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.

In this scene from Forever Love, Izzorah and Luc are about to face an unexpected trial. They'd practiced every scenario, but not once had this been in the cards.

Tangled Bonds

Izzorah and Luc stopped before Pietas. Luc was seven Tradestandard inches taller than Izzorah, and Pietas and Uurah were almost that much taller than Luc.

The breeze tickled Izzorah's ears, and he lowered them.

"I see the wind bothers you," Pietas said. "I'm sorry about that, but don't worry. We won't be out here long. Uurah, fetch her, please."

The android touched a bracelet he wore and disappeared.

Izzorah stiffened. It hadn't surprised him, but Pietas didn't need to know that.

Luc had called it portaling; moving from one place to another instantly. Only Pietas and Uurah had the tech to do it, but they could take others with them. Luc had assured Izzorah they wouldn't be separated. He promised that Pietas had given his word and said the king didn't lie.

That, however, was not borne out in the king's scent.

Uurah reappeared, a Kin female with dark hair and dark furskin beside him.

Pride radiated from her like light from a lamp, as much a part of her as her bones. She wore black leather, and carried a hook knife on one hip. Blue turquoise of the Marasova clan embedded its dark wooden hilt. But... so did stones of light green peridot from Izzorah's clan.

Confusing. Kin clans didn't mix colors on a hook knife, even in marriage, and there wasn't one bead in her hair. Clanless.

Turquoise also represented Pietas, according to Luc.

The female brought her ears forward as she studied Izzorah. That she'd noticed the bead marking him as Luc's showed in her scent. It might not be obvious to others, but it was to Izzorah. She had a strong feeling of sadness toward Luc, but why, Izzorah couldn't imagine.

All this sizing-up between them came in an ear-flick of time.

Not enemies. Not yet friends.

Like most Kin females with a male, when she held out her hand, it was for the male to put his into. A more submissive pose for the male; her hand over his. When she held out her hand to Pietas, he allowed the position. Her pride softened into affection toward him, and she drew him toward herself with a smile.

Her control laid bare their relationship. Not mates, but definitely lovers, and she was the alpha in their intimate relationship.

Well... That wasn't what Izzorah expected at all.