Fisher (Prince of Tigers, #3) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,37

lines that had been there were all but gone. “Your laughter reminds me of bells. Tiny ones that tinkle rather than chime. I’m sure you’ve been told that before.”

“I have not. People are afraid to tell me what they think of me. I believe it stems from my ability to destroy whatever comes around.” Piper asked her if she meant kill. “No. If I have to take something out, I will destroy it in a way that nothing remains. Nothing of their line or their story.”

“That’s a great deal to be scared about. I think I’d piss myself too if you were pissed with me. You’re not, are you?” Aurora assured her she was not. “Good. One less thing I have to worry about right now. As for the lessons, I would love to know what I have and what to do to use it. If Fisher doesn’t mind.”

He didn’t and told them both he would like to know too. Then before she touched him, he asked if he had to be man or beast. Aurora smiled at him before she answered, telling him his cat needed to be there.

Fisher wasn’t sure why, but he was slightly nervous by her look. Then she touched them both on the head. Fisher knew it was the streak she was touching. After her touch, Fisher knew why she wanted him to be beast.

~*~

Piper sat on the couch after Aurora left and didn’t move. Fisher had joined her at some point, but he too seemed to be shell shocked by what had happened in the yard. It was difficult for her to be upset by the chain of events, but Piper was reasonably sure that if she laughed right now, she’d never be able to stop. She’d be committed and never see the man she loved again.

“I could always hear extraordinarily well, but I’m sure I can hear a mosquito buzzing around a room several hundred miles away.” Piper laughed at Fisher’s comment, then put her hand over her mouth, stilling it before it got out of control. “Do you really think what she said about my tiger is true? That I’m twice the size I was before?”

“Yes. I saw you before and after.” He nodded but didn’t say anything more. “Fisher, what did she mean when she said we’d have several litters? I’m a person, not a cat.”

“I don’t think you’re either one now. Do you? I mean, we were given some very powerful magic. I’m doubting even my brothers have this much if you were to bundle it all together.” Piper asked him if he was all right. “No. I don’t think I am. I have this loop going on in my head that keeps telling me I’m powerful. And that I’m the queen’s protector. I don’t even know how to protect you all the time, much less a queen that is all over the place.”

“I can protect us both too.” Fisher grinned at her. “What is that for? By the way, you sort of look like a fruitcake right now. Don’t do that around your family, or they really will have you committed.”

“I just thought of you protecting me. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone say that to me.” She asked him if he thought her incapable of doing that. “No. On the contrary, I think you’d do a great job of keeping me out of trouble and safe. I’d gladly be your damsel in distress for you to help me.”

“Don’t be silly.” She got up off her couch and went to sit with him. “I was just thinking that this couch needs to be deeper when we’re on it together. That way, you can hold me while we watch the fireplace.”

The couch widened under her, and she stretched out more. It should have freaked her out a little, having her every wish taken care of. But she was going with the flow now. Having things explained to her, along with the magic, Piper felt like she was on top of things. That she was able to understand more than she had previously. Turning to lie on her back, she looked up at Fisher.

“She said the streaks in our hair mark us as hers. I thought you all belonged to her.” Fisher explained. “So this is more than her just creating you and your family as shifters. You and I literally belong to her and her castle. Do you think we’ll get to go there someday? I have a feeling