Tiger Throne: Sabre Woods Academy, #2

By Laura Greenwood

Court intrigue complicates things for the new heir to the Shifter Throne.

I'm the Shifter Heir. I never thought I'd say those words, but now it's irrefutable. I won the Shifter Trials and now my mother has to recognise me as her heir.

But things aren't as they seem in the Shifter Court. And keeping up with my studies while trying to stay on top of my duties is harder than I thought it was going to be.

And that's without throwing Magnus into the mix. He's a complication I don't think I'll ever be ready for.

But now I know fated mates aren't real, maybe I should give in to what he's suggesting...

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Tiger Throne is book two of the Sabre Woods Academy series. It is an urban fantasy academy with shifters and a slow burn m/f romance.

If you enjoy big cat shifters, paranormal academy settings, slow burn romance, and royal intrigue, start the Sabre Woods Academy series today with Tiger Crown!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Drowlgon Press
• Release date: Jun 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393517658

Laura Greenwood

Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set. Laura specialises in quick reads, with healthy relationships and consent positive moments regardless of if she's writing light-hearted romance, mythology-heavy urban fantasy, or anything in between. You can find a full book list and more information on her website, or in The Paranormal Council Facebook Group. Happy Reading!

Book preview

Chapter One

It feels as if everyone is watching me.

In fairness, they probably are. I always knew this was going to be a consequence of becoming the Shifter Heir, but that doesn't mean I'm ready for it. I don't like being the centre of attention. Which is a bit of a problem. If I'm honest with myself, I'm still surprised I managed to get through the Shifter Trials without completely falling apart. It was a near miss a few times, but I think I have my friends to thank for that.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Demi sets her tray of food down opposite me and sits down.

Penny for your thoughts? she asks.

The usual.

Ah, so you're worried everyone hates you and that no one will take you seriously as the Shifter Heir even though it's done and dusted? she summarises with alarming accuracy.

I see I'm getting too predictable.

She shrugs. You're just honest. There's nothing wrong with that. I like it in a friend.

Despite myself, I let out a small laugh. Does that mean you'll fight off all the people who want to suck up to me now?

Tooth and claw, she promises. I may be small, but I'm feisty. Have you ever seen an ocelot fight?

I can't say I have... My initial thought is to dismiss her shifted form as a threat. Something as small as an ocelot wouldn't stand a chance against my tiger form. But I know Demi. I doubt her size would stop her from being a fierce and potentially deadly opponent.

You'll see someday, she promises.

Hopefully while I'm watching from the sidelines and not on the receiving end of your vicious attack, I murmur.

I don't see how that would be likely. You're not planning on stealing my boyfriend or anything, are you?

You don't have a boyfriend, I point out.

Hmm. True. In which case, maybe I want to fight you because you haven't helped me get one, she muses.

"Do you want one?" I haven't seen her take much of an interest in any of the guys at Sabre Woods. Or the girls for that matter.

They seem to take up a lot of time. She shovels a spoonful of pasta into her mouth.

I snort. I wouldn't know.

Demi lets out a dramatic sigh. Which means you and Magnus haven't had the talk yet.

The talk sounds very official, I mutter.

Which is kind of the point. You can't keep him on the hook.

He isn't on the hook. I don't even know what the hook is or how to use it.

You shouldn't be using it is the point, Demi says. Just talk to him. You said the two of you kissed...

Briefly.

What happened?

I narrow my eyes at her. Is she serious? You did, I remind her.

Oh, right. Well I thought finding out you were officially the Shifter Heir would trump a makeout session.

I groan and push my empty tray away from me. The food is long gone. I'm not sure what took Demi so long to get here, but I wasn't about to let it go cold while I waited.

You seriously haven't had a chance to revisit that since?

I've been busy. I swear every time I feel like I'm finally getting some time to myself, I end up dragged back to Court, or to a lesson. I could do with a day off.

You signed up for this, she points out.

I know. But that doesn't mean I don't get to complain about it. I planned to have a lot more time to get ready for this position than I got.

That's the problem with finding yourself a nemesis, she mutters.

I glance over her shoulder towards where Serena and her friends are sitting. The other tiger shifter is throwing daggers in my direction. She still hasn't properly accepted that I beat her. She expected to have an easy time with the Shifter Trials and not have to worry about me ever again.

I try to feel bad about it, but I can't. If it hadn't been for her messing with things and tricking me into challenging her, then she wouldn't be in this situation. I'm not sure what she expected when she decided to put both of us through this. It's not like I had any say in it.

I don't think she's my nemesis.

Demi raises an eyebrow. Then what do you think she is?

I shrug. "No idea. But it's not like she decided to dislike me for no reason. She was pitted against me.

I don't think the reason for being a nemesis has to make sense.

Why wouldn't it?

I don't know, they just always seem to have flimsy reasons in films.

A soft snort escapes me. I'm not sure that's the best frame of reference.

That's untrue. They're an excellent way to take a look at the world.

Bemusement fills me. She certainly has an interesting way of looking at the world. My life is brighter for having Demi in it. And not just because I wouldn't have made it through the Shifter Trials without her. Since the first day she sat down next to me and started treating me like a person and not the abandoned heir of a self-absorbed Queen, I've felt as if things were that little bit better.

Oh, I brought something for you, she says, digging into her pocket and pulling out a familiar-looking piece of card.

I raise an eyebrow. Another wish bracelet?

I noticed your other one snapped. She hands it to me.

Isn't it bad luck to have a second one so soon? I ask. I'm clueless about this tradition of hers, but it seems to be steeped in superstition and that's the kind of thing to be careful of.

Demi shrugs. It's never done me any harm. It's just a bit of fun. You remember how to have that, right?

I snort. "Honestly, I'm not sure I've ever known how."

We'll teach you one day. Maybe Magnus can help if the two of you ever manage to get more time alone. She wiggles her eyebrows.

I fake gasp and clutch my hand to my chest. My stars, what are you suggesting? I ask as dramatically as I can manage.

I don't even know if you're being serious or not, she deadpans.

A small smile lifts the corners of my lips. I understood what you were implying, I say in my normal voice.

Hmm.