Ren didn't move.
Neither did Syris. His arms stayed locked around her, and his chin stayed on top of her head.
"Kael I know," he said. His tongue flicked against her neck. "The other two I do not recognize."
Ren looked at her hands. "The tiger is Kael's brother. Kaelen."
"Why does he stay in his fur?"
Ren hesitated. "He can't change back."
Under her cheek, Syris went still.
"He's sick," Ren said. "The madness. But his eyes are gold. My food keeps them gold."
"You brought a feral into my palace." His voice stayed level. "Past my guards. To my hearth."
"His leg is torn up. I change his bandage. I feed him."
"And the tiger allows this?"
"It's his brother. Kael sits with him."
Syris made a low sound in his throat that could have meant anything.
"He hasn't touched one of your snakes," Ren added.
"Yet."
Ren didn't argue with that.
"Why him?" Syris asked. "Why does my mate spend her days feeding another male?"
"He saved my life."
"When?"
"That's part of tomorrow."
