Page 14 of The Mating Frenzy

Tightness settled in his chest. He’d spent his entire life in the Winter Kingdom, bound by duty and loyalty to the Winter King’s kin. He did it to honor his father’s memory and his code of honor, since Kieran was the last survivor of hisfamily.

But always he’d expected that someday, before he grew old and frail, he would find a companion to hold, and love, andcherish.

Gideon removed a gold dagger from his hip, and traced a rune in the air. He fisted his right hand and when he opened his palm, a leather bracelet rested there. He flicked a finger and the bracelet was suddenly on Kieran’s leftwrist.

“These are extraordinary times, and you need extraordinary aid. Wear this always, and never remove it. It will gain you access to the archives where Ella is translating the ancientscrolls.”

“What will happen to it when I shift?” heasked.

“It will appear as an ordinary leather band around your left paw. But you must limit your shifting,” Xaviersaid.

He touched the leather ringing his left wrist. It felt heavy and restrictive, like the bonds hunters used to tie him up while they killed his sister. But while he had broken free of those leather restraints, Kieran suspected this leather band would be harder to remove. “You mean I cannot hunt, eat or sleep as ajaguar?”

The wizards exchanged glances. “It’s too risky, Kieran,” Gideon told him. “The more you shift, the easier it will be to track you. The energy trail you emit will be like a beacon for the Dark Lord’sfollowers.”

Dryness coated his mouth. Never to shift? How could he protect himself? OrElla?

Xavier squeezed his shoulder. “Fear not, cat. You’ll dofine.”

Gideon waved a hand, and an odd-looking machine appeared on the table. Kieran peered at it. “What isthat?”

“It’s a laptop,” Xavier said dryly. “We’re going to teach you all about thisworld.”

Then he sent a bolt of energy zinging straight at him. Kieran’s sensestingled.

“What was that for?” hedemanded.

“To accelerate more than 200 years of learning of human nature in thiscountry.”

“Sit back, my friend,” Gideon told him. “We have a lot of work todo…”