Moonsong Glacier crystophora

It would have been difficult to miss the way she stiffened, given how close they sat. Dutch was not surprised by this reaction, though he was still not sure he understood the full reasoning behind it. She had been possessive of him at times, he thought. And he was a comfort to her. It must surely be unsettling to see change on the horizon. She had already been through much.

This would be enough, he thought. But although she'd told him she wanted no husband, the panther was not sure that he believed her.

"Speak," he said, his voice a soft command.