “I’d like to point out that, ultimately, it was the Blood Moon Queen who commanded the Dark Hunters in the annual hunts. She is the one truly responsible for the heinous crimes. I believe she’s been dead a couple of decades now. A new Dark Queen has the throne. So, it’s too late to punish the original villain in all of this.”
More grumbles and mutterings swept through the audience.
And Ben still wasn’t done.
“By the way, I’ll also point your attention to the tattoo on the left side of the Hunter’s face.”
He gestured toward Zai.
“It’s the mark of a traitor. He rebelled against Gaia before she died. He tried to do the right thing.”
I can attest to that,Sin added, finally speaking despite the thick haze of bloodlust and fury glowing in his intense yellow eyes.
My Hunter tried to stop the violence against my lost mate. He tried to kill the queen and suffered for it.
“Dude,” Ben said beneath his breath to Sin, “you could have spoken up sooner. Leaving me hanging out to dry like that. I was running out of arguments.”
Sin grunted and flicked him a look, but kept his focus on the gathered Beasts and their mighty king.
Goya considered everything that’s been said for some time, paralyzing the human and Sin with his icy blue stare.
They both waited him out, apparently having enough sense to know when to speak and when to keep quiet.