Tag: Pietas

In this scene from Forbid My Heart, Izzorah has just had a "discussion" with Luc about a horse named Purkinje. That led to Luc promising to take him back to his homeworld for a visit. But Izzorah is dead set against going. As a reminder, Izzorah is a Kin, a feline humanoid with catlike ears and eyes, fangs, and claws beneath human nails. The ability to interpret changing emotions by their scent is literally his superpower.

Thank you

Izzorah sat opposite Luc, hand on Luc's heart, and breathed in the varying scents of his lover. Luc's will stood between them like a living creature, solid as the walls around them. He might mean every word he said. He might be able to kill the Falehla tzesar. But keeping them safe on Felidae?

How could anyone do that?

Izzorah remained silent. He would not dishonor his lover by arguing the point. He hadn't won agreement about not going home, but he could deal with that later. He would have to approach the subject from a different angle.

He lowered his ears and set them outward, showing submission instead of willfulness.

Luc smiled, and his scent showed he thought he'd won.

Springing forward, Izzorah grabbed him and then flattened Luc against the bed. He clamped his fangs on the tip of his lover's chin.

A tart spark of unease scented the air. "Um...Rah?"

Purring in response, Izzorah kept his teeth against Luc's skin.

"This is a good bite?" Luc's mixed scent revealed curiosity.

Izzorah released him and sat astride Luc's hips. "Ehh nim shree."

"Ah. A love bite." Luc reached up and brushed back a lock of Izzorah's hair. "You were being playful."

Holding Luc's gaze, Izzorah bent forward and lightly nipped Luc's lower lip, nibbled the upper one, and then scraped his fangs across the tip of Luc's nose. He kissed it, then moved back to hover above his mouth, their gazes still linked. "I was bite-thanking you."

"You're welcome." Luc rubbed one of Izzorah's ears between fingers and thumb, and Izzorah leaned into the touch. "What did I do to deserve that kind of thanking? Because I definitely want to do it again."

"You listened to me. I was missing Purkinje, and you helped me feel better."

"I'll always listen. I'm sorry about your horse, love. Buying you another horse might not help, because it wouldn't be Purkinje, but maybe we..." Luc's voice trailed off as Izzorah slid claws through Luc's curls. Luc sighed in pleasure, and sank against the bed as if melting into it. "Mmm. I like it when you use your claws like that."

"Good. I like touching you." Izzorah took a small lick across Luc's lower lip, gave another gentle nip, and then licked him again. "I think you need to be thanked some more so you know how much I appreciate you. Maybe I should tongue-thank you too." The delicious scent of warm brown sugar and melting butter revealed Luc's rising desire. "You taste of salt, sex, and male." He purred, placing his mouth close to Luc's ear. "I'm going to bite-thank and tongue-thank you all over."

Forbid My Heart is free, and what happens in the story is the catalyst for Ring of the Dragon. No signup required. Just click and read. Forbid My Heart

In this scene from Forever Love, Izzorah and Luc meet an unexpected enemy. Or is this an ally?

Unmasking Secrets

Luc looked from the female to the king. "Who is this?"

"She's a Ceeow, t'hahr." Izzorah inclined his head toward her, ears forward, not down. "She's an outcast among the Kin, but allied to Pietas. She's never been on Tarth before. They've been working together. She knows who you are." He paused, ears flicking to catch minor sounds. "And who I am. She didn't have a reason to like you, but"-- He took another sniff --"she wasn't sure she wouldn't. Or me. Well, until now. She sort of likes us. A little."

Amusement and pride swelled from Luc.

From the female, surprise but also a warning. Subtle. Like the "behave yourself" he often got from his mother when he'd overstepped a boundary.

It dawned on him that Luc had not been asking the question of him, but of Pietas. Rather than apologize, he lowered his ears. To a Kin, it meant submission.

Luc nudged him with his shoulder, and Izzorah tilted back his head to find Luc smiling at him. "Anything else, kosset?"

Not that he'd care to say where the others could hear. Holding the piercing gaze of the female, he swallowed. "That's all I know."

She made a single ear-flick of respect.

"This," Pietas said, "is Teyhahss Ceeow, our newest Changeling. Born the same time as Izzorah."

He'd gauged it properly. A Ceeow who'd allied with Pietas.

Luc nudged his chin her way. "What's she doing here?"

"She's going to be tested at the same time as your new spouse."

Even stronger pride from the female, but without the usual arrogance that Izzorah had come to expect from females. More like... amusement.

Luc squeezed his hand. "But why is she here now?"

"Because, knowing you as I do, my valiant Fire Eyes, I can't believe you haven't told Izzorah the truth. When has General Cyken, the one man to whom I'd entrusted my armies and trusted to guard my back ever avoided preparing for battle? When I met Teyhahss I knew she could help me discover the truth."

"What's he mean, t'hahr?" Izzorah knew exactly what Pietas meant, but Luc had coached Izzorah in what to say. "What truth is he talking about? Who's Cyken?"

"You'll see." Pietas beckoned to her. "Teyhahss, this is Izzorah, whom Cyken has just married."

"Congratulations," Teyhahss gave a small bow. Sincere.

Odd from a Kin female. On Felidae, warriors killed males who liked other males. But then, she wasn't a warrior was she? Teyhahss was an outcast.

Pietas turned toward her. "Has Cyken told Izzorah what he is? Use kahlah and whatever other abilities you might have to tell me the truth."

A chill that went through Izzorah that had nothing to do with the cold. No one could lie to a Kin who got close enough. Not even him, and he was good at hiding.

The only thing to do was remember what his father had always taught Izzorah about hiding his blindness. In a world where any flaw could get him killed, that advice had kept him alive and gotten him out of situations worse than this.

What you fear controls you. Believe in your own truth. When you won't back down, most enemies will. Be the truth you want others to see.

The female looked over at Pietas. "You want me to finn them?"

Finn them? Read their scent specifically looking for lies? Izzorah tightened his hold on Luc's arm.

"Yes. I want to know what lies they've dared to tell their king."

Izzorah stood stiff, frozen in position while Teyhahss walked around them.

Luc's scent gave away nothing. If Izzorah couldn't sense anything, no way she could. But himself? He was a ball of fear. How could he believe in his own truth when he didn't even know what that was anymore? He would never pass any test by a Kin.

He and Luc had practiced, but not for this. Luc had never said anything about there being a Kin to contend with.

Didn't matter, did it? All he had to do was be his own truth. As much as he could, anyway.

When Teyhahss came back to the front and stood toe to toe with him, Izzorah met her gaze without seeking permission. Males were to lower their heads in submission to females. He did not. He stared back at her as if they were equals, even though his stomach did every kind of flip-flop and his brain cried out what are you doing, you idiot?

He needed to make this female understand how much Luc needed his freedom. Izzorah needed to show her what he, himself was willing to sacrifice in order to grant that freedom.

Her scent revealed no change. She glanced at Luc, then returned to Pietas.

"Well?"

"This one"-- She indicated Luc --"No lies. But... with this Kin?" The tiniest ear flick and change in expression told Izzorah her intentions. "You owe me." Teyhahss looked over at Pietas, and shrugged.

Pietas frowned. "Nothing?"

She shrugged again.

If Izzorah didn't faint dead away from relief right here right now it would be a miracle.