Free In the Light of the Moon (Dark War Chronicles) by A.L. Kessler Page B

resistance, no scolding heat came as they shifted and
the skin stretched. Fur flowed over her body as her face changed and her spine
bowed. When Kass opened her eyes images sharpened and sounds graced her ears.
Her heart leapt at the noises of the river and the wind blowing through the
trees. There, she wanted to go there. She ran, her paws silent against the
ground as she moved toward the river. The damp ground molded against the pads
on her feet as she made her way to the flowing water. The sounds of the night
rushed past her. Scents graced her nose and she delighted in it until a
familiar one could be smelled above them all. Freezing, she sniffed the air
once more just to make sure.  
    Switching directions, she ran down stream until his scent became perfectly
clear to her. Jaxon. She paused when she entered a clearing and saw him
standing in the middle of it, also in panther form.
    His fur was just a touch lighter than hers, but he towered over her,
even in animal form. His muscles tensed as he crouched and flicked his tail at
her in a playful manner. A growl trickled from him, daring her to come forward.
    Kass wiggled her butt as she crouched, mirroring him, her tail twitched
from side to side as she army crawled toward the other panther. Once she was
close enough she pounced pinning him to the ground on his back. Their yellow
eyes met and something clicked. A strange feeling of warmth blossomed in Kass’
chest and she backed off.   Her head
tilted to the side, it was like she knew this cat from before, her beast knew
him somehow.   She felt comfortable
with him, safe, her panther wanted nothing more but to curl up at his side even
if the human part of her resisted.
    Jax flipped back to his feet and looked at her mirroring her motions,
but then turned and took off. Kass followed him and nipped at his tail when she
caught up with him. He led her to the stream and bent down to take a drink
before laying down, his massive head on his paws. Kass walked over and took a
few drinks before curling up next to him. He nuzzled her head and then dragged
his tongue from her nose to the top of her head. She shook her head, jumped up
and ran into the woods again, with him close on her tail.
    She looked up at the sunrise as she crested the top of the hill. She
sat and waited for Jax, once he came close she shifted. Her human form
swallowed the panther without resisting, leaving her naked and staring at the
beautiful colors painted across the clouds. Jax shifted next to her and then
pulled her into the curve of his body. “We should go back inside.”
    “And miss this?” She motioned to the sun. “I don’t think so. I rarely
get a night of freedom. I don’t care if I’m sitting naked. I’m warm from the
run, and the sun will warm the air soon enough. Lucius is fast asleep and I
don’t feel like hurrying back to captivity.”
    Jaxon laid his head on hers and sighed. “All fair points. What did you
do to earn tonight?”
    She paused, having to think about it and then looked away. “I killed
someone.”
    “So he wasn’t exaggerating, you are his killer.”
    She swallowed. “I’m not his only killer, but I’m the best. Because of
the control he strips from me my human emotions don’t get in the panther’s way.
It’s rare that he grants me a night like tonight where my panther and I work
together.”
    “Who are you killing?”
    “I can’t answer that.” She pushed away from him, the good mood she had
fading at the questions. “I really can’t. I shouldn’t be sitting here next to
you.” She stood, but he pulled her back down to his lap.
    He nuzzled and kissed her neck. “Okay, I’m sorry, I won’t push.”
    She relaxed and let him hold her as the sun continued to rise. Once the
sun was up and the clouds no longer held their glow they made their way back.
Kass donned her clothes when they came across them and started to the back door
of the mansion. She had expected that he would disappear, but he stayed