As Pru turned, the cranky-faced doctor strode into the plaza. “How long are you planning to keep up this racket? I have patients who haven’t slept all night. And has anyone seen Prince Alastor? I need to—”
The bouquet smacked her square in the face, and she caught it with the excellent reflexes that marked her as one of Ash Valley’s finest. Other singles groaned in disappointment as the Golgoth prince rose, slightly unsteady on his feet. “You have need of me?”
Sighing, Sheyla dropped the floral projectile like it might explode. “Come on. If you have the time to drink, you’re free for an examination.”
After a brief pause, the prince sighed and followed her when she stalked off.
“Not much for weddings, huh?” Joss said.
Surprisingly, the great bear, Callum, quietly requested another song. In a flash, Joss agreed, smoothing over the potential for awkwardness. Dom didn’t want to let go of Pru, so he danced with her instead, and others coupled up around them, despite the faint chill. The sun would be up soon, burning off the mist and revealing the extent of the casualties on the field.
He didn’t want to contemplate any of that.
Eventually, full daylight broke, and the musicians put away their instruments. Nobody seemed to know how an occasion like this should end, so Pru nudged him. “You should say something. Let them know they’re dismissed.”
Nodding, he vaulted onto a bench. Once, this sort of thing had been second nature to him, but that was before he was broken and spent years in silence. Now he scratched deep for the words like they were fruit he had grown specially for this purpose, and speaking them left empty furrows in his mind.
“I don’t know what the future holds. If you have nowhere else to go, our walls will shelter you. We stand on the cusp of a great war, and while we’ve won a crucial victory, the battle isn’t over. It won’t be until peace is restored, until we’ve avenged those we lost and brought everyone home, either in our arms or their ashes returned to our earth. I will fight beside all of you, until that day dawns.”
Unsurprisingly, Pru was the first to clap, but her enthusiasm drove approval from others, until his ears rang with it. With everything so fucking uncertain, he wished he could say more, make specific guarantees, but that would be irresponsible. Part of him felt guilty that he could be this happy with the hold still so disordered, but if he’d learned anything from Pru, it was the importance of moving forward. Respecting the past mattered, but he couldn’t let it shackle him, and failure didn’t have to be a cycle.
As the gathering dispersed, Callum strode up to him with his customary brusqueness. “We’re marching north. I have matters to tend at Burnt Amber and a defense to mount. I suspect our departure will help you, as Tycho will find his concentration of high-value targets reduced.”
“You don’t call him ‘king’,” Dom noted with wry amusement.
The war priest curled his lip, barely perceptible amid the beard. “He’s a self-styled lord, ruler of nothing but my foot up his ass.”
“Colorful.” Pru’s dimpled, adorable smile actually made the great bear take a second look at her, and Dom checked the urge to set her behind him.
Need to get used to that. Somehow. But the feeling came without an edge since she’d angrily admitted to loving him; the mere thought put a grin on his face.
Likely made skittish from the long silence, Callum took a step back. “Excuse me, then.”
“Safe journey,” Pru called after him.
Dom swore the man’s shoulders actually hunched, and he dodged away from Joss, who was trying to say good-bye. Somehow the pretty cousins had the leader of the Order of Saint Casimir in full retreat. Amused, he turned to greet Raff, whose bloodshot eyes spoke of an incredibly long night, not confined to a single rise and set of the sun, either.
“How long since you slept?” he asked the wolf lord.
“This is where you expect me to say some rubbish, like I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
“Basically.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Just FYI, these were the bloodiest peace talks I’ve ever been a part of. Pax Protocols, my ass.”
“Thank you for staying,” Pru said softly.
Raff gave her a long look, then he bent over her hand, kissing it with enough enthusiasm that Dom ground his teeth. Fucking wolf. “Despite everything, I don’t regret it, little matron.”
“I gather you’re leaving as well?” If Callum was right, splitting up might confound Tycho enough to make it worth the risk.
“It’s past time. Pine Ridge has its own problems.”
Unexpectedly, the security chief came up behind Raff, close enough that Dom half-expected her to lock him down in a chokehold. But she lingered there, waiting. He made eye contact and cocked his head.
“What’s up?”
“I’m heading to Pine Ridge with the wolves. Last night, I… well, I’d rather not speculate until I know more. But I promise this mission is vital to the pride… and it’s about Slay.” By her somber expression, Dom understood that Mags wasn’t making this request lightly.
“Understood. Stay in contact.”
“Try not to wreck up the place while I’m gone. I’ll update you as soon as I know more.” With an elegant bow, she spun on her heel and followed the wolf lord.
When Dom glanced at Pru, she seemed too stunned to speak. Finally, she got out, “Everything is changing.”
“And it’s too fast,” he finished.
She nodded, shivering in her absurdly thin dress. I have to take better care of her. Belatedly he shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped her in it. Just like I did on the mountain. One day soon, we’ll plant a tree together, and I’ll never forget how fucking lucky I am.
That she loves me. That she chose me. Aloud, he added, “Guess what will never change.”
“What?”
“You and me.”
The sun rose higher, yellow ripening to orange. Whatever happened next, they’d face it together. With Pru at his side, he might as well be bulletproof. When she snuggled deeper into his arms, Dom touched the ring she’d fixed on his finger and knew one true thing—she was his whole world—and always would be.
Author’s Note
I’m so thrilled that you read The Leopard King and hope you’re eager for more in the Ars Numina world. The Leopard King is the first book in a projected six book series, as follows:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight
In this first book, you’ve met all six heroes and many of the heroines. Would you like to know when the next book will be available and/or keep up with exciting news? Visit my website at www.annaguirre.com/contact and sign up for my newsletter. If you’re interested, follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/msannaguirre, or “like” my Facebook fan page at facebook.com/ann.aguirre for excerpts, contests, and fun swag.
Reviews are essential for indie writers and they help other readers, so please consider writing one. Your love for my work can move mountains, and I so appreciate your effort.
Finally, as ever, thanks for your time and your support.
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