The Tiger Within

Sansor frowned, but quickly brightened it to a smile . He approached and offered a hand to Clovis to shake . Thankfully he and Kyera had covered this custom and Clovis shook his hand . What he hadn"t expected was the crushing strength behind the other man"s grip . Clovis remained pleasant and firm though the other man was grinding his bones . "It is a honor, Verone . Kyera told me much of you on her visits . I am glad to see her perfect match is now her mate . " the silence that followed his words was stifling .

Clovis felt as though he should be seeking a medic to remove the knife thrust between his ribs . He had no idea what to say and then tension in the air was thick . Thankfully, Kyera was there at his side to rescue him .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Sansor, Verone betrayed us in the end . He is among the dark ones now . " Kyera offered the information quietly, the words never feeling right on her lips or in her heart . If she knew Clovis would be humiliated, she would have sent word ahead of Verone"s deeds . Sansor pulled his hand back and looked at her in disbelief .

"There is no way . . are you serious?" Sansor asked honestly shocked . He heard so much of Verone as her right hand and all the things he had done for the tribe .

"It is true . He attacked me . " Kyera added her voice was as monotone and emotionless as it could be . There was nothing but a confused mess of emotions in her heart . No one outweighed the others so she controlled them all . Sansor looked at her with pity in his eyes .

"I am so sorry, Tiggy . I never dreamed… I apologize, Prince . Please introduce yourself . " he turned back to Clovis realizing there was nothing he could say now to heal the wound he ripped open trying to throw her mate off balance .

"Fourth Prince Clovis of the Dancing Winds . " Clovis introduced himself and offered a subtle bow . Shock and then disbelief flashed across Sansor"s face .

"You married the enemy?" Sansor demanded harshly . His tone now judging and crude . Kyera seemed to have expected this and offered a soft smile . "Have you forgotten what he did to our people?" he demanded and Kyera raised a brow .

"Ten generations ago his family refused you aid . Two generations ago his family slaughtered my people down so much that only a third of our species remain and some only have two families to carry their  bloodline from extinction . It was the sin of the father, not the son, or have you forgotten the code . The sins of the father shall not be born by the son . " Kyera reminded him rather fiercely . She was so tired of the past trying to rule the future .

"If you look only forward you are doomed to repeat the past . " He growled in response . "His own father took part in the hunts and if he had been a little older so would he have . " Clovis felt a slap of cold realization across his face . His father had been part of the battles . He had always known that, but now he realized they didn"t ride against warriors but people…innocents .

"And those who only look to the past have no chance of a future . Your crest looks over its shoulder to remind you to watch your back, to remember those who wronged you, but you forget the meaning of the tree that flower from your crest means . New beginnings . That flower represents the new generations, the future . It lays at the Leopards feet so she may turn back to pick it up and carry on . " Kyera countered, silencing Sansor and Crystalsis watched in shock .

"What do you know of our crest, of our culture? It is because of your mother the Grandest Aunt will die . Our kingdom will lead warriors to defeat the betrayers and take what we need to survive and that bloodshed will be on your head . " he accused growling angrily now . There was pure hate in his eyes, though not for her . Yet, he could not get to the one he wished to because Kyera stood firmly in the way .