Stripes of Fury by Zenina Masters

ready for the next one. The balancing grounds erupted in flowers strewn with golden chains; the wild scent of the flowers filled the air.
    After Nika had hugged her parents, she waited for the signal for her own moment.
    Markkios stepped out of the shadows, and Nika felt the tug to the podium. She stood in her place and then dropped the cloak. The crowd gasped with gratifying astonishment. A quick look down told her that she wasn’t naked, so the sound had to be admiration for the gown Teebie made.
    Markkios—he didn’t resemble a Mark at the moment—was in full regalia. His legs were covered by a split black silk skirt, his riding boots were black and the breastplate he was wearing had an embossed horse on it. His shirt was the same soft black silk that made up his trousers, and wristlets kept them away from falling over his hands.
    He looked perfectly at home in an ancient banquet or battle. The sword he was wearing was key to his identity as a warrior. It might be in his past, but he had the reflexes.
    He met her gaze, and he smiled. She smiled back, but it was difficult to match his confidence. He was dressed for his class. She was just playing dress-up.
    They stood facing each other, and the ceremony commenced. They were asked to place their palms on the podium, and Nika did. Feeling her shifter energy and fey energy join in to pull away from her left her feeling naked and vulnerable. When the power was balanced and she received the surge, her body didn’t know if it could contain it. It was a rush of power that took her from rejected shifter, to master of her own body.
    She held the magic and turned it inward, feeding it to her zebra. When she stood straight with the magic under control, she felt an urge to shift.
    Mark met her halfway and caught her in his arms as they kissed. He spoke soothingly. “Just breathe through it. The urge to run will dissipate.”
    “I want to run; I want to fly. My beast has some changes she would like to show me.” Nika smiled.
    “Well, we have a small reception now. We can go for a run before we head back to my home.”
    Funnily enough, now that her mother had a mate of her own, Nika was a lot less concerned.
    She looked down at her hand and jolted. Fine black lines were moving on her skin. They swirled, formed patterns and shifted again.
    “What is this?” She looked up at Markkios.
    “It is the skin you would have been born with if Frennin and your mother had been balanced. It is lovely. You are living magic.”
    He caressed her cheek with a wondering expression on his face.
    She wrinkled her nose. “So, I really have my stripes living on my body?”
    “You do. It looks surprisingly right. No one will doubt that you were born of the fey.” He chuckled.
    She hugged him briefly before they headed to the reception. Her mother was crying happy tears at her transformation, and her mother’s new fey traits suited her as well.
    Frennin bowed to her. “Lady of Horses. You look lovely.”
    She touched her father on the shoulder. “Father, stand up. You look as elegant as ever, and there is a happiness to you that is new. It is a good look for you.”
    He rose and hugged her. “The seers came to me the moment after you left. They told me that my happiness was in abasing myself to the woman who had born my child. I have to say, they were right.”
    She tapped his forehead. “How does it feel to have a beast in your mind?”
    Annabella filled in. “He now has his own Jiminy Cricket. He understands more of the part of him that he used to use for mischief.”
    Frennin shrugged and smiled. He had grown up that morning, and it was strangely wonderful to see.
    Markkios came up and put a hand around her waist. “Frennin, you are now my father-in-law, and as such, you are entitled to a certain amount of leeway. Do not abuse it.”
    Frennin grinned and bowed. “Of course, my lord.”
    “Abby, would you be interested in relocating your stable to be nearer to Nika?”
    Abby grinned.