Page 35 of Quick on the Claw

Tiffany’s throat tightened with emotion. “I want to be that for him,” she admitted softly. “I’m just... I’m afraid I’m not enough. That I’ll let him down or the kingdom down.”

Astra reached out, taking Tiffany’s hands in her own. “My dear, the very fact that you’re worried about that tells me you’re exactly what Zak needs. I’ve seen the way he is with you, how he lights up in your presence. He loves you, Tiffany. And I hope you’ll give this relationship a real chance.”

Tears pricked at the corners of Tiffany’s eyes. She blinked them away, offering Astra a watery smile. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I... I think I love him too.”

The weight of the revelation settled over her, both terrifying and exhilarating. As she left the sunroom, her mind whirled with thoughts of Zak, of their future together, of the challenges they’d face.

Lost in thought, Tiffany didn’t notice the hushed voices until she was nearly upon them. She froze, recognizing Rickon’s clipped tones coming from around the corner.

“...cannot trust these Earthlings,” Rickon said, his voice laced with disdain. “They’re a threat to our way of life, to our very culture. And this... this teacher, she’s filling our youth’s heads with dangerous ideas.”

Tiffany’s blood ran cold. She’d known Rickon was wary of her presence, but to hear him speak so openly about his distrust...

Before she could retreat, Rickon rounded the corner, nearly colliding with her. His dark eyes narrowed as he took in her presence. “Miss Whitlock,” he said, his tone icy. “Eavesdropping, are we?”

Tiffany straightened her spine, meeting his gaze squarely. “Not at all, Advisor Kynon. I was simply on my way to meet with Xakia about our next lesson. Though I must say, if you have concerns about my teaching methods, I’d be happy to discuss them with you directly.”

Rickon’s lip curled in a sneer. “I have no interest in discussing anything with you. Your presence here is temporary, and the sooner you return to your own world, the better.”

Anger flared in Tiffany’s chest. “I may be from Earth, Advisor Kynon, but I care deeply for this kingdom and its people. My only goal is to help bridge the gap between our worlds, to foster understanding and cooperation.”

“Pretty words,” Rickon scoffed. “But actions speak louder. And your actions, Miss Whitlock, are causing nothing but disruption and chaos.”

Before Tiffany could retort, a low growl rumbled through the corridor. Nyx appeared at her side, his hackles raised as he glared at Rickon. The advisor took an involuntary step back, his face paling slightly.

“I believe this conversation is over,” Tiffany said coolly. “Good day, Advisor Kynon.”

As she walked away, Nyx at her heels, Tiffany’s mind raced. Rickon’s hostility was more than just xenophobia; there was a calculating edge to his words that set her on edge. She’d need to talk to Zak about this, to warn him of the potential threat within his own court.

Her meeting with Xakia provided a welcome distraction from her troubling encounter with Rickon. The two women quickly fell into an animated discussion about integrating Earth’s history and culture into the Nova Auroran curriculum.

“I was thinking we could start with a comparative study,” Tiffany explained, sketching out a rough timeline. “Show the parallels between Earth’s major historical events and Nova Aurora’s. It might help the students understand the similarities between our worlds despite the obvious differences.”

Xakia nodded enthusiastically, her light blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “That’s brilliant, Tiffany! And perhaps we could incorporate some hands-on activities? Maybe recreate some Earth customs or celebrations?”

As they bounced ideas back and forth, Tiffany found herself genuinely enjoying the creative process. It reminded her of why she’d fallen in love with teaching in the first place – the thrill of inspiring young minds, of opening up new worlds of knowledge.

“You know,” Xakia said, a warm smile on her face, “I’m so glad Zak brought you here. Your ideas are truly revolutionary. I think you’re going to make a real difference in our kingdom.”

“I hope so. I just want to do right by these kids, to give them the tools they need to understand and appreciate both our worlds.”

A comfortable silence fell between them as they continued working. After a while, Tiffany cleared her throat, a question that had been nagging at her for days finally bubbling to the surface.

“Xakia,” she began hesitantly, “can I ask you something? About... about how matings work here?”

Xakia’s expression softened with understanding. “Of course. What would you like to know?”

Tiffany took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “I guess... I’m just trying to understand the whole concept. On Earth, we don’t have this instant recognition, this certainty that someone is meant for us. How does it work for shifters?”

Xakia’s eyes took on a dreamy quality as she explained. “For us, finding our mate is... it’s like coming home. The moment we see them, we know. It’s as if a piece of ourselves that we didn’t even know was missing suddenly slots into place. The bond that forms is unbreakable, a connection of mind, body, and soul.”

Tiffany listened, fascinated and a little overwhelmed. “That sounds... intense.”

Xakia nodded. “It is. But it’s also the most beautiful, fulfilling experience a shifter can have. To find your other half, the one person in all the universe who completes you... it’s indescribable.”

A thought occurred to Tiffany, sending a chill down her spine. “What... what happens if a shifter’s mate rejects them? Or if they can’t be together for some reason?”

Xakia’s expression turned somber. “It’s... not good. A shifter who has found their mate but can’t be with them... they’ll never be truly happy with anyone else. In extreme cases, they might even...” she trailed off, her voice dropping to a whisper. “They might die of loneliness.”

---