Shades of Gray by Lisanne Norman Page A

this day is for you,” it said, its voice gradually losing the softness and becoming deeper. “I have prepared some wine and a light meal for you.”
    She glanced at it, marveling anew as she watched the soft, feminine features of her favorite dzinae gradually lose their curves and become harder as the masculine planes developed. It grew slightly taller, as if straightening up, but she knew that was only an illusion. When it topped her by half a head, it was fully male, but none of its beauty of face and form had been lost.
    “Stay with me, Gihaf,” she said as he opened the door into her suite. “I could do with some honest company. Rojae is trying too hard to seduce me out of my mood, and Nefae is being overly subservient, as usual.”
    “Of a certainty, Lady,” he smiled, deep blue eyes lighting with genuine humor. “Did I not just change for your benefit alone?”
    “You did,” she acknowledged, letting him lead her to the table set with several interestingly scented dishes. “When we’ve eaten, weave pleasant, restful dreams for me, my Dzinae,” she said, reaching up to touch the soft gray pelt of his face. “I want to forget Vartra tonight.”
    “As you wish it, Lady,” he said, catching her hand and, eyes never leaving her face, licking it languorously before releasing it. “What would you like to talk about as we eat?”
    “Anything but the weather,” she said with a touch of her previous acerbity as he pulled out a chair and held it for her.

Ghyakulla’s Realm
    Lazily, feeling refreshed and almost reborn, Ghyakulla sat up and stretched from her toes to the tip of her tail. Trying not to wake the male deeply asleep at her side, she began to slide out of her bed. Now that the Spring Rites had been accomplished, she had matters to see to that couldn’t wait. As she rose, Vartra stirred, murmuring nothings as he turned his back to her before settling once more.
    Her bower was an open trellis of living trees that formed a roof over the bed below. Sweet-smelling Spring blossoms of several kinds mingled with the omnipresent nung flowers of which she was so fond.
    Picking up her discarded tunic, she reached forward to let her hand trail gently down Vartra’s spine. She enjoyed his company and was glad she’d had the excuse of Spring to call him to her Realm for the next few months.
    Sighing, she turned away, and as she donned the short tunic, she sketched her hand in the air and stepped through the resultant shimmering portal into L’Shoh’s Realm.
    As usual, he was sitting on his ebon black throne, elbow on the armrest and chin perched on his hand. He looked up at her as she stepped onto the dais beside him.
    “Cousin, it’s good to see you,” he said, getting up to greet her.
    Ghyakulla looked down into the Judgment Hall, taking in the somber crimson-edged, black-draped columns surrounding the restless gathering of souls. Her eye ridges creased in concern as she caught sight of his two dzinaes and turned back to look at him.
    “I know you find my work distressing,” he said, his pleasant voice so low only she could hear him. “But the worthy must be rewarded and the unworthy judged. Let’s go somewhere more relaxing. Tallis, you and Vakaad continue without me.”
    “Yes, Lord,” they said, bowing low in respect as L’Shoh held his hand out to Ghyakulla.
    When she took it, he drew her behind the throne and into the corridor leading to his private rooms. He ushered her into his own study, a room as different as was possible from the hall they’d left. A warm fire crackled in the grate, and gentle lighting cast a glow on the comfortable furniture and thick carpets. Outside, she could hear the winds that perpetually howled around his castle.
    Indicating a chair, he went to get drinks from the sideboard for them.
    “This isn’t called Winter’s Hellmouth for nothing, Cousin,” he said wryly, catching her thoughts as he poured them both some mulled wine. “Kuushoi hasn’t been near me