Unicorn Valley IV: Moontyger’s Quest

First, you must want to live.

When Moontyger sets out to find the descendants of the lost Kirinn clan with the Unicorn Mercenary Jamir as her protector, Imperial Dragon Li Chin knows he has little time to act. He’s kept his love for Moontyger a secret for far to long! He’d be jealous of the Unicorn, if only he/she weren’t so terribly attracted to Jamir, as well, in both his male and female forms. There’s only one problem with this opportunistic ménage — Li Chin is dying, and only the love of the pair of them came save him — even if he can’t tell them his terrible secret.

With the Dragon and the Mercenary as her guides, Moontyger sets off on her quest, oblivious to the secrets both men share. The trail will take them down the humans’ Silk Road, and into the heart of their secret lusts and fears, where they will find out there are worse things than dying, and a new life gives them all a reason to live again!

Publisher’s Note: This book contains brief F/F and F/F/M scenes as well as M/F/M scenes. (And since Li Chin can change sexes, sometimes it’s damn hard to figure out who’s got what parts and where they are at the moment. But it’s great fun, so who cares?)

This is part of a series – books which share a universe and are meant to be read in order but can also be read individually.

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Unicorn Valley 4: Moontyger’s Quest
Lena Austin
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2005 Lena Austin
An Authorized Excerpt

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“This must be the most idiotic plan I’ve ever heard!”

Moontyger’s delicate ears rang. The Dragon’s roar, combined with a mindspoken mental shout, threatened to deafen her, and the words hurt her pride nearly as much as the volume. Still, Moontyger paced and leapt to avoid Li Chin’s angrily lashing tail. She would not snarl or bare her fangs, nor threaten to rend his scaly flesh with her claws for his insults.

“I do not need your approval, Li Chin.” She daintily hopped over his tail as it came her way once more. She forced her mental voice to remain calm. Tiger snarls would not help her now, despite their appeal. “I merely inform one of the Imperial household I will be away, and why.”

The golden green Dragon, her friend and favorite antagonist, shut his eyes and curled his tail close to his body. Moontyger breathed a sigh of relief. Li Chin in a temper was not pleasant company.

Moontyger sat on her haunches and indulged in a few delicate ladylike licks to put her striped fur back in order. She kept a wary eye as Li Chin mastered his infamous temper.

“Why do you feel it necessary to go among Humans and search out the missing Kirinn family? They’ve been gone more than a millennium. Those who left are undoubtedly dead. What is the point?” His rumbling question was at least at a volume that no longer hurt her ears.

Moontyger looked up from realigning the fur along one stripe of her white paw. “I told you, Li Chin. The Kirinn here in the Enchanted Forest are no longer a viable breeding population since Karal’s untimely death. The few females remaining will only be able to bear for another century or so. Without a male to service them, there will be no more.”

“Nivea is pregnant. She might produce a male.” His counter argument came out on a sulfur laden sigh.

She forced herself not to sneeze, grateful his volatile temper had cooled enough so he’d no longer breathe fire and destroy what few hardy treasures remained in his chamber of the Imperial palace. “One male does not a breeding population make. They made do with Karal in hopes that his and Nivea’s son, if she had one, could both father. Who expected Karal’s heart to fail so young?”

Li Chin’s tail twitched. “But why must it be you who seeks out the missing white Kirinn? We need you here.”

Moontyger kept a wary blue eye on his tail. “I am only a historian, my friend. I doubt seriously a few months of noting births and deaths will be missed. Nothing much happens these days. However, I do know many languages, and I have the spell to make a match and confirm if I have found the true descendants of the Kirinn.”

She thought of the box from her archives containing two white hairs of the missing Kirinn. Amazing how a lover’s token from long ago served a higher purpose now. Her grandmother’s sentimental heart might save her lover’s race.

It broke her heart Li Chin didn’t respect or trust her enough to go on this quest. Yes, it would be hard, but that was why she’d hired the Mercenary to escort her. Ah, perhaps the Mercenary’s presence would help convince her friend the quest was wise.

“I have contacted a Mercenary, Li Chin. One who lived and worked among Humans many times. He even traveled the route Humans use to move from this area of the world to other regions far away.”

The Dragon’s head whipped around. “He?”

Pleased she’d caught Li Chin’s interest, she nodded. “Yes, his name is Jamir. He’s from the Valley of the Unicorns. You know I’ve corresponded with one of their Elf historians for many years.”

Li Chin growled. “And what skills does this Jamir bring, beside his having lived with Humans?”

Well, at least he asked intelligent questions. She chuckled to herself, and the sound came out as a tiger’s purr. “Besides knowledge, he brings maps of our route. He speaks many of the Human languages of the western lands as well, though I will speak the local Human tongues for the first portion of the journey. I can well believe his languages are useful. He tends to be a charming rogue, and I believe he’s a swordmaster.”

She also had no doubt her skills with a sword were equal to the Mercenary’s. Unicorn and Weretiger lifetimes were similar, and they were of an age. Neither had allowed middle age to slow them down much. She’d seen him move with all the grace of her own race.

“I still don’t like it.” Li Chin’s golden eyes closed and the tip of his tail twitched in agitation. “But I cannot object further. You have all the answers neatly laid out.” He switched form to a Human male with short black hair and snapping black eyes. “Do as you want. You will anyway. You always have.” He stalked from the room.

Moontyger sighed and changed form as well. She closed her eyes in pain, and wished things could be different between herself and the handsome Dragon who unknowingly held her heart. He was an unattainable dream. Even if he were not of royal birth, Dragons and Tigers did not mix.

She checked her pile of packed items, pleased to see Li Chin’s tail hadn’t knocked over a single box or bale. With careful load distribution, the one yak she’d found as a beast of burden would hold it all.

Time to call up the portal and bring the Unicorn forth from his home in the west. She drew her sword with a mere whisper of sound. Though she could cast the spell without it, her sword carving out the magical doorway provided her with a visual reference to feed her personal chi energy into without breaking concentration.

Her sword swung in an oval, creating the opening in the fabric holding the worlds together. Jamir waited on the other side, in front of a mirror she’d used before to cross to his home. The chi poured from her, seeking the place she saw in her mind with tiny fingers. Because her friend’s mirror was familiar, the seeking energies knew where to go. Familiarity was the key. Without it, she could not use the portal on her quest. Three heartbeats later, the portal flared to life.

Jamir stood waiting, as planned. Moontyger sidestepped the large number of packs he tossed through the portal before he stepped across into her world as casually as if he entered another room. His Human form’s clothing reflected the colors of his Unicorn body — dark green and black. Only his sword and white hair gleamed on his dark, somber figure.

He bowed from the waist. “Lady Moontyger, we meet again.”

Moontyger closed the spell and took the chi back into her body before returning the courtesy. “Welcome to the Enchanted Forest, Lord Jamir.”

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