A Lion's Heart Read Free

was young and obviously not treated well. Shakra could see fleas and the glint of a metal collar with a length of chain attached. Shakra supposed that was how they dragged it out of the cage for taming sessions. As dirty as it was, they certainly weren’t taking it out to bathe.
    The werelion’s face was young and handsome, but the skin looked pale and the mouth pinched with stress and hardship. The creature was suffering, Shakra thought, and almost believed that it wasn't strong enough to live much longer until he saw the fierce glint of silver eyes under the werelion’s reddish brown lashes. It was then that Shakra realized that the werelion was biding its time and possibly faking helplessness. Shakra found it hard not to smile as he decided that the werelion needed some assistance.
    “Open the cage so I can get a better look,” Shakra ordered the werecheetah. “I may have a use for it.”
    The werecheetah became eager. “Of course, sir, I'll call my assistants to pull it out and restrain it.”
    Shakra put on his most arrogant air, the one he had learned from Shang, and said, “How dare you think that is necessary! I am far stronger than a mangy werelion, trader!”
    The werecheetah clasped its hands together in an odd, nervous gesture. “Of course, sir! Sorry, sir. Just as you wish.”
    The werecheetah unlocked the heavy lock with a large key. He opened the cage and quickly stepped back, not willing to risk his skin. Shakra took up the chain, felt the weight of it, and then let it slide out of his hand. “Damn! I dropped it.”
    The werelion burst from the cage in one mighty spring, snarling, teeth barred, and silver eyes full of murder. Shakra ducked aside. The werecheetah shrieked and ran. The werelion didn't bother with either of them. It was gone like a shot of lightning into the crowd, running flat out on all fours, thick tail flying behind it along with the length of chain. The screams and parting of the terrified people showed Shakra its path.
    “Damn he's fast!” Shakra swore and took off after him. He wasn't sure what his plan was or why he was even bothering running after the werelion. If Shang found out that he was running out of the city and into the surrounding forest after a very angry, savage, savannah werelion, he was certain the werelizard would have heart failure.
    As Shakra suspected, the weakened creature didn't get far. Shakra found it collapsed near a river bank and lapping greedily at the water. “Not too fast,” Shakra warned, “You'll make yourself sick.”
    The chain was trailing behind it and the iron collar looked cruelly tight. The dirt, the fleas, and the weariness of the werelion, was at odds with the molten challenging silver eyes glaring at Shakra. They said, clearer than words, that he wasn't beaten and that he was ready to die rather than allow it. Yes, he , Shakra thought with satisfaction. Those eyes told him this was an intelligent were, not a mindless animal.
    “It's all right,” Shakra soothed and lowered himself down on his haunches to show that he wasn't a threat. He kept his ears up and his tail relaxed, hoping that the werelion understood werewolf body language. “I freed you, remember?”
    The werelion clearly didn't think much of that fact. He was suddenly bolting again, chain dragging behind him until it caught on tree roots and brought him up short. Shakra expected a savage display of panic. Instead, the werelion raced back to the end of the chain to free it. It was more proof that he could reason, Shakra thought, and took advantage of the werelion's exposed neck and back to pounce on him.
    It was like jumping on steel springs. The werelion was hard to pin down and he almost escaped, almost lashed Shakra with its claws, but then Shakra's jaws were closing on the werelion's dirty neck and his greater strength was holding him to the ground.
    It was a show of dominance and Shakra couldn't help doing it. He was part wolf and a crouched creature exposing its