“I think… I always knew it. I knew it was him. And this horned tyger is rather dashing.”
“Dashing?” she repeats, incredulity in her voice.
“Sorry. You’re right, that’s not what I meant to say.” I approach the tyger who’s watching me with familiar blue eyes, growling all the while. I lift a hand to touch him and he doesn’t move, doesn’t snap at my hand, doesn’t leap on me, and gobble me down. “Gorgeous is a more apt description, I believe. Don’t you agree?”
His fur is as silky as it looks, warm, and under the animal musk, I can smell him, crushed grass and exotic spice.
Talen.
I slide my hands over his back, around his neck. He sinks down on his haunches, and on impulse I climb up on his back, straddling him, hugging his neck. A rumble goes through him, the rumble of a very big and pleased cat.
“You…” The Empress seems to exude darkness, her claws extending. She snaps a hand at the griffin and it explodes into smoke and ash. “That’s not enough to lift the curse,” she snarls and turns in a swirl of white silk and shadow, heading for the door. “I will see you soon, king, and then you will pay.”