by Leigh Walker
“It means I had too much of that cursed punch.”
He wagged his eyebrows at me. “I’m having Mira make another batch as we speak.”
“Don’t be funny. My head hurts too much.” Rhys handed me the tea, and I accepted it begrudgingly. “The whole evening was rigged—I can’t believe I fell for it.”
The king sighed. “It was Mira’s idea, of course. I didn’t have much choice but to follow along with it.”
“So you knew.”
He nodded.
“You knew the whole time?” This bothered me, but I was in too much pain to be indignant—I would save that for later.
“I didn’t have much choice in the matter.” Rhys climbed up next to me and sat back against the headboard, careful to keep his boots off the bed. “She told me an hour before the party started. She thought that it was a good way to turn an obstacle into an opportunity. You know Mira. She’s always scheming for a boost to the show.”
I had a small sip of tea, which tasted delicious and made me feel slightly less miserable. “She really fooled us. All three of us thought we were going home.”
“That’s unfortunate, but Mira said we had to trick you for it to be authentic. She wanted the audience to feel the tension or something bloody like that. She was already crowing about the reaction to the episode—she said it was the highest ratings ever.” Rhys frowned as he stared out at his legs, and I was struck by how normal and comfortable it seemed to have the werewolf king sitting beside me in bed. Perhaps I was still a bit drunk, thinking such thoughts.
“What about the king?” I asked, suddenly remembering his appearance and his ruling that no one needed to be cut. “I didn’t expect to see him there last night.”
“Ah yes, our benevolent ruler.” Rhys stared straight ahead. “He wouldn’t miss out on an opportunity to make himself look good, now would he?”
“No, he wouldn’t. Was that Mira’s idea as well?”
“Actually, it was mine.” He grimaced a little. “I need to keep the king happy, and it’s easier said than done.”
“You were smart to include him and to cast him as the fairy godfather in all this. Well done.”
He glanced at me. “Thank you, Tamara.”
“You’re welcome. Now, where is that aspirin you mentioned? I have gnomes to walk, and my head is pounding.”
Rhys got up and delivered an aspirin to me. “I’ll take the gnomes out for you. You look as though you might need to stay in bed a bit longer.”
“Is it that bad?”
“No.” His voice was gentle. “There’s nothing bad about it.”
He turned to the gnomes and let out a low whistle. “Come, Elsa. Come, Beast, and let’s get a move on. If my mates see me on the grounds walking you two, I’m never going to live it down.”
The gnomes looked at me expectantly.
“It’s okay to go with him. He’ll watch you.” I nodded toward my tote. “Your Highness, you need to bring them downstairs in that. They’re dreadful with the stairs.”
“No chance in bloody hell I’m carrying a lady’s handbag.” Rhys leaned down, scooped up the gnomes, and put one in each of his pockets.
They blinked at me from his jacket.
“Darlings, you don’t have to be afraid. You won’t hurt them, right?”
“So long as they behave.” He frowned at me. “If they bite, I’m biting back.”
The gnomes visibly shook in his pockets, and I started to get out of bed. “Never mind. I’ll take them—”
“Now now, I’m only teasing. Back to bed with you. If I can handle a rebel army, a reluctant king, and three human women, I can handle your pets.” Rhys tucked me in then arranged the tea tray on my nightstand. “There’s toast if you think you can stand it. Or I can always bring up some punch—a little hair of the dog, if you know what I mean.” He waggled his eyebrows at me, and I couldn’t help it: I laughed.
“No, thank you. I’m off the punch.”
“Suit yourself, my lady. But if you want to smell me or are in need of some butterflies, please just ask. I’m happy to oblige.” He looked rather smug as he closed the door behind him.
I pulled the covers over my head, wondering how I was ever going to live this down.
Later that afternoon, we were working in the library when Mira glided in. “Girls, girls, girls.” She clapped her hands loudly. “Last night’s episode received the highest ratings of the season so far, numbers that are practically unheard of. The show’s gaining popularity among the settlers, and I expect that these next episodes are going to do even better. The feedback I’ve been hearing is that the audience loved how raw and emotional you three were. They believe in your feelings for the king. Well done. ”
Dae raised her hand. “I’m glad to hear that last night went well, ratings-wise. But I can’t lie—I’m disappointed that we were tricked like that. I was so upset and stressed out. I really thought I could be going home. It seems a bit cruel, if you ask me.”
Mira nodded. “I understand, of course—but do you remember what I told you? I said that we’d have to explain the change in the elimination process with some clever editing and a creative explanation. We couldn’t very well say that we’re on lockdown because of the rebels, now can we? The idea for last night’s episode just came to me, and it worked out very well. Even the king is pleased with the results. You all got to stay, we got our best ratings ever—it was a win-win, as they say.”
“But can we please not have any more surprises?” Joely asked. She looked a bit pale that morning, with traces of dark circles under her eyes. “My heart can’t take it.”
Mira smiled at her. “I can’t promise that, but I will tell you that I was very impressed by how you all performed last night, with the exception of Tamara at the end of the evening, of course. A lady doesn’t pass out in public. That portion of the show was quite scandalous.”
I winced. “I told you I was sorry. I had more than my fair share to drink, and I was being a bit…emotional.”
“Luckily, the audience was responsive to it. They viewed your vulnerability in a positive light.” The vampire host arched an eyebrow. “But I expect more from you.”
“And you shall get it. I’m very pleased with the direction my project is taking. I have high hopes to win the Contestants’ Challenge.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Back to work, everyone. I’m going to be reviewing your individual progress later today.”
“Mira?” I raised my hand. “I need some more supplies for my project.”
“What sort of supplies?”
My face heated as Joely and Dae looked at me, curious. “Werewolves. I need werewolves.”
“Fine.” Mira shrugged. “I have plenty of those on hand.”
I asked to be put in a separate room so that I could speak freely to my werewolf volunteers. Luckily, no cameras accompanied me, so we would be able to have an open discussion. Duncan, Will, and the other advisor I’d met the night before—I learned his name was Philip—joined me in the south drawing room.
“Thank you for being here to listen to my ideas for my community-service project.” I smiled at them. Will and Philip smiled back while Duncan merely stared. “We talked about this a bit last night.”
“I’m surprised you remember,” Duncan said.
“And I’m surprised you volunteered to be here.” I motioned to the door. “If you’re going to be hurling insults, please leave. I’m taking this project very seriously. If you want to stay and give me your feedback, fine. If you’re just here to undermine me and poke fun, go.”
Will and Philip chuckled as Duncan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I’ll stay, Missus. You know I have my objections to you, but despite that, I thought your idea had some real merit. I want to see what you have to offer—my friends here need all the help they can get in the relationship department.”
“Says you.” Will chuckled again. “You’ve never even dated a chicken.”
Duncan scowled at the other w
erewolf. “A, that makes no sense. B, you’re an idiot. C, you’d be lucky if a chicken looked at you cross-eyed.” He turned back to me. “Perhaps you can toss Will out? He’s the one being disruptive.”
“Now now, let’s all settle down. As you might expect, I have a tremendous headache, and we have a ton of material to get through. I want to state at the outset that these are generalities of conduct. I believe they apply to most if not all situations, including whether you are dating a member of the opposite sex or a member of the same sex. Love is love, kindness is kindness, consent is consent. Is everyone clear on that?”
The werewolves nodded. They appeared eager to begin.
“First off,” I asked, “who knows what a date is?”
All three wolves raised their hands.
“Philip, please give me your definition of the term ‘date.’”
The werewolf leaned forward. “It’s when you like someone, and you ask them to spend time with you.”
I nodded. “Yes, that’s good. And what sorts of things might you do when you spend time together?”
Philip looked thoughtful. “Go for a walk?”
“Yes.” I nodded encouragingly. “That’s good. What else?”
“Grill some squirrel shish kebobs over a bonfire?” Philip asked hopefully.
“Well… That’s the thing, Philip. Not everyone eats squirrel, or meat for that matter.”
“What?” Will leaned forward. “What do you mean, not everyone eats meat?”
“Some people—some humans—are vegetarians.” When they looked confused, I continued, “They’re herbivores, I mean. They only eat plants.”
Will’s forehead wrinkled. “Like a cow’s diet, you mean?”
“Yes, the same idea. Plants only.”
Philip glanced at Will then back at me. “And it’s their choice?”
“Yes, it is. But let’s not get bogged down in the details here.” I shook my head. “What is important to remember is that you must ask your date what they like. Does that make sense?”
The werewolves shifted uncomfortably in their seats. “I don’t think we know where to start,” Duncan admitted.
“That’s okay. That’s why I’m here. Things you can ask them include what they like to do. For instance, you can ask, ‘Do you like to go for a walk in the woods? Do you enjoy having a glass of wine? What is your favorite dinner?’”
“Um…” Will looked stricken. “Do some humans not enjoy walking in the woods?”
“They don’t all like wine—or squirrels? Do some dislike both?” Philip asked.
“Why does it matter what they prefer for dinner?” Duncan asked. “What about what I bloody prefer?”
“Oh boy. Okay. We have a lot of work to do here.” I flopped into my seat and grabbed my notebook. “First things first: let’s talk about respect. And priorities. And getting to know someone.”
Will scratched his head. “I thought you were going to show me which fork to use, and then the lady of my dreams was going to throw herself at me.”
“You might want to adjust your expectations. We’re a bit more work than that.”
They grumbled and cursed, but I ignored them. It was a valuable service. I could actually do some good with them.
Schooled
The rest of the week passed in a flourish. I didn’t see much of His Highness or of Joely and Dae. Each candidate was sequestered with our respective projects, and Rhys was busy in meetings with Prince Austin and King Black. The news coming from the settlements wasn’t good. The rebels had been on a recruiting binge and had somewhat revived their lagging numbers. There was extra security both inside the castle and on the grounds. Each contestant was assigned a sentinel who followed us during the day and guarded our rooms at night.
I’d put my sentinel, Roger, to good use. Will, Philip, and Duncan were busy with their advisor duties, so I’d used Roger as my werewolf guinea pig all week. As we headed toward the presentation portion of the challenge, I felt like I was in good shape. My headache was long gone, and my complexion had returned to its normal luster. Rhys had been so busy, he hadn’t had time to tease me about my butterflies and sweater-sniffing habits. I missed him, but I hoped to impress him with what I’d accomplished for the challenge.
I was curious to see what Joely and Dae had come up with. I was also eager to share my contribution. Mira arranged for King Rhys and the wolves to attend our reveals over the next three days. She had seating set up in one of the large meeting rooms on the first floor. For the next three afternoons, the room was ours. One contestant would present each day. Our names had been chosen out of a hat: I was first, Dae second, and Joely third.
Finally, the day of my presentation arrived. Giuliana chose a smart navy frock and a string of pearls then pulled my hair back into an elegant chignon. I felt confident as I entered the presentation room with my head held high and my guard, Roger, close at my heels. It was packed—every werewolf in the Realm appeared to be in attendance, and the entire production crew was there as well. Joely and Dae sat near the front. They waved and smiled. Rhys caught my eye from the center of the front row. He grinned at me and nodded, and I could tell he was excited for the presentations to begin.
Mira swept forward and kissed me on each cheek. “You look lovely, Tamara. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” My time in finishing school and serving as a Goodwill Ambassador had prepared me well. I was comfortable speaking in front of a crowd.
“Then let’s begin.” She nodded to the camera crew. “We’re ready. On my count: three, two, one.” Her brilliant ice-white smile lit up the room as she beamed at the audience. “Good afternoon, and thank you so much for joining us. This next part of the contest is called the Contestants’ Challenge. It was designed by King Rhys himself. Each candidate was asked to pick a project that would benefit the community of the Realm. It’s essential that whoever is chosen as queen understands what will help this new kingdom solidify its future. It’s important to King Rhys that the citizens understand that they are an important part of his choice of a queen.”
She nodded toward me. “Each contestant has worked diligently over the past week to prepare their presentation. Their names were chosen randomly, and the order is Lady Tamara Layne, Lady Dae Philips, and then Lady Joely Raine. Without further ado, I give you Lady Layne. I’m sure we’re all eager to hear what the Goodwill Ambassador and former socialite has to share with us today.”
There was polite applause, and Mira took a seat. I smiled out at the crowd. “The area I’ve chosen for the Contestants’ Challenge might be deemed controversial—it’s dating.”
A murmur broke out through the wolves, and Joely and Dae looked at each other.
“My experience here in the Realm has been lovely, and I enjoy the constituents immensely. This is the beginning of a new chapter for you all. It’s time not only for the king to marry and start a family, but for all of you to do so.”
Next came a quick, slightly revisionist history that was appropriate for the viewers at home. “But there are challenges to raising a family in the Realm. I’m certain the audience at home has noticed that there aren’t a lot—or any—females here. That’s because King Rhys’s clan has been largely nomadic over the years. They’ve traveled as soldiers in support of King and Queen Black. They’ve protected these lands for decades, loyally sacrificing their personal lives for the good of the North, the settlements, and the crown.”
I glimpsed Duncan in the third row, listening with rapt attention. “Such sacrifice should be rewarded. I know that the men of the Realm desire to marry and start families, just as the king does. It was my idea to help them learn how to court and relate to citizens of the settlements. So I decided to design a Relationship Institute as my contribution to the Realm.”
Chatter broke out among the audience, and I waited until they quieted down. “I’ve compiled materials with easy-to-read bullet points to assist you in this process. I’m also making myself available on an as-needed basis for one-on-
one consultations. But I thought that today, we could start with a brief demonstration. I’ll be asking for volunteers from the audience, if that’s all right with all of you.”
Excited chatter broke out again as I handed out my one-sheets. I hoped I’d covered the basics appropriately:
•Dating is fun
•Getting to know someone BEFORE you begin a relationship is important
•Honesty is the only policy
•Kindness is always appropriate
•Listening is sexy
•Trust is essential
•Consent is KEY
Some of the wolves looked a bit confused as they read their bullet points. One of them raised his hand, and I called on him. “Lady Layne, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what all of this means.”
“That’s okay.” I smiled at him brightly. “We’re going to talk about all of this today. To begin, Roger, would you join me up here?” I pulled out a chair for my sentinel. Roger was a handsome, genteel-looking werewolf. He was tall and trim, with silky black hair, a patrician nose, and ice-blue eyes.
“Roger has kindly agreed to role-play with me so that we can demonstrate what some of these points mean. First off, Roger, would you like to go on a date with me?”
“I’d be honored, Lady Layne.” He smiled at me kindly.
“Hold up.” A werewolf from the audience raised his hand. “The lady can ask the man out?”
“Yes, of course.” I nodded. “The women can ask the men, the men can ask the women, the women can ask the women, the men can ask the men, et cetera. It’s very equal that way.”
“Good,” the wolf said. “It’d make it easier if the lady asked me!”
“Of course. It’s always nice to be asked out, so long as the person doing the asking is respectful of your answer. So, Roger”—I turned back toward him—“your answer was yes?” When he nodded, I continued, “What sorts of things do you like to do, Roger? I was thinking we could go for a walk around the grounds, then perhaps have hot cocoa and cupcakes. Does any of that sound appealing to you?”
