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was beautiful and exotic and everyone wanted her. I think my father was more interested
in possessing her to prove that he could, over any real feelings. My mother was young,
powerful, naïve, and on her own for the first and only time in her life. She was easy prey
for them.
He paused and I didn t interrupt. I could imagine what it was like not only for him,
but for his mother, all those years ago. Watching him, I learned several important things
because he was too lost in thoughts and memories to remember to control his body
language. He felt things deeply, but more than that, he could see beyond the personal to
the objective.
I was born ten months into her year here. She took me with her when she returned
to Spain, but her parents were furious. To them, I was an obstacle to a beneficial
marriage. When I was four, my mother did marry. After she bore my brother
Enrique& things were hard for her. Her family refused to accept me and her husband s
tolerance was limited to how I directly affected his heir. When I was seven, my mother
sent me to boarding school in Switzerland. I attended Oxford after that, but then found
myself with no here to call home. If I d been lower on the power scale, I could have
petitioned for bachelor status somewhere, but no one would believe I didn t have
aspirations to be a king. So, I called my father. I suppose, truth be told, it could have been
worse. If my father hadn t acknowledged me when I was born, then my grandparents
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Kaye Chambers
would have been within their rights to slaughter me in the cradle. If he hadn t sponsored
me here, I would have been living rogue, going from territory to territory living until I
was run off. Thomas, to answer your question, likes being the golden boy and my coming
threatened that because I m stronger than he is. His mother indulged him and made him
weak. He s powerful enough, magically, but not a true alpha, and his core is weak
because he doesn t understand that everything isn t supposed to come easily to you.
For the first time, he lifted his eyes and we looked at one another. That was a lesson
we both knew all too well.
Do you have aspirations to be a king, Cole?
A ghost of a smile colored his face. If I said I hadn t thought about it before I met
you tonight, it would be a lie. You don t strike me as the type to forgive lies easily, so I ll
admit it. Now that I ve felt you, no, I don t have any desire to take your throne. I think
you re much better suited for it.
I returned his smile and felt the car slowing. A glance out the window told me I was
home. Henry pulled the car into the long circular drive designed to accommodate
carriages instead of cars. I faltered in my good-bye, suddenly feeling awkward.
Well&
I ll be in touch tomorrow, princess. We ve put together some files for you to help
you become more aware of the precariousness of our situation.
Thank you, Cole.
You re very welcome, princess.
Henry reached in to help me out of the car and gave me a low bow. Standing on the
porch, I watched them drive back down the driveway.
Cole had been right about one thing, though. I needed a run. Undressing in my
bedroom, I slipped on my favorite robe to walk out onto the back porch. It seemed crazy
to dress just to walk outside and drop the robe, but I was being particularly self-
conscious, all of a sudden.
Dropping the robe on the shadows of my porch, I let the magic take me. The rush of
freedom was intoxicating. Staring down at my gold paws, I stretched like the cat I was.
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Tiger by the Tail
Gathering myself, I leaped from the porch and the race was on. Some nights, I stalked
and hunted for the sport of it. Tonight, I ran. I ran for the joy of it.
Running through the trees, I ignored all caution. By the time it dawned on me that I
wasn t alone, I was deep in the forest. I repressed a moment of panic and realized I had
home field advantage. Angling to a clearing on the edge of my property, I scented the
breeze as I led them into my trap. Unfortunately, just the tickling of power at my back
told me they were there. Whirling on my heels, I stopped in a crouch, my tail whipping
behind me. The two tigers came into the clearing and I don t think I was really surprised
to see Cole drop onto his belly in the moonlight. The massive orange tiger beside him had
to be Henry. He settled into the grass, watching and waiting.
Growling, I warned them off. This was my land and my refuge. I didn t want
company. Not tonight, anyway. Cole rose and strolled toward me, all grace and beauty.
Stopping just before me, he purred at me before taking that final step to rub his cheek
against mine.
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