The Tiger Within Chapter 37

"Slain?" Talis asked, now realizing why the coldness seemed to radiate from the little cottage . His eyes swept over it again, now from the distance of the boulders he could see the b.l.o.o.d.y details of the door . The two small handprints on the porch like a child lost their ballance .

"Yes . The last of 3 betrayals that befell that family . " Verone affirmed . Folding his arms as he stared into the garden . His heart soothed a bit now that it was in site .

"Are you going to tell me or…" Talis asked after waiting patiently for several minutes . Verone seemed lost in thought but Talis was hooked now . He wanted… no needed to know . Verone sighed and nodded closing his eyes slowly .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Nearly 15 years ago Lady Shade of the Moon, Kyera's mother left her eldest son Keenan to raise his siblings . She betrayed them, leaving in the dead of the night to join the humans . " Verone replied shaking his head . Talis frowned, confusion then gave way to realization . That's why everyone hates Kyera's mother . "That was the first and simplest of all the betrayals the family faced . The second betrayal was by a Lion brother, Akam . " Verone continued after a short pause .

The tone with which he said the name hinted at a deeper hatred for the Lion . "Akam wanted Kyera for his bride, but her brother's tirelessly defended and protected her . She was only 10 when he began seeking her . " Verone explained his voice like ice again . Talis' frown deepened .

"She was just a child . " Talis pointed out, trying to understand the lion's logic . Verone nodded, realizing the boy had no experience with lion culture .

"The lions are different from us tigers . They gather their wives early so they grown and learn to hunt together . That's why a Pride is so skillful and insync as a group . The younger the brides are the better this works . " Verone was glad for a break in topic . This short lesson gave him time to compose himself . Sensing this fact, Talis played along and decided to appease his curiosity .

"what if he didn't like the woman his little bride became? If her personality clashed with his or say she grew to have a annoying voice or shapeless body?" Talis asked and was met with a cruel chuffing laugh . Verone shook his head slowly glancing at his brother .

"Come now . You have met Lionesses in town without mates . Old ones without children . " he pointed out and realization slowly dawned .

"so they are allowed to leave?" he asks sounding a touch relieved . That was the rational thing in his mind .

"No . They are abandoned, but still married . No Lion may have them and if they marry their own pride must kill them . That's the lucky ones fate . " Verone replied adjusting his position . "the unlucky ones are killed . Slowly starved while being forced to hunt for food they do not get to partake in . Helping other lionesses raise their young never to have their own . "

Talis waited a moment . His mind going over these sad possibilities . Either would be torture for a tigress . Being alone… without their own children or a companion . "No wonder the brothers said no . It wasn't worth the risk . " Verone nodded, proud his brother came to the same conclusion .

"Exactly . Kyera had a bright future and her brothers protected her but this caused a rift between The Lions and the Tigers setting up for the second betrayal . Have you ever noticed that there are only 2 lion sentries in the guard, and both work the north gate?" Verone asked looking at his brother expectantly . The youth's mind could be seen whirling behind those youthful eyes . A small wrinkle appearing between his brows .

"I never noticed before, but Bana and Everett…" he said nodding once he was sure "yea those are the only lions I've seen on guard . "

"And that's because of the blood spilt in this very house . You see Akam was a sentry, being as he wasn't king yet . He betrayed The Shade of the Moon family at that very post . " Verone's words became monotone, controlled .

"How did he betray them as a sentry? I mean all he had to do was alert the family when… . " he trailed off and his eyes darkened . Verone nodded slowly .

"All he had to do was pull the bell line . " Verone agreed "That is what made this such a betrayal so d.a.m.ning . There was more effort to ignore and try to cover than to pull the bell string . "