being she became, I would sacrifice almost everything to do just that. And I know Karn would do the same. Darronn is angrier, but no less loyal to Mikaela. Jarronn, though…I don’t know if Jarronn has it in him to forgive our sister’s many wrongs.
Ty paused when he reached the training yard to watch his captain sword-fighting one of the newer recruits. The clang of metal upon metal rang through the air along with the curses and taunting of the captain as he jabbed at the trainee. The young man met each of the captain’s blows with the skill of long practice and Ty smiled.
His thoughts turned back to Mikaela. If she had died, why then was the curse not broken? His brothers’ mates had all borne children, but no other women in the four Kingdoms had. Was it possible the mindspells had permanently damaged the minds of all of Tarok’s women, keeping them from conceiving?
Can Mikaela still be alive, after all?
After speaking with his captain at length, and ensuring the Kingdom would be well guarded, Ty sent messengers to his brothers with the sorceress’s news. He did not, however, share his suspicions about Mikaela. It was better that each brother formed his own thoughts, for together, they would likely cover all possibilities.
When he was finished, he went in search of Awai. He shifted into a tiger and bounded toward the palace. He paused at the doors and scented the air. Yes, his mate had returned from outside.
With his magic he shoved the doors open and loped through, and then they slammed shut behind him. His paws made no sound upon the marble tiles while he followed the scent of his woman’s musk to his private refuge, a hidden room he had never taken her to.
He eased into the room, his muscles rippling beneath his black and white striped coat, his eyes focused on the beautiful woman before him. The chamber was filled with family treasures, personal belongings, many of which he had had since he was a cub.
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains highlighting Awai’s dark hair. She had her hand at her throat as she studied the oil paintings of his family that his mother painted before she passed away. He caught the scent of fresh air and Awai’s sweet perfume.
She reached out and touched the nameplate at the bottom of his sister’s portrait. “Mikaela,” she whispered.
Ty gave a low rumble and Awai startled.
“Don’t scare me like that.” She moved her hand to her chest, her heart pounding like mad. It was still unnerving to suddenly see a tiger beside her. “Please, Majesty,” she added, not wanting to add to her list of punishments.
It was such an amazing sight to see him shift from tiger to man. Before her eyes he transformed, rising up on his hind legs as fur turned into skin and leather clothing, fierce tiger features giving way to a masculine face and long white-blond hair. In just moments he was the powerful man who had brought her into this world.
“I see you have found my sanctuary,” he said his expression impassive, not giving her any indication of how he felt about her stumbling upon this private room.
“Majesty, may I ask questions of you?” Awai asked. “May we drop formalities for now?”
He gave a slow nod. “Yes, my tigress.”
Awai gestured toward the portrait labeled Mikaela. “I read a little bit about your sister in your history books. Why did she turn on you all?”
Ty’s jaw tightened. “She was the youngest and for some reason our parents did not give her a portion of the greater Kingdom of Tarok. She resented that, and her resentment grew into a bleak mood that never departed. According to the sorceress’s magical cards, Mikaela mind-seduced Balin, the King of Malachad, and became his Queen. To seek vengeance on our parents, mostly. And us, for holding a place in our parents’ esteem that she evidently did not.”
Awai turned to Ty. “The last book I found ended shortly after it was discovered she was behind the mindspells. What’s happened
Ty paused when he reached the training yard to watch his captain sword-fighting one of the newer recruits. The clang of metal upon metal rang through the air along with the curses and taunting of the captain as he jabbed at the trainee. The young man met each of the captain’s blows with the skill of long practice and Ty smiled.
His thoughts turned back to Mikaela. If she had died, why then was the curse not broken? His brothers’ mates had all borne children, but no other women in the four Kingdoms had. Was it possible the mindspells had permanently damaged the minds of all of Tarok’s women, keeping them from conceiving?
Can Mikaela still be alive, after all?
After speaking with his captain at length, and ensuring the Kingdom would be well guarded, Ty sent messengers to his brothers with the sorceress’s news. He did not, however, share his suspicions about Mikaela. It was better that each brother formed his own thoughts, for together, they would likely cover all possibilities.
When he was finished, he went in search of Awai. He shifted into a tiger and bounded toward the palace. He paused at the doors and scented the air. Yes, his mate had returned from outside.
With his magic he shoved the doors open and loped through, and then they slammed shut behind him. His paws made no sound upon the marble tiles while he followed the scent of his woman’s musk to his private refuge, a hidden room he had never taken her to.
He eased into the room, his muscles rippling beneath his black and white striped coat, his eyes focused on the beautiful woman before him. The chamber was filled with family treasures, personal belongings, many of which he had had since he was a cub.
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains highlighting Awai’s dark hair. She had her hand at her throat as she studied the oil paintings of his family that his mother painted before she passed away. He caught the scent of fresh air and Awai’s sweet perfume.
She reached out and touched the nameplate at the bottom of his sister’s portrait. “Mikaela,” she whispered.
Ty gave a low rumble and Awai startled.
“Don’t scare me like that.” She moved her hand to her chest, her heart pounding like mad. It was still unnerving to suddenly see a tiger beside her. “Please, Majesty,” she added, not wanting to add to her list of punishments.
It was such an amazing sight to see him shift from tiger to man. Before her eyes he transformed, rising up on his hind legs as fur turned into skin and leather clothing, fierce tiger features giving way to a masculine face and long white-blond hair. In just moments he was the powerful man who had brought her into this world.
“I see you have found my sanctuary,” he said his expression impassive, not giving her any indication of how he felt about her stumbling upon this private room.
“Majesty, may I ask questions of you?” Awai asked. “May we drop formalities for now?”
He gave a slow nod. “Yes, my tigress.”
Awai gestured toward the portrait labeled Mikaela. “I read a little bit about your sister in your history books. Why did she turn on you all?”
Ty’s jaw tightened. “She was the youngest and for some reason our parents did not give her a portion of the greater Kingdom of Tarok. She resented that, and her resentment grew into a bleak mood that never departed. According to the sorceress’s magical cards, Mikaela mind-seduced Balin, the King of Malachad, and became his Queen. To seek vengeance on our parents, mostly. And us, for holding a place in our parents’ esteem that she evidently did not.”
Awai turned to Ty. “The last book I found ended shortly after it was discovered she was behind the mindspells. What’s happened
Similar Books
