A Lion's Heart by Kracken Read Free Book Online

to hide. “Perhaps your politics were not what he desired.”
    Tamarind did look at him then, frowning. “I don't understand.”
    “And that might have been the problem,” Shakra told him. “Did this Kiva talk about anything outside of the Pride?”
    Tamarind nodded. “Many times. He thought we were backward and that we should stop living in the tall grass.”
    “And what did you think about that?” Shakra wanted to know.
    Tamarind scowled. “It was stupid!” he growled, flexing claws. “What's better than open sky, a warm sun, and the Savannah?”
    Shakra understood political intrigue and bringing allies close. “You're lucky that Katze didn't kill you.”
    Tamarind hissed in contempt. “The females wouldn't allow it. Katze can lead, but they would kill him to protect their cubs.” He blushed and looked away. “Even grown cubs.”
    Shakra thought about that, but he didn't stay silent long. It seemed that a meal made Tamarind relaxed enough to talk. He had to take advantage of that. “If females are so protective, then what made you an orphan?”
    Tamarind curled up as if to protect his heart. “I don't remember. The females told me that they saw me wandering with a gang of older males, but starving for milk. One day, they found me without them and that's when they adopted me into their pride.”
    He was a savage from the Savannah without even a family name to call his own, and recently part of a pride that was declaring war on Shakra's people. Shakra couldn't have chosen a more unfit companion to be seen with. Kyrill was at least wealthy, learned, and perfectly well mannered. This child of the prides killed live chickens in the dining hall and licked his claws afterward without concern. Common sense told Shakra to turn him over to Armandu and beg his warden's pardon. Common sense told him that he was making a mistake that might make his people see him in an unfavorable light. Common sense told him that Tamarind was dangerous and that he was a fool for getting anywhere near his claws and teeth. A teacher had once told him, though, to follow his emotions, to listen to his heart, and that it would seldom lead him astray. He had rarely found Shang to be wrong.
    Shakra cautiously moved even closer to the werelion. Tamarind twitched and rose to a crouch as if he might take a swipe with his sharp claws. Very slowly, Shakra crouched below Tamarind's level, submissive, and took hold of the iron collar. Tamarind tensed and his ears went back. Shakra found the latch, felt the tiny lock that needed a key. He flexed his strong muscles and the latch parted with the sound of stressed metal and pins. Tamarind twisted out of the thing and fell backwards almost into the fire. He was panting and wide eyed.
    Shakra held his hands out in a non-threatening gesture, put chain and collar down, and backed away as he said, “I am making a promise, here and now, that I will see you back to your home, alive and well.”
    Tamarind exclaimed in consternation,” Why?”
    “Because, it's the right thing to do,” Shakra replied, but he thought, as the werelion settled again, looking mystified, that he couldn't bear for anyone to hurt the were. It shook him, that realization, but he knew that it was the plain truth. Somehow, the werelion had become important to him, more important than politics or winning favor with anyone, including Warden Kol.

 
    Chapter Five
    Li’Won Shang finally made his appearance just as Tamarind was beginning to calm down. The werelion was instantly on the alert again when the werelizard was let in by Shakra.
    Shang was not pleased. His dark brows were drawn down and his mouth was in a straight, tight line. “Warden Kol would not allow me to return to you until I had instructed all of the keep guards in ways to subdue and defend against a werelion. It took longer than I suspected to tell them all to pray to their ancestors, because there was no defense short of a suicidal frontal assault.”
    Shakra blinked,