C. Bryant - Broken

“I understand that, but if you told me you needed some space and what was happening I wouldn’t have cut my foot or disabled Luka. I also wouldn’t have had to listen to you outside Ussay’s cottage growling and snarling half the night. If I would have known what to expect I. . why are you looking at me like that?”

He’d suddenly straightened, his whole body gone ridged. “Kira, I was not in the village last night or the night before, nor do I know where Ussay’s cottage is.”

“But you said my name. I heard you say my name.” A shiver ran through her.

Octavion stood and put his hand to his forehead. The eerie feeling she’d become accustomed to returned right before Luka appeared in the room.

“Luka, have I been in the village at all these past two nights?”

Luka looked at Kira with her tear stained face and then back to his cousin. “You know we did not. I would never allow that to happen. Is there a problem?”

Octavion repeated what Kira told him. “Send a message to all the Royals in our kingdom, see if any were in the village. If we have Royals from another kingdom hunting here, we need to increase our patrols and send a warning to the villagers.”

“But, how did he know my name and where I was staying?”

Octavion took in a deep breath and let it out slow. “It is what worries me the most.”

Luka stepped forward and tried to reassure her. “I am sure it is nothing, Kira. Perhaps it was a jealous commoner trying to frighten you away. After all, you have caught the eye of the second most eligible bachelor in the kingdom.”

Octavion gave a hoot. “You are not even in the running, cousin.”

Luka chuckled, promised to check with the other Royals and alert the guards if they discovered anything serious, then left-through the door.

“So,” Octavion said. “Would you like to go someplace with me? I found something while I hunted I think you will like.” He stood and offered his hand.

“Ugh! More walking.” Kira took his hand and reluctantly stood on her tired and sore feet. “Good thing Mara gave me some shoes.”

“What is wrong with your feet?”

“Well, someone didn’t do a very good job cleaning up the broken mirror and I cut my foot. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I had to cauterize the wound so the Royals in this town wouldn’t eat me and then I got dragged all over town in my bare feet so my scent wouldn’t be in one place. The things I go through for you.” She smiled up at him. “The least you could do is kiss me.”

Octavion flashed his dimples and scooped her off her feet. “Let me show you the advantages of staying in this room.” He walked to the glass doors, swung them open and stepped out onto the balcony. “Besides the beautiful sunrises you’ll take in out here. .” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, she closed her eyes as she felt the floor beneath them begin to shake.

It seemed like an eternity since they’d traveled together, especially while in the middle of a kiss, but nothing could have prepared her for the feelings surging through her body as they left the safety of the castle balcony and sailed through time and space in Octavion’s mind. His cravings weren’t the only thing that was stronger in Xantara. She’d never felt so much pleasure and joy all in the same moment.

When the air around her cooled and he pulled his lips away, she could barely breathe. She tried to take in air, but it caught in her stomach and made her head spin. She looked up to find his dimples deeper than she’d ever seen. But even though he smiled and seemed happy to be with her, what she saw in his eyes told a different story.

Hunger.

“You okay?” Octavion asked, obviously proud of himself.

“I am now.”

“Wait until you see what I have for you.” He helped her to sit on the ground next to a tree. He looked at her curiously. “Can I trust you to stay here? Seems I remember the last time I asked you to stay, you took off at a dead run.”

Kira laughed. “As long as you aren’t too long, I think I can sit still.” She curled her legs up under her dress and straightened the wrinkles in the fabric with a brush of her hand.

“It may take a moment. I have not gained her trust yet and she may be a little shy with you,” he mumbled as he walked through the trees and out of sight.

Kira sat quietly, surrounded by the beautiful sounds and sights of a forest much like the one from her world, except all the colors were much more vibrant. In addition to the lush green grass, completely void of weeds or anything unpleasant to the eye, fragrant flowers bloomed everywhere. Beautiful blossoms clung to vines that wound their way up several trees and a fuzzy rust-colored moss grew on many large rocks.

She heard Octavion’s voice in the distance and wondered what he could possibly be up too. As his voice got closer, she saw movement in the trees. At first she thought her imagination had kicked into overdrive. She had to blink a few times to make sure her eyes were in focus, but when he broke into the small clearing there was no question. She looked to find Octavion’s face lit up like a kid at Christmas. Standing next to him was a white Bengal tiger. The best part trailed close behind her-two clumsy little cubs.

“Be still, she is very protective of her babies.” He came closer and sat beside Kira. “Give her a minute and she might let them come to you.”

“Oh, Octavion, they’re so cute.” She stretched her hand out as if she had something to feed them. “Come here little ones,” she coaxed. The mama tiger inched a little closer, but Kira didn’t feel threatened. Mama slowly made her way over and put her nose down to smell Kira’s hand. Kira reached up to rub behind her ear and the tiger began to purr.

“Unbelievable,” Octavion said. “It took me two days to get her to let me within twenty feet of her.” He reached for the cat, but she pulled away.

Kira snickered. “Guess you’re animal skills are rusty. Do you think she’ll let me pet the cubs?”

“You are the expert. You tell me.” He leaned back, put his hands behind him for support and straightened his legs, crossing his ankles. “Give it a try.”

“Do all animals in your world trust people like this?”

“Only the cats. We do not hunt them, it is against Pantherian law and even though we are not in that kingdom, we do not want to anger them. Plus, I think the cats sense we are kin-that our hearts beat with their blood.”

“That makes sense.” She turned to face him. “Thank you. This does wonders for my mood.”

“I thought it might.”

The mama tiger wandered back to her cubs and proceeded to give them a good cleaning. “How old are they?”

“I would guess no more than five weeks. They are getting big and their teeth are coming in.”

She put her hand back out, this time tapping the ground. Once she had their attention she turned her hand over and wiggled her fingers in the air. The movement caught their eyes and both cubs scurried to chase after their imaginary prey. One of them stumbled, rolled a few times and landed, feet up. Mama quickly came to its rescue, turned it over with a gentle nudge of her nose and then picked the cub up by the scruff with her teeth. She brought it over and sat it in front of Kira, her other cub already tangled in her dress. Kira lifted the fabric enough to make the first cub roll off onto the grass. It jumped up and pounced at the hem as Kira tucked it around her legs.

“Now I have a question-something I’ve been wondering about.” Kira pulled her hand back to avoid being attacked by little teeth and claws.

“I am listening,” Octavion said as he sat up and turned to face her.