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“That is not the way of the lion.”
“No… no I suppose it’s not. But I don’t think the way of the lion is to remain in a world that is standing still. We need to be continually in motion in order to feel alive, and here we are dying a slow death. I will not allow it to continue. I will see that we return to Orestes, and that they make up for condemning us to this place.”
“And you think the others will agree to this?”
“It does not matter what the others think. I am the Lioness. And they do not need to come with me. I shall find the truth of the matter. I shall find a world in which we can live.”
“You speak of your witchcraft,” Darrow gasped, taking a step away from me as though I was going to poison him. All I could do was smirk.
“You think this great power is witchcraft? I can walk between worlds Darrow. Is that not something to be worshiped? Perhaps I am not just a Lioness, but a god.”
“You heathen. You know it is forbidden to use that power. If your father could hear you now-”
“But he can’t hear me!” I roared. “He’s dead. He’s dead because he couldn’t listen to the changing winds. He never could.” I glanced down at the bracelet that fit snugly around my wrist. It was so tight that it bit into my skin, leaving red marks that had turned into scars long ago. I ran my hands along the ornamental carvings, bile rising in my throat. This was a shackle, a chain by any other name that my father had wrapped around me and choked me with.
“Your father knew how to take care of the pride.”
“He knew how to obey traditions. He knew how to listen to the past and let that guide his actions rather than forging a path for himself.”
Darrow barked a dry laugh. “You would dare declare that you know a better way? Ava, I lamented the day your father died because I knew you were not ready to take his position. You are still so young, so drawn to folly.”
“I may be young, but I am wiser than you Darrow. I have grown up in a dying world. I have seen the hunters running back, withered and gaunt. I have seen people starve because of what’s happening in this world, and I simply do not wish for it to continue. And because of this I am prevented from saving our pride. I could be our salvation, and instead I am locked here, in this place, because my father was too afraid to let me fly.”
“He had good reasons for what he did.”
“And he is not here to argue for them. But I know what is expected of me, and I suppose that while I am here, I must heed to the old ways. I assume you have chosen another for me?”
Darrow bowed his head. “I hope that this one is going to meet your approval, otherwise we may have to wait for another generation to rise to maturity,” he sneered. I ignored the insult. So far, the other men he had chosen to be my mate had all been dullards. Strong, yes, powerful, yes, a few of them even handsome, but they had all shared the same failing as my father; thick headed and unable to see past the obvious. I did not want those qualities to be passed onto any child of mine. If I failed to escape my world then the duty would be passed to them, and they would need every advantage I could give them to make it through this world.
My pride was dying, and they might well be the last ruler of these lions.
I had to face the possibility that the same could be true of me as well.
“Send him in,” I ordered. Darrow bowed his head and left the room. Moments later I heard shuffling footsteps. I turned to see a man with an athletic figure. He was taller than me, yet he stood with a stoop and his head was bent down. He barely met my gaze. Was this really the best Darrow could do, or was he trying to play a cruel joke on me? I suppose I would soon find out. If there were no suitable mates then this pride would die all on its own, and it would not be my fault. I only happened to inherit the mess that my father and my other ancestors had created.
