The Last Princess

by Stacey Espino

  "You don't have to worry about me. I'll just stay over there, get everything set up for your little adventure and then I'll be out of your hair." He swiped his tongue across his teeth from behind his lips. The subtle move wasn't lost to her. If ever she had to lose her maidenhead, she guessed Caleb would be gentle, attentive, and patient—so unlike the alpha shifters her mother probably planned for her to marry. Those animals would tear her apart with little regard to her pleasure or well being.

  "I'm not afraid of anything," she said. Delia had outrun and outlasted all the henchmen her mother dispatched to find her. She was a survivor. In the many years since her escape she'd trained in every major art of attack and defense.

  Her fears were internal.

  Each passing day made her terrified of growing old alone. She'd rather die than face decades moving from one shitty motel to the next with no one to love, no one to share life with. It was foolish of her to think her sisters could provide that love and companionship. The natural desire to mate was too strong in them. Now they were gone—mated, happy, and moved on without her.

  "Nothing at all?" He narrowed his eyes conspiratorially. "I think you may be just a tad intimidated by me."

  She laughed. It was so unlike her to laugh, but this shifter had her feeling lighthearted, even in such emotionally unsettling times. "You haven't seen my wolf. She's quite capable of taking care of herself."

  He shrugged. "Everyone needs someone, princess. If I had a family, like you, I wouldn't be running from them."

  "I've already explained why I'm on my own. I don't do dictatorships. How would you feel if you were forced to mate with a female you hadn't chosen for yourself?"

  Caleb was quiet for an exaggerated moment. His chest rose and fell more rapidly as if his fox was clawing to get free. She knew the feeling well. Her wolf had become especially anxious since returning to the hotel this morning.

  Then he whispered, "If I was forced to mate you, I wouldn't mind."

  She swallowed hard. This wasn't supposed to happen. Her plan was simple—solicit the help of the computer geek, break into the castle, speak her mind, create an uproar to be remembered, and then…Well, she hadn't planned after that, but her life was already a forfeit.

  But she hadn't even gotten out of the hotel and already her accomplice was turning into a temptation. She barely tolerated males as a whole, but this young fox was appealing to her on so many levels. Her mother would never approve of a beta shifter, especially from one of the lowest races. Maybe that's why she wanted him, because her mother would hate their pairing.

  "You and about a million other shifters," she said, hoping to dismiss the uncomfortable intimacy.

  "Then why haven't you chosen one if your selection is so plentiful?"

  The hell if she knew. Delia had always taught her younger sisters to never trust a male. They'd only lie, backstab, and offer sweet nothings because of the blood they carried. No male would ever truly love them, just what they represented. But Carna and Freya had found love, so her theories must have been way off—or only apply to her. She certainly couldn't imagine a man wanting her if she were a regular wolf, no magic blood, no royal lineage.

  "I choose not to choose. Does that make any sense?"

  "Not coming from a princess. You're supposed to carry on shifter bloodlines for future generations."

  "No more talking," she said. Having the same conversation over and over bored her. She might as well be home at the palace listening to her mother's lectures on duty and tradition. Besides, her sisters would carry on the bloodlines, so there would be no mass extinction just because she decided to stay barren.

  She turned away from him, but he twisted her back around. "What exactly is going on here? Do you want to break into the castle to bring about positive changes or are you just feeling sorry for yourself?"

  "Sorry for what?" she spat, shrugging his hand off.

  "Sorry that you're miserable and alone while your sisters are happily mated—all because they didn't follow your example." He tilted his head slightly to the side in challenge. Why was he doing this? If he wanted money to help her, she had a shitload in several bank accounts. Money meant nothing to her. But why the test?

  "Hah! You couldn’t be more wrong. My sisters' happiness is the only thing keeping me going. They're all that matters, all I live for. It was all for them!" She began to break down, but fought tooth and nail to keep her emotions in check.

  He lowered his voice. "Don't you see? Those are all past-tense goals. Like you said, they're happy now. So what keeps you going from this day forward? What does Delia live for now that her sisters no longer need her?"

  Tears began to fill her eyes. Her traitorous body was crumbling from the inside out. "They do need me!" She felt the hot streaks make paths down her cheeks. How could this stranger know more about herself than she did? Why did the truth hurt so fucking much?

  Caleb reached out to her and tugged her against his body. He cooed softly, resting his chin on the top on her head as he rubbed circles over her back. Neither of them said another word. She fought a bit, still uncomfortable with touch, with compassion. But Caleb held her fast, his strength surprising, until she had no choice but to melt against him and spend her tears.

  Chapter Four

  "Take the next right," Caleb yelled to be heard over the force of the wind. He'd found the information the princess wanted, including layouts of the castle, guard details, and how to disable the security system. It would have been easy enough to explain to Delia how to accomplish all the tasks on her own, but she insisted he come along and do everything for her. He had the suspicion that she didn't want to be alone. That was okay because the thought of walking away from her was indigestible.

  He felt such a pull from Delia, but he reasoned it was her unique blood calling to him, doing its job to attract mates. She was beautiful, tough, with an intangible vulnerability.

  They veered off the highway, the motorcycle taking the ramp at a sharp angle. Caleb had had enough of riding a bike to last him a lifetime. His heart was in his stomach, especially with the way she drove. "You don't need to give me any more directions, fox. This is my home town, I know it well." They slowed as the neared civilization.

  Caleb had never been to the royal town, although he'd wanted to since he was young. It was the epicenter of their history, almost exclusively inhabited by shifters, and lost in time—not infiltrated by every bit of modern technology. It was the human equivalent to their Mecca. The castle itself was highly guarded, but more reliant on physical guards rather than hi-tech security.

  "We'll stop here and decide our next move," said Delia as they pulled into the parking lot of a two-story hotel. "I'll be recognized. You have to go in and register us for a room. It will take just one shifter sensing my blood and we're screwed. My mother will have her men dispatched within minutes and there'll be no escaping."

  "Well that wouldn't be good." He remembered his comment about getting hanged by the balls. It wasn't a huge leap from the truth. Shifters loyal to the queen were ruthless in their attempts to please and protect her. "I'll be back." It felt good to be on solid ground again. This hotel was maintained—the lawn mowed, bushed trimmed, and paint fresh. Caleb suspected most of this royal town would be in good order, but Delia was right, she'd be easily recognized. Her picture was displayed in the lobby, along with her two other sisters, and the queen. There was no sign of the king because, like Delia ranted about, matings were not out of love, only duty.

  "Can I help you?" Caleb hadn't noticed the older man come out from behind the counter. He was busy studying Delia's photo. She was years younger with a sweet innocence she now lacked. Although she was still beautiful, there was a sadness in her eyes now. He turned to the large window to ensure she was still okay and waiting for him. "Sir?"

  "Sorry... I need a room for the night, two nights at the most. I have cash."

  The man didn't rush to get him a room key. He stood beside him, hands clasped behind his back, lookin
g at the pictures with great interest. "Have you met the royal family?"

  Caleb shook his head. In actuality he'd met two of the sisters. Carna he helped kidnap, and Delia—the princess who was getting under his skin and invading his thoughts.

  "Two of my boys guard the castle. Chosen out of thousands." The pride in his voice was evident. "It's not an easy job, you know. They have to be highly educated, pass countless physical and mental tests, and then pledge allegiance to the queen. I keep telling my wife that not having any grandchildren is a small price to pay for the honor of having two of our sons bestowed such a position."

  "How many guards are there?"

  "Oh, I wouldn't know. Dozens, I'd expect. And my two boys, of course."

  "Of course." Caleb returned his attention to the photos. Delia looked so happy then, as did all three sisters. Their lot in life had hardened them, made them bitter, lonely, and volatile. He wanted to see Delia really smile again, to live without looking over her shoulder.

  After getting the room key, he returned to where the motorcycle was kept and found it missing, along with the driver. "Shit! Now what?" he muttered to himself. At least he had the room key. Caleb settled in the suite and began his online reconnaissance. Hopefully Delia would be back. He was tired of being abandoned with no ride.

  ****

  Her curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to do a perimeter check of the castle. Caleb appeared busy chatting up the hotel staff, so if she slipped away for a few minutes he probably wouldn't even notice. As she neared the imposing structure, it brought back an array of old feelings. The first thing that struck her was the feeling of coming home. She felt comfortable in the familiar surroundings—the lush flower gardens, the crystal clear stream cutting across the land that fed the moat protecting the palace. Delia knew all its secrets—the secret tunnels and hidden rooms. They were her childhood stomping grounds, the place where she got into mischief with her friends. But then her trip down memory lane blackened.

  She'd left this place. Once she reached puberty she was no longer granted the privileges she was as a youth. No more playing and flitting away her time. She was expected to prepare for a forced mating. Delia and her younger sisters had been betrothed to men they had never met or seen. No matter how much she tried to convince her mother it was unethical, even if they were of royal blood, the queen would not humor her. She would give the usual lecture about history, duty, and responsibility.

  When her youngest sister cried herself to sleep one night, claiming she'd never know what it felt like to love a man, it was the final push she needed. She packed up a few belongings and got her sisters the hell out of that deceptive paradise. As she looked at the distant castle now, she felt the bitter sting of regret. She couldn't have changed the series of events which led to her need to run away, but she wished things had turned out differently. If only they had been allowed to choose, they could all be living together in the palace right now. Her sisters would be by her side, her childhood friends would be making her laugh, and she'd have roots. She'd almost forgotten what it felt like to belong.

  She hadn't realized how long she'd been frozen in place, remembering a time long past, when a horn honked. Delia abruptly shifted into reality, noticing the sun had advanced across the sky while she'd been daydreaming. She started up her motorcycle and dared to get even closer. There was a lot of ruckus around the east side of the castle. The large forms were likely the alpha guards, deadly protectors and assassins hired to do the queen's bidding. Others appeared to be females. With the full moon on the verge of completion the males would be feeling the pull. Since the Royal Elite weren't allowed to mate, they'd service their needs with whores or unmated shifters in the same desperate predicament. Hormones reigned supreme at this time of month making aggression and desire overwhelming. The base emotions were part of their culture, ruling all races, reminding them what they were.

  She wondered how she'd get into the castle. It would have to be night. Even though shifters could see through the darkness, it wasn't as clear as the light of day. There was one tunnel in particular she used to use to sneak out of at night, to run wild in her wolf form. If it was the same as she remembered it would be the entry point she'd use when she returned. Hopefully Caleb had some more information for her to use to her advantage. She chuckled to herself. The fox shifter would kill her when she finally showed up at the hotel. What was supposed to be a couple minutes had turned into hours of exploration and mental drifting.

  Caleb had left one of their bags outside the door so she could find the room. The door swung open seconds after she knocked. "Disappearing on me again? Your sisters are miles away so what's the excuse this time?"

  "I was checking out the area, getting familiar with all the changes to the town. Then I lost track of time and got hungry." She held out a brown paper bag. "Take-out?" He mock-snatched it from her hand with a scowl.

  "I haven't eaten since yesterday. I may not be a wolf, but I still require sustenance." The fox was adorable when angry, if angry could even be used to describe him. He was so patient, mellow, and fun to be around. As she drove back to the hotel, she had an unfamiliar giddiness knowing she'd see him again.

  "Sorry about that. I tend to forget to eat when my mind is elsewhere. It'll be sundown in a couple more hours, so we'll just hang low for now." She stripped off her leather jacket, the oversized scarf she used to disguise her face, and tugged the elastic from her hair. "At least it's better than our last place, no?"

  "It's fine," he said, his voice coming out more like a sigh.

  He ate his food in silence, and she drifted off to sleep in the bed, feeling safe with Caleb near. When she awoke, the sky beyond the parted curtains was black, not even the ever-glowing light of the distant city to morph the color to grey.

  Caleb sat in a chair, leaning over his legs. "What's wrong with you?" she asked.

  He got up and joined her on the bed, sitting on the edge. "You don't have to do this you know. You have nothing to prove." He rested a hand on her thigh. "Delia, you could get hurt, or worse. This isn't a game."

  "Do I look like I'm playing a game, Caleb? I'm quite committed to following through with our plan—"

  "Your plan. None of this was my idea. The longer I'm with you, the more I think it's a very bad idea."

  She couldn't turn back now. She'd come this far. If Delia ran, they'd never stop following her. Even more so, it would mean giving up when she promised to see this through to the end. The way princesses were treated had to change. They were living in the Dark Ages.

  The light from the moon filtered into the darkened room. It carried strength and power and brought her sexual needs to the surface. Caleb was so close, his shoulders broad, his lips full. Did he feel the same raw energy coursing through his veins?

  "I'm not quitting," she whispered, watching his lips, unable to look away.

  "Changing your mind doesn’t mean you're quitting. You don't have to continue this crusade. Princess, you can find your own peace, your own happiness…like your sisters."

  She shook her head slowly, still transfixed on the strong line of his jaw, the waves in his hair, and the glow of his green eyes. "Don't call me princess. I'm just me. Just Delia."

  "Okay, Delia." He tucked her sleep-tousled hair behind her ear. "Would you take a chance on me or am I only dreaming to think I could have a mate as beautiful and intelligent as you?"

  Was he actually saying what she thought he was? No, he couldn't want her. It was the moon—it was always the moon or her blood. "I'm no good for you, Caleb." After tomorrow she may not even be alive to stand by his side. She couldn't offer a commitment now even if she wanted to.

  "Why? Is it because I'm a fox? I'm still a man."

  The determination in his voice, the depth of his gaze, and the sensual energy in the room all tilted her world off axis. She couldn’t speak, only shook her head. He may be a fox shifter, but she really didn’t give a shit. Caleb was sweet, sexy, caring, and a man she could see hersel
f spending a lifetime with. But a happily ever after wasn't in the stars for Delia, and she still had so much to do. She had to complete her mission or she'd forever regret it.

  "I've always wondered what it would feel like to kiss one of the princesses." He chuckled to himself. "But I guess every prepubescent shifter has had the same thought at some point…"

  She shouldn't encourage him, but her body demanded to learn the texture of his lips and feel of his lean muscles. She was a puppet—the moon and her heart's desire pulling the strings. Delia silenced his ramblings with the kiss he sought. She leaned against him, pressing her mouth softly to his. His breath was hot, his lips firm, yet soft. The simple contact started a chain reaction. Her blood heated, her pussy pulsed, and her fangs pricked at her gumline.

  He spoke against her lips. "It's better than I imagined." But he took more, tasting her, exploring her mouth with his tongue. The weight of his body shifted towards her, forcing her to lower to the mattress. Her stomach fluttered, so needy. Just a little more…

  Delia savored his taste, his warmth, the physical and emotional bond they created. She tugged at his T-shirt, wanting to feel his flesh against hers. He assisted her, tossing the material away with disregard. Caleb's body was lithe, all hard and lean muscled. She wanted to bite, to take, to fuck. Her desires were commandeering her logical thoughts, making her forget she was an inexperienced virgin with no plans of mating.

  She smoothed her hands over his shoulders as he braced himself over her body with his arms. "I've never been bitten," she said. It sounded better than being unskilled in the bedroom. She was the eldest sister and the last to know a man's body intimately. It was embarrassing.

  "Would you like me to bite you?" He smirked, those green eyes cutting through the darkness with a supernatural glow. If she was going to throw caution to the wind tomorrow, maybe she should experience everything she could tonight. She'd always wondered what a mating bite would feel like—pain, pleasure, or a mixture of both. Ever since she saw Caleb's bone-white fangs the night before, she hadn't stopped thinking of being bitten.