He rose, moved to answer. Faelyn caught the lingering tension in his shoulders. The way his hand remained clenched, claws not fully retracted.
Still thinking about who'd called their bond an abomination. Still planning retribution he couldn't enact.
Three young panthers stood outside.
Two males, one female. All looking early twenties, though Faelyn knew they were probably fifty or eighty years old in human age terms.
Nervous energy radiated off them. Excited yet respectful.
"Chief Nyx," the girl said, practically bouncing on her toes. "We were hoping to meet the blessed one?"
Nyx blinked, clearly surprised. And possibly still mentally compiling a list of people who'd insulted Faelyn.
"You want to meet her?"
"We've never seen a blessed one before!" She blurted out, then immediately looked embarrassed. "Sorry, that was loud. But yes! And the unified mate mark, is it true? We've heard stories but no one's actually SEEN it and—"
