It’s an owl, Tamsin realized, with the small part of her mind that wasn’t stunned. A giant owl.
Or…not quite an owl.
As the creature touched down, she saw that it had the body of an enormous snow leopard. White, spotted fur blended seamlessly into white feathers barred with small black stripes.
The creature settled back on its powerful haunches, folding its wings. It had the round, blunt head of a snowy owl, with a sharp flat beak and huge golden eyes. That bright, unblinking stare swept over the court…and Tamsin could have sworn it lingered on her.
The owl-griffin clicked its beak. It hunched down, dropping to a crouch.
There was a man on its back.
Cuan’s hand clamped hard on her arm. His other hand jerked, as though he’d started to summon a sword, and stopped himself at the last moment. She could feel the tension in his body.
The griffin’s rider wore the most ornate armor Tamsin had yet seen—exquisitely articulated, entirely encasing his powerful body. Every plate gleamed like polished silver, set with intricate inlaid gold patterns.
His ornate silver helm evaporated into fading sparkles, revealing long, white-gold hair. His head turned, and Tamsin found herself staring into eyes as cold and predatory as his steed’s.
“Prince Morcant.” Maeve stepped forward, faemarks alight with vicious triumph. “Welcome to my court.”