The Tiger Within 303 Cora Returns

"A marriage based on similar goals? How do we know you will uphold them? Your kind abuse your wives. How do we know she is safe? Goals can't shield her from a strike if you decide to hit her. Care can not stop a evil hand from poisoning her cup." A young Snake Kin asked, she was one Kyera missed quite a bit, Cora.*. Her protective nature was more than ready to do battle with him though it was hardly necessary.

"I give you my word I would never strike Kyera Mei. I will do my best to protect her, from my own family if needs be." Clovis replied sternly. Most the group at this point were being won over by his manner. His defense of her and care had left an impression on the younger ones and the wise ones saw Kyera was determined not to let their choice be swayed.

"Your word? How are we to hold you too that a.s.suming we find out.?" A shifter demanded and was met with nods of approval from others.

"Your word means nothing here." another cried from the back of the room. That stung a little but he tried not to show it.

"Kyera would never tell. She would endure anything for us. She's too loyal to chance it! What have your royals ever done to show us loyalty?" a old woman's voice picked up walking forward. She wore a snow white dress, her rabbit ears visible in her human state. There was no mistaking this was a elder, but she seemed to be stuck in a half shifted state.

"I will make a blood pact to protect her. Should I ever intentionally strike Kyera or allow it to be done, I shall submit to one hundred fold the same on my own flesh." Clovis replies resolutely. The fact he had to utter these words hurt. He knew it would take a lot for them to trust him, but he didn't want them fearing for Kyera's safety.

"A blood pact, boy? You want to make that a real pact?" the old rabbit asked. She held out a crystal ball, about 4 inches large all around. He held it in his palm. His words seemed to be emblazoned on the crystal. "Add your blood, boy." she prompted and before Kyera could stop him, he sliced his palm on the words leaving blood in the grooves. It glowed for a moment then disappeared.

"If you marry Kyera, will you adhere to her laws?" a little girl asked. Her cheeks and dress were smudged with dirt but her eyes were clear. He smiled at her, kneeling down to her level.

"I will follow both the laws of man, and the laws of the forest, little one." he rea.s.sured her before tossing her hair and standing up. Kyera smiled watching him handle the crowd. For the most part, the shifters had calmed down. Whether or not they had accepted him as her groom wasn't quite clear. One elder still seemed to be skeptical and Kyera waited for him to make a move. Daxin however wasn't the next to speak. A beautiful woman sliced open in several spots and bandaged stepped forward. Her familiar eyes met Kyera's, ignoring Clovis as though he was no more than a mouse at her side.

"Kyera, Why the marriage in your eyes? How will it help the clan or is it simply something you wish?" Cora asked her eyes meeting Kyera with a certain amount of concern. She remembered Kyera and Verone at their last true meal together. Was she truly ready to move forward?