The gothic style suit did wonders for Zinjo’s appearance. Mr. Silke clapped his hands as the young werelion emerged from his cocoon, a stunning butterfly. “A finishing touch,” he placed a pair of glasses with red lenses on his face.
Zinjo didn’t care what the human tailor had to say in the least. He responded with, “Hmmm.” He faced Aurelia in his finery, “Does this please you?” he asked. Aurelia swore she heard a hint of worry in his voice.
Words could not describe how Aurelia felt at that particular moment. In her mind, she had already torn the suit from his body and took what was rightfully hers. A second thought reminded her, they still had dinner with Sophie. An overprotective queen for a mother complicated matters a bit. Aurelia found her voice, “You are easily the most handsome man I have ever seen,” she giggled girlishly and fanned herself.
“You smell nervous and,” Zinjo sniffed the air around her, “excited.”
“I am nervous. My mother is not going to take it easy on you,” She straightened his collar and took a step back, “I want her to like you. She must.”
Zinjo pressed her against his body with sinewy arms. “If the queen does not like me, will you change your mind about me?” the all-consuming gaze held her in thrall.
Would she let him go if her mother did not accept the Leonid man? Aurelia indulged herself a long look at her potential husband, “I don’t think I could give you up,” She leaned into him, “I’d forgotten what it’s like to have a friend. I haven’t had many in the last couple of years.”
“I have not made many either. Given what I am, it is understandable. Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course,”
Zinjo smiled and whispered, “You were worth the journey.”
His hot breath on her ear caused her body to erupt in goosebumps, “Th-that’s good to know. We should go,” She turned and crashed into a mirror and fell backward. She winced in anticipation of pain. Pain eluded her on this day. One minute she fell, the next cradled in Zinjo’s arms.
“My hero, thank you..” The Princesses feet found the floor. “Shall we go?”
*****
At the palace, Aurelia felt exposed and shamed. The guards gave Zinjo dirty looks, as did the servants. Zinjo didn’t appear bothered by the grumpy denizens. In an instant, his head snapped around, and his head scanned the wall. He narrowed his eyes and went, “Hmmm.”
“Something wrong?” Aurelia linked her arm to his. Two butlers paused and scowled.
“Your kingdom is loud. It will take time to adjust,” Zinjo studied the suits of armor, “It protects the body. I find the design practical but less pleasing to the eye."
“What kind of armor do your people make?” Aurelia imagined fierce battles of tooth and claw.
“War is rare where in Kianzangi. If words cannot solve the problem, the disagreeing parties fight, and all outcomes are final by the ancient laws,” Zinjo held the door to the dining room open for Aurelia, who straightened up her posture and walked with her head held high.
The table displayed the puffed-up popinjay of the aristocracy, men dressed in their best and brightest shirts. A few wore monocles. Another sported a silver-tipped cane. The women wore outrageous hairstyles and tried to convince each other of their superiority.
The queen endeavored to dress in elegance and locked herself in poise. She gestured to the young couple. “I present to you the next ruler of Shadowfen, Aurelia Dusk, and the man called Zinjo,” She almost choked on her drink when she saw Zinjo.
The women locked their eyes on the werelion and played with their hair. Forced smiles appeared on their faces. Some did not bother to hide their displeasure and whispered. The insult bothered Aurelia to no end. She waited for the ambient whispers and conversation to end. The assembled group of snobs continued to talk as if she and Zinjo did not Exist.
“Hmmm," Zinjo grunted.
The behavior of the council and her mother burrowed into the deep well of anger. Aurelia turned to Zinjo, “Could you get their attention. I have a lot to say and…”
“Do you want the cat?” He asked as he caressed her face.
She touched his gentle hand and nodded, “Is it too much to ask?”
“No, these people have wronged you. They act like cubs stepping on each of their sibling's tails,” Zinjo said. The snapping of bones and soft growls as Zinjo became his powerful alter ego. The guests all went white as Zinjo roared loud enough to rattle the crystal glasses. “Your future queen wishes to address you.”
Aurelia put her hands on her hips. “For the last two years, I've endured your derogatory comments and rumors. All of you acted like the spell failed because of something I did. I will not put up with your harsh words and disrespect any longer. Zinjo has already proven his loyalty and desire to be a part of this kingdom. Can you say the same?"
Everyone at the table looked at their shoes sheepishly, and the queen struck the table with her fists and rattled the silverware, “Aurelia…”
Zinjo roared again, “I believe the dark princess has more to say.”
A dead silence came from Queen Sophie's mouth, and she relented. Aurelia rounded on the group, “Yes, Zinjo is a werelion. Until today, the werelion was unknown to me. In the space of a few hours, Zinjo has shown more loyalty and respect than you all combined. Come on Zinjo, Let's find someplace private to eat.”
The lion-man refused to go with her and walked toward the table as he returned to his form, “Your problems will not go away if you hide like prey,” He pulled out a chair for her, “Try to find peace, and if they do not want it, I will challenge them,” The pair talked as if no one else was in the room.
Aurelia regally walked to the table, her mother beamed with pride when the other occupants of the table looked away. “We need to talk about some other things later on,”
“Such as?” Zinjo asked, his all-consuming gaze brought Aurelia a little closer to heaven.
“The topics are not a suitable conversation for the dinner table.”
Zinjo put his hand on hers and said, “Hmmm.”
Aurelia smiled at Zinjo and raised her head to the assembled gets, “Shall we eat?”
Aurelia laughed at the way people hurriedly ate in the presence of Zinjo. Everyone left and Zinjo, The Queen, and Aurelia remained. The werelion was dangerously close to stealing her heart. Since they’d met, Zinjo had done nothing but lift her and made her feel like a person again. It bothered her that people hoped to see her miserable. It bothered her that everyone waited to laugh at her next mistake. The queen kept watching her with a strange look on her face. “Something wrong mother?” Aurelia asked. Zinjo sniffed the air and kept the raptor yellow eyes on the wall, “Hmmm.” his ears twitched. “No,” she put her hands down and folded her hands on the table. “Tonight was not what I expected...is he okay?” Sophie pointed to Zinjo who now walked along the wall, his nose in t
The queen urged Zinjo to bathe before they spoke again. Aurelia led her future husband to the tub area where a fresh bath awaited him. He began to strip in front of Aurelia who closed her eyes tight and put up her hand. "Zinjo, you could've waited for me to leave." She fumbled around and almost fell in the tub. Zinjos' strong hands guided her to the chair in the corner, "You smell embarrassed," He commented as he sat her down. "I'm not embarrassed, I've never seen a man naked before," Aurelia stroked the muscular chest and felt dizzy with excitement. Apart of her wanted to join him in the tub. A part of her said to savor the first steps i
Aurelia found it odd to have any man sleep in her room. Even if that same man was technically her future husband. Zinjo did not try to force his way into her bed, even though a part of Aurelia desperately wanted him to. To fill the long awkward silences she asked the gorgeous man about his life. “Why do you think the Hyena man attacked my mother?” she asked. Aurelia spent much of her time trying to divine their purpose but lack of information saw her come up empty. Zinjo laid out a bedroll for himself next to the fire, “It will depend greatly on how many more remain. If this is indeed an isolated incident, we can close the book on it.” “And if not?” “The hyenas are like the lions, if it serves the whole tribe, then it is an action worth taking.” “You think there is more?” “I smelled many different hyenas on t
Before they left the market in search of the Hyena's origin, Zinjo armed himself. The polished bone and Ivory shoulder guards highlighted the silk tan face and hair. Interlocking plates made up the chest guard and shin protectors. Zinjo turned to Aurelia who was dressed in her usual black and red silk gown, and hair in a tight elegant bun. “How do I look?” he asked while he gingerly cradled a rolled-up blanket. Aurelia's whole body reacted to the werelion's appearance. Her hands shook with excitement, and then a thought crossed her mind: What if she removed the armor and they stayed in versus going to the market. “I am more than proud to walk beside you,” She gripped his hair and pulled him down for a kiss, the image of the last one was fresh in her mind, and her loins begged her to take another. “What's in the blanke
Down in the sewers, Aurelia and Zinjo stalked their prey. Well, Zinjo stalked, Aurelia clung to his back like a tree trunk as he waded through the murky smelly water. Despite the low light, Zinjo negotiated the stone maze with ease. He stops and sniff the air and would adjust his course according to what his nose told me. Aurelia couldn't help but question how he could smell anything over the stench of human feces and excrement, “How do you know which way he went?” Zinjo gave a throaty chuckled, “The thief does not smell as bad as this tunnel,” He turned down a much larger tunnel and growled, “There are many bad men down here, I can smell them. Do you know how to fight?” “No, I was raised in statecraft.” “Foolishness, every leader should know how to protect themselves. Guards can be bought, best friends can become enemies in the blink of an eye, enemies can
It took several baths to get the stink of the sewer off of Aurelia. Zinjo waited patiently in the next room for her to finish. Despite being immersed in the putrid liquid the lion man didn't smell at all. Her lady in waiting, Madeen scrubbed her hair, “How are things with the beast?” Aurelia took offense to the term, “Zinjo is a man, a good man, his kind are nothing like werewolves at all. Not to mention he is our only link to the Hyenas. He thinks that Mshindi is not alone. I'm inclined to agree.” “You intend to get involved in the affair?” Maddens hands were like magic to the scalp and Aurelia felt the tension in her body release. “Yes. It's about time I stopped moping aro
The afternoon sun warmed the streets of Shadowfen. The people's attitudes toward Zinjo remained petty and suspicious despite the fact a goddess had chosen him for Aurelia. It bothered Aurelia at first until Zinjo shook his head. “I thought you didn't care what they thought?” Zinjo gestured to a bench and leaned his partisan against the stained wood. His massive calloused hands cradled Aurelia's with a gentleness that belied his size. “I try not to, but it seems like I can't please them at all,” Aurelia spoke in a glum tone. “You are the best thing to happen to me, and nobody wants to be happy, not even my mother. You saved her life, shed blood for this kingdom and its future, you deserve better.” &
A cloud of smoke and boisterous conversation hit Aurelia's ears the moment she entered the Seaside tavern aptly named, the Cracked Oyster. Men with pipes smoked by the fire and swapped tall tales, while the younger and more virile arm-wrestled on patchwork tables. Unlike the local populace, the sailors didn't bat an eyelash at Zinjo or Aurelia. “Stay close,” Zinjo said quietly. One last look around the leathery faces and missing teeth made Aurelia nervous enough to cling to Zinjo's arm. “I didn't plan on leaving your side,” She lifted a drink to her nose, it smells like sour lemons and whiskey, “Eww what is that?” “The sailors called it Grog,” Z