Moody And The Beast (Shadowvale Book 4)

by Kristen Painter

  He gave chase, keeping pace with her until she darted into the woods. More sprite moss lit the way, along with a variety of luminescent mushrooms on the ground. He picked up speed. He had no choice. If she went too far, he’d be powerless to continue. His barriers might have moved, but they were still there.

  It was nice to run, to feel the earth under his feet and the breeze against his face. He felt like a kid again, joyful and carefree. There was a lightness in him that hadn’t existed in years. A lightness that was all Theo’s doing. She pushed the darkness back and lifted his mood.

  He hoped she took his offer seriously, but there’d be plenty of time to discuss that tomorrow. He was nearly on her heels now. He reached out, and the tips of his fingers just touched the fabric of her skirt where it billowed out behind her.

  She looked over her shoulder, saw him, and picked up speed with a little gasp. She laughed immediately after. “You’re not going to catch me that easily.”

  He smiled. She was right. He wasn’t. He liked the chase too much. Except at some point, he would catch her so he could kiss her again.

  They had to be at the very reaches of his boundaries. If she didn’t turn soon, he might hit a wall. He opened his mouth to say something, but a snarl filled the air, cutting him off. A shiver of alarm went down his spine. He reached for his blade even though it wasn’t there. A quiet curse fell from his lips.

  Theo came to a fast stop, and he almost barreled into her. He put his hands on her shoulders to keep from knocking her down. “Hey, what—”

  “Don’t move,” she whispered. “We have company.”

  The sulfuric stench hit him as he looked at the path ahead. An enormous hellhound blocked the way. The beast’s head was at shoulder height with Theo. Muscles rippled beneath its black fur. It pawed the ground, claws furrowing the earth with deep grooves. Movement behind the beast made Robin realize the creature wasn’t alone.

  A trio of red-eyed monsters stared them down. Saliva dripped from their toothy mouths as a low warning growl vibrated through the air. And he’d foolishly left his blade behind tonight. They both had.

  Robin kept his mouth next to Theo’s ear and spoke as softly as he could. “You need to get behind me.”

  “I don’t think moving is a good idea.”

  “Probably not, but I don’t see what choice we have.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  He frowned. Not that she could see his face. “Of course, but why—”

  She took a step forward, putting space between them. The air around her shimmered like the ground radiated heat.

  Then Theo disappeared.

  And a fourth, much larger hellhound stood in her place.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  She’d had no choice. Neither of them had weapons, and hellhounds had no natural enemies, except for other hellhounds. Other bigger, more powerful hellhounds.

  So that’s what she’d shifted into. Doing that in front of Robin terrified her, because it meant revealing herself as a changeling, which instantly exposed her fairy blood. But being torn apart by the hellhounds frightened her more. She just prayed Robin would understand why she’d been quiet about her fairy half. Now was not the time to worry about such things, however. Not with three bloodthirsty beasts bearing down on them.

  In hellhound form, she snarled at the group, pawing the ground just like they had, lunging forward with the same kind of threatening postures. She curled her lips back, showing off her fangs. When they faltered, she took a step forward. Inch by inch, she drove them back, until at last, they turned tail and, whimpering, ran off into the depths of the forest.

  She snapped her jaws a few more times and let out a couple more deep growls for good measure. As soon as they were no longer visible and the sounds of them crashing through the forest faded, she shifted back to herself.

  After a deep breath, she turned to face Robin. His expression opened a pit in her stomach. He looked shocked and upset. The darkness had returned to his eyes. She swallowed. Maybe she was reading him wrong and that was because of the hellhounds, not her revelation. “Are you all right?”

  The steeliness in his gaze only increased her feeling of sickness. “You lied to me. There’s no way you could have done what you just did unless you have fairy blood in you.”

  She’d hadn’t lied. Lying implied she’d denied what she was, and she’d never done that, but what good would that discussion do now? Instead, she chose her words carefully, trying to keep her voice and her body language cool and calm. “Robin, I didn’t tell you because I knew you wouldn’t like it. I know you hate fairies because of Vesta, but you have to know not all fairies are bad. I saved us from those hellhounds. You have to see the good in that.”

  “A fairy who lies. Why should that surprise me?”

  “Robin, please. I didn’t lie. You never asked me if I was fae.”

  “You should have told me.” Disgust curled his lip. “You’re a changeling.” He said the word like it tasted bitter.

  “Yes, I am.” She couldn’t very well deny it now. She didn’t want to either. There was a part of her that was very much done hiding the gifts she’d gotten from her mother.

  “How much of you is fae?”

  She lifted her chin slightly. “Half of me.”

  He shook his head. “I rescind my offer for your father to come here. I don’t need another fairy in my house.”

  So much for that. “I didn’t get my fae blood from him. My mother was a fairy. The same woman who helped bake your coronation cake. The woman whose oatmeal cookies you loved.”

  Robin’s eyes rounded a tad, and his lip curled. “A fairy in my kitchen. Was she a part of the plot to poison me? Was that how the toxin got in my soup?”

  Theo frowned at him and his brash insinuation, and her anger started to outweigh her desire to remain civil. “Absolutely not. My mother would never have done such a thing. She was a pastry chef! She had nothing to do with the regular food. Besides that, she loved that job and thought very highly of you. Although I’m starting to wonder if she misjudged you.”

  “She thought highly of me? How much did she think of Vesta?” Theo opened her mouth to reply, but Robin kept going. “How much do you think of Vesta? You were so reluctant to try on her things. Is there a reason for that?”

  “Because she rules the kingdom I live in. And I was only reluctant at first,” Theo reminded him. Then she held out her arms. “As you can see by the dress I have on, I got over that.”

  His scowl didn’t go away. “I want nothing more to do with you. You’re a liar, and you can’t be trusted. I’m sure you’re working for her.”

  “None of that is true.”

  “It is to me. We’re done.”

  The sickness she’d been feeling earlier came rushing back. Her stomach churned, and she almost couldn’t get her next words out. “Are you canceling my indenture?”

  He stared at her for a long, hard second. “No. I won’t punish your father for your sins. But you’ll return to general staff. This house is large enough that I never need to see you again. I’ll make sure Baton and Elswood understand.”

  With that, he turned abruptly and strode away, leaving her alone and feeling like she’d just had the air sucked from her lungs.

  Every good thing that had come her way since she’d arrived at Gallow House was gone. No more time with Robin, no more schooling, no more opportunity to better herself once she returned to Limbo.

  Why had she ever thought the outcome would be different? Her life so far had been a series of bitter disappointments. Why would she expect a change of scenery to make a difference?

  * * *

  Robin’s head ached, but his heart hurt worse. He gripped the balcony railing as if his life depended on it, and maybe it did. At times, the pain made him dizzy. He pushed away and went to collapse on the chaise.

  His sweet, dear, beautiful Theodora was a traitor. A fairy. Half, anyway, but what did that matter? It was clear now that his instincts had been
right, and her presence in his home had been another calculated move on Vesta’s part.

  It all made sense. The story about her father being too ill to serve the indenture was probably true. Or maybe it wasn’t, but it had gotten her in the door. Even saving him from the hellhounds seemed logical, because if he was dead, Vesta couldn’t torture him anymore. Although, by shifting in front of him, Theo had exposed her true heritage. That part didn’t fit the story, though she’d had little choice in the moment. But what did it matter? He was so gullible to be duped first by Vesta and now Theo.

  Because she had taken him in, head and heart. And he’d certainly bought into believing she was a good, loyal daughter.

  It had made him like her. No doubt the point.

  And, oh, how he’d liked her. Too much. And too soon. But thinking about her only reminded him of the sweetness of her lips and the warmth of her soft body under his hands as he’d—

  “Sir? You called?”

  Robin looked up to see Elswood standing nearby. “Yes.” Robin sighed. He needed to tell Elswood about Theodora, but he didn’t have the energy for that discussion. Not right now. It would keep until morning. “I’d like my hot toddy early. And I’d like it to be a double.”

  “I’ll bring it right up.” Elswood bowed and left.

  Robin was glad to be alone again. Except that he wasn’t glad, not really. He’d much rather have had Theo at his side. If only things were different.

  It seemed clear that she’d been placed in his house by Vesta. Somehow, Vesta had found out about Theo’s father’s indenture and had persuaded Theo to come in his place so that she could report back on how Robin was doing and what he was up to.

  What had the queen promised her? Riches? A position in the royal court? Care for her father—if he really was sick? Whatever it was, Robin doubted Vesta had delivered on the promise yet. Theo seemed to have very little. And had seemed genuinely appreciative of the good that had come her way.

  Like the lapidary training, which would no longer be happening.

  Robin closed his eyes. It was all too much. He’d been pulled out of his loneliness and given a taste of joy, only to have it snatched away in an instant.

  Why had she shifted in front of him? That was the one part that didn’t work with the rest of the narrative that she was here to spy on him. She’d exposed herself as a changeling and all the risk that came along with that to save them from the hellhounds. That was a selfless act. And one that she had to know could cost her dearly.

  Just like she had to know that he would know only someone with both fae and goblin bloodlines could become such a creature. It was common knowledge. So why do it?

  One answer came to mind.

  Theo had no connection to Vesta, and she’d kept her secret only because he’d made it clear how he felt about the fae.

  Was that possible? He almost didn’t want to answer that question. Not after the anger that had poured out of him and the terrible things he’d said.

  A soft meow made him open his eyes. “Pepper. Perfect timing. I could use someone to talk to.”

  The little black cat jumped off the railing and padded over to sit a few feet away from the chaise.

  “Hi there.” Robin was too down to manage more than a halfhearted smile. “If you’d shown up a few minutes ago, I’d already have your dinner ordered. Now you’re going to have to wait.” He patted the chaise. “Come on. Hop up and get comfortable.”

  The cat stared at him, then, after a second, did just that. But he stayed at the foot of the chaise.

  “What’s wrong? We’re not friends all of a sudden? Or do you get friendlier after your dinner is served?” Robin laughed softly, but his mood soon won out. “I don’t know that I’m going to be very good company, Pepper. Today was not a good day.”

  The cat sat very still and stared at him.

  “Someone did something nice for me. Better than nice. Saved me from a pack of hellhounds. And I reacted very poorly.” That was an understatement.

  Pepper lay down and tucked his front feet under his chest like he was settling in for a chat.

  Robin reached out and gave the cat a little scratch under the chin.

  Suddenly, a new thought came to him. If Theo could transform herself into a hellhound, what else could she become?

  He grabbed Pepper, turned him around, and had a look under his tail. Pepper hissed and let out a yowl, but it only took a second to confirm that Pepper was indeed a boy. Legend said a changeling couldn’t alter their gender, no matter what they became. “Sorry. I had to see for myself.”

  He put the cat down, and Pepper took off for the railing.

  “Hey now.” Robin got up and went toward the little animal, trying to make things right. “I wasn’t going to hurt you. I just—”

  The cat went up and over the railing and disappeared.

  Robin sighed. But he’d gotten what he deserved.

  A knock rang out from his door. Apparently, his mood was so bad even Elswood was knocking now. “Come in, Elswood.”

  Robin went to the railing to see if he could spot Pepper, but finding a black cat in the dark was—

  “It’s not Elswood.”

  He spun around to see Theo standing at the door to his balcony. The ball gown was gone, replaced by the same jeans and T-shirt she’d had on earlier. Worn black flats covered her feet. “What are you doing here? I told you I don’t want to see you.”

  “I know. And I promise I won’t bother you again after this. I just wanted to say that I am absolutely not working for Vesta in any way. I’m sorry you think that, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away what I am. I’ve kept it a secret all my life. Fairies aren’t exactly well loved in Limbo. At least they weren’t when I was growing up, and my mother taught me that some things are better kept hidden. But as soon as I realized how much you detest the fae, I should have said something. You deserved to know who’s in your house.”

  “I don’t detest—”

  She took a breath and kept on going like she hadn’t heard him. “Also, I realize this means you’ll want to cancel the dinner party, since you didn’t want to do that anyway, but for what it’s worth, I think you should still have it. And I want to say that even though you hate me now, I don’t regret what I did. I would have felt much, much worse if those hellhounds had harmed you.”

  His emotions were a mess, but he knew one thing. “I don’t hate you.”

  She blinked at him as the words seemed to register. “You don’t?”

  He couldn’t hate her. Because, as angry as he’d been, he was calm now and had come to the realization that he couldn’t so easily stop liking her. “No, I don’t. But I’m not happy you lied to me.”

  “I didn’t lie.” She took a few steps toward him. “You never asked. But I didn’t offer up the information, so let’s call it a draw.”

  That almost made him smile. He liked very much that she didn’t back down or shy from conflict. It took courage to face him in this moment. “Okay. A draw.” He ran his hand through his hair. The braids at his temples needed to be redone. But what was the point of keeping up with tradition when that world no longer existed for him? And yet, this world was so empty. He needed things to change. “I would like to still have the dinner party.”

  Her lips parted. “You would?”

  “Well, not like. But you’re right that I should still have it. I need to have it.” He stared out into the night. Pepper was out there somewhere. Pepper, who was clearly not Theo in another form. Pepper who might actually be his only friend, which was sad. “I can’t keep living like this.”

  “I would agree with that,” she said softly.

  The clearing of a throat got his attention. Elswood stood in the doorway with a tray carrying Robin’s hot toddy and cookies. Without saying a word, he put the tray on the small table next to the chaise and left.

  Robin wondered how much he’d heard. He glanced at Theo. She looked completely unsettled. “I’m sorry for the things I said. And
the conclusions I jumped to.”

  “Thank you. Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

  He had two choices. Trust her or not. He held out his hand, decision made. “Yes. If you forgive me, too.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  The sick feeling in Theo’s stomach finally went away. “Of course I forgive you.” She took his hand. “How could I blame you for not trusting me? You’ve only known me two days. And with your history, I’m surprised you’d ever trust anyone again.”

  He pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. “Thank you for understanding. I want things to be good between us again.”

  She leaned into him and shook her head. “I want that, too.” He was the first real friend she’d had in a long time. Her lack of friends was her own doing, but it was a hard thing to undo with her reputation. Running barefoot through the woods with him had been so much fun, the kind she’d thought she’d never have again. She wanted more of that. More of him.

  “Good. I’m so glad that’s settled.” He kissed the top of her head before pulling back. “Will you stay with me for a bit? You can share my hot toddy and cookies.”

  “Okay. What’s a hot toddy?”

  He smiled. “You know, I’m not completely sure what Mrs. Applestock puts in that concoction. I think there’s whiskey, a squeeze of orange, some honey, spices…” He shrugged. “It’s very tasty. I have one every night before bed. She started making them to help me sleep.”

  “You need help sleeping?”

  He nodded as he went to the chaise. “Usually, yes. Come sit with me.”

  “Well, since you said there are cookies…”

  He laughed as she settled onto the chaise next to him. “Here, try this first.” He picked up the large earthenware mug and held it out to her. “See what you think.”

  “Smells good.” She put her hands over his and took a sip. It was strong, but delicious. “I can see how that would help you sleep.”

  He grinned and took a long swallow, then put the mug back on the little table. They settled in, had iced oatmeal cookies, and looked out at the starry sky without saying much for a while. In part because they were eating, but also because the silence was perfect in the moment.