The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,92

the castle is at the hunt we organized," Wendell announced, walking into our lavish bathroom where I was floating in the water with Thao. "Your mother didn't mind?"

"She thinks I'm having an orgy," I said, grinning.

Thao hummed with approval. "And perhaps you will later."

Aric was leaning against the wall, watching us as Thao poured water and fragrant oils over my head and shoulders. There were flowers floating on the surface, fresh off a boat from Mennary, and candles lit along the ledge of the tub interspersed with great glimmering stones and burning incense. Thao had said that the ceremony could've been dressed down to a simpler form, but Aric insisted on replicating it to the Mennarian tradition as much as possible.

"You never know what tiny ingredient can make the world of difference in a magical working," he'd insisted.

"When she shifts—" Wendell began, pulling his shirt off over his head.

"If she shifts—" Aric corrected.

"—you should leave the room. She'll be a tiger first, and it will take a little time for the woman to return."

I watched Wendell undress, blinking as Thao dabbed an especially pungent oil at my temples that made my eyes start to run. "Why are we undressed?" I asked in a whisper.

"Ceremony," Thao and Aric said together, making Thao's eyes roll.

I'd seen both Wen and Thao shift in and out of their tiger forms without losing a stitch on their clothing. The two-natured compared it to stepping aside to let the animal move forth, and Aric explained that some things were simply magic. It didn't always serve to search for an explanation.

"Owen's very excited," Wendell said, smiling and climbing over the ledge of the tub to join us. "He's looking forward to meeting your tiger."

"And the others?"

Wendell shrugged. "Fine, calm. Well, Cress is pacing."

I smiled at that, and then Wendell vanished, replaced by a massive white tiger swimming amiably through the water, butting his head against my waist as he passed.

"Are you nervous?" Thao asked.

"A little," I said. Wendell had given me his full record of the experience already, but for all my insistence on this act, I couldn't help but agree with Aric that my transformation would probably be different.

"I'll be as gentle as I can be," Thao said, unusually somber.

I nodded. "It's not the pain I'm nervous for, really." It was everything that came after. If the magic would fail, if it wouldn't, how I might feel as a tiger.

Thao's hands settled on my shoulders, anchoring my toes to the tile floor of the tub. "There's no consequence but getting you healed up if this doesn't work. And Wendell and I will be with you if it does."

I nodded again and then held my breath as Thao bent to kiss my brow.

"I'm ready to work stabilizing charms if they're needed," Aric said softly from the corner.

"And to duck out if I shift," I reminded him, and he reluctantly agreed.

"Ready?" Thao asked.

I probably wasn't, not really. I wasn't frightened, but I wasn't ready. We hadn't warned my mother I would be trying this, too afraid it might get to the council, and while I was confident I would be fine, success or failure, there was a little chiming 'if' at the back of my head.

"Ready," I said, because in my experience, taking a risk wasn't something anyone was ever fully prepared for.

Thao took a deep breath, and Wendell's tiger sat down at my back, massive brow against my spine, hot breath caressing me as he held me up.

Thao began to chant in Mennarian, and while my head was too full to sort through the words, I knew what they meant. Prayers to the tiger at the head of his family, who imparted this gift. Prayers to the sea to bless change and transformation. To the earth for steadying the magic and solidifying forms. I shut my eyes, matching my breaths to the slow beat of Wendell's, letting Thao's low voice wash over me, the dizzying clash of the scent of oils making my head spin.

Thao kissed my lips once, briefly, and then water shifted and lapped at my skin. I peeked and found the large orange and black beast before me, nuzzling his head at the top of the water, into the skin just below my ribs. Wendell moved behind me too, standing and turning, and I glanced once at Aric, trying to hide the little flicker of worry I was fighting off. My mage smiled at me, ducking his head, eyes glinting with awareness and the