Valinteena

In a world left with scars from a great war, the humans rejoice in their victory, but also weep at the cost. Unaware of the blind hatred that led to the slaughter, an entire race was nearly erased from the face of their lands. They believed they had wiped the shifters from the face of the planet, little did they know very few lived on in the very forests they visited, and in the villages they traded with. Forced into hiding, the shifters built a new clan, and lived by the old rules, hiding from humanity. 

Kyera Shade of the Moon is a Shapeshifter who takes the form of a White tigress with silver stripes. Alone in the world, and carrying the weight of her clan on her shoulders, she attempts to uphold the law she was born to, and protect the remaining of her kind. Her heart decimated by the deaths of her brothers and the absence of her mother, she finds herself caught in a net and unable to break free. In her moment of desperation, a hand reaches out and catches her. A man who threatens to steal her heart away, but can she learn to forgive herself? Can she find love and salvation in another's arms after the betrayals of so many? 

Clovis of the Dancing Rain is the fourth Prince of the Forest Kingdom. He is a clever man, but had no wish to be king. Perfectly happy to raise is Daughter in peace now that his young wife had passed. There was darkness and secrets in his past, but there was no place for revenge in his future. Not until they took it too far. Pushing his bottom line a need to take the crown lit in his heart. However, he needed one thing more than anything else... the right woman by his side. As if the answer to a prayer, a woman appeared. Beautiful and trustworthy who loved his daughter as much as he did, if not more. Yet her heart was broken, her world surrounded by secrets and shadows, perhaps she was best left alone. However, would he be able to live without her?

The Tiger Within

Raina saw her father and noticed a unusual look in his eyes. There were hints of anger and sadness, tinted with shock. He had finished his business and came to retrieve the Lady and his daughter, not expecting to find her locked in a strange man's embrace. 


Kyera came to her senses and took a step back. Breaking the contact that had everyone enthralled. "Little brother, what brought you here? I missed you." she spoke loud and animated as if excited to see he had arrived. Those words put most the whispers to bed as Talis looked into Kyera's eyes. He was forcing back tears, and feeling oddly comforted by his dear friend's appearance. 


"I missed you too, lovely sister. I am so glad to see your alright." he took her hand and squeezed it, almost unable to believe he actually found her. Kyera smiled at him kindly, she shared his sorrow, and perhaps that was enough for both of them at the moment. 


"Teacher, is he your brother?" Raina asked looking up at him skeptically. Her hand gently grasped the edge of Kyera's dress as if making it clear that this woman was hers. Talis looked down at the child and then back up at Kyera, raising an eyebrow. 


"Is she?" He asked letting the question hang in the air Kyera nodded and he just chuckled, kneeling to the girl's level. "Hello Miss, you have been quite a handful since you walked into our Kyera's life. It's nice to meet you." He greeted finding her adorable, even with the less than warm look in her eyes. 


"Lady Kyera." Raina corrected him lightly. He raised an eyebrow and Kyera looked a bit out of her depth. 


"Lady Kyera, my apologies." He replied trying to sooth the child's ruffled feathers. "Now then, I am Talis. Kyera is more or less my sister…" He trailed off. It was instinctual to say Sister in law… and yet there was no reason for that now. That familiar throb shot through his heart and Kyera looked away, a slight blush on her cheeks. For some reason, admitting she had a lover to her student just felt… strange. 


"Oh, I see. Well, My name is Princess Raina of the Dancing Winds." Raina introduced herself with her full title, nodding at him. Talis bowed his head to her and then stood back up. Kyera saw the look in his eyes. They needed to talk. 


"Raina, why don't you go with your father for a moment. Talis and I need to talk a moment." Kyera told her, noticing Clovis was standing in the door. The Princess was not eager to walk away and leave her teacher with this strange man. He was rugged looking. Most likely he was from the forest Village Kyera missed so much. He wasn't going to take her away… was he? With a slightly glum expression, the Princess walked over to her father and took his hand walking with him out to the streets. Kyera and Talis followed just far enough back to speak to one another. 


"Kyera, she called you teacher." Talis pointed out. It sounded like a accusation, the hair on the back of Kyera's neck prickling in reaction to his words. She nodded as they picked their way outside. 


"Yes. I have taken up a position at the palace as a teacher to Princess Raina and a healer to the forest creatures captured in the garden. A silver tiger has also been forced to take up residence there. She has a contract and The Fourth Prince has the rights to it." Kyera explained trying to make sure he understood her. The last thing she needed was misunderstandings between himself and her. 


"Oh, I see. He is your captor then." Talis spoke a bit coldly. Clovis felt a shiver run down his spine as though a predator had set his eyes on him. It only took a second to brush the thought away, but the sensation lingered.


Rabbits and Rouge Part 3