Golden Beauty (Tales of Grimm Hollow Book 2)

by LeAnn Mason

  “Does my being naked bother you?”

  He wasn't asking me that, was he? “Uh, yeah,” I blurted like the typical teen girl I never thought I was. “It's kinda…” Distracting. “Weird.”

  “Weird, huh?” he asked, scooting to sit up against the headboard. Luckily for me, he'd dragged the sheet with him. “I figured you'd understand it to be a natural state of being for a Shifter. We often find ourselves in the nude after we return from our animal side.”

  “I read that. Clothes cannot transform with you, so if a shift is not planned, the clothes worn are often shredded with the shift." Thinking logically slowed my panic. Mulling over the reasons for things often quieted me, soothed my nerves, and calmed my soul. Did he know that about me?

  “You've experienced it a time or two,” Rory said conversationally, the sheet still pulled to his waist but what was on display, more than a little distracting.

  Sheesh, he’s beautiful.

  He raised challenging eyebrows at me still standing akimbo where I'd jumped from the bed. “You're beautiful.”

  Had he heard me? Had I uttered the phrase out loud? Whiskey colored eyes raked my body from head to toe and back again. An appreciative rumble met my ears as his peepers once again locked onto mine. I couldn't pull my eyes from his. I was completely ensnared and utterly frozen.

  “You better be decent!” A stern knock at the closed door pervaded the large room. The handle jiggled without turning. “And you better unlock this door, Rory, unless you want me to break it down,” Allya threatened.

  I had no doubt she'd do it.

  “Coming,” I volleyed, taking the escape she presented and shuffling toward the door. I couldn’t help but wince with each step as my soles impacted the gleaming wood floor. I'd forgotten about the state of my feet. Running blindly through the woods is never a good idea. To do it without shoes? In the dead of night?

  Yeah. Not my brightest endeavor, but then I figured I had an excuse. It hadn’t been my idea.

  Reaching the door just as Allya impatiently jiggled it again, I found the locking mechanism and disengaged it. Not a moment later, the heavy wood swung inward, very nearly smashing me in the face.

  “Almost got you,” she said with a smirk before she wiped the mirth free from her face. “Don't ever do that to me again, do you hear?” Rushing forward the two steps between us, Allya wrapped me in a crushing hug that I feared would never end as she kept me enclosed in the bruising circle of her arms. While I struggled to breathe, Allya finally seemed to notice she resembled a boa constrictor and let me go. “So… any funny business happen in here?” She asked, peering around me toward where Rory still lounged on the bed.

  “No! Why would you think that?” I spluttered, feeling heat again rushing to greet my ears.

  “You're barely dressed, and you have the hots for each other.” She shrugged like it was nothing. “I figured the grand gesture might earn him a kiss or something.”

  I had completely forgotten that I was only in my undergarments until she'd said that. I dove to hide behind the now open door. My first instinct had been to scoot back under the covers, but after turning to find Rory with a rather predatory smirk on his face, I'd opted for the solid barrier away from the Shifter prince.

  “Well, now that you're awake, we can get everything sorted and fill you in. A lot has happened, hasn't it Prince Regent?” Allya poked at Rory, her features tightening or widening to convey some silently urgent message. “Let’s meet in the garden in five. Maybe ten considering you should probably take a shower now that you’re out of the woods. Pun totally intended.” She winked before flouncing out the door in a dramatic flourish that sent that cape twirling out in a wide arc.

  “So… about that shower?” Rory’s insinuation burned my cheeks with heat. I couldn’t even contemplate such a thing. At least not in my waking hours, and in my REM, well, then I couldn’t bury my hormones with embarrassment and shame. In those, I was a vixen, owning my feelings for the rugged male and going for what I wanted: him.

  “Where is the bathroom?” I squeaked. He pointed to the far side of the room where a set of double doors stood open, plainly showing a marble-clad en suite. “Thanks, are my clothes around here somewhere?”

  “I’ll have them brought up,” he answered, starting to leave the bed and the safety of the sheets. Another squeak escaped as I hurried to dash through the doors, pulling them tightly closed before all the goodies were exposed.

  CHAPTER 32

  Finally feeling a bit more like my old self, I finished drying off, noting the neat and clean pile of clothes sitting on the marble counter. Along with a dark pair of faux fur-lined slippers.

  My very own house shoes!

  There was a whole lot of marble in the room. A huge free-standing soaker tub shared a wall with a massive steam shower which I had thoroughly enjoyed. Hopefully, Rory hadn’t deposited the clothes himself, or if he had, the ample steam had kept him from seeing anything.

  “Feel better? I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to spook you,” Rory apologized. I hadn’t expected him to be in the room still, and his question caught me off-guard, startling me enough my muscles seized momentarily. At least he was dressed this time.

  Kind of hard to pull off unaffected around a Shifter. Nothing got by them, and Rory was no exception. Luckily, he allowed me to save face, choosing instead to ignore my blatant surprise. “Ready?”

  “What exactly am I walking into? I mean, the last time I was out in the garden, I was brainwashed and sent on a harrowing flight into the deep, dark woods.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he growled, his eyes lightening to reflect his beast.

  “Why does that affect you so?” I mean, he was a good guy and wouldn’t like the idea of someone, anyone, being hurt, but he appeared to be wrangling his beast at the memory. Maybe because he realized his mother had been the one to callously send a lowly human to what could only be assumed as death. I’d known she hated me though I still didn’t understand it. Yet I hadn’t dreamed she’d try to kill me. My feet stuttered to a stop midway down the stairs leading to the ground floor as it really sank in. “Your mother wanted me dead,” I muttered, horrified. “How many times are people going to try to kill me? I don’t know if I can stay here. I don’t have anywhere else to go though. I can’t go home… I’m wanted for murder!” Finally, the thought that sent me fleeing resurfaced. My eyes widened, and I grabbed Rory’s arm as tightly as I could manage between both my hands as I panicked. “My sisters, are they all right? Tell me that was all fake. A way for them to—”

  “Allya and Elsie said they are fine. No trouble for either of them. It was a complete fabrication. They are safe.” He reached to mold strong hands to my cheeks. “I promise I won’t let anyone hurt them… or you.” The fierceness in his voice, his eyes, assured me he meant it. Then, like a switch was flipped, he smiled, his body loosening. “Elsie took Willow home. He’s fat and happy but would probably like to see you. And to help ease your mind, I had the Witches make something for you.” Reaching forward, he handed me something I hadn't noticed in his hand: a mirror.

  With the handle and backing made of heavy silver and adorned with lovely flowing depictions of roses and birds, the piece was lovely. Pulling the gift to my chest like a lifeline, I puzzled its significance.

  “It's enchanted. All you have to do is look into the mirror, say the name of whoever you'd like to see, and it will show you. A true picture.”

  “Really?” At his shy nod, I was overcome, flying to where he stood below me on the stairs and wrapping my arms around his strong neck. My weight didn't dislodge him in the slightest, and he let me cling to him, the magic mirror clenched in a fist. “Thank you,” I whispered sincerely. What an amazingly thoughtful gift. Quick as a viper, I dove in and placed a kiss to his stubbled cheek. He looked a little unkempt as we stood frozen in our embrace, like he'd had a long night, but I loved it. It made him that much more real to me.

  “Guys, weren’t we supposed to be having a co
nversation out in the bright sunshine of this lovely day?” Allya broke in, pushing me forcibly from Rory then standing between us. “Let’s go. I hate to be the third wheel. At least out there, Jason can roll his eyes at you guys along with me.” She began dragging me in the direction of the formerly coveted space.

  It would always be tainted for me now, no longer conjuring only pleasant emotions. Now, I would remember it as the place where I was first told never to return then coerced into nearly fleeing to death. A shiver wracked my body. I’d need to get over the impulse. I needed to overcome, to rise above, to succeed. Seeing Jason standing sentinel on the path near the fountain, I dipped my chin in acknowledgment before lifting my chin in defiance of the ill-feelings, sitting straight-backed in my normal spot on the gleaming wooden bench, waiting… for whatever they needed to tell me.

  “How long did it take to realize what had happened?” I had to mentally change my words mid-sentence to avoid sounding accusatory. It wasn’t their fault I’d been brainwashed and sent away. They’d been a little preoccupied. I gasped, remembering just why. “What happened with Risa?” Everyone looked in good health and even good spirits, so I figured it couldn’t have been too bad.

  “Wanna take the lead here, Prince?” Allya asked with an arrogant arch to her brows.

  Rory, in a signature move, ran a big hand through his long locks, pulling the mass away from his face for only a moment before it all fell right back in front of his eyes. “I had to put her in her place.”

  “And what does that mean?” I’d seen him in a standoff but wasn’t sure how he’d cowed her, especially if he’d stayed human.

  “He was magnificent. You would have been proud, Mae. Even without fully shifting, he put the fear of God into the bitch. Pretty sure she's still hiding her face… and those bruises.”

  “Careful there, Red, or I might get jealous,” Jason said in mock reproach, looking as handsome as ever with the lopsided grin that forced a dimple to pop in his cheek, hands on his slim hips.

  The men in this town were too good-looking. It was unfair. The women too, for that matter. It was enough to make a Plain Jane human just a little self-conscious.

  “Did you find my phone? Is that how you knew to look for me?”

  “The thing with Risa, and then apologizing to the guests and making a short speech to save face, took too much time and focus. I'm sorry I didn't reach you sooner, Beauty. Forgive me?” Rory felt like he needed my forgiveness? He'd done nothing wrong. He'd saved me. But he stood before me, pleading. It didn't look right on him.

  Now his mother, on the other hand? I righted my glasses out of habit. “How did they compel me? I'd had no question in my mind that my sister was hurt, dying even. I'd dropped everything and walked out into the woods…” I shook my head. Such a stupid thing to do. I couldn't believe I'd done it.

  “Barefoot,” Allya chimed helpfully.

  “Barefoot,” I repeated sheepishly.

  “We did find your phone, once I realized you weren't hidden among the crowd. The girl is a Vampire. A royal. And having to answer for her part in the scheme, though it's clear my mother,” he growled the endearment as if it were a curse, “was the instigator and mastermind. Vampires have the ability to compel though it is frowned upon for them to use it.”

  “Within Grimm Hollow,” Jason amended.

  Holy wow, Vampires truly could control their prey. But she hadn’t drunk from me, hadn’t even given the impression she’d thought about it. “So why did she? Why risk it?”

  “My mother convinced her. A speech explaining, not only were you not from Grimm Hollow but also human, and it would not be a violation of the rules. Secondly, she promised power.”

  “Power?”

  “Viola has been neglected by her clan, by her family, for a long time. She's one of the only Rose Clan members who didn't shut themselves away when Nera fell ill. She's resented their withdrawal and the lessening of Vampire influence for some time. My mother found an enticement.”

  “What will happen to her?”

  “Probably nothing. The Vampires will be notified, but they aren't really present so…” Jason shrugged. It was easy to see the idea annoyed him, but was it that the girl would go unpunished or that the Vampires didn't care enough to be a part of the town?

  We digested the information for a moment, letting silence bloom between us. The sounds of the garden rose to fill the gaps, my lark singing loud enough to top the competition and claim my focus. No water sounds would ever outshine her song, especially after last night. It would probably be a while before I thought of rain in a positive light again. The woods too. I decided to veer completely off-topic for a moment for my peace of mind. Squinting up at Rory, I lifted my newly slippered foot, circling my ankle for emphasis. “You know, Rory, I get it now. These things are stupid comfy and warm.”

  “We can stroll around in matching house shoes every day if you’d like, Beauty,” he returned with a quick wink.

  I couldn’t ignore it anymore. “Why are you being so flirty? You don’t want me. You don’t want a human. You’re Shifter royalty. You need to be with someone who can handle you. Someone who is your compliment, an equal.”

  Locking me in his gaze, he knelt, hands clamping just above my knees as he brought his face so close I could inhale his expelled breaths… if I wanted to sound like a creeper. Those molten chocolate eyes were burning holes into my soul, his signature move, making sure he had my full and rapt attention. “You are my equal. You keep me sane, balanced, able to think and override the emotions sending me into overdrive. You are the only one I want to be around. Want to know a secret? The music doesn’t keep the lion at bay. You do.”

  “Holy crap, Mae. You’re his muse,” Allya pined, throwing a challenging look to her man.

  “You think you’re not my muse,” Jason returned, grabbing Allya around the waist and beginning to tickle. A high-pitched squeal I’d never thought to hear emanated from my best friend.

  “Hey, you stole my spotlight,” Rory complained, throwing a small stone at the goofy couple. Then, he brought his hands to my cheeks and pushed forward the scant inches to mold his pillow lush lips to mine. My eyes fell closed as I gave in to the want flooding my veins. My body relaxing, I pushed closer, my hands on his hovering knees, leaving the mirror sitting lonely next to me on the bench, discarded to free my hands for roaming. I couldn’t wrap a hand over the bulging quadriceps muscle, but it helped me crowd closer, following his teasing lips. He caught my upper lip lightly between his teeth. I gasped, heart speeding up. My reaction brought out his wild side, a low rumbling beginning in his chest. “I need you, Mae. Only you. Tell me you want me,” he whispered breathily, pulling back to rest his forehead against mine.

  I wanted him. Lord knew I did, but there were obstacles. “What about your mother? She hates me. Like truly. I can’t be around someone I don’t trust. Someone who has influence and has already proven to be a danger to me.” I couldn’t put myself in a constant line of fire by someone I couldn’t overcome.

  “My mother has relinquished her position and influence over me and my decisions. If she does not wish to be confined to the home and under constant guard, she will not interfere.”

  Wow. I hadn’t expected to hear that about Lorraine. She wasn’t the type to take an ultimatum like that well. But then, she’d given up much of her power when Rory turned eighteen, just last night, and he’d taken over as leader of the Shifters, at least while his father was unable. Would she truly stick to her word and leave me alone? Leave me to have a relationship with her son? “I don’t see her being happy about you dating a human at all, let alone me…”

  “It’s not up to her though. It’s up to you and me. We get to decide just where we go from here. Also, a human is a better mate for a Shifter who wants to keep their animal line because there is no chance of another type being conceived.”

  “Uh… talking babies? Not the best way to entice this one to give you a shot, Romeo,” Allya muttered from somewher
e off to the side.

  “He’s not wrong,” Jason put in with a shrug.

  “Maybe we should talk about such things more… privately?” I questioned, my cheeks again heating and hands covering my face, molding to my glasses. I’d have smudges to clean afterward, but I didn’t care in the moment. I just needed to hide.

  He pulled my hands away from my face, kissing each palm, his eyes never leaving mine. “Just say you'll give us a chance. No more, no less, and I'll be satisfied. You make me a better male. I'd be a fool to let you walk away now. What's a man got to do, Beauty?” He smirked conspiratorially.

  I returned the smile. Still funny he liked that song. Without conscious effort, I found myself nodding, pushing forward those scant inches to be the one to initiate the kiss for the first time. I was going to reach for the unattainable, wanting desperately to believe that we could, in fact, make the perfect couple. Even if we weren't what people thought a power couple should be, I wanted to prove that differences could be strengths.

  After all, physical strength wasn't everything. A good head on one's shoulders should be appreciated, too.

  A trilling ring broke through my burgeoning enthusiasm, shifting all attention to Jason where he'd quieted the intrusion by answering the phone and walking further down the garden path, back toward the entrance out near the Archives. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but both Allya and Rory were fully tuned, and they'd gone rigid.

  “What? What happened? Someone tell me,” I pleaded, wishing for the umpteenth time that I had some of those supernatural senses. The dread in the air was a tangible thing. Thick and cloying, I would fall under the weight of it for sure if they didn't see me worthy of their knowledge.

  “It's Bianca,” Allya answered, the words like water breaking a dam. Her body coiled, ready for action as her dark eyebrows slammed down above burning golden irises and tightened lips. Allya was going into fight mode. “She's dead.”