Page 134 of Sun Warrior

“That’s what it looked like.”

“I guess it would,” he said. “Bast and I were playing a chase and tag game. It keeps us sharp. Plus, it’s fun.”

“It looked fun.” Danita’s gaze slid down to Antreas’s very normal-looking hands. “Something happens to your hands when you play the chase game. They change, don’t they?”

Antreas’s eyes found hers. “Yes. They change. Does that frighten you?”

“No!” Danita said, surprised that he would ask. “Not at all. Um. So, your hands change sometimes. Like when you’re flying from tree to tree. Can you make them change whenever you want them to, or does it only happen when you’re in the trees?”

“Since Bast chose me and we completed our bonding, my hands have changed, but it’s a change I control.” There was an awkward pause and then he added, “Other things about me are different, too.”

“Oh, you mean like your hair?”

“How did you know that?” Antreas asked as his hand automatically lifted to touch the back of his neck and the Lynx-like pelt that grew there and down his spine.

“Well, it’s obvious. Your hair’s long, but I can see Bast’s fur within it. I figured there’s more of it. Is that normal for Lynx Companions? Did you have that fur before you met Bast? What else has changed? Your eyesight? Bast has awesome eyesight. Or maybe your hearing?”

“Slow down! One question at a time!” Antreas’s smile was surprised and pleased.

“Oh, sorry. It’s just that I’ve been spending a lot of time with your Lynx—but you know that.”

“I do. Bast loves you.”

Danita’s gray-eyed gaze met Antreas’s golden stare. “I love her, too,”she said with no hesitation. The silence between them stretched and stretched. Danita wished Bast would say or do something to interrupt—the Lynx was rarely silent—but just then she was curled up between them, appearing to be asleep, though Danita doubted it. She cleared her throat. “Um, that’s why I want to know all this stuff. It’s fascinating because Bast is fascinating.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Should there be another?” Danita shot back at him with one brow arched.

“Not necessarily. Okay, so, here goes: Yes, I can make my claws come out whenever I want them to. No, I didn’t have claws or Bast’s fur or enhanced vision or hearing until she chose me and I passed her test.”

“Wait; nowyouneed to slow down. I want to hear about this test, but first would you mind showing me your claws?” Danita gave him a hesitant smile. Bast’s purr heated up.

“I wouldn’t mind, as long as you don’t scream or anything like that.”

“Scream? Why would I do that?” Danita asked.

“Let’s just say that women who have never been around a Lynx Chain can sometimes be sensitive to things like claws,” Antreas said.

“Well, they must be silly women. I won’t scream. I give you my word.”

“Okay then.” Antreas held out his hand, shook his wrist slightly, and from the beds of his fingernails thick, pointed claws emerged.

Danita sucked in a breath. “Wow! That’s fabulous! May I touch them?”

Antreas met her gaze. “Yes.”

Danita wasn’t hesitant. She reached out and ran a finger down the claw of his pointer finger, pressing it softly against the tip.

“That’s really sharp,” she said. “So, it’s because of these claws that you can fly through the trees like Bast?”

“Yes, that and my enhanced strength. My bond with Bast is deep. When she bit me and I didn’t die, it changed who I am at a basic level.”

“Bast bit you!” Danita blurted, her eyes going to the Lynx, who still pretended to be napping but whose yellow eyes could be seen slitted through partially closed lids as her purr rolled around them.

“Yep, and it was the best day of my life.”

“You’re going to have to explain that,” Danita said, curling closer to Bast so that she could stroke the Lynx’s soft fur as they spoke.