Лорел Гамильтон - Dead Ice

So, we still have no tiger for the commitment ceremony, though I’ve accepted that Cynric, Sin, is part of our domestic arrangement. Jean-Claude sees him more as a beloved nephew so he doesn’t want to “marry” him in a group, which is fair, so unless Dev works out we are back to not knowing who to choose. I think we’re all still hoping that Fortune may help in that area, but Jade stands in the way of that happy experiment. I’m about ready to throw both Domino and Jade off my dating list, because honestly they’re both too high maintenance for too little return for me. I’d pretty much broken up with Domino as anything but food anyway. Jade may not even be food for the ardeur if she keeps hitting all the wrong relationship buttons with me. Hell, if she could only see that I hit the wrong buttons for her, too. Whatever love means to both of us, it’s not the same thing, and I don’t think that’s fixable. I think it just is.

Narcissus is back with his hyenas for now, but he’s screwed the pooch with most of them, and there is talk of a palace coup. Jean-Claude has let it be known that we won’t interfere in the power shakeup, if it goes that way. Narcissus is trying to win back his people’s loyalty, because he finally understands that a king without followers is not a king.

Dev is still able to transform into a lion and his golden tiger. Micah is still black tiger and leopard. I know now that Micah needs that extra power display to help him avoid the worst of the out-of-town battles. I worry about him more now. He seems able to call flesh and heal tigers, as well as leopards, now. It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of tiger it is, so we’re all wondering if more new tiger forms will come. Since clan tiger is a “born” type of lycanthrope and not a contagious form, it’s raised a lot of metaphysical questions. So far we have more questions than answers, but the weretigers are researching that prophecy of theirs for clues.

Dev has joined Nicky with the werelions and he’s formed a very friendly coalition with him and Travis. Dev is perfectly willing for Travis to continue to be the emotionally intelligent one of the three of them; as he said, “If I was brilliant with interpersonal stuff I wouldn’t have loved Asher.” He might have a point.

We’re still working on the wedding band designs for Jean-Claude and me, but we’ve moved on to wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses, and tuxes for the men. How many people are standing up with us? Asher was going to be Jean-Claude’s best man, but now he’s got to earn that privilege back. Jean-Claude wants a spectacular designer wedding dress for me. I just want one I can actually dance in at the reception without being a hazard to the other dancers. I am not doing a hoop skirt.

The designs for the crowns are actually coming along faster than the rings. I tried to protest them again, but Jean-Claude said, “You are queen to my king.”

“I thought I was your general.”

“That, too, and if you wish I can have a uniform tailored for you and you can play general to my oh-so-grateful nobleman.”

I told him I didn’t need a uniform, but thanks.

“I’ve never had a woman in uniform before,” he said, and I watched the thought fill his eyes. Why do I think that when I get measurements for the wedding gown, there’ll be plans for some uniforms, too? I don’t really mind; after all, he dresses up for me.