Page 86 of Sun Warrior

“Okay, you need to explain.”

“She bit me when she chose me,afterI successfully built our den. The Chain decorations came later.”

“I don’t understand. Rigel chose Mari, but she didn’t have to do anything. Or at least I don’t think she did. I do know for sure he didn’t bite her,” Sora said. “And she sure didn’t get vines and flowers painted into her skin.”

“When a young Lynx chooses her Companion that’s just the first step in their bonding. The Companion has to prove him- or herself worthy ofthe choosing. A Lynx’s den is her sanctuary—the one place she can rest easily, knowing she is safe. The Lynx’s Companion must build their den. If it’s acceptable to the Lynx, the bonding goes to the next step.”

“What if it’s not acceptable to the Lynx?”

“Then the bite is deadly. The candidate Companion dies.”

Sora blinked in shock. “Wait; you meanthe Lynx kills her Companion?”

“Well, yes, but the person isn’t technically the Lynx’s Companion if the den is rejected. And the bite isn’t any different from this bite.” He held up his arm again for Sora to get another look.

“That doesn’t look like it could kill you. Sure, it looks painful, but it’s not a mortal wound. I’m still confused.”

“Have you heard stories of my people?” Antreas surprised her by asking.

“Not many. I know you’re guides and mercenaries, and that’s about it.”

“We’re different after we’ve been chosen by our Lynx. I mean physically,” he said.

She waited, and when he didn’t continue she prodded, “Okay, so, you’re different. How?”

“If I show you, will you not tell Danita? I don’t want her to be any more repulsed by me than she already is,” he said.

“I won’t tell her. That’s your business. But don’t hold out too much hope for changing her mind about you,” Sora said.

“I think I’m going to focus on changing Bast’s mind, not Danita’s,” Antreas said sardonically.

“Sounds like a good idea,” Sora said. “So, show me.”

“Okay, here goes.” Antreas put the ladle down and held his hands out so that Sora had a clear view of them. Then he flicked his wrists and Sora watched, with wide eyes, as his fingers changed instantly—growing long, sharp claws where normal human fingernails had been.

“Goddess! That’s… that’s—well, I’m not sure what that is.” She stared at his claws, not sure whether she wanted to bolt from the burrow or examine them like she would a strange wound.

“Are you disgusted by them?”

She raised her gaze from his claws to his warm golden eyes. “No,” she said, realizing as she spoke that she was telling the truth and not just saying what he so obviously wanted to hear. “No,” she repeated as her mind caught up with her words. “I’m surprised, shocked even, but I’m not disgusted. That happened after Bast bit you?”

“Yes. It’s what happens after a Lynx accepts the den her chosen candidate makes for her. If she hadn’t accepted the den, her bite wouldn’t have changed me. It would have poisoned my body and killed me,” he said.

“Did it change anything else about you?”

He nodded. “Yep, I’m faster. My vision and my hearing aren’t as good as Bast’s, but they’re better than a normal human’s. And I have, um, fur on my body.”

Sora’s brows shot up. “Fur? Where? Oh, Goddess, sorry,” she said immediately. “Was that a rude question? I didn’t mean it to be.”

Antreas’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “No, it’s not rude, just personal, but that’s okay. It’s just you and me talking. It’d be rude if you asked in front of a bunch of outsiders.” He swept his long hair aside and leaned forward so that Sora could see his neck and a little way down his back. There, growing along with his hair, tracking all the way down his neck and his spine as far as she could see was the same long brownish-gray fur that covered Bast. Sora could also see that his ears were strangely pointed.

“Wow. Just wow,” Sora said.

“Not disgusted?”

She shook her head. “No, not at all. I like your Bast’s fur. And it looks good on you. Soft and nice. Probably keeps you warm.”

He grinned. “That’s the point, I think. Well, that and Marking me as the Companion to a Lynx.” He hesitated and then asked, “How do you think other Earth Walkers would react to all of this?” He raised his claws and the firelight glinted on them before he retracted them and waited for her answer.