Honored Vow

Copyright

    Published by
    Dreamspinner Press
    382 NE 191st Street #88329
    Miami, FL 33179-3899, USA
    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the
    author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,
    business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

    Honored Vow
    Copyright © 2011 by Mary Calmes

    Cover Art by Anne Cain [email protected]
    Cover Design by Mara McKennen

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
    means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
    and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by
    law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 382 NE 191st
    Street #88329, Miami, FL 33179-3899, USA
    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

    ISBN: 978-1-61372-217-6

    Printed in the United States of America
    First Edition
    November 2011

    eBook edition available
    eBook ISBN: 978-1-61372-218-3

    Dedication

    For all those who have come along with me
    on Jin and Logan’s journey, thank you.
    It’s been a privilege.

    Glossary

    Aker A leadership position in a large tribe that is fought
    for. The position reports to the maahes. Akers are
    always appointed in sets of twos, as manu and
    bakhu.
    Amenta A panther who lives in the territory of a tribe not
    their own without permission
    Aset The appointed mate of a semel in the event of the
    death of their reah. An aset can only be chosen,
    made, by a reah.
    Beset Companion of a reah
    Duat A panther who has promised, on pain of death, to
    live only as human and never shift
    Khatyu The soldiers of a semel
    Maahes Prince of a tribe, the emissary of the semel
    Mastaba Mistress of a semel’s home, normally the widow
    of the previous semel
    Maat Balance, harmony, correct action
    Phocal Leader of the Shu cats, an elite group of
    werepanthers that serve the priest of Chae Rophon
    Reah True mate of a semel
    Semel Tribe leader
    Semel-aten Tribe leader of the werepanther capital city of
    Sobek
    Semel-re Tribe leader blessed with a true-mate, a leader
    who has found his reah

    Sepat Honor challenge
    Sheseran Mate of a sheseru
    Sheseru (Flail) Enforcer of the tribe, guardian of the mate of the
    semel
    Sylvan (Crook) Teacher of the tribe, counselor to the semel
    Taurth A yareah who has been cast aside because a semel
    found his true-mate.
    Wosret An unmated reah claimed by the semel-aten as a
    concubine.
    Yareah The mate of a semel that is chosen, not their true-
    mate

    Honored Vow

    1

    Chapter One

    AS I walked down the long, cold gray corridor behind the medical
    examiner, I realized that my heart had stopped beating. I had no idea when
    the organ that pumped blood through my body had given up, but I
    suspected it had been the day before, when I had received the phone call
    that my best friend, Crane Adams, was dead. Everything inside me had
    ceased working. I had stopped breathing at that moment… I just hadn’t
    noticed.
    I could not drag air into my lungs, form words, or, for one terrifying
    moment, see. Not that the terror had been able to be conveyed, as I was
    mute. Funny how quickly your life gains perspective when something real
    happens, something that changes everything.
    “Jin?”
    Never could I be expected to be the same from that moment on.
    “Love?”
    I turned my head to look up into the honey-colored eyes of my mate,
    the semel, leader, of our werepanther tribe, the tribe of Mafdet, Logan
    Church.
    “I can go in alone.”
    It was what he wanted, but there was no way. I had to know; I had to
    see for myself. I shook my head—it was not even a possibility.
    “Mr. Rayne?”
    I looked back at the man we had followed from the front desk. We
    had all stopped at a door. It was steel, and there was a small window cut at
    eye level for someone at least my size of five eleven.

    2

    Mary Calmes

    He cleared his throat. “Just you, Mr. Rayne, and Mr. Church,” the
    man told us, glancing at Domin and Yuri. “You both will need to stay out
    here.”
    “Sure,” Yuri agreed fast, his eyes flicking to mine.
    He was worried, had been since the day before, when I had stopped
    talking.
    “We’ll be right here,” Domin assured me gently.
    And when my eyes met his, I found that between his steady gaze, the
    cadence of his