I may have appreciated the act 

but I did not shed a single tear

I had none left in me

No idea if I’m truly left alone

What to make of my new home

I wait 

Wondering when footsteps will come

My hearts quiets beneath the bone 

I fight the quiver in me 

But it’s not from the sense of fear

Simply the weight of the facts

My mate will not want me 

No one had before

In fact I’m probably a 

punishment 

A ploy to curb my husband’s momentum 

I have no means to support us

I have no looks for them to feast on

I have no skills 

or strength 

Or stature that suit a high ranking match 

So

When the sound of muted thunder rolls my way 

The hair on my neck stands 

Seeking to make the best impression 

My face pulls into my lips into a smooth line 

Brows unwrinkled 

Hands automatically reach to comb the hair into my eyes 

I’m unharried to remove my hands as I know the visitor has seen everything 

Both my features and the motion just now 

Leisurely I go back to clasping my hands in front of me as the musit nears 

He doesn’t walk 

He prowls 

I can’t see through the thickness of my bangs but I’m aware

I feel his eyes on me 

Quietly making his way closer as he sizes me up 

Circling around me 

Thinking to terrify me into submission 

But I am scared of nothing 

The worst has already happened 

So I don’t hesitate to evade when his sharp nailed hand stretches towards me

I do not make a habit of letting people touch me unpermitted. 

I imagine there’s few who’d 

want that permission.

He can’t help but hiss at the last bit 

Who are you?

Zubair, blood of Kashif. 

Son of Naveed and Hagar…?

A purring rises in the room from his delight 

You have heard of me?

No, I’ve heard of him. You are not him. 

You have not met me.

I have not met him. Nor you. 

But I do know he is not a tiger. He has a unique pattern of markings along the ankles of his feet, and tips of his hand tht indicate he is a panther… He also has better things to do than meet his hideous mate.

Hmm…They did say you were a few steps above unintelligent.

He exits my limited sight

But the test is far from over

Breath hits the back of my nape 

I twist at the invasion 

Foot ready to propel but he fists my hair 

Spots flying across the room as 

His claws scrapes the side of my dress

A trail of nausea left in its wake 

Suddenly I am looking into pure white twirling flecks 

Winter cold seeping into my bones with every beat of my heart 

The flecks become stalagmites 

I the one stranded under at them 

endangered of being injured by his 

eyes 

moving across my body as hands would 

Callously wondering

Stopping at my chest and hips 

At least you’re self aware, and decent below the shoulders. I think this one will do just fine, my friend. 

As if. She can’t even defend herself like a proper adult.

The man belonging to the voice is a black panther

There’s no mistaking it

Moss and river tangible to my buds

Midnight brown skin overshadowed by the huge rosettes of black 

Waves oozed from him 

threatening to knock me down 

Like the rosettes 

the green of his eye threatened to color the entirety of the organ 

How funny 

He is full of color and I am empty 

Let her go. I wish to see my mate.

My body is released too sudden for me to find purchase 

The sound of my knees thumping against stones reverberates 

Echoes of my humiliation go in one ear and out the other 

I’m too dazed by 

my dress tightening around my front before ripping 

Back tensing tighter than an archer’s bow 

The straps of my top fall away like 

A wilting flower before a harsh light

I’m an overwhelmed

Overpowered by his strength 

This was the Mist of the Night Bloom 

The prized child of Kashif

Pawing at my clothing

Leaving scratches and bleeding abrasions

He paints me red 

Red with his malice 

Red with his fury 

Red with lust that trails down to my hips

Soaking into fabric at my waist

Cat got your tongue?

Just my life.

His bee stung lips smirk down at me

Mehrdad, send her to the room and get Elu to clean her up.

Time passed but he still gazed at me as Mehrdad yanks me up

I never look away from his strange eyes

A quiet huff leaves him

I suppose she’ll work.