Eternal Tigress(Chapter 3&4)

-Chapter 3

Julia could not remember more of the encounter as she sat up upon her bed breathing heavily. Her gasp for air and disturbance had awakened Valentina who slumbered nearby in the imperial bedroom of the Dushka Palace. Valentina, the Queen's lady-in-waiting, was just seven years older than Julia. Valentina had become her trusted best human friend. She had been loyal to her Queen since Julia was age eleven. Sir Alexander hand picked Valentina to be the Queen's lady anticipating Julia blossoming into a beautiful young maiden. There was no doubt that Julia would develop to be a true reflection of her mother, former Queen Yelena. Regent Sir Alexander took his duty seriously in caring, grooming, preparing and advising young Queen Julia in the absence of his brother, King Radimir. Regent took pride in his own title and duty to the country of Novaland. Its bountiful forest offered protection and a close country with good, easy people to govern. Tucked away and forgotten by the modern world gave their country a magical charm.

Valentina was the only one who Julia discussed her dances with Leonti. The tiger she met within her dreams. Leonti and Julia shared a soul connection within the forest. The aura that swept around them was so mesmerizing. Leonti's golden orange fur would shine in the moonlight like fire within her tigress eyes. Julia would awaken by her window with her tigress eyes and the reflection of her love within. Valentina would listen enthralled when Julia explained her dreams upon waking. Valentina could not question Julia's connection to the forest because she'd seen how it pulled her home to the forest every night. Valentina also understood why she would find the Queen asleep and naked by the window some mornings. In Julia's dreams she didn't need to imagine the Siberian tiger whose roar she longed to hear in her waking hours. In her dreams she was a tigress and they danced together in the nocturnal lights.

-Chapter 4

Leonti stood at the edge of the Amur River. He let out a roar that shook the forest around him. The heavy water droplets of the trees fell down to the ground around him. Again another roar louder than the one before reflected the deep anguish he felt inside. He pledged himself worthy of love before the mystical powers of the river in hopes that it would bring him his love.

He wanted more than just the encounters with Julia in the cover of nocturnal bliss and magic. Leonti felt that Julia was his mate in the absence of Black Dragons magic. The cruel mercy of the Black Dragon to tempt Leonti with a love he couldn't have. Julia was human and only a tigress in her dreams. Without Julia, her absence was like a nightmare. Leonti believed he possessed the power to bring his love to him. To stay forever, Leonti's eternal tigress, Julia. He adored her blazen ginger hair Her freckles helped to illuminate her hazel eyes. Julia's eyes had a depth to them that no one person could explain. Leonti could, he could explain how it resembled the aura that swept around them at night.

By day Leonti admired her beauty as she would share a new story from her reading in their frequent meeting in the dasha garden. Leonti in his human form was the groundskeeper of Dushka Palace. He anticipated his meetings with Julia within the well planned maze of the dasha garden. Leonti took in how she praised his skill within the lush greenery and vibrant floral backdrop that would adorn the Palace during late spring and summer. Leonti admired her mind and knew she'd be a good Queen to the country. A good love that could only touch his soul. Leonti couldn't help but want more, more time, more conversation, more of Julia for himself . Leonti knew what he needed to do and he needed to do so before it was too late and Julia would no longer be able to transition between his reality and her dreams. Novaland's Queen and Leonti's tigress.