by Leigh Walker
“It’s just that I don’t like that he’s up here again, you see. He’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong, and it doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Can you explain that more?”
“I didn’t like how he swooped in and took credit the other night at the cocktail party, when Mira announced that you three girlies were going to stay. It was a publicity stunt, and it wasn’t even true. And then he showed up to congratulate you after your presentation. That didn’t sit well with me, either.” Duncan had a sip of his drink. “I see him here taking credit, taking advantage. I’m not sure what he’s setting up for himself, but I don’t want him in the Realm. It’s not his place—it’s ours. We have it by deeded rights, and Rhys is properly King. But that King Black still seems like he’s got his fingers into everything up here, attending meetings and parties. Why? What’s it to him? He’s got a whole country to rule. It’s not our problem if the rebels won’t let him be. We’ve fought for him, time and time again. He needs to figure it out with the Black Guard. It’s time we were left to take care of our own.”
I blew out a deep breath and looked around, making sure that no one could hear us and that the cameras weren’t near. “I have a theory about why he’s here. And it’s not just because the settlements are dangerous at the moment.”
“I’m listening.” Duncan studied me with his pale-blue eyes.
“Two nights ago, a vampire called me out onto the grounds—a stranger, a girl I’d never seen before.”
“What the hell? How did she get here? The patrol should’ve caught her—”
“The pack was out on the grounds, monitoring the perimeter. She spoke to me in my head in the middle of the night and lured me out to the gardens.”
“You’re lucky you’re not dead, Missus. You mustn’t trust a vampire’s tricks.”
“I know, I know. But she didn’t hurt me—at least, not my body. What she said hurt my feelings a great deal, though.” I swallowed hard. “She told me she had a message from my human friend, Shaye. Do you remember her? She was staying at the palace with Blake and Austin.”
“Real pretty girl?” he asked. “Dark, curly hair?”
“Yes, that’s Shaye. Anyway, this vampire said that Shaye had sent her to tell me that the contest was rigged. She said that I was going to win because King Black had ordered Rhys to choose me. It almost sounded like something you would say, that the king wants me to be queen because he thinks I’m loyal to him.”
“Ah, there it is. That makes some sense.” Duncan stroked his chin, nodding. “That would be a reason King Black is still here, sticking his nose into everything. He wants to make sure his choice wins the competition.”
My shoulders slumped. I agreed with him. “So do you think it’s true?”
“I don’t know if it’s true, but then again, I don’t doubt it.” Duncan’s gaze pierced mine. “I know that Rhys cares for you. It’s not an act. But it wouldn’t surprise me one bit that the king has his own plans for this contest. Of course he does. He says he’s given us our own country, but he’s a liar and a thief.”
“Duncan,” I whispered sharply. “Don’t say such things. That’s treason.”
The werewolf drained the rest of his glass. “Aw, Missus, that was nothing. I’m just getting started.”
I shook my head. “You swore you wouldn’t repeat what I said—”
“And I will keep my word.” He fixed his gaze on mine. “I am in your debt, Lady Layne. I appreciate you sharing my confidence. When the time comes, I will do the same for you.”
He was gone before I could ask what he meant.
Breach
For a moment, I was alone with my swirling thoughts. Then, much to my chagrin, King Rhys waved me over. “Dance with me, Lady Layne?” he asked as I reached him.
We were surrounded by cameras. “I’d love to,” I said through clenched teeth, which I hoped resembled a smile. I wasn’t sure if I was angry, hurt, or disappointed. It seemed to be a painful mixture of all three. Rhys led me to the dance floor, and I was mindful that all eyes were on us. I tried to relax, but we moved stiffly in time to the music. Our usual easy camaraderie had evaporated, and I felt only uneasy in the werewolf’s arms.
Rhys leaned closer, putting his face near my ear. “Are you upset about the Contestants’ Challenge?”
“No, not really. Joely deserved to win. Her idea was the best one.”
He nodded. “Not to diminish what both you and Dae contributed, but I agree. Joely’s proposal will have the biggest, most positive impact on our community. I made the decision spontaneously today—I’m sorry that I didn’t prepare you first.”
“You don’t have an obligation to prepare me for anything, Your Highness. It’s your choice and your choice alone.”
“But of course, it’s more complicated than that.” Rhys’s expression softened. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“My feelings aren’t what’s important,” I reminded him. “What’s most important is who you want to choose as a bride. And that choice must be based on what’s best both for you and for the kingdom. If Joely fits the bill because of her vision for the future, so be it.”
The werewolf king peered down at me, his brow furrowed. “Just because she won the challenge doesn’t mean she’ll win the whole thing.”
“It doesn’t mean she won’t.” I shrugged.
“My lady, forgive me for saying that you seem a bit dour this evening. I am sorry if I’ve made you upset.”
I looked up at him, gazing straight into his dark eyes. “You don’t need to protect my feelings, Your Highness. I would rather face the truth than be accommodated by lies.”
When he looked confused, I continued, “You are what matters most—your hopes, your dreams, your feelings. It’s your kingdom and your choice. I hope you are well prepared to make it, because the contest will be ending soon. All we have left are the overnight dates, and then it will all be over.”
“Your tone makes it seem as though you’ll be glad when it’s finished.”
"I recognize that it’s a privilege for me to be here.” I searched his face. “But it’s been hard to see you with the other girls. It often seems as though I am watching you fall in love with each of us, but that cannot be so. I’ve gotten to know you well enough to believe your heart could only love one woman. I am looking forward to learning your true heart, your true mind.”
The muscle in his jaw jumped. “I have told you that you are very special to me, Lady Layne. Although I cannot choose the winner until the contest has ended, I’ve tried to be as forthcoming as I’ve been able to these last few weeks.”
“I don’t expect you to say or do anything.” The song ended, and I was relieved to stop our choppy waltz. “All I am asking of you is that when the time comes, you’re honest not only with the three of us, but also with yourself.”
“I don’t understand you. Of course I’ll be honest. How could it be otherwise?”
“I’m not certain, Your Highness.” I dropped into a deep curtsy then raised myself to face him again. “Then again, I’m not certain of much these days. Good evening.” My voice shook, and my cheeks heated. I was suddenly precipitously close to tears again.
Rhys raised his hand as if to reach for me, but then he dropped it. “Good evening, Lady Layne.”
I needed to be away from him, and quickly. I left the dance floor and the party without a backward glance. I prayed that neither a pack of wayward werewolves nor a vampire messenger would accost me as I crossed the grounds in the moonlight—I’d left my bodyguard, Roger, at the party without telling him I was retiring for the night. Luckily, I reached the rear entrance to the palace safely. The kitchen was silent. Nan had left out a tray of baked goods for the humans and some bits of papaya for the gnomes. I grabbed a plate and heaped it high with chocolate croissants and brownies. Rhys was probably dancing with Joely at that moment. Perhaps he loved her, truly, a love not forced by King Black.
How can I compete with t
hat? The truth was, I couldn’t. I was an obligation, an order. By comparison, Joely would feel like a breath of fresh air, and a beautiful and kind one at that. I added another pastry to my plate and hustled up the back stairs. Thankfully, Giuliana wasn’t in my room. Elsa and Beast looked up at me expectantly, their tongues lolling out.
“Hello, my darlings. Beast, I just saw your other mommy at the party. I’ll bring you for a visit to see her soon. I just don’t want her to ask to have you back yet.” I tossed them each a bite of papaya, which they caught expertly and happily gnawed.
They watched me as they ate. “In other breaking news,” I continued, “I’m afraid that His Highness doesn’t actually have real feelings for me. I talked it through with Blake and Eve, and now I’m more certain than ever: Shaye really sent that vampire to warn me.”
The gnomes whined, and I helped myself to a rather large bite of chocolate croissant. “It is upsetting, I agree. I’m not sure how I could be so naive. Having had so many suitors, you’d think I’d have a better read on such things. But as much as it hurts, it’s better to know the truth now. If I’d gone ahead and married him, believing that he had real feelings for me, my whole life would be a lie. What could be more wretched than that?”
What I didn’t tell the gnomes, what I didn’t say out loud as I finished my croissant, was how badly I was hurting inside. It was as if my whole center ached with a raw feeling that throbbed. I tried to ignore it by occupying myself with a brownie then by scrubbing my makeup off and putting on my favorite pajamas. I added another log to the fire. I didn’t let myself think about how I felt, or why. I couldn’t bear to face it.
I climbed into bed, turned off the lights, and stared at the fire for a long time. The flames cast shadows on the walls. Bright light from the full moon flooded my room. After some time, I heard howls out on the grounds. The party must have ended, and the camera crews must’ve retired for the evening. The pack had turned themselves over to the power of the full moon and shifted. They were likely canvassing the grounds, looking for any traces of the rebel forces.
I added another log to the fire then crept back to bed. Exhaustion, mostly the emotional kind, made my limbs heavy. Elsa and Beast snored peacefully from their spots on the floor. I half-wished I was a gnome, content with table scraps and a daily tour around the gardens. Life would be much simpler. My eyes drifted shut as I imagined myself with glossy black fur, adorned with a lavender bow, whizzing in and out of the gardens…
There was a knock at my door, and I sat up straight in bed, startled. “Roger?” I asked. “Is that you?”
“No.” The door opened, and Rhys came in. “Do you wish it was?”
“Maybe.” I rubbed my eyes. “But what are you doing here? I heard howling, and I know it’s your time to shift.”
“I had to see you first. There’s something we must discuss.” Rhys paced the room. He’d stripped down from his ceremonial uniform and wore only a tight-fitting T-shirt and black pants, his feet bare.
“Okay…” I pulled the covers up to my chin. “I’m listening.”
He clenched and unclenched his fists as he paced. “We are going on a hunt tonight, my lady.”
“A hunt? What on earth are you after—are you rounding up squirrels, or is it bunnies tonight?”
“It’s not funny, Tamara.” He stopped pacing and stared at me. “We’re hunting a vampire. A stranger in these parts, so I’m told.”
My stomach dropped. “A vampire, really. Who told you it’s a stranger?”
“Duncan, of all people.” His eyes narrowed. “And d’you know where he heard about this strange vampire?”
“Yes, of course I do.” That belligerent, two-faced vermin. “I confided something to him tonight. I’m assuming he told you the details?”
“No, my lady, he refused to. But he’s sworn an oath to me—Duncan has a duty to inform me of any trespassers on our land. He discharged that duty, but he wouldn’t tell me anything other than that you’d reported the incident to him. Now, I am here because I want to know why. Why the stranger was here, why you told Duncan about it, why you didn’t tell me.” His nostrils flared.
“I didn’t feel comfortable coming to you. This vampire had a message for me, and it had to do with you.”
“If someone snuck into my kingdom to spread tales about me, I need to know everything. Tell me now, Tamara. I won’t ask you twice—it’s an order.” Rhys waited, his big body tense.
I sighed. “It was a message from my friend Shaye. She’d learned from her family that the contest is…rigged. And that apparently, I’m going to win. Yay, me.”
His eyes darkened. “Rigged?”
“That’s what she said.” I lifted my chin as I continued, “The king wants you to choose me because he sees me as an ally, one who’s easy to control. The vampire said your feelings for me are pretend. She said you’re following orders.”
“That’s what she told you?” Rhys raked a hand through his hair. “And you believed her?”
“I wasn’t sure what to think, to be honest. But Shaye is not the sort of person who lies or schemes. She would only send me such a message if she was legitimately trying to warn me.” I waited for a moment, gathering my courage. “Is it—is it true? Has the king ordered you to choose me?”
Rhys held very still. “Yes.”
I felt like there was a knife in my heart. “Oh.” I couldn’t say anything intelligent. I could barely catch my breath.
“But after Joely’s presentation, he ordered me to choose her. And when there was a brief uprising on the Western border two weeks ago, he ordered me to choose Dae.” Rhys’s eyes flashed. “His Highness is mercurial at best, at the mercy of the polls at worst. What he is not, what he will never be, is my master.”
“But you pledge allegiance to him at every turn.” I sat up straighter. “What do you mean, he’s not your master?”
Rhys stepped forward, and I could see the cords standing out in his neck. “I am the king of my people, Tamara. No one rules me. Not King Black, not my pack, not a random vampire planting seeds of doubt in your head, and certainly not you. I would have thought, hoped that after our time together, you would have more faith in me than to be undone by simple lies. You asked me for my honesty earlier, and now, I understand why. So here it is, my honest opinion of this debacle: you have shown me that you have no true knowledge of my character. Instead of coming to me with this tale, you chose to confide in my subordinate. You chose to make decisions about our future based on conjecture, and you didn’t even have the decency to include me in the conversation.”
“That’s not fair.” I climbed out of bed and went to him. We regarded each other face to face. The moonlight lit his hostile expression clearly. “I would never have believed what I was told unless it was coming from a trusted friend such as Shaye. She would never lie to me. So why would she take the trouble to send me such a message?”
“What if you were tricked?” he asked.
“I thought about that, but who would risk such a thing? There’s no one who would profit from such a scheme. Trust me when I say that I thought the whole thing through. And then, when I saw you with Joely today…” I raised my gaze to meet his. “It seems as though you do love her.”
He shook his head. “That’s not fair, and it’s also not the point.”
“I’m explaining to you why I accepted the information from the vampire and why it hurt me, so you’ll understand why I confided in Duncan, not you.” I wrapped my arms around my chest. “D’you think that I want to be a burden to you? I’ve seen the way the king’s schemes eat you up. I know he won’t fully let go of his desire to control things in the Realm. Do you think that I want to make you vulnerable? I do not, Your Highness. If the king views me as weak, it makes me a liability to both you and your kingdom. That’s the last thing I want. Actually, the last thing I want is to be with someone who doesn’t love me, who only chose me because he was pressured into doing so.”
“But I would never do t
hat. No one controls me at that level, only my own heart. I thought you’d know that by now.” Rhys shook his head. He looked stricken as he took a step back from me. “So those are the last things you want… What are the first? Tell me, my lady.”
The hurt bubbled up inside me, making my throat squeeze, my eyes prick with tears that burned. “Joely loves you, you know. So does Dae. Their affection is genuine. They both want to be queen, and both would do a fine job, in my opinion.”
“Ah, you and your opinions. You wound me, my lady.”
“My point is, sometimes the better choice is the easier one. Neither Joely nor Dae have any ties to the crown. You wouldn’t have to worry about King Black trying to control them because their allegiance is first and foremost to you.”
“And yours is not?”
I took a deep breath. “My allegiance is to you as well. But the king told me when he chose me as a contestant that he might prefer me as queen… He sees me as an ally because of my affiliation with the royal court. I don’t think giving him what he wants is what’s best for you. I hadn’t expected him and Queen Serena to come and stay here for so long. He seems more invested in the Realm than I’d anticipated. Even though it’s heresy for me to say it, I don’t trust his motives.”
“At least we can agree on one thing.”
“Rhys.” I moved closer and reached for his hands, but he took another step back. “What the vampire told me, whether it was a lie or based on some rumor of truth, made me think.”
“And? What do you think?”
“Perhaps I am not the best choice for you, Your Highness. Perhaps you would be better settled with one of the other girls.” I felt like my heart was in a vise, being squeezed until there was nothing left. “Sometimes, when you have someone’s best interests at heart, you see it is the better thing to walk away.”
There was a flash of hurt on the werewolf’s face, but it was gone so quickly that I might’ve imagined it. “As you wish. You know I have always valued your insight—you’ve more experience with relationships and with society. I’m but a rogue, following my feelings. I see that I have done so at my peril.” He swept into a deep bow.
