Page 49 of The Marked Princess

“Kella,” she breathed, reaching her hand out as the beast approached. The cat looked back at her with solemn, yellow eyes. Her head came all the way up to Josselyn's chest, even as she stood on all fours. Muscles rippled beneath her sleek fur, oozing power. Her chest rumbled with a low purring sound, and she leaned her head into Josselyn's outstretched hand.

“You came,” she said, projecting the words into Josselyn's head.

Josselyn ran her hand up over Kella's head, stroking the fur behind her large, tufted ears before sliding down the cat's neck and leaning in so that their foreheads pressed together.

“I had a little help.” Her lips quirked upward into a slight grin, as Kella's chest rumbled with something akin to laughter. “Okay, I had a lot of help, but I'm here, and that's what matters.”

She pulled back a bit, giving Kella a serious look. “I've been trying to reach you, to call you out, but it never seemed to work.”

“I know. I could hear your voice, but the words were muffled, absorbed in some sort of barrier that was keeping me from reaching you. I was only able to break through with Luxeos' assistance.”

Josselyn wandered over to the edge of the pool, focusing on the churning water at the bottom of the falls. “I wondered... I wondered if maybe you were displeased with me... that I wasn't the warrior you'd been hoping for.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I've always prided myself on being strong, but I'm not... I'm weak. And then Luxeos shows up and tells me I'm descended from some ancient Shendri warrior who helped to unite the kingdoms in the fight against some crazy demigod? What a let down I must be for you.”

Kella huffed, dropping down onto the ground beside Josselyn and pressing her considerable weight against her legs. Josselyn's fingers reached down to trail along the cat's silky fur, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do.

“Shendri, please. Did you or did you not free yourself from that guard in the castle, allowing you to escape through the kitchens?”

Josselyn lifted a shoulder in a shrug but didn't respond. Kella pressed on. “And that night, in the forest, when you were running away. Didn't you stop and face your attacker, defeating him soundly, I might add?”

Josselyn's hand stilled as she thought back to that night.

“And when that man, Conrad, kidnapped you, did you give up? Or did you fight back with everything you had?”

“I fought back,” Josselyn grumbled, dropping down to the ground beside Kella and leaning into her side. “But I lost.”

Kella's chest rumbled with a low growl. “So you lost. So what? No one ever said you had to be undefeated. You have the heart of a warrior, and I am honored to be a part of you.”

“Thank you.”

The words were whisper soft, but Kella's responding purr confirmed they'd been heard. “We are tied together, Shendri, bound by ancient magics. Our very existences are dependent upon each other. The more we connect and train, the further we'll be able to push our limits. I'm not sure what those limits are at the moment, but I'm eager to find out.”

“As am I.” Josselyn grinned into Kella's fur, giving it a loving stroke. “Will I still be able to hear you, once I'm out of this dream world, or wherever it is I am? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure...”

“You should be able to, and I you. Call for me when you have need. I'm always ready for a good fight.” Her eyes glinted, and Josselyn chuckled.

“Just so long as you leave the prince for me.”

“Hmm. I'll try to hold back, but no promises.”

“So... how do I get back, anyway?”

“ ….”

“You have no idea, do you?”

“Not so much, no.”

“I would think a celestial beast like yourself would have a bit more knowledge about these things.”

“Hmph. The dragon was always the tediously 'wise' one. I'm more interested in the physical, myself.”

Josselyn's jaw dropped open, and she sat back, looking at Kella with round eyes. “There's a dragon?! Are you serious?”

“I wouldn't get too excited. If he's been dormant as long as I have, he's probably been reduced to lizard status. Which would suit me just fine. Pompous piece of work, that Artemis.”

“You mean the celestial beasts can change over time?”

“Well, not if they're as strong as me, but, in general, yes. Take your friend Lily, for example. Her beast used to be the great, red phoenix, Suzaku, and now look at her. No bigger than a robin.”