So this is a message for those asking when you're going to see Snowflake and Kendall. Try to be patient and remember that this isn't their story. This is Cayne, Kai, and Ivy's story. You will see them, but not soon, okay? My focus is to develop my new characters, not existing ones. I know you miss them almost as much as I do, but if I include them now, you'll demand more and I'll include them again and again and again until they become the focus of the story, not the others. So enjoy these characters because before you know it, you'll miss them too :) 

A female leopard is a leopardess.

Chapter Five

Prince Gordon went over to his chair and we stood there, unsure. However, the Prince was quick to fix that.

"Sit, please," he said, motioning towards one of the two elegant chairs in front of him. I glanced back at Kai, but his eyes were solely on the Prince.

I went towards the chair and sat down, smoothing the soft fabric of my dress after I did so. The chair was surprisingly comfortable, much more comfortable than it looked.

Kai's response didn't surprise me. "I'll stand," he said shortly, standing directly behind my chair, a hand resting on my shoulder. He was an overprotective lumeleopard, something that would not change, even if he no longer had a leap.

"Whichever you prefer. It is a pleasure to officially meet you, Kai," Prince Gordon said, offering his hand. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, suddenly feeling homesick.

In the village, our leap used to joke about handshakes. To humans, they were a sign of respect and a discrete test of dominance. They were friendly and welcoming. To us, they were only a clear sign of disrespect.

Handshakes were the least intimate form of contact. A standard greeting, stranger or not, involved much more. You had to pull them in for a close hug, lasting longer than a second. A kiss on the cheek was also required. Our leap also ran our noses along one another to show the mutual affection and trust.

Kai hesitated but went over to shake his hand, their eyes locking as they did so. I watched as Kai tested the Prince, his grip growing more and more constricting with each second. I thought perhaps he would finally let go when it was becoming obvious, but he didn't.

"Kai!" I snapped and his eyes flickered as he registered what he was doing before he let go, walking over to stand behind me once again.

The Prince had remained calm the whole time, although I knew Kai's grip must've caused him pain. Even now he didn't say anything, just watched Kai, his eyes cold.

"I'm sorry, Prince Gordon. Allow me to show you a leap remedy that does wonders for the cubs," I tried, walking over to him, shooting Kai a glare along the way.

"Allow me," I said with a smile, holding out my hand for his. I waited for him to take back his word and have us punished or killed. But my fears eased when his large hand overlapped mine.

"The leap cubs would cry their hearts out and a leopardess would run to their rescue, demanding to know what was wrong. They would tell us through their little tears and we would kiss their wounds, telling them that love and affection could heal anything. Their tears would instantly dry up before they ran off, filled with laughter," I explained, a faint smile on my face at the memories.

I then pressed my lips lightly on his hand and teased, "Are you all better, my jumbu?"

"Much better," he said quietly, his smile gone. His green eyes were still on me, however, staring intently.

I was the one who broke the contact, looking away and letting go of his hand. I walked back to the chair, making sure not to make eye contact with Kai, as I was too afraid to.

Thankfully, Prince Gordon didn't hesitate in talking, clearing his throat before doing so. "The best way for people to become less resistant towards your kind is by allowing you both to go out into public, with protection of course. It will allow them to realize that their hatred is no longer needed."

I nodded, agreeing. It made sense, although I knew it wouldn't be easy. Human minds didn't seem built for change, as much as they claimed they had the ability to do so.

"We will begin by travelling to my two brother's lands. This will allow you to be seen and be safe, as they both have as many guards as me, and Protectors. From there, we visit the lands, where the public resides. They are who you aim to impress, not my brothers."

I could feel excitement bubbling through my veins, but at the same time, fear clutched at my bones and rattled me. It was an opportunity that wouldn't show itself for our kind ever again, but there was a grand chance that Kai and I would somehow mess things up, possibly worsening the situation. Overall, the risk was worth it. Right?

"Excellent. Tomorrow we will begin your training and teaching you etiquettes. For that, I think it would be best to separate-" Prince Gordon wasn't able to finish.

"No," Kai said, his voice absolute.

I sighed before saying, "Kai, let's just-"

"No. I was separated from my leap and look what happened! You think I'm going to leave my mate with murderers?" He snapped, his voice rising so much that I instinctively lowered my head.

"They will not harm her," Prince Gordon said, now standing too. But one was trying to reassure while the other was refusing to listen, getting them both nowhere.

"If you separate us then I'll show you the true reason our kind should be feared," Kai threatened before he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me outside. I attempted to apologize, but Kai was quick in his steps.

I may not have remembered the way back to our temporary rooms, but Kai had been paying close attention. He led us through the halls without hesitation, fast as ever. I could feel his anger through his long strides and the tight grip he wasn't aware he had on my arm.

When Kai finally pushed me into one of the rooms, I was furious with him. I don't think I'd ever been so angry with him as I was in that moment.

"What did you just do Kai? Don't you realize what we could do?" I snapped at him and his eyes flashed. He didn't like me raising my voice at him.

"What am I doing? What are you doing? You're kissing a Prince like a desperate leopardess, forgetting he's the reason our leap is dead!" Kai yelled, his face twisted with his own anger.

I blinked, surprised that his words were actually hurting me. I would never forget the image of our leap scattered around us like a ragdoll, torn and bloody. No one would be able to forget something like that. But Prince Gordon himself wasn't responsible for their deaths.

The men who had tortured them were the reason our leap was dead, our village destroyed. Prince Gordon wasn't there and I was certain he hadn't known it was happening. Why else would Martin have had to explain we were here and why we were?

"Kai, this is an opportunity our leap wanted to achieve more than anything! Is it better to resist them, making us useless in their eyes and accomplishing nothing? Or is it better to do what our leap wanted and at least try to change the negative perspective they have on our kind?" I asked, walking closer to him with each word.

When I finished, Kai was quiet, only staring at me. I wrapped my arms around him, placing my chin on his chest, looking into his eyes. I actually thought for a moment that I had changed his mind. But then he spoke and I realized no one could change Kai, ever.

His face held no emotion as he said, "The leap leopardesses were right when they told me you would only bring me disappointment."

I stood still for a second, the words ringing through my ears. I had known what the women said about me, along with their strong opinions on me mating with Kai. They would've talked that way about any woman Kai chose as his Intended Mate. What I didn't know was how Kai felt about that.

I yanked away from Kai, tears threatening to spill. His eyes flickered as he realized what he said, regret forming on his face. But he couldn't take back his words.

"Südame..." he whispered softly, leaning forward as if to pull me towards him. But I took a step back before I opened the door and took off.

I didn't know where I was going, but I kept running to avoid Kai's voice, his harsh words chasing after me, taunting me. No matter how many halls I passed through, they were still there.

I found my legs collapsing under me at the end of a hall, not caring about the numerous enforcers. My tears escaped, invading my face and falling like sorrow-filled raindrops onto my dress.

I pressed my back against the wall, hugging my legs to my chest as I cried, giving in. I cried for the heart-breaking loss of my leap again, and for the shame I was bringing them. Maybe Kai was right and my actions would have disappointed them, not made them proud. I'd never been the proper leopardess in their eyes and that hadn't changed. I was still a disgrace, nothing more.

Kai was the pride of the leap, a natural leader they said. I hadn't expected to be his Intended Mate, yet he'd chosen me out of all the leopardesses. I'd taken it for granted I suppose and told him to wait. I'd told him the time would come, but fourteen certainly wasn't it. Years later and I still hadn't been ready.

Maybe I could finally gain approval in the leap's eyes by telling Kai yes. I would become his mate and within a few months, we would be expecting the first little addition to our leap. So why did his words still bite at me?

My thinking was silenced by a light hand covering my shoulder. I looked up, stained eyes and face, expecting to see Kai but found a pair of startling green eyes staring at me with worry.

I expected him to ask me if I was okay, or ask what I was doing so far from the room. I even expected him to scold me for Kai's words in his office.

"Would you like to accompany me on a visit to my parent's house? They wanted to meet the two of you later, but I do not think they would object if I brought you on my regular visit," he said softly, his words keeping Kai's at bay.

I opened my mouth to tell him no, that I should be getting back to Kai. Unfortunately, my words turned the other way, throwing my earlier thoughts out the window.

"Yes please."  

[lumeleopard - snow leopard]

[jumbu - little one]

[südame - my heart]