A/N: Hello dear readers. Well, here is the second book in my Heart of a Lioness: Through the Eyes of a Queen series. If you have not read the first story, I suggest you do so before reading this one. To all of you who have followed my previous work, I hope that you find this story as enjoyable as the last.
Heart of a Lioness: Through the Eyes of a Queen
Book Two: Uru
"The strength of a kingdom lies not in the strength of the king, but in the heart of its queen."
Prologue: One Last Chance
Two small golden-furred cubs huddled in fright under the green cover of a leafy bush, as two adults lions snarled in anger nearby.
"How can you do this to me, to the children?!" A golden-pelted lioness shouted.
"Look, I'll return soon, alright. And then I will leave them for good." Her mate replied cooly.
"Uggh, you always say that! Every time...EVERY TIME something like this happens, you leave, to go back to him. He doesn't appreciate you, he takes advantage of your loyalty, and lets you do all of his dirty work for him!" she retorted.
The dark lion sighed in frustration.
"Look, Sala, I owe everything to him. His father took me in, and taught me everything I know."
"Yes, taught you how to be a savage murderer!" she sharply replied as angry tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Sala, you know that's not true!" he said.
Yes, it is. Don't think that I don't know what goes on. You seem to forget that I have witnessed all of it first-hand!" the lioness spat.
"You also seem to forget how he allowed you to live!" the lion said.
"Only because you begged him not to kill me! And back then...you've changed, I thought you were different than the others, but you've allowed him to manipulate you for so long, now you are as merciless as he is." she said.
"STOP! I'm doing what I have to do, it's my duty." he said.
"No, it's not. You are better than all of this. Please come back to me before it's too late." she begged.
The lioness watched in anger and sorrow as her mate gave an exasperated sigh.
"Please, just stop being a mindless slave to that, that ABOMINATION!" she said.
"Do not call him that." the lion said said, a dangerous edge building in his tone.
"You have no right to tell me what I will and will not do. He's a monster, and you know what, I'm starting to think that you are too. Nothing more than a cruel, heartless monster!"
The cutting words of his mate sent the lion into a fury. In blind rage, he struck the emerald-eyed lioness across her cheek. She screamed in fear and pain as she fell with a hard thud on the ground. Her mate looked on with horror at what he had done, but a darker side of his heart was satisfied that he had hurt her as she had hurt him. The lioness however, strong in her resolve, struggled back to her feet, and faced her mate with cold dignity.
"I will give you one lat chance. Don't ever go back to Sinjun."
The lion looked at his mate for a long time. His conscience pulling him in many directions as he contemplated the price he would have to pay if he did not return to Sinjun, and the even higher one if he did.
"Sala, I-you know I can't do that."
For a moment, the golden lioness could only stare at her mate in saddened defeat, and the sting of her broken heart was stronger than that of her sliced cheek. A trail of blood mingled with the tears as both slid down her face. But her voice answered him in a bitter and unforgiving tone,
"Fine. Don't ever come back...ever."
The lion looked at her in shock.
"Sala, wait. What about the cubs, they are my children too." he said.
"No, they're not. No children of mine will have a monster for a father." she replied.
"You can't do this!" he yelled at her.
But his screams of anguish faded as she disappeared into the jungle foliage, her heart shattered.
A/N: Alright, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Who do you think Sala's mate is? Please leave a review, and thanks so much for reading. By the way, I forgot to mention this in my last story, if any of you are or have been inspired by my story, and you would like to explore a character's emotions, back-story, etc, please feel free to write your own story based on any of my characters and storyline. It can be a major or minor character, one shot or a multi-chapter story. And if you wouldn't mind letting me know so I can check it out. Also, I would appreciate you giving credit, not necessarily to me as the author, but to Heart of a Lioness. Thanks so much. Till next time,
*Nantsingonyama*
Sala means prayer
P.S. Did you find the summary of the story to be interesting or was it dumb? Thanks!
