When I take a cautious step, the snow leopard stands to face me. He’s so huge his head is level with mine.
SOLI. DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOU ARE NOW MINE TO PROTECT?
“To be honest, no. I don’t understand this at all.”
BUT YOU ACCEPT IT?
I stare into his eyes and reach deep inside myself for the answer to his question. It can’t possibly be yes. How could I accept that a snow leopard—a member of a species believed to be entirely extinct—is now my protector?
“Yes,” I say slowly, but he senses my hesitation.
IT MAY TAKE TIME.
BUT CAN YOU ACCEPT THAT I AM YOURS TO PROTECT, TOO?
“Yes,” I say instantly. Then I freeze, shocked to realize it’s true. Somehow, magically, Idobelieve it. He and I are connected, and I have to protect him, although I have no idea howIcan protect one of the fiercest predators to ever walk the hills and mountains of Altarra.
But it’s true.
He’s mine.
“Yes,” I repeat, my voice stronger. “I accept you’re mine to protect, too.”
GOOD.
“I have to protect a snow leopard,” I say wonderingly.
We hear shouts and the thunder of hooves. Andras, Chitai, Elianna, Sergeant Neville, and Bern are racing back down the mountain path toward us, shouting and waving weapons, all aimed at my cat, who suddenly collapses in an ungraceful heap, panting hard. He must be injured. He keeps swiping his tongue over his shoulder and flank, wincing.
“He’shurt, Kaelen!” I kneel next to the cat, ignoring the tiny part of my mind screamingdanger, danger, danger.
I trust Kaelen to deal with our companions, allowing all my focus to coalesce around the snow leopard.Mysnow leopard.
I reach out to touch him, startled by the dense, soft feel of his fur, like the most luxurious carpet crafted in the Freeholders’ Territory.
“Where are you hurt?” I gently run my hands over the cat, trying not to think of those enormous fangs so close to my fingers, and nudge him to stop licking. When he raises his head, I see anSshape, larger than the palm of my hand, burned into his shoulder. The fur is entirely gone in that patch, and the skin looks red and raw.
“How?” I whisper. “What is happening?”
I hold my wrist out in front of me, resting my arm with its new snow leopard design against the unburned fur next to the S-mark. “Is this … normal? Was it meant to happen?”
S FOR SOLITUDE.
NONE OF MY KIND HAS BONDED TO A HUMAN FOR OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS, SO I HAVE NOT SEEN IT MYSELF.
BUT THE ELDERS TELL STORIES OF THIS.
“Three hundred years?”
Behind me, my friends have quieted as much as six people who are seeing a mythical creature for the first time can. Nobody’s shouting anymore, at least.
“It’s a Valourian snow leopard,” Bern says, awe infusing his voice. “Everybody says they went extinct. Is he like you, Kaelen?”
The cat snarls, and they all jump.
TELL THE TWO-LEGS NOT TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING HE HEARS.
AND NO, I AM NOT DUAL-NATURED.
