Chapter 2

The predator yellow eyes of the man she saw on the way to the altar watched Aurelia with hunger. She didn't mind and allowed her face to redden under its intensity. Who was he, and where did he come from? He didn't look like a native to Shadowfen. He towered above all the other men by at least six inches.

Unfortunately for Aurelia, she wouldn't escape embarrassment on this day either. The priestess tapped her on the shoulder, "Forgive me, your majesty, but you've been staring out into the crowd for the last ten minutes. Perhaps you would like to cast the spell?"

A wicked smirk appeared on the yellow eyes' face, and Aurelia felt her face grow hotter, "Could I get a cold glass of water please, it's really hot in here," she whispered while she waved a silver fan she carried with her at all times.

The priestess nodded and returned with a crystal class. Ice clinked against the side of the cup. The liquid vanished down Aurelia's throat in the most unladylike fashion possible. She even belched a little at the end. Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed loud enough to garner odd looks from the crowd.

"Don't worry he isn't going anywhere, your majesty," the priestess pointed to the scroll, "Just read the spell and let the dice fall where they may."

Aurelia practiced the spell so often she could recite it by heart. The scroll had religious sentiment attached to it and she opened it with a flourish of her hands and dropped it under the gaze of yellow eyes. She picked it up and pretended nothing occurred. She cleared her throat and began to recite the verse.

"We are not born complete. Each one of us waits for love's power to make us whole again.

My heart cries out for the other half to crush me with their affection

My mind speaks directly to the goddess of love America

Through her wisdom will the suffering of a thousand lonely nights end.

Through her benevolence will my soul find rest in the one meant for me and me alone

I ask for Amouria to reveal the one etched on my soul from birth into eternity

Complete me."

When the last words left her crimson lips a glow emanated from her chest. The glow increased in size and length. A second later, long silver bands erupted from her chest and wrapped themselves around every eligible bachelor's wrist. With each negative match, the bands turned black and vanished and those men were quickly escorted out.

Bit by bit the uninteresting men thinned and only the unique remained. Warriors, traders, lords, and officers stood with rigid discipline as they waited for the spell to confirm or deny them. Yellow eyes kept his eyes fixed on her as if he waited for something to happen.

The unique men began to file out as each silver band faded to black and then into oblivion. The wildman watched the silver band with cat-like curiosity. With each faded band, her longing for the man with yellow eyes grew stronger.

The final three men remained. A portly fellow with a chest-length beard looked at the wild one, and then to the refined knight in polished armor, shook his head, and walked out, "Like I ever stood a chance." It didn't matter his band was halfway to black anyway.

Aurelia clasped her hands in front of her and hoped the spell worked this time. Not because she feared loneliness, but because she feared the embarrassment that would follow if the damn spell failed again. Then it would be on to arranged marriages, and the pickings were slim on that front.

"Please Amouria, I have done everything you ask, haven't I suffered enough? Don't I deserve a little ray of sunshine to get me out of bed in the morning? I will make a great queen, choose the man who will help me find the greatness hidden within," Desperation had brought Aurelia to prayer.

The knight's band vanished, and he gave the wildman a nod of respect. He sauntered out the door with his head held high and didn't seem disappointed at all. He didn't matter anyway, the real prize was the wild man with yellow eyes. Thirty seconds, Aurelia had to wait thirty agonizing seconds. Thirty seconds determined her fate for the next year, would she walk out of the temple with pride, or would she suffer the slings and arrows of defeat.

The spell ended and the silver band on the wildman's wrist turned to gold as did the band on Aurelia's arm. Her brown eyes softened at the sight of him. Strong, silent, confident in who he was.

The priestess clapped her hands, "Well it looks like you got what you wanted out of the deal. Let me have a word with him first, and I'll announce the good news while you get acquainted."

The berobed woman glided up to yellow eyes, "Well I bet you have a lot of questions."

Yellow eyes shook his head, "No."

"Oh," The priestess said, taken aback by a single word, "Do you have a name?"

"Zinjo," Yellow eyes said in a gentle tone.

"Just to be clear, you understand what happened?"

"Yes."

"Okay," The priestess seemed reluctant to leave the two of them alone, "I'll be back in a few minutes. Just talk among yourselves and leave your clothes on. I will not have a repeat of your mother's ritual day."

Zinjo looked at the priestess with shrewdness and then shot Aurelia a quizzical look.

"I'll tell the story another time, Zinjo," Aurelia slowly stepped toward him.

A pained expression rocked Zinjo's face for all it was worth and he gripped the pew in front of him and bared his teeth. His bones snapped and contorted. Long tan fur covered his body and his body grew another six inches. His face became more feline and sleek. Muscles and tendons became more defined, while hands became massive paws with sharpened claws.

Aurelia looked up at the lion man and wasn't sure if it was the sexiest thing she'd ever seen or the scariest. None of it mattered as he approached her. She tried to move, but her feet remained nailed to the floor. The massive paws lifted her off the ground with no effort. There was a softness in the yellow eyes that belied his fierce animal state.

He moved his head toward hers and Aurelia tried to scream but nothing came out. Soft silky fur touched her forehead, and he took her small hand in his, "It has been decided," his voice growled a little,

Aurelia gulped and hoped the people found him favorable in their eyes.