by Jory Strong
Magic. The smell of it was distinctive.
Between one breath and the next, both snow leopard and man knew the significance of the female’s actions. Between the second breath and the third they were in agreement. They’d been presented with an opportunity that was too good to miss.
* * * * *
Aysa settled in the streambed. Her hand glided on the surface of the water as her eyes tracked the falcon’s flight. She was probably being foolish to set the charm out as she’d done, but… As soon as the idea had come to her, she’d felt as if the magic was guiding her actions, just as it had led her here after she’d thrown the wishing stone into the pond.
Excitement and hope burned like twin flames in her heart. Maybe some of the old magic had found a home in her, just as her aunt had once suggested.
The falcon called again and this time the call was answered by another. A mate? Aysa wondered, her emotions swooping downward as the falcon altered its course and flew off in the direction of the other bird only to disappear and not return.
Movement drew Aysa’s attention back to her immediate surroundings. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the huge smoky gray cat with the dark gray markings. It was a beautiful, a mystical thing.
For long moments she was transfixed by the sight of it, thought that surely it had to be a sign, a message, its presence a powerful omen. But when she saw the moss give under its weight, capturing its footprints for a few seconds in time, her heart stuttered with fear, then began pounding furiously with the realization that the huge cat was flesh and blood, a deadly predator instead of a vision.
It padded over to the water’s edge, so close she could see its gray-green eyes. So close she knew it could hear the wild thunder of her heart and her small pants for breath. A small whimper escaped before she could contain it and Aysa braced herself for the cat’s attack.
Its eyes met hers and then it lowered its head and began drinking, its tongue lapping at the water in an almost sensuous way. When it finished, it looked at Aysa then turned and traveled the short distance to her clothing.
The cat made an odd sound, not one she’d ever heard a cat make. It lay down on her clothing, rolled and rubbed as the cats in the village had often done.
The gesture calmed Aysa enough to allow her to think. To wonder if perhaps her affinity for cats would save her from this one.
It was a male. She’d assumed as much because of its size and manner, but as it wallowed, marking her clothing with its scent, she saw its heavy male testicles and knew its sex.
Finally the leopard stilled. He watched her for long moments, his tail flicking in a slow gesture that could mean many things. He was so beautiful that despite the tremors of fear rippling through her, Aysa longed to touch him, to stroke his luxurious fur and bury her face in his ruff.
She knew cats didn’t like water, but he was no ordinary cat and she was not so far away or in so deep that he couldn’t easily reach her and drag her to the bank. She held completely still as he rose from where he lay on her clothing and came to the edge of the stream again. He inhaled deeply, his eyes never leaving her face. Then he turned and padded to the place where she’d placed the charm in the hopes the falcon would come.
A far deeper fear struck when he took it in his mouth. A terror that had nothing to do with a violent death and everything to do with a horrible future.
“No!” she cried, standing abruptly, no longer concerned about attracting his attention. She scrambled for the bank but before she reached it the charm had disappeared in a swallow.
“No,” she whispered, horrified, stunned as she felt the magic unwind and form a connection between her and the exotic cat.
She went to her knees, barely aware of the stream detouring around her as the cat’s satisfaction swamped her. He padded over to her and waded into the water to rub against her in an affectionate gesture.
For a moment she was enthralled by the texture of his fur, the powerful muscles hidden underneath, the magnificence of him. For a moment she allowed herself to touch him as she’d wanted to do earlier, to press her cheek to him in wonder. But only for a moment. And then she began crying as the full implications of having such a creature for a familiar overwhelmed her.
Not only would no man take her for a wife, but now she would add to her family’s burden rather than ease it. She would become a pariah. Shunned and avoided not only because she’d taken such a dangerous creature for her familiar—but because she had violated the natural order of things and taken a familiar of the opposite sex.
Chapter Four
Come to the stream. Hurry.
The words contained such a mix of satisfaction and urgency that Savant’s gut tightened in reaction. Why? he asked, knowing Sunder was still in his leopard form for them to be communicating in this manner.
You’ll see.
Savant shook his head as he left the cave and hurried as Sunder had ordered him to do. Most villagers held the mistaken belief that warlocks actually controlled their familiars but Savant had never been so misguided as to even attempt it with the leopard.
The satisfaction along the bond should have warned Savant. It should have prepared him for what he would find. Shock brought him to a standstill when he saw the naked female crying into the leopard’s fur. What have you done?
The leopard made a chuffing sound and licked its lips. She sought a familiar and gained me.
Dismay filled Savant. Uneasiness and something else. Pain.
He’d been prepared to share Sunder’s love and body, but the familiar bond…
The large cat tilted its head and it was the leopard that looked out. It was the leopard that saw Savant’s pain and measured it against its own to find them equal.
The leopard didn’t want to share its female. The leopard’s instinct saw other males as threats, not as potential co-mates. But in that moment of perfect understanding, Savant and the leopard reached a silent accord.
Savant waded into the water, finding a small measure of amusement that once again Sunder’s actions had resulted in wet clothing. “It’s all right,” Savant said, kneeling next to cat and woman, one arm resting on the leopard’s back while the other went around a smooth feminine waist. “It’s all right,” he repeated, pressing his mouth against the blonde crown of hair.
“It’s not all right,” she said, her voice laced with pain.
For long moments the women was so lost in her misery that she seemed almost unaware of him. The same could not be said for Savant. He was very much aware of her slick skin and wondrous curves. Of her softness and beauty. Of the way her body molded so perfectly against his.
Eventually she gave a final hiccupping sob and tried to pull away. He let her gain some distance but refused to release her completely.
Their eyes met for the first time and he was immediately lost in the sky-blue color of hers. His heart ached at the embarrassment and sorrow and confusion he read in her. “I’m Savant,” he said, wanting to punctuate the greeting with a kiss but opting instead for a gentle inquiry. “And you are?”
“Aysa.”
She pulled out of his arms and he let her go this time. Watched with tender amusement as her cheeks and neck flamed with color when she remembered her nakedness.
Aysa escaped to the bank. He followed, feeling like he was in pursuit of a young, shy doe. Frowning when he realized the imagery was the leopard’s and not his own.
“You were crying,” Savant prompted, wanting to draw her into conversation, his chest tightening when new tears sprang to the corner of her eyes.
Without thought he took her in his arms again. Only this time his mouth sought hers in an offer of comfort. His tongue pressed against the seam of her lips and she yielded, accepted his gentle exploration of her mouth and melted against him.
She was confused and frightened, upset. On some level he knew he was taking advantage, using the chaos of her emotions against her. And yet he couldn’t stop himself. She was so soft and fragile. Her feminine c
urves a perfect balance to both his and Sunder’s masculinity.
Savant deepened the kiss. He ate hungrily at her lips as his hands roamed her body freely. Explored her.
There was no turning back. The leopard had claimed her and he had agreed earlier to accept its choice. Now it was a matter of seducing her, of getting her to accept them completely.
She whimpered into Savant’s mouth and he gentled his kiss, stroked her naked spine. He touched the sides of her breasts before cupping her hips. Held her to him, pelvis to pelvis, as his kiss became a blatant imitation of what he wanted to do to her with his cock.
She clung to him helplessly and he envisioned taking her to the ground. Fucking her by the side of the stream as he and Sunder had done earlier. But as quickly as the thought arose, his conscience intruded and he reluctantly ended the kiss. Savant forced his mouth away from Aysa’s but couldn’t force himself to release her completely.
The leopard had taken a position nearby on the bank. Its relaxed pose told Savant that it didn’t intend to interfere.
Aysa caught the direction of his gaze and half-turned in his arms, making Savant groan when her naked body rubbed against his trouser-covered cock in a repeat of what had happened with Sunder earlier.
Once again you’re wearing too many clothes, Sunder said, his thoughts in line with Savant’s as they so often were.
Aysa stiffened in Savant’s arms and he cursed silently, wondering if her newly formed familiar bond with the leopard had allowed her to hear Sunder’s comment. He relaxed when she said, “You’re not afraid of him?”
“Isn’t he your familiar?” Savant asked, deflecting her question. Pride and hope filled him as he thought back on the scene he’d come upon. True, her tears had brought him up short, but she had been clinging to the leopard and that could only be a reflection of her inner strength and courage.
She trembled and pressed her cheek to his chest, her whispered “yes” barely audible. He stroked her back, nearly shivering himself with the desire he felt for her.
He had been with women before but not in the years since he and Sunder became lovers. Since that time he had rarely allowed himself to think about what it was like to slide in and out of a woman’s slick channel. He’d been afraid that the familiar bond would reveal his thoughts and Sunder would be hurt.
Sunder had never shown any interest in a woman, had never lain with one. Until the subject of a wife and mate came up, Savant thought Sunder had no interest in coupling with females. Now he knew otherwise. The leopard had been waiting for a woman who smelled right, whose scent made it want to mount her.
Savant rubbed his cheek against Aysa’s hair and felt a surprising contentedness despite the battle yet to be waged for her heart and her acceptance. “Are you from the village at the base of the mountain?” he asked though he already knew the answer.
“Yes.”
“Do you need to return tonight?”
Her arms tightened around his waist. “I…I don’t know what I’m going to do.” A deep shuddering breath raked through her and she looked up into his face.
Savant’s heart wept at the misery he saw there. He brushed a kiss against her forehead. “Our camp is just a short distance away. Come back with me. I’ll make you some tea and we can talk about what’s troubling you.”
Embarrassment washed over her face. “Someone else is here?” She extricated herself from his arms and gathered her clothes, nearly sent Savant to his knees when she bent over and he glimpsed her folds and slit.
Savant glanced at the leopard. “Sunder is not at camp right now.”
Aysa hurriedly dressed. She still felt nearly overwhelmed by what had transpired with the huge cat, but Savant’s presence was comforting.
While he’d been holding her, stroking her skin, she’d managed to forget the grimness of her fate. Desire had curled in her cunt in response to his touch. And the hard line of his cock pressed against her belly had restored her confidence. Then when he’d so casually spoken of the dangerous cat as being her familiar, a small spark of hope flared to life in her heart.
He was a stranger to this area. His accent and dress told her that much. Maybe the women of his village took familiars that were more exotic than barn cats and songbirds.
“I’d like some tea,” she said, very aware of the huge cat padding next to her as she went to Savant’s side and they began walking.
The cat was so beautiful that she couldn’t resist the urge to place her hand on his luxurious fur. She should be terrified of him. And yet even without touching him, she could feel the familiar bond between them and knew he would never harm her.
It was different than she’d expected. More than she’d been led to believe it would be. It was almost as if the cat’s emotions rumbled through her in a contented purr. The sensation so strong that she found herself kneading his fur.
“There’s where we’ve made camp,” Savant said as the shallow cave came into sight.
Contentment turned to purring anticipation, rippling through Aysa’s belly and making her clit stand erect. It felt almost as if a rough tongue licked her most private places.
She released the cat’s fur in reaction, confused and embarrassed by the heat that was both her own and not her own. She glanced sideways at the cat and shivered, wondered if this was the reason familiars were always female.
They climbed onto the narrow path that led the short distance to the cave. Just as they got to the entranceway, the cat made the strange chuffing sound and she looked back to find he’d settled himself below them, as if guarding the path.
“Good idea,” Savant said. “It’ll be a lot safer if the leopard is not in the cave with us, at least not right now.”
Aysa’s attention swung back to Savant. She had the oddest sense his words weren’t for her alone, but excitement over learning more about the huge cat chased the thought away. “Is that what he’s called? A leopard? You’ve seen them before?”
“Not often, and never as big as this one. He’s actually called a snow leopard.” Savant smiled and she felt it all the way down to her toes. “The specimen you’ve claimed as your familiar is a truly amazing creature.”
She returned his smile and thought the man standing in front of her was a truly amazing creature as well, not only for his dark good looks but for his calm acceptance of the huge cat he’d found her with. “I didn’t choose the leopard,” Aysa admitted. “I left the charm out for a falcon and he came to me instead.”
Savant took her hand in his. “Is that why you were crying?”
She nodded and for an instant the earlier fear and horror at what the future held tried to return and smother her. She squeezed Savant’s hand and drew strength from it.
Hope burned away the darkness of her worries. Her womb fluttered as her gaze traveled over him and settled on the fierce erection that strained the front of his soft leather trousers. Maybe everything would be all right. Maybe Savant was to be hers as well. Maybe…
A raven’s call interrupted her thoughts. She glanced to where several had perched in nearby trees, then turned to step fully into the cave.
Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the bedding, two piles of blankets placed so they were a single large mat. He’d said he traveled with a male companion and now the sleeping arrangements said they were also lovers.
Aysa’s heart resumed its wild thunder in her ears. Pain stabbed through her chest at the death of her newborn hope. Part of her already believed the magic had brought them together. Even now she felt the leopard urging her to brush against Savant, to rub against him as a cat does one it favors. “You’re a warlock.”
The raven called again, as if answering for Savant, and Aysa assumed the bird must be his familiar. She didn’t pull away when he cupped her face in his hand and drew her attention to him. “Are you frightened of me now?” he asked, surprising her with his question, with the uncertainty and vulnerability she saw in his eyes.
“No.” The answer came easily, quickly, a
nd with sudden insight she saw his life in another light. Imagined the fear and suspicion that greeted him whenever he entered a village, that would now greet her because of the presence of the male leopard at her side. She realized how hard it must be for Savant to walk into village after village and know each time he did so that the people who lived there were frightened by both the magic he wielded and the fear he would seduce their sons. That they bartered with him because they needed his skills but would never truly welcome or befriend him. No wonder warlocks took male lovers. She had yet to return to her village but she could already feel the mantle of loneliness settling over her.
Aysa rubbed her cheek against his palm and felt more than just comfort. The attraction she’d experienced earlier was still there even if there could be no future with him. He was a warlock and everyone knew that a warlock required a wife with a familiar that matched his own.
“No, I’m not frightened of you. I’m…I’m glad for your company.”
An unexpected tear escaped and she tried to pull away, not wanting him to see them as she attempted to regain her control. Savant closed the distance between them. One arm going around her waist while the other caressed her cheek. “It will be all right.”
“Do you know a spell to break a familiar bond?” Aysa asked, her stomach lurching as the words passed her lips.
“Do you really wish for such a thing?”
Aysa closed her eyes. Fear for the future, worry about her family, they demanded she say yes. But deep inside her she sensed the leopard’s presence, felt as though he held his breath and waited to see if she’d take away the bond he’d been searching for.
In her mind’s eye she saw his beauty. His sleek lines and predator’s body. His strength and prowess. He was a survivor, as she would be.
“No,” she said. “No. I don’t wish to break the bond.”
Savant’s mouth covered hers. His tongue traced the seam of her lips and she opened for him.