The Jaguar Star (Tales of the Were: Jaguar Island Book 4), Bianca D'Arc [pdf e book reader .txt] 📗

Adela shrugged. “It’s magic,” she said in her husky contralto.

Katrina would have stopped short, but Adela kept walking, so Katrina kept going. She realized magic was something Adela took for granted.

“Magical,” Katrina mused. “That’s a good word for it.”

This time, it was Adela who paused to look over and meet Katrina’s gaze. “More than a descriptive word in this case, my friend. It’s clear to me that Lord Montague has invested much time and study into protecting his home and lands. There is real magic here. Protective magic of a kind I have seldom encountered.” Adela shrugged and turned away to continue walking. “Of course, I have not met many of his kind in my time. I’m relatively young.”

Katrina wanted to ask Adela just how old she was but knew that would be rude. She was more interested in the magic at the moment, anyway.

“There are different kinds of magic?” Katrina asked instead.

“Many,” Adela replied almost absently as they strolled along. “Shifter magic is what I know best, but there are many other varieties, both good and evil.”

Adela shared what she knew of the various sorts of magic as they walked along, and Katrina counted it among the most interesting and informative conversations she’d ever had. Adela was becoming a good friend, she thought, and was warmed by the idea. It was nice to know that Ren’s friends and family were willing to accept her, even if she was just a non-magical nothing.

Adela returned with Katrina to the castle then ran off in the direction of the filming location in the woods. She had a fight scene to be part of, she said, and laughed as Katrina just shook her head and went inside. Margarete was crossing the main foyer as Katrina entered and paused to say hello. They chatted for a few minutes, and Katrina learned that Margarete had been invited to watch the filming that evening in the west gallery, along with a few other members of the family. Katrina wasn’t really surprised by Margarete’s enthusiasm, given her reaction to their arrival, and was glad of the heads-up. Katrina would have an audience to her work tonight, in addition to the film crew.

At the appointed hour just before sunset, Katrina got to work in earnest. They had some scenes to shoot in the west gallery before the sun went completely down and then some crucial scenes that they had to time right for when the sun shone through the ancient windows. Sonia had it all worked out and kept them to a strict schedule. The concentration required helped Katrina block out the audience of onlookers who were seated just behind the cameras, watching.

Chapter Twenty

Ren stood next to Sonia, watching them film Kat’s close-ups. Sonia was keeping them all on track with an iron will, but even she had to allow the camera crews a few minutes between shots to rearrange for the next take.

Kat was so beautiful she stole his breath, but there was something even more alluring about her now, since they’d made love and he’d claimed her as his mate. He remarked on this to Sonia and was surprised by her response. Sonia regarded him with a knowing smile on her face and laughter dancing in her eyes.

“Of course she looks different,” Sonia told him. “This is why I pushed to have all the early parts of the film done first. You’ve had this effect on her, Ren. Katrina now has the look of a woman in love. She will never have that same air of innocence she once had.”

It stunned him to know that he’d changed her on some fundamental level. Then, he wondered, had she changed him, as well? The answer came back immediately. Of course she had, but he wanted to know what others saw. He turned his questioning gaze on Sonia.

“Are my eyes calming down now, as the elders claimed they would?” He was almost afraid of the answer. Having more normal eyes could both alter his career and allow him greater freedom in the human world. It was a complex situation.

Sonia smiled gently at him. “They are. A little. But it’s a miniscule change that few would notice at this stage. I believe it will take years for your inner cat to settle completely. By that time, if he should fade from your famous eyes, it won’t matter. In fact, it would probably be for the best, since you’ll likely have retired by then and will want to alter your appearance in any case. But don’t worry, dear Ren, the cat is still there and will continue to be for a long time to come. I think he likes the attention he brings to your human form.” She laughed her musical laugh and took off to oversee her crew once more.

They were just about ready to resume with a new angle, and Ren tried to shake off his new awareness. He was going to be in the next sequence with Kat, and he had to get his head back in the Robin Hood game quickly. Timing tonight was crucial.

The scene was a romantic one, with the setting sun behind them. Ren knew he didn’t have to really act. Not with Kat. Not in a scene where he would have her in his arms and profess his love. For the first time in his acting career, when he spoke of love to a woman, he would mean every single word, every single gesture, every single heated glance.

When the time came to do the scene, he could feel the magic of it. This wasn’t just Robin talking to Marian. It was also Ren talking to Kat, professing his love and his desire for a lifetime together. He wondered, after it was over, if the people who would ultimately watch this film would realize the full extent of what had been happening. Even as he walked back to their room with his arm around Kat’s shoulders, his inner beast purring with satisfaction at having