Damn those mangy cats to the hottest part of hell that existed#

Kershov let the furious thought flare through his mind like an arc of blue fire, igniting all of his frayed nerves with frosted rage# He had been trying to stretch, limbs creaking and joints crackling, when he jostled his injured foreleg in such a way as to bring shooting pain right up into his spine# A vicious hiss steamed from between his tightly clenched teeth# Damn them# He hoped the cougar pair had suffered as they died# He hoped their stinking feline hides were experiencing still more torment in whatever barren afterlife there was# They had endangered his pack, wounding his warriors and severely stretching Abendrot’s limited winter resources# Words could not describe what sort of black emotions writhed within Kershov’s empty breast when he recalled their battle#

As his hiss of pain deepened into an irritated growl, Ker straightened up, testing the weight on his injured column tentatively# Twinges still spiked—nerves slowly healing around an even slower-healing bone—but it would have to do# The Alpha had gone too long limping on three legs# He’d grown ferociously restless while he recuperated within his kingdom’s inner walls; if he didn’t leave a personal scent marker soon, a challenger would probably show up believing the land was ripe for claiming# And wouldn’t that be just delightful?

He was so mired in petty, angry musings that when the merciless Czar heard the summoning howl he mistook it for the very thing he least wanted this moment# “You’ve got to be KIDDING me#” Instantly his ice-white hackles spiked, a demonic snarl warping his features while fathomless black eyes speared toward the horizon—toward the source of the noise and what he perceived as a challenge to his rule# Only as the notes faded beneath the clouds did Ker realize that it wasn’t an enemy’s call# In fact, that sounded like one Alpha of Bright Moon # # #

It took the entire trip toward the border for Kershov to force his presence back in order, the shards of his fur smoothing back down into an immaculate alabaster robe# Nothing could be done about the horror of his mutilated face; however, he did his best to keep the expression on the unmarred side carefully neutral# If Summer were visiting, it could be for one of two things: either he wished to see his brother, or he wished to speak with Kershov himself# The two Kings had parted on agreeable terms the last time they met; certainly Summer was an intelligent Ruler and the first Bright Moon Monarch Kershov could stomach talking to for more than ten seconds# A sigh blew from Kershov’s fangs, dragging with it the last vestiges of his earlier overblown annoyance# If Summer could greet him with admirable manners in Bright Moon, he could offer the same treatment at Abendrot#

“Greetings, Summer# What brings you to Abendrot?” The ivory warrior’s voice carried easily through the chilled winter air# If only his footsteps could easily carry him# He limped awkwardly on his injured leg as he stopped before Summer and his # # # “Who is this?” The Pharaoh inclined his crown toward the young lass waiting with his fellow Alpha#