The Tiger Within

Raina saw her father and noticed a unusual look in his eyes . There were hints of anger and sadness, tinted with shock . He had finished his business and came to retrieve the Lady and his daughter, not expecting to find her locked in a strange man"s embrace .

Kyera came to her senses and took a step back . Breaking the contact that had everyone enthralled . "Little brother, what brought you here? I missed you . " she spoke loud and animated as if excited to see he had arrived . Those words put most the whispers to bed as Talis looked into Kyera"s eyes . He was forcing back tears, and feeling oddly comforted by his dear friend"s appearance .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"I missed you too, lovely sister . I am so glad to see your alright . " he took her hand and squeezed it, almost unable to believe he actually found her . Kyera smiled at him kindly, she shared his sorrow, and perhaps that was enough for both of them at the moment .

"Teacher, is he your brother?" Raina asked looking up at him skeptically . Her hand gently grasped the edge of Kyera"s dress as if making it clear that this woman was hers . Talis looked down at the child and then back up at Kyera, raising an eyebrow .

"Is she?" He asked letting the question hang in the air Kyera nodded and he just chuckled, kneeling to the girl"s level . "h.e.l.lo Miss, you have been quite a handful since you walked into our Kyera"s life . It"s nice to meet you . " He greeted finding her adorable, even with the less than warm look in her eyes .

"Lady Kyera . " Raina corrected him lightly . He raised an eyebrow and Kyera looked a bit out of her depth .

"Lady Kyera, my apologies . " He replied trying to sooth the child"s ruffled feathers . "Now then, I am Talis . Kyera is more or less my sister…" He trailed off . It was instinctual to say Sister in law… and yet there was no reason for that now . That familiar throb shot through his heart and Kyera looked away, a slight blush on her cheeks . For some reason, admitting she had a lover to her student just felt… strange .

"Oh, I see . Well, My name is Princess Raina of the Dancing Winds . " Raina introduced herself with her full t.i.tle, nodding at him . Talis bowed his head to her and then stood back up . Kyera saw the look in his eyes . They needed to talk .

"Raina, why don"t you go with your father for a moment . Talis and I need to talk a moment . " Kyera told her, noticing Clovis was standing in the door . The Princess was not eager to walk away and leave her teacher with this strange man . He was rugged looking . Most likely he was from the forest Village Kyera missed so much . He wasn"t going to take her away… was he? With a slightly glum expression, the Princess walked over to her father and took his hand walking with him out to the streets . Kyera and Talis followed just far enough back to speak to one another .

"Kyera, she called you teacher . " Talis pointed out . It sounded like a accusation, the hair on the back of Kyera"s neck p.r.i.c.kling in reaction to his words . She nodded as they picked their way outside .

"Yes . I have taken up a position at the palace as a teacher to Princess Raina and a healer to the forest creatures captured in the garden . A silver tiger has also been forced to take up residence there . She has a contract and The Fourth Prince has the rights to it . " Kyera explained trying to make sure he understood her . The last thing she needed was misunderstandings between himself and her .

"Oh, I see . He is your captor then . " Talis spoke a bit coldly . Clovis felt a shiver run down his spine as though a predator had set his eyes on him . It only took a second to brush the thought away, but the sensation lingered .