Let the Wild Out

by Madelyn Porter

  “I own land that would be perfect for a house,” Douglas offered. “There is a small home there already. It’s older but will suffice while another is being built.” He turned to Rachel. “And the politics are not so bad. You can do a lot of good. You will have the resources to take on whatever project you like.”

  “The limelight is tolerable once you get used to it. I had a hard time with it at first. To tell you the truth, at times it still bothers me, but we can face it together.” William leaned up on an elbow to study her face. “You have no reason to worry. The people will love you.”

  “There are times I do not enjoy the attention,” Douglas said. “And I will do all in my power to keep you from it, if that is your wish. Just, don’t say no without thinking of our proposal. We will make you fine and honest husbands.”

  “Can’t we…” Rachel wanted to say yes with the very beat of her heart, but her head was harder to convince. “Can’t we just live in sin, together, as lovers? Do you really have to get married right away? You are here with me, so I’m assuming you have no prospects.”

  They didn’t speak.

  “Unless you do have other prospects? Magda gave you that list of potential brides you were reading before our car accident, didn’t she? I heard her talking about Lisbetha. Well, talking is putting it mildly. She was actually mumbling about my apparent ineptitude and how poorly I was suited to be in your royal presence when there were much more suitable and aristocratic women around for you to pick from. Plus, she did try to send me through the servants’ entrance. Then she had Lisbetha deliver my food like she was the lady of the house or something. She was in my room all of thirty seconds, but talk about uncomfortable.”

  Again, they didn’t speak.

  “If she is an example of how the people will love me, I think you’ve lost your argument. That woman has not liked me from the beginning. You’d think I marked her favorite tree during a shift or something.” Rachel gave a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood, as she darkly joked, “I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who hired St. Joan to come after me. She seems to have her nose stuck into every piece of business in this place.”

  The comment was meant to be more offhand than serious, but the second she said it, she felt Douglas inhale a deep breath and hold it.

  “The idea does warrant looking into. Magda has been pushing for a Cononious bride,” Douglas reasoned. “She’s sent me a list of eligible women as well. In fact, I think she had Lisbetha’s name starred, as well as the ones called Charity and Ginger. I believe the exact notation read, ‘Ginger is wild and will most likely be to the Duncanis’s liking’.”

  “I have known Magda since boyhood. She would not dare to betray me or our people.” William sat up on the bed. Rachel studied his naked back as he presented it to them. His breathing stayed calm and even.

  “What if she thought getting rid of me so you would marry a Cononious woman was in your best interest?” Rachel asked. “I’m Duncanis. She would have no reason to be loyal to me. It’s clear she thinks of me as your American whore. She’s given that impression since I’ve met her.”

  “No. I can’t believe it. I couldn’t accuse Magda of…” William’s words trailed off. “If it is true, I will deal with her.”

  Rachel didn’t know what to say. The men were quiet for a long moment.

  “We don’t know anything for sure.” Rachel tried to backtrack her words, not liking the pain they clearly inflicted on William. “Our not knowing is merely leading to speculation. We have no proof.”

  “So are we to wait around for another attack?” Douglas asked. Rachel didn’t like the idea of being bait. “I think we should question Magda. She would have the contacts, the knowledge, and the power to hire St. Joan.”

  “She is the one who told me who St. Joan was to begin with,” William said, reluctantly. “I don’t want to believe she would betray me, but the circumstances are suspicious. I will question her.”

  “This is a serious matter.” Douglas pushed up. “I will be there when you question her. We will have a united front.”

  Both men looked expectantly at Rachel. She gave them a weak smile. “You two let me know how it goes.”

  “You should be there. This is your life that is being threatened,” Douglas said. “And it will show our support of you if it is her.”

  “And your support of us,” William added. “Like Douglas said, it is important that we be a united front.”

  “You two really do sound like politicians,” she mumbled. Rachel moved to crawl out of bed. In all honesty, she didn’t want to face Magda and see the old shifter eyeing her like she was a piece of gum stuck to her favorite table top. She lifted the cotton shirt and pulled it over her head.

  “That is not an answer,” Douglas said.

  “I didn’t really hear a question in the decree,” Rachel answered. Now that her physical lust had been sated, her mind demanded a little more control. Her words seemed to quiet them. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind picking up your clothes on your way out the door, I would like to be alone.”

  They shared a shocked look. William gave a short laugh, as if testing to see if she was joking.

  “Oh, I’m serious. You two need to go and I need time to think.” She grabbed her pants and held them in front of her, covering her naked bottom half from view.

  “You won’t run again?” Douglas asked as both men slowly got up from the bed.

  “Not if you leave me in peace.” Rachel was no fool. She didn’t want to risk being drugged, kidnapped, hunted or killed. This room was the safest place at the moment. It would be even safer when the two incredibly handsome men left it. Then she would be somewhat protected from her own wayward emotions.

  They dressed before leaving the room. Once alone, Rachel dropped her pants onto the floor and crawled half-dressed onto the bed. The covers smelled like them—the exotic cologne of Douglas and the wild earthiness of William. With a heavy sigh, she looked at the ceiling, but no revelations as to her situation came to her, and she was left feeling more confused than ever.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “My chief, the tailor is here to see to your fitting.” Lisbetha curtseyed.

  William nodded once in acknowledgement, only to stop walking and ask, “What? Tailor?”

  After Rachel’s dismissal and the others’ suspicion about Magda, he had wanted to be alone to think. Seeing Lisbetha roaming the halls of his private wing caused him a moment’s irritation until he reminded himself that it was his duty to be pleasant to the guests in his home.

  “For the ball. Magda asked me to see to the details since you don’t currently have a woman to care for such needs.” Her smile was all innocence. “It is the same tailor my father uses, but don’t worry, he does do more modern tuxedo styles as well.”

  William cleared his throat. “That was very, uh, thoughtful of you.”

  “It is nothing more than any lady would think to do.” Again she smiled. Lisbetha was a very pretty woman, with clear eyes and immaculate hair. He found himself absently wondering how long it took a team of maids to get every strand into perfect place. “Ah.” She made a weak noise, patting her hair.

  William realized he stared. “Was there something else?”

  “Only…” Lisbetha lowered her gaze only to peek up at him through her lashes. “Magda mentioned that you did not have a lady to take with you to the ball, and since I was effectively the hostess, I should make myself available to you for the evening.”

  “Oh.” He glanced around the hall, more irritated at Magda for sending this woman to him—yet again. “I don’t think it’s necessary to trouble yourself.”

  “It is no trouble, my chief. I would be honored to sit by your side.” Again when she smiled, the look was all innocence and purity. He almost felt bad telling her no.

  “I’m sorry, but I have already made arrangements to have a woman by my side at the ball.” William thought of his fiery Rachel. He wanted no other woman next to him. “Thank yo
u for the offer, but it is not necessary.”

  Lisbetha’s eyes narrowed. When he would step past her to avoid an awkward scene, she asked, “Might I ask who, my chief?”

  “Rachel Dunne.”

  “The American trout?” Her words became tight.

  William nodded. “Yes.”

  “But she is so…” Lisbetha made a disgusted noise. William arched a brow. The woman quickly checked her expression of distaste, and amended, “She is surely still recovering from her ordeal. Rumors have been circulating the castle that she was attacked by a wild dog when running alone in the forest. I, of course, have nothing against her, but people do speak of her…”

  “Her…?” William prompted with a scowl. Who was this woman to lecture him about his choice in company?

  “Her lack of propriety, that is all. I am sure it is only that she was raised wild in America.” Lisbetha kept her expression docile. Except for the one slip of mild distaste she had briefly shown him, she hid her emotions well under the veiled mask of propriety. “Her nature cannot be helped. People also say that it is good of you to protect the poor orphan.”

  Orphan? Rachel wasn’t some child in need of adopting.

  “I especially think that is noble of someone to help the less fortunate. You have a good soul, my chief.” Lisbetha dared to touch his arm. He looked down at her hand but didn’t pull away. “If you change your mind and require a lady at your side, I will leave my evening open for you.”

  William nodded once. She curtseyed again and let her fingers trail off his arm before walking away. Her steps were small and unhurried. He listened until they were gone from his wing.

  He hated palace gossip. It was no wonder Rachel wanted nothing to do with this life. He couldn’t blame her. But yet, he couldn’t let her go either. He made the sacrifice and gave up his anonymity when he became heir to Tobias’s throne. Was it too much to ask that she made the sacrifice too? With her in his life maybe things wouldn’t seem so lonely.

  There was logic to a choice like Lisbetha, but he didn’t want a cold marriage. He already had to share his bride with Douglas. It wasn’t too much to ask that he actually desire the woman.

  Frowning, he heard footsteps approaching. The gait sounded like Magda. In no mood to deal with the woman’s lectures, and having agreed to confront the woman when Douglas was present, William ducked into the old king’s game room. He had not changed it since his ascension. The red pool table, billiards table, and air hockey tables dominated the room. The smell of old brandy and cigars hung lightly on the air.

  He didn’t move as he heard Magda walk by. She searched his bedroom before turning back around and moving down the hall, out of his private wing. Instead of leaving the room, he went to the bar and poured himself a snifter of Armagnac, a distinct smelling brandy from Gascony. It was the same drink Tobias had on his breath when he told William the news of his destiny as chief. William breathed in the scent, not tasting the drink for a long time while he remembered a time before that fated moment when his life had been much simpler.

  *

  Douglas knocked on Rachel’s bedroom door before walking inside uninvited. He found her sitting by the long window overlooking the back courtyard. Hours had passed since she’d asked to be alone, and he’d wanted to talk to her without William.

  “I feel like I’m on vacation,” she said wistfully, “aside from the someone wanting me dead part. That reality kind of puts a morbid spin on everything.”

  “I wanted to speak to you alone. I’m worried about your safety here. I think it would be best if you came with me to Scotland. There are many from the Duncanis clan there. They will welcome you because you are one of us. It is not like here. Those who work for me are not like Magda. You can trust them. We Duncanis protect our own.” Douglas glanced towards the closed door. Rachel listened past him to what sounded like a maid in the halls. When she’d passed, he continued, “William is a good man. Tobias did right to choose him. However, he is new to his rule. There are some things—some instincts—that take time to develop. I have been chief for a long time and I trust my gut to know that it is not safe for us here.”

  “I have never been to Scotland.” She looked out the window. Her solemn tone worried him. “Of course this is my first time in England too, and it is not how I would imagine such a trip. For one, I’d be here with a passport so I could go home.”

  “Rachel, for what it is worth, we are sorry about what has happened to you, but until we know why you were targeted, there is nothing to be done.” He put his hands on his hips. “I apologize if this is insensitive, but it is time to act, not to wallow in self pity. I have a responsibility to keep you safe whether you are happy with my ways or not. The safest place for you right now is with me, in Scotland.”

  He half expected her to yell for his heavy-handed ways, but she surprised him. “What about William? I will not leave without speaking to William.”

  “I would not ask you to, but we need to have a united front when we speak to him. He might not be able to come with us and he might not want to let you go. I know I wouldn’t want to let you go.” He ventured to move closer to her and brushed the hair from her face. “We should leave after the ball tomorrow night. Since William and I are forced to attend, you will need to be by our side so we can protect you. No one would dare attack in the crowd.”

  “I don’t have a choice, do I?” She let loose a long sigh.

  “Is it so bad?” he wondered aloud.

  “What?”

  “The idea of being with me, as my wife? Is it so bad?” With her he felt vulnerable. She was everything he wanted in a woman, and she could be his if she would just accept what was between them.

  “But I would not just be with you.”

  “Of course, William as well. Are we so bad of a fate? Our lives have forced us to come to terms with the idea of sharing a wife, but is the idea of being our bride so horrible? Is it because William attacked you? Is it because I was not fast enough to stop him?”

  “I meant it would not just be the both of you that I would be accepting. I would be taking on the whole shifter population.” She took a deep breath. “It is not a responsibility I can accept lightly. My whole life I’ve hidden from what I am. Do you have any idea what it is like being an omni-shifter and not being able to tell people? Only a few people knew of it and they took it to their graves. Now you’re asking me to announce it to the world. Marriage is a big step on its own, but this situation is complicated.”

  “Those are details that will work themselves out in time. What I feel for you. What William feels for you. Those things are not complicated. We’re not humans, Rachel. When we meet our future, we know. I knew the moment I saw you in the bookstore that I wanted you.”

  “That’s lust,” she interjected with a small laugh.

  “No, that was real. One look and you shot right through me. Before I even met you, I snapped your picture and sent it to William. It must have shot through him too, because he was on a plane to America just to get a glimpse of what could be. One picture is all it took and he was hooked.” Douglas reached for her shoulders, pulling to urge her gently to her feet. “Don’t make us spend eternity with a fill-in wife. That is a long time to ask us to be without you.”

  A tear pooled along her bottom lid. “Douglas—”

  “Tell me you didn’t feel our connection. Tell me when you were in the woods with us, just the three of us, you didn’t feel the possibility of what we could be to each other.”

  “Of course I felt it. I felt it so strong it scared me, and I flew out of the second story window to run away from it.” She wiped at her eye.

  “Then—”

  “I have heard what you have to say, but I won’t make any decision until I hear what William has to say about all this. Scotland, balls, marriage, killers, there is a lot to think about.” She touched his face. “But thank you, Douglas. Thank you for your sweet words, and your concern, and your—”

  “Love,” he stated.
“You have my love.”

  “Yes, thank you for your love.” She leaned into him, turning her mouth in invitation. “And I love you too.”

  It was all he needed to hear. Douglas leaned over and kissed her. The sweet taste of her lips washed over him. This was what he wanted—these tender private moments with Rachel. He accepted the arrangement of sharing her so long as it meant he got to have her. William was a good man, someone he would even call a friend. When he leaned in to kiss her, she lifted her fingers to his mouth to stop him.

  “Yes, I feel it,” Rachel said, “but I will not make a mindless decision with my heart. My brain has to be agreed or any life I have will be plagued with constant doubts and worry. This isn’t some Hollywood movie where people ride off into the sunset happily ever after. This is real life and I won’t give myself over to the idea unless I know heart and mind that I can be in one hundred percent. If I can’t, there is no way I will be able to handle the pressure of the kind of spotlight life you live.”

  “I understand. I would want you to be sure. Tell me how I can alleviate your worry and—”

  “Time to think,” Rachel broke in. “I just need to time to think about such a big decision.”

  He didn’t want to, but he nodded in agreement. Douglas pulled back from her. “Very well. I will give you the time you ask for.”

  When he let go of her to leave her alone, her hand on his arm stopped him. She gave a small smile. “I didn’t mean this exact instant.”

  Douglas took the invitation and moved to kiss her. This time she didn’t stop him as her lips met his and instantly parted. Their tongues rubbed slowly together in an erotically charged dance.

  Rachel glided her hands onto his waist, lifting his shirt to discover the flesh beneath. Her gentle touch set his body on fire with need. Everything about this woman was sweet and perfect, and he had no doubt, given time, she would agree to be his bride. The very idea of not having her in his life was impossible to fathom.