Roar of Magic Read Online Free

didn’t plan to fight to a draw. Your beast has some moves on her.”
    Anessa snorted.
    “No, really. I fight dirty and still didn’t manage to get the upper hand.”
    Ystine chortled. “You didn’t pull out your tiger, so you weren’t fighting that dirty. At least, she has instincts and is willing to use them.”
    Lee chuckled and rocked back and forth slightly while Amelia fed.
    With her second day of shifting under her belt, Anessa felt marginally better about losing her position at the zoo. At least she had gotten up close and personal with a big cat.
     
    * * * *
     
    Day three was speed drills across the gardens and running an agility course. Lee remained human, and Amelia cheered her on with high-pitched shrieks.
    After her third hour in her four-footed body was over, she noted a shadowy figure standing on the hill near the house.
    The wind blew, and she knew what she was sensing. There was an elf on that hill.
    Anessa crouched and bounded toward the man on the hill. She reached him, and he disappeared. She knew his scent and circled the area looking for more traces of him. Leroc had been watching her, and she couldn’t find where he had gone.
    Ystine came up to her and asked, “What are you sensing, Anessa?”
    She shifted back to human. “There was a man here. An elf and he was watching me.”
    “Leroc Alberthswitch. He was the one who contacted us in regards to you. I imagine he wanted to know what kind of big cat you are.” Ystine was completely calm that an elf had intruded on her territory.
    “Right. So, you knew he would be here?” Anessa didn’t wait for an answer. She stroked her hand through the grass where Leroc had been standing and rubbed the fine powder left behind through her fingers. Her instincts told her not to inhale.
    She got up and headed down into the lower garden while Ystine followed her. Anessa got her bag and scraped the powder off her fingers and into an envelope.
    Ystine cocked her head. “What is that?”
    “Residue. He leaves it where he transports. I have seen it once before. I want to take it and find out what it is.”
    A noise snapped her head around. Two men were at the top of the staircase and on their way into the garden.
    Amelia shrieked with delight, and her little arms and legs were running toward them with Lee holding her in the air. The younger of the two men laughed, his dark hair falling over one eye. Lee walked over to greet them, and he swept both her and her daughter into an embrace that was just this side of decent.
    Ystine kissed her husband with more restraint, but the affection was still there.
    Lee smiled and made the introductions. “Anessa, this is my husband, James, and this is the Master Alpha, Norman Exeter. If we could find your family ties, you would be under his responsibility, as it stands, you can become a full member of the pride if you wish to, but you have to apply to the pride.”
    Anessa nodded to both men who were amused for some reason. “Pleased to meet you. I still have some more circuits to run.”
    She turned and shifted, running through the course until she had completed the circuits.
    When she was done, she trotted over to the cabana and got dressed. She headed back to the veranda where the gathering was having a snack. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and smiled. “Thank you for the training session, Lee. What else do I need to know?”
    Lee blinked. “Um, that is it. Your instincts are sound, you can control your shift under duress and shift on the fly. You are physically trained to be a competent lioness.”
    Anessa reached out and let Amelia take two fingers in her little hand. “Nice meeting you, little miss.”
    Ystine frowned. “Don’t you wish to know about the pride and how to join?”
    Anessa inclined her head politely. “I have never been one to join something just because I should. I don’t feel drawn to the idea and that is enough for me. Even my beast is indifferent to the idea. Please excuse me, but