Stripes of Fury by Zenina Masters Page A

“I would be amenable to discussing it.”
    “Good. We will visit you in a few days for a family gathering.”
    “I look forward to it.” Abby leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Welcome to the family.”
    Nika stifled a snicker.
    He blinked and smiled in surprise. “Allow me time to adapt.”
    “Of course. Nika will tell you what you need to bring when you come over.”
    He chuckled. “I will pay careful attention.”
    “Good. She will make sure you do. We don’t have many traditions, but those we do have, we treat seriously.”
    “I understand.”
    At those words, the two couples parted and met with the visiting fey dignitaries who had come to witness the balancing.
    Nika didn’t have much use for the men who were ogling her, so she kept her face bland and polite but didn’t make a move to tell them off. It took all of her self-control.
    Once she had been shown off to those who had come to report to their various kings and princes, she leaned against Markkios. “I really need to go for a run.”
    He nodded. “I do as well. You had a lot more inside you than I gave you credit for.”
    They made their excuses and left their reception, heading for the shifter’s meadow.
    Markkios had to help her with her dress, but soon, she was leaving the changing cabana and flexing her hands as she prepared to do a controlled shift.
    He came out after her, without the armour and the silk. He was better naked and that was something she didn’t think about a lot of men.
    Together, they shifted, and she took her first few steps. Well, she was taller. That much was certain. There was something on her back that she wasn’t used to.
    Mark moved around her and flexed his wings.
    Her new appendages mimicked him.
    Holy crap, I have wings!
    She reared and pawed at the air, trying to get her balance. She took a few careful steps and then cantered along to get used to her new body.
    Mark stayed next to her as she got control of the wings. The moment she could manage, she put on speed.
    As she moved, the wings came up and flattened for balance and stability. Mark moved ahead of her, and she watched his wings flapping and lifting him off the ground.
    Her beast took the hint, and after a few fumbles, she was pulling herself upward through the air with the ground falling away beneath her.
    The rush of air around her was exhilarating. She followed Mark’s lead as he cruised over the Crossroads, past their reception where folk shouted and pointed at them.
    After she had gained competency with her wings, she realised that it was very tiring and she didn’t have much stamina. She circled and approached the meadow again, depending on her instincts to bring her down safely.
    Her legs started running and her wings moved to slow her forward progress. She hit the ground and ran to a stop.
    Her wings folded back, and she felt quite satisfied with her new skill. She shook her head, and to her surprise, her mane flipped around. Her mane never flipped, it was too brushy.
    Her hind leg itched, so she reached back to scratch it with her teeth, and that is when she saw her new hide. Black with white glyphs and markings moving under the skin; it was the counterpoint to her human form.
    She shivered and watched Markkios come down gracefully and without barreling for the cabanas. She took a few steps toward the cabana and started her shift. When she was naked and wearing wings, she flexed them and wrapped the soft feathers around her.
    Markkios came up next to her. “You have your wings already? Wow. It took me decades to bring them to my human form.”
    She smiled and rubbed the feathers against her. “I like the way it feels. It is like having a portable dress.”
    He chuckled. “Well, little angel, lose your wings so that we can return to the Open Heart. I need to collect our bags so that we can be transported to our home.”
    She nodded and headed back to the cabana, slipping on the silk gown and carrying the heavy dress. “Ready when you