TAWNY 4 MONTHS EARLIER For weeks we trained the Cambiador warriors. Taking a page out of MacTire’s book and splitting the warriors into five groups. Alpha, Beta, and Delta platoons. The other two platoons were named Gamma divisions. They were the warriors that would stay behind and protect the Kingdom’s capital. Then there were the new recruits, the younger werecats - the Zeta team. It was their job to act as enforcers in emergencies until they came of age or moved up to the gamma divisions. Crimson, Mason, and I had done a fine job of training up our army and getting them fighting-ready and confident to face Orion Artos and his army of crawlers and rogues. I stood next to Mason’s side as we watched our fighters, men and women training. Unfortunately, there were only a handful of women who joined the Cambiador army. But it was a start in the right direction. I personally had started their training, until they were strong enough and skilled enough to join a higher ranking. Even Gil

CRIMSON STILL 3 1/2 MONTHS EARLIER Tomorrow, we leave for Riocht and as I look around at our warriors packing up trucks with weapons and other equipment, a forlorn feeling creeps in knowing that not every soldier will come back with us. Gillian and a few other mates and wives are handing out special uniforms that Alpha Lamia had commissioned. We were sent four hundred of the metallic materialled outfits. They were lightweight and the fabric acted as a shield for our bodies, and they stretched and rolled when we shifted. Tawny and Mason had given us a demonstration of their uses. And although they couldn’t prevent a sword or arrow from piercing us, they did deflect teeth and claws from sinking into skin. The most useful thing about the uniforms was their ability to allow us shifters to keep clothes on us and shred them. Then when we shifted back to feet, we had clothes to cover us. Besides looking like a real army, for the first time since I can remember - the uniforms were all bla

TAWNY PRESENT DAY For the past few months, Crimson and I have been able to, for the most part, avoid each other. We were getting really good at it by now. Both of us spent more time outside the palace when the other is there. Mason and I had been traveling back and forth, visiting Clowders and small Prides outside the kingdom as we searched for the missing King of the werewolf kingdom. Kellen Moon had been abducted and shipped to the second continent and we had spent several months searching the werecat kingdom in case he had been brought here. Eventually, and thankfully, he was discovered to be in a faraway kingdom of Bhakhil and they managed to get him out of there. With his newfound mate, who I couldn’t wait to meet. Hopefully soon. I was due to visit up north. That, and Lamia gave birth to triplets. I missed not being there for their birth because of my commitment to help search for Kellen, then life happens, and we had things that needed to be dealt with here. I was thankfu

TAWNY Tapping my pen on the paper rapidly, I scrub my face for the thousandth time and blow huff out a deep breath, also for the thousandth time. I drop my pen onto the pile of paperwork I was working through, unable to concentrate. My thoughts flit back to yesterday. More specifically last night when Crimson showed up at my room looking forlorn and regretful. He was trying to tell me something. But whatever it was he wanted to say – he didn’t. Now it was bugging me. What was it he couldn’t say? I had the sickening feeling he was going to reject me. Why that thought made my stomach churn with tension, I have no idea. Isn’t that what I would want, wouldn’t that break the bond completely? I hadn’t even thought that he would need to reject me to sever the bond. It sure does explain a lot though. Why I didn’t feel the pain of a broken bond like so many have told me exists. Why my feline was content and seemingly not bothered that I had rejected her mate. However, that doesn’t explai

TAWNY “…And I missed this?” I stand, crossing the room knowing that the presence of shock on my face is still fully on display, and hug Tristan. “I’m happy for you, truly, but…” “I understand your hesitation, princess. I’m sure you are wondering what this means for you and Sir Crimson,” Tristan says while returning my hug. I let go of him and take a step back, my hands wiping down my pants. I shake my head, “No,” I say slowly “actually, I was wondering what this meant for you.” I sit back down on the couch in the parlor room where I met up with Tristan who had just confessed that Gillian was his mate. His second chance mate. He had already told me how he lost his wife and children many moons ago to a boating accident. My heart had bled for him and now my heart leaped for him. He was a kind man, in so many ways he reminded me of Hunji, smart, patient, and wise. What was really plaguing my mind was the contract between Gillian and Crimson. I didn’t want Tristan to miss his chance at