Page 33 of Mistress of Hours

Evienne ventured, “Do you know how?”

Orion’s face fell slightly at the question. “In theory, but obviously, it is likely to be quite different in practice.”

Evienne nodded. “Can I do anything to help?”

Orion shook his head, took a deep breath, and stepped to the center of the clearing.

•

Thecold mists clung to Orion’s hands and face in invisible droplets. This forest was alive in a way he had never encountered before, but it called to something in his soul. It felt at once like embracing an old friend and the breath taken before leaping off a cliff. The air was rife with ancient magic.

Orion filled his lungs with the forest air, closed his eyes, andsent his attention toward the place he knew his inherent magic was meant to reside. The books he had spent his whole life studying described the sensation as strongest just behind one’s sternum.

He focused on the feeling of the mist and the second, more primal voice in his soul that had long been silent.

The sensation slammed into him suddenly, like he had jumped into icy water. It stole his breath, and he couldn’t open his eyes. One breath the icy pain was there, and the next, only the sensation of raw, uncut power.

Orion kept his eyes shut, overwhelmed by his senses. He heard and smelled things he never had before. The iron tang of blood was on the air; the howls of the wolves celebrating their successful hunt in the distance echoed through the trees. He heard Evienne’s pulse from across the clearing—it raced.

He opened his eyes at last, panic cutting through his shock. If Evienne was frightened, something must be wrong. He could keep trying to shift after they dealt with whatever threat caused her fear.

His eyes immediately found hers, but it was awe, not fear, that graced her lovely face. He moved toward her, confused, and she drew back slightly. From him, he realized.He extended his hand toward her, intending to offer comfort, but found instead a great white paw.

Orion stumbled back in shock, the movement causing him to trip over hisfourpaws. He again extended one into his line of sight and tried to take it in.

He had massive, fluffy white paws dappled with soft gray spots. He whipped his head to look behind him and found a massive, powerful feline body and a thick white tail.

“You’re a snow leopard!” Evienne exclaimed from where she stood, her shock melting into excitement.

“I’m a snow leopard,” Orion repeated, and Evienne’s eyes grew wide again.

“You just said that in my head.”

Orion knew about this part of Tuanadair magic from his research, but experiencing it for the first time, with his Còmhanam no less, made his throat tighten with emotion.

“I have no words to tell you how grateful I am,”Orion said, moving toward his mate. “How did you know this would work?”He asked, rubbing against her with a purr rumbling in his massive chest. He stood nearly up to her shoulder, larger than any regular snow leopard would be.

“I didn’t know, I just suspected,” she answered, carefully placing her hand on his head, her fingers sinking into his thick fur.

“After the Còmhanam magic surfaced for you here, I suspected that perhaps all of your magic had found you after being away from Beitar for a while,” Evienne continued.

“As happy as I am to have my magic, this doesn’t bode well for my suspicions about what is happening to the Tuanadair,”Orion mused, savoring the feeling of Evienne’s closeness.

“It certainly doesn’t,” Evienne answered, clearly deep in thought, already parsing through the possibilities. “But I think this mystery can wait an hour while you enjoy your magic, hm?” She looked down at him with a small smile, her eyes shining with joy. It took his breath away when she looked at him like that.

“I suppose you’re right,” Orion purred. Evienne was already turning to mount her horse, Belle. The brave beast had stayed with them, somehow sensing that Orion didn’t mean any harm.Maisie, Orion’s faithful mare, was tied to a branch nearby. She also seemed to be taking his transformation in stride.

“Then let’s run,” she said, smiling fully now. Orion didn’t hesitate; he launched himself into the forest, savoring the intuitive way this body moved. So graceful and full of power.

A snow leopard. What a majestic beast to share his soul with. Strong and brave and independent creatures, and native to Beitar’s highest peaks. This form, his magic, felt so natural, and his heart was filled with joy and determination that all Tuanadair should know this freedom. He would have to tell Solon as soon as they went back to the palace. Perhaps they could bring him out here to shift too.

But for now, Orion ran, his magic coursing through his veins, his mate at his side, and he felt more hopeful than he ever had.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Later that afternoon,Evienne found herself seated at a small table in Léhiona’s private rooms. Cecelia sat to her left, Léhiona on her right, and Sylvain directly across from her.

Evienne loved Queen Léhiona’s sitting room; it was so full of joyful colors and delicate touches. Vibrant pinks and purples danced across nearly every surface, and dainty floral patterns collided around the room.

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