The Tiger Within

The night was cool and clear as Clovis sat beneath the tree staring out at the pool just beyond his garden"s edge. Moons tortured eyes filled his mind once again as he watched the rain slowly begin to fall. He couldn"t help but wonder what she was doing, and where she was. There was a certain amount of worry for him.

Rashan had returned to his father"s side a few mere hours after, and he showed no signs of being in a fight. There was no blood but he had a sadness in his eyes as well. There was a certain hushed muted colors in his eyes. It was obvious on Grace as well when she returned. Something was definitely wrong. Clovis had a.s.sumed Kyera would return when she had calmed down and yet there had been no contact since she ran out like that.

"where are you Moon?" He whispered softly, glancing up at her namesake. The moon was a sliver of light in the blackened sky. So much had changed as of late… his mind recounted all the things that had happened. There was so much work left to do.

That party was to happen soon as well. A wife. How was he supposed to choose a wife out of those socialites? Anyone his father suggested would have motives. Those motives could easily harm his little girl. Raina needed a mother, not a woman intending to toss her aside as so many Stepmothers seek to.

"I think she has bedded down by the Phoenix Falls again. She likes it there." A voice called from the floor. Clovis looked down at the woman at the base of the tree. She smiled up at him and waved. Her warm eyes winced at the motion. He leaped off the branch he was perched on, landing beside her.

"Mally love, I was worried after the injury that you sustained." Clovis smiled at her. He straightened and dusted his clothing off. SHe nodded.

"It was hard to slip out of the house after the others returned to the tree." Mally replied sitting down in the chair before his desk. Clovis nodded walking and sitting down across from her. His eyes apriased her, seeming pleased that she looked so well.

"Will she return soon?" Clovis asked a bit curiously, trying to seem nonchalant. Mally frowned.

"No, I think she will need some time. You know how much a bleeding heart can hurt. " Mally added with a sigh. She tensed slightly, realizing she had let that slip. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"That Wolf, he"s one of you isn"t he? A shifter?" Clovis asked and Mally hesitated. However her unwillingness to answer was answer enough. He had known for a while that Mally was both human and leopardess.

It had been a cool winter night when he had found her, caught between form of human and leopard. Drenched in alcohol and blood. She had tried to take her life after his brother"s actions. The blade in her hand used to try and carve away the mark of the harem from her chest. His eyes flicked to the scar he knew was hidden beneath that smooth, brown dress. Mally didn"t look up at him as his eyes moved over her. She was such a pretty flower, he wished she hadn"t been picked so brutally from her freedom"s vine.

They had agreed he would tell no one what she was, and she would keep tabs on things within the woodlands and see to it no uprising could reach his home. Little bits of information she would pa.s.s without a fuss, but she would not tell him who else in the palace were like her. He knew there were many of them working, but he didn"t ask. There was a certain respect he held for her, because of the laws she held so dear.

"I see. What did he come to say? What sent My Moon into such a disarray?" Clovis asked quietly. Mally looked away, seeming ashamed but in truth it was to hide the reddening of her eyes. She couldn"t bring herself to speak for several moments and he waited quietly. She had not refused to answer, and he had time to wait.

"Her mate was murdered in the forest. Along with his master, a young man I knew well as a child. It was… Rough to find out. He was… dear to me." Mally replied, honestly settling for the smallest lie she could. Then she looked at him, "i"m so sorry my prince, but I can"t betray my sister"s heart." she thought quitely, begging for his forgiveness with her eyes. Fortunately she seemed to be thinking of something else as well.

"What Of Kyera? Was he a friend of hers as well?" He asked curiously. Mally"s breathing stopped for a long moment. Why was he suddenly asking about her? Inside, she laughed at herself "yep it was her destined lover from birth" seemed to be a bit harsh to think more or less speak aloud.