TAWNY
I know I heard him right. My brain just wasn’t processing his words. I scoff, quite loudly.
“Come, sit with me, Tawny. Humor an old man,” King Armand gestures to a bench facing one of the small bridges over a larger pond. He takes a seat sliding over for me to sit next to him. I oblige, leaving a little distance between the two of us, and lock eyes on the bridge. I don’t know where else to look and I’m keeping my mouth shut right now. Doing the whole think before you speak thing.
We sit in silence for a few moments. And I wonder if he is waiting for me to speak, or if he is gauging my reaction. Before I can think of what to say his gravelly voice fills the silence.
“Our laws here, in the Cambiador Kingdom, are different to wolf and bear kingdoms. In many ways. They are outdated and older than me.” He chuckles, “I sent Kolby to MacTire to establish an alliance with Alpha Lamia because I think we could learn a lot from her. Plus, our kingdom has no other alliances.”
“Why Lamia? Why not the wolf kingdom?”
“What your friend has done, building a multi-shifter race kingdom is, what I believe the beginning of a new era for all races.” Armand’s fingers twiddle with the fabric on his slacks as stares out into the garden for a few moments, his yellow eyes glint and the hint of a small smile plays on his lips. “Did you know big cat shifters are seen as the weakest race of were-folk?”
“Did you know when you abandoned your daughter, my mother, she was murdered by werewolves?” The sarcastic words slip out before I can stop them. “Don’t talk to me about being hated because of my race. I was a were-cat in a wolf’s world. I grew up without a mother because you refused to acknowledge her. Refused to accept my father as her true mate.”
“It wasn’t like that.” He sighs.
I raise an eyebrow “Then what was it like? Tell me, grandfather, why did you cast my mother out, strip her of her title? Abandon her, her mate, and me? Why I am here now and why would you ever think I would want to be Queen of a Kingdom that I see as responsible for my mother’s death?” I take a breath, but I’m not done yet. “Do you have any idea what it was like for me growing up in a pack that predominately hated werecats? How my father did everything he could to provide for us and keep us safe. Yet it wasn’t enough. My mother was strung up, stabbed with silver, and left to bleed out in the middle of the street. The death threats my father, and she received on a daily basis. How many packs we lived in just so we didn’t have to live as rogues - before finally… Finally, being accepted into the Moon Kingdom where I was thankfully accepted by the king and Queen. Until then, my father worried about me every day. Until then I was the subject of cruel bullying because of my race. So, you tell me what it was like?”
“I had no choice but to strip your mother of her title and cast her and her mate out of the kingdom. The people of Cambiador would have never excepted him as a King. He’s a wolf for goddess’s sake.” He swipes a hand down his dark and wrinkled skin and draws in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“Tawny,” he looks at me, holding my gaze “A queen cannot rule without a king and your mother was mated to a rankles wolf. Even in this day and age, it would be scandalous. The elders and the people would not accept it. I regret commanding her to leave every day of my life.”
“Then why did you?” I ask. This time with a softer voice, wanting to understand because I could see the regret written all over his face. His eyes are glassy in thought, full of remorse.
“A royal Lyoki, can not marry a commoner. It is a must that they marry within rank. So, when your mother met your father, the elders had a fit. Personally, I didn’t like that she was mated to a werewolf either, but she was my little girl. We argued one night. I told her she had to marry the man that was picked out for her, and she needed to reject James, your father. They had already known each other for a few months. She refused, of course, she told me I could stick the crown up my royal ass.” He gives a halfhearted laugh at the memory. “You remind me so much of her.” He smiles.
“It was that night I told her she needed to pick her family and the kingdom or her mate. Well, she picked her mate. That same night I stripped her of her title and cast her out of the kingdom in anger. A decision I have regretted ever since. It wasn’t until she had left that I found out she was pregnant. Years passed, but it was easier to let her go than try to make amends. I was too prideful, and she was too stubborn. I truly am sorry you had to go through everything you did. And I am truly sorry for what your father went through.”
“Thank you” I whisper. His apology was heartfelt, and it meant a lot to me to hear him say it. “I’ve waited twenty years to hear you apologize,” I tell him honestly.
“I know it’s not enough to undo all the harm I caused you and your family, but I hope in time you will realize I am not the monster, I’m sure your mother and father cursed about.”
“Actually, my father has never spoken a bad word about you. He doesn’t like you, but I didn’t grow up in a home that festered hate. I don’t hate you. I don’t know you.”
“I hope to change that. I also hope you will give me the time to change your mind about becoming the queen of Cambiador. You are my only living relative. It is your birthright.”
“I haven’t met my mate… yet. So, until then maybe we not talk about me becoming Queen? It’s not something I ever envisioned for myself. I am a fighter, a female warrior.”
“Well…” He turns his body, so he is facing me. A complex of emotions mars his face. “If I do not have an heir, I fear the kingdom will fall into disarray. Nobles and Clowders will fight for the right to the crown, turning the Kingdom into a battleground of civil war. A female heir must marry within her status to gain the crown. Hence arranged marriages if there is no mate or the mate is not of ranked or noble blood.”
“That’s a little biased, not to mention a slap in the face to the mates the goddess paired us with,” I state, not liking the way their laws dictate whom you should and shouldn’t marry. “It’s darn right chauvinistic the way women are looked down on in this kingdom, and I have only been here for two days.”
“You are not wrong, granddaughter, not wrong at all. Which is why, Cambiador needs someone like you and Kolby – Youngblood to bring us into the future, to make our kingdom strong again. I am an old man and I have ruled for ninety years. Far too long for a king to sit on the throne.”
He laughs at himself, and I can only focus on the fact that he has been in rule for ninety years. “How old are you?”
“I am one hundred and twenty-three years old.” He announces proudly.
My mouth hangs open at his disclosure, I wouldn’t have guessed him to be older than his late seventies. He still moved like a Lyoki in his mid-fifties. “Wow,” was all I could manage.
“Were-cats live long lives, even longer than some werebears. You don’t know much about werecats?” He frowns with his question, and I shake my head.
“I do but only what I was taught in school. Schools that were in packs… so the curriculum wasn’t really tailored to my kind.” I tell him with a note of sadness in my voice.
“You have much to learn, granddaughter.” He nods as if deciding on something. “So, this Mason is not your mate?”
“No,” I laugh. “Why would it be a problem if he was?”
King Armand scratches his head, tussling his long white hair that is neatly braided down his back, scrunching up his eyes, and wrinkling his nose. The wrinkles on his face deepened. “Probably. Not a problem I would have, but others might.”
“As far as I know, Mason was born to rogue werecats. He’s a good person and one of the top-ranking warriors of Alpha Lamia. He is part of her Elite warriors and a hell of a tracker.” I tell him proudly and defend my new friend at the same time.
“No decision needs to be made today, but I hope you will spend time in the kingdom and get to know your people. I would like you to also, learn from Gillian. She is shy, but she is very knowledgeable about our ways and laws. You could learn much from her. Her family has a very noble standing in the kingdom which is why I chose her to marry Kolby.”
I still had yet to meet Kolby Crimson, my grandfather’s second-in-command. I have heard his name mentioned quite a bit. From what I can gather so far, he is respected and a paramount figure for the kingdom. Currently, he is still in MacTire, negotiating trade deals and alliances with Lamia. I make a mental note, to remind myself to call her ad et some information on the Beta before I meet him.
“What if I hadn’t responded to your letter and didn’t come here?” I ask my grandfather, curious as to what his plans would have been, had I not entertained his request. “What would happen to the kingdom if I denounce my claim?”
“Hmm” He ponders for a moment in thought. “As I said, the kingdom would probably fall into civil war. At first, I had thought about making Kolby, my official heir. I found Kolby when he was a small boy. Lost in the jungle, feral as a wild.” My eyes glance over at the old man, a wistful look in his eyes and a hint of a smile that curves his lips as he recalls the past. “However, Kolby is not one of us.”
I am about to ask him to elaborate when we are interrupted by a warrior. “Your Highness, your attention is needed at the barracks. I’m sorry to disturb you but this can not wait.” I turn to look at the tall werecat standing behind us. His eyes are down but his posture is straight and stiff as he addresses King Armand.
“Very well. No rest for the old.” My grandfather chuckles and stands, “Would you like to accompany me, Tawny?” He asks holding out a hand.
“Your highness, the situation is… not for a lady.”
“You will address my granddaughter as Princess, and you will do well to remember she will be in charge one day.”
I take his outstretched hand and pull myself up, turning to the warrior who still has his eyes cast down to his feet. “What is your name?” I ask him,
“Wyvern, Princess.” He replies,
I smile and step closer to him, letting my hand fall from my grandfather’s. “Wyvern, look at me please,” the warrior lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine. “I may be small and female, but I assure you there is nothing you can show me that I haven’t already seen. I have seen war and I have fought in a battle; I have been trained by the best. The future Queen Lamia and her Beta Hunji, have personally trained me.” I smirk when his eyes go wide, and he struggles to hold my gaze.
“Now, lead the way Wyvern. I have much more to show my granddaughter.”
When we reach the training fields by the barracks, I can see a large crowd of warriors gathered around in a circle. Shouting, hissing, and growling erupts from the crowd. I see Mason standing off to the side with our warriors, each one wearing a scowl. Mason has a beet-red face looking pissed off like he is one step away from murdering someone.
I really wish I could mind-link him to find out what’s going on.
I didn’t have to wait long. As we close in upon the ruckus, the Cambiador warriors’ part. I gasp in shock as I see a child, a woman, and a man strung up. A rope around their necks, hands tied behind their backs - each of them wears bruises and cuts over their bodies.
“They were caught stealing your highness!” One man speaks up from the crowd “They will be punished accordingly and sentenced to death.”
“The death penalty, for stealing?” I ask dumbfounded. I turn to my King Armand, “Who gave them this sentence? And a child? They would sentence a child to death?” I was disgusted and understood why Mason’s face looked the way it did.
“It is against the law to steal in our kingdom and the penalty for theft is death.” My eyes fly wide outlined by my furrowed brows as I look at my grandfather with disbelief.
“This is insane!” I exclaim and take a step closer to the strung-up trio. My gaze lingered on the small malnourished-looking boy.
“They were caught stealing from the dumpster.” Another warrior states as if it still makes this whole scene ok. I look around, finally focusing my attention on my grandfather, waiting for his reply and decision.
By the looks of the two adults and the child, I would hazard a guess that they were hungry and were dumpster diving for their next meal. Maybe to feed the small boy, who couldn’t be any older than six.
King Armand scratches his head, taking in the scene. The lines on his face deepen. I can see he doesn’t agree with this, but I wonder if he will just let them carry on or stop this madness. This is where I find out what type of King he truly is. And I hope to the goddess he doesn’t conform just because of a law.
“You say they were dumpster diving?” He asks, stroking his chin, regarding the accused.
“Yes, your highness.”
“Did you ask them why?” He turns his attention to the warrior who seems to be doing most of the talking. At this point I notice Mason has stepped up beside me, taking on a defensive stance. “Or did you condemn them without knowing the facts first?”
I bite the inside of my lip, containing the smile I want to beam in respect for my grandfather. Satisfied with the way he is handling things so far. It was clear to me that this family was hungry - so hungry they had to resort to picking through the barracks dumpster to find food.
“Well, they were stealing your highness. Caught in the act…”
“Stealing food that had been thrown away!” My grandfather growls at the warriors. staring them down with eyes a dark yellow that holds a promising threat. “Stealing is a punishable crime, yet instead of taking care of your Clowder – you conduct a miscarriage of injustice! Now take these goddess-forsaken ropes off these people!” He shouts, his face burning a bright red in anger.
King Armand goes to turn away, but stops, changing his mind, and faces the group of warriors again, “For your insubordination and lack of judgment, all your pays will be docked for three months. You –“ He points to whom I assume is the head warrior, “Are herby demoted in rank. Damn disgusting that you would treat a member of this kingdom in the manner before me!” Now he turns away and stomps off.
TAWNY I hardly slept at all last night. The thoughts of the family’s situation from yesterday played on my conscious. Wondering what happened to them after they were let go, where did they go? Would they be looking for food again and run into the same circumstances? I hoped not. I wanted to go find them – help them. Provide for them. The little boy’s pale face and malnourished body were a vision I couldn’t shake. It was Mason who held me back, stating that it was not our place to interfere. He didn’t know of my grandfather’s wishes and proposition to make me queen. That was something else that kept me awake in the late and early hours of the night. I didn’t know what to expect when I came here. It certainly wasn’t this. The impression I had of my grandfather before I arrived was slowly changing. At each turn, he kept contradicting what I thought I knew. Surprising me. I was determined to be indifferent to him – to hold him at arm’s length, but in three days I found myself liking hi
TAWNY I spent the next few days with Gillian going over the laws of the Cambiador Kingdom. Getting to know its history and the main players in running this kingdom. To say it was different from how the Moon Kingdom is run - is an understatement. Cambiador is a rich country full of wealth and technology that is supplied around the continent. They even trade with humans in boroughs. In the evenings, after dinner, I meet with Mason and discuss how their warriors are trained. What their army looks like and how it compares to MacTire’s. Honestly, it doesn’t. They may have a plethitude of gold and wealth, yet they lack the skills to defend their kingdom if it was ever necessary. After dinner, I have been sitting with my grandfather in his study, learning, talking, and getting to know each other more. I find the more we are around one another the more I like him. King Armand is nothing like I first assumed he was. Nor is he the man I had painted a picture of in my head. I can honestly sa
TAWNY SIX MONTHS EARLIER I avoided Kolby Crimson for the better part of two weeks. Although I did have to formally be introduced to him. That was awkward as shit. Shaking his hand and feeling the tingles erupt all over my body. Every time I was in close proximity to him my body would start to heat up, a searing flush racing across my skin and sending flutters into chaos in my stomach. I couldn’t be around him for long otherwise I was sure I would disintegrate into a pile of ashes. How could he act so casually around me? Did it not affect him? And every time the heat would give way to a different kind of burning, a wave of anger that stemmed from my frustration and confusion. Was he waiting for me to say something? Because that wouldn’t happen. There was no way I was going to put myself on the spot like that. No way I would show vulnerability to a man who was my supposed mate and appeared as if he could care less. Then there was the odd occasion I would run into him in the palace w
TAWNY I wiped the blood and sweat from my brow in an over-exaggerated movement. I was beaten, tired, overwhelmed, exasperated; as many words, as you can find to explain how broken a will and resolve was - I was it. The sun was peaking over the horizon, the red glow in the sky reflecting the blood that drenched the streets of Cambiador. The aftermath of the carnage I stood amongst, was unimaginable. The streets ran red with blood that was slowly being absorbed by the dry dirt. I looked up to Mason, hoisting yet another body over his shoulder and placing it in the bed of the truck, with the others. We had lost five of Mason’s warriors he brought with him from MacTire. Five too many and countless warriors and civilians of Cambiador. I didn't know these... people. They didn't know me. I grew up an outcast from this kingdom, I grew up with wolves, but it didn't make me sympathize with them any less. I saw the pain in Mason's eyes, and I see it on the faces of warriors, in the civilians
CRIMSON From the moment I laid eyes on the princess I was instantly pulled to her, but I was engaged, and I loved Gillian. Didn’t I? Then why was I so worked up at Tawny’s sassy and bold mouth? Why am I kissing her, my body reacting to hers, coming alive at the feel of her soft tiny body against mine? Mason’s voice had her pulling away from me thankfully. So why did I instantly feel cold and empty once she had moved away from my embrace? “Are you okay Princess?” Mason asked her, his hands on her arms and dark eyes full of worry gliding over her frame. I scrunched my face up, did she call him to come here? Is she afraid of me? She should be. It wasn’t until she accused me of ignoring the mate bond, the serious look on her face - did I realize I was her mate. I thought King Armand would have told her about me, apparently, he didn’t because she looked at me like I was insane when I told her I wasn’t a werecat. She thought I was making it up, but I have no reason to lie. I know the
TAWNY FIVE MONTHS EARLIER “Keep those elbows tucked in!” Mason yelled at the warriors. “You’re leaving yourself open to take a hit to the ribs Wyvern!” “How are they doing?” I ask when Mason spots me and comes to stand by my side as we both observe the warriors in training. During the past month, following the attack, we have implemented new training techniques, harsher courses, and tougher challenges. The warriors were beginning to shape up but were nowhere near ready for battle if the kingdom was to be attacked again. “Not bad. They are making progress, unfortunately, their training is what Alpha Lamia has our young teens doing in MacTire. I fear that they will never be ready.” He sighs and dips his head towards the ground. I clap a hand on his shoulder “Well let’s extend their training hours - split them up according to skill. What if we concentrated on a small group that we could personally train to head up the other groups? “Or… “ I say thinking out loud “What if we took th
CRIMSON I walk out of the room, Gillian in tow and Tawny behind her. Shit I forgot all about Arnold coming to meet with us, the whole reason I needed to speak with Tawny. I have no idea what happened in there. How or why - I did what I did. When tawny told me she felt it every time I made love to Gillian, the guilt inside me filled my head with doubts and my heart ached for her discomfort. Pain that I had caused. The look in her tear-glazed eyes had my resolve breaking and I could think of nothing more than comforting her. Once in my arms, I could think of nothing else but being inside her, claiming her as mine. I wanted her for my own selfish reasons. Was that the bond between us at work? An invisible thread drawing me to her? Whatever happened, whatever it was - it couldn’t and wouldn’t happen again. I open the door to my office, Arnold Maydor, Gillian’s father is standing with his back to me his attention on whatever he sees outside the window that looks over the training gro
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