grew, showering us with a rosewood glow.
A low rumbling filled the quiet air, and the invisible door to the beast realm creaked open. Flipping through the pages of my bestiary in my mind, I sought a familiar, low-level beast to introduce to my new family.
At our feet, my Groober, Poof, appeared. He was round and covered in soft, white fluff with stubby arms and legs that ended in padded hooves. Saucer-shaped eyes dominated most of his face, and he let out a happy croon from the back of his throat.
“Oh. My. Gods.” Emelia fell to her knees. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I chuckled. “Go ahead, pet him. Just avoid the backs of his ears unless you want to trigger his scent glands. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself hankering for a nap.”
Astrid crouched and tickled his belly with a cautious finger. Her eyes widened, and she stared up at me with a slack jaw. “He feels like a cloud.”
Iov folded his arms across his chest. “Cute. But you don’t have to start small for our sakes. We’ve seen you fight. Why not bring out Onyx?”
My heart stilled. Emelia and Iov had witnessed the power behind my beast. Had seen firsthand as his claws shredded Calem’s chest and ended his life, only to have him brought back again changed. Flexing my hand, I stared at the ground. I could feel Onyx waiting. Lingering on the edge of the realm between his world and mine.
“We trust you.” Iov looked at me without an ounce of fear. No judgment. No worry. “What happened in Hireath… It was war, Leena. This is different.”
My fingers trembled. “Okay,” I whispered.
Coaxing more power into my veins, I channeled my thoughts to Onyx. To the black legendary feline beast that had changed everything for me. The rush of power that preceded his entrance raised the hairs on my arms and ushered in an eerie calm. Rosewood light exploded in a brilliant sunburst, and the assassins shielded their eyes.
When the glow faded, Onyx stood before us. Lithe muscles rippled beneath thick fur, and the iridescent peacock feathers lining his spine and tail shimmered in the sun. Extending his wings, he beat them once, and a rush of air staggered us, forcing us to fight to keep our feet. He was so magnificent. So stunning. And yet… Wet fur lined the corners of his eyes. A fist wrenched my heart. I should’ve summoned him sooner.
He sighed and knocked his head into my chest with a heady purr. I planted a gentle kiss on the raised ring embedded in his crown. On my ring. “Hey, Onyx.”
“Holy mother of gods.” Astrid scooped up Poof in one arm and inched closer. “Can I touch him?”
The assassin’s lack of fear soothed the last of my worry. “Sure. Just go slow. He’s very protective of me.” I guided her palm to the thick of his neck. Gooseflesh rippled over her forearms, and she worked tiny circles with her fingers into his fur. Onyx groaned, turning his head away from me to sneak his nose between her fingers.
“Traitor.” I grinned at my beast, and he huffed before closing his eyes. Taking Poof from Astrid, I nodded for her to use both hands. “Guess he likes you more than me.”
Wide-eyed and cautious, Iov and Emelia followed Astrid’s lead. Slowly, the tension in Emelia’s shoulders disappeared, and she buried her nose in Onyx’s fur. Iov stuck to kneading circles behind Onyx’s ears, grinning like a giddy kid and whispering endearments better served for newborn children.
And Onyx ate it up. After a while, he crashed to the ground and sprawled out, rolling around on his back and kicking up grass with his massive paws. One of his feathers came loose, and Iov used it to tickle Onyx’s nose. Pupils wide, the Myad batted at the shimmery toy and let out a series of playful yowls.
Astrid laughed. “He acts like a giant kitten.”
My heart soared. He needed this. Needed love and attention. The guilt I’d been carrying for the past few days had kept me from summoning him, and the pain I’d inflicted… I had failed him. I’d promised to be as devoted to him as he was to me, and I hadn’t been able to face what I’d done to Calem. But that wasn’t Onyx’s fault. It was mine. Bending down, I rubbed the side of his maw. He paused his playful batting to nudge my hand. Forgiven.
Everyone else was so quick to forgive, yet I couldn’t seem