Chapter 5

The gothic style suit did wonders for Zinjo's appearance. Mr. Silke clapped his hands as the young werelion emerged from his cocoon a stunning butterfly. "A finishing touch," he placed a pair of glasses with red lenses.

Zinjo didn't care what the human tailor had to say in the least. He responded with, "Hmmm." He faced Aurelia in his finery, "Does this please you?" he asked. Aurelia swore she heard a hint of worry in his voice.

Words could not describe how Aurelia felt at that particular moment. In her mind, she had already torn the suit from his body and took what was rightfully hers. A second thought reminded her, they still had dinner with Sophie. An overprotective queen for a mother complicated matters a bit. Aurelia found her voice, "You are easily the most handsome man I have ever seen," she giggled girlishly and fanned herself.

"You smell nervous and," Zinjo sniffed the air around her, "excited."

"I am nervous. My mother is not going to take it easy on you," She straightened his collar, and took a step back, "I want her to like you, she must do."

Zinjo pressed her against his body with his powerful arms. "If the queen does not like me will you change your mind about me?" the all-consuming gaze held her in thrall.

Would she let him go if her mother didn't approve? Aurelia indulged herself a long look at her potential husband, "I don't think I could give you up," She leaned into him, "I'd forgotten what it's like to have a friend. I haven't had many in the last couple of years."

"I have not made many either. Given what I am, it is understandable. Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course,"

Zinjo smiled and whispered, "You were worth the journey."

His hot breath on her ear caused her body to erupt in goosebumps, "Th-that's good to know. We should go," She turned and crashed into a mirror and fell backward. She winced in anticipation of pain. Pain eluded her on this day. One minute she fell, the next cradled in Zinjo's arms.

"You're fast, thank you.." Aurelia's feet found the floor, "Shall we go?"

*****

At the palace, Aurelia felt exposed and shamed. The guards gave Zinjo dirty looks, as did the servants. Zinjo didn't appear bothered by the animosity. They passed by the oil paintings of previous rulers and noted dignitaries. In an instant, his head snapped around and his head scanned the wall. He narrowed his eyes, and went, "Hmmm."

"Something wrong?" Aurelia linked her arm to his. Two butlers paused and scowled.

"Perhaps I am hearing things. Your kingdom is loud, it will take time to adjust," He studied the suits of armor, "It protects the body, this is wise."

"You don't have armor where you come from?" Aurelia wondered how their battles were fought.

"War is rare where I come from. If words cannot solve the problem, the disagreeing parties fight, and all outcomes are final by the ancient laws," Zinjo held the door to the dining room open for Aurelia, who straightened up her posture and walked with her head held high.

The table was the kingdom's greatest display of puffed-up popinjay and aristocracy. Men dressed in their best and brightest shirts. A few wore monocles, others carried silver-tipped canes. The women wore outrageous hairstyles and tried to convince each other of their superiority.

The queen endeavored to dress in elegance and locked herself in poise. She gestured to the young couple. "I present to you the next ruler of Shadowfen, Aurelia Dusk, and the man called Zinjo," She almost choked on her drink when she saw Zinjo.

The women locked their eyes on the werelion and played with their hair. Forced smiles appeared on their faces, some did not bother to hide their displeasure, they all whispered. The insult bothered Aurelia to no end. She waited for the ambient whispers and conversation to end. The assembled group of snobs continued to talk as if they weren't there.

"Hmmm," Zinjo grunted.

The behavior of the council and her mother burrowed into the deep well of anger. Aurelia turned to Zinjo, "Could you get their attention. I have a lot to say and…"

"Do you want the cat?" He asked as he caressed her face.

She touched his gentle hand and nodded, "Is it too much to ask?"

"No, these people have wronged you. They act like cubs stepping on each other's tails," Zinjo said. The snapping of bones and soft growls as Zinjo became his powerful alter ego. The guests all went white as Zinjo roared loud enough to rattle the crystal glasses. "Your future queen wishes to address you."

Aurelia put her hands on her hips. "For the last two years you have all acted like the spell's failure was my fault. I sat there and took your venomous words and disrespect with a grain of salt. This year the spell succeeded, and you're still unhappy with the result."

Everyone at the table looked at their shoes sheepishly and the queen struck the table with her fists and rattled the silverware, "Aurelia…"

Zinjo roared again, "Your daughter is not finished talking."

A dead silence came from Queen Sophie's mouth, and she relented. Aurelia rounded on the group, "Yes Zinjo is a werelion, I didn't know such people existed, you probably didn't either, but he has shown me nothing but kindness and respect, which is more than I can say for all of you. Come on Zinjo, we'll eat somewhere else."

The lion-man refused to go with her and walked toward the table as he returned to his form, "Your problems will not go away if you hide like prey," He pulled out a chair for her, "Try to find peace, and if they do not want it, I will challenge them," The pair talked as if no one else was in the room.

Aurelia regally walked to the table, her mother beamed with pride when the other occupants of the table looked away. "We need to talk about some other things later on,"

"Such as?" Zinjo asked, his all-consuming gaze brought Aurelia a little closer to heaven.

"The topics are not a suitable conversation for the dinner table."

Zinjo put his hand on hers and said, "Hmmm."

Aurelia smiled at Zinjo, and raised her head to the assembled gets, "Shall we eat?"