Page 31 of Courting the Tiger King

“Do I?” he murmured silkily, taking a mouthful of his liquor and watching her intently over the rim of his glass. “You have a secret sister, and you’re a spy. Is that everything?”

“What more could there be?” She said the words with an air of innocence that made him snort. “Is that not enough?”

She was toying with him, and the only way to get any kind of genuine reaction from her was to shake her with the truth. “You know, Zennon told me something interesting.”

That same closed expression came over her face once more. “Oh?”

“She’s not my mate.”

The words were quiet but they may as well have been a shout for all the reaction they caused. Neah’s face shuttered, an icy countenance taking over as she threw back the last of her drink and stood.

“Zennon doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” The words were swift, confident and measured.Certain. “I think this conversation is over. I won’t sit here while you insult my sister.”

He ignored her protests. “It’s funny, really. I could have sworn the Goddess had indicated that my mate would be a shifter, and there was Zennon. Fully human. I assume that means she’s your half-sister at best?” Neah said nothing in response to his probing, just waited like she knew he wasn’t done. “What form do you take when you shift, Neah?”

At that, she jerked. It was a fair response, it was considered beyond rude to ask such a thing. But it could also be very telling, as mated shifters took on the same form.

Her father, for example, was a jaguar and so too was his wife. Wren’s mother took the form of a swan, and so too had his father. Whoever Wren’s mate was, they would share his tiger form when shifted.

He hadn’t really expected her to respond to his digging, but he never could have anticipated her reply.

“I don’t know.” The words sounded like they’d been pulled from somewhere deep down inside of her. “I’ve never been able to shift.”

Never been able to shift.

It was unfathomable.

His mouth dropped open and she must have mistook whatever shock he wore on his face for shame because her eyes lowered, shoulders rounding, and then she walked to the door without another look at him.

“Goodnight, Wren.”

“Wait—”

The door closed and he jolted.Never been able to shift. Whatever lurked beneath her skin responded to him, he was sure of it. It didn't matter to him that she had never shifted, buthe was also certain that Neah was powerful and whatever form she took… It wouldn’t be held at bay for much longer.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WREN

Three faces stared at him from around the table, all with varying degrees of solemnity. Skye looked concerned as he watched Wren pace, his eyes tracking his movements as he wore a path in front of the balcony. Gabriel looked interested, eyes bright, like he was waiting to hear how he could help. And Sonnet…

Well, Sonnet mostly looked amused.

“Are you going to tell us what’s going on in that head of yours?” Gabe leaned back in his chair much the way Neah had the night before, the contrast striking Wren dumb for a moment. “Or do you want us to just watch you brood in silence?”

Wren scowled and Skye threw Gabe a look that typically translated tobehave.

“I have been doing some… snooping.” The statement received quizzical looks from all three of them. “Spying,” he clarified. “On Neah and Zennon.”

Only Sonnet looked unperturbed by the news. “And? What did you discover, my king?”

He paused in his pacing to fold his arms across his chest and level her with a look that he hoped communicated his ire. “I suspect you know.”

“Well don’t keep the rest of us in suspense,” Gabe protested and Wren sighed as he dropped into the empty chair in the centre of the group.

“Zennon is Neah’s half-sister and Neah is—Neah is a spy.” The words left him in a rush that felt a lot like relief and the bright sunshine behind the balcony doors caught in Sonnet’s eyes as she watched him closely.

“Interesting,” she said slowly, consideringly, and Wren narrowed his eyes. “I can assure you, Your Majesty, I knew of no such duplicity.”

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