The tiger's name was Niva.
Sebastian had chosen it, which Dean learned only after Theo had spent nearly a full minute standing several steps from the reinforced boundary, staring through the bronze bars while the enormous white animal regarded him from beneath one of the trees.
The garden was quiet around them, illuminated by low lamps set into the stone path and discreet fixtures hidden among the winter shrubs. Beyond the enclosure, mature trees broke the darkness into long shadows, while the shallow pool near the far wall reflected narrow strips of light whenever the wind disturbed its surface.
Niva sat beneath one of those trees, enormous even at rest, her coat nearly pure white except for faint silver-grey stripes that became more visible along her shoulders and flanks whenever she shifted. Her eyes were the strangest part, a deep purple beneath the garden lights that looked almost unnatural against the pale fur.
Theo stood very still.
That, more than anything, relaxed Dean.
