by Kat Zaccard
I was glad to have Nadia to work through some of my royal questions. Shea was wonderful, but she couldn’t help with planning and I worried that talking about it was making her a little jealous she couldn’t come with us to the palace. I wished she could come of course, but I was getting annoyed that she started to roll her eyes every time I mentioned the ball. To spare her feelings, I tried not to bring it up when we were hanging out or working on homework, but it was hard not to talk about the biggest social event of my life with my best friend.
I could understand her point of view since it wasn’t that long ago I was in the middle class Midwest trying to keep up with the popular girls whose families made just a bit more money than mine and had misgivings about the daughter of a scientist and musician joining their inner circle. I shook my head and laughed at why I ever wanted to be in the in-crowd. Now that I had a birthright to it, it seemed more pomp and circumstance than substance. But a posh party all glammed up with my boyfriend? Heck, yeah!
I sighed and promised myself two things: I would make it up to Shea, and I would absolutely not lose myself just to fit in with Logan’s friends. Nadia and I had forged a tenuous friendship independent of Logan, so I had to relax my worry that I didn’t feel elite enough to belong at this function. Another sigh, as I wished I could share that thought with Shea.
Finally, it was time to go. Winter break was upon us and most of the students were leaving for the three weeks we had off from school. Shea was staying on campus, of course, along with a few other students, but most went home to their families either far away or with those who lived in Dryden.
Shea helped me carry my bags outside to the car in front of the girls’ dorm. She wrangled the garment rack while I counted bags and boxes. “How can you have this much stuff?” she teased.
“I don’t know! But at least three of these boxes and two garment bags came from the dressmaker this morning. I haven’t seen the outfit complete because she was still finishing the beading at my last fitting. I hope it looks okay.”
“Considering the cost, it will be amazing! I’m excited you could splurge on the ruby earrings to go with your outfit.” Shea had helped me pick out the only accessory I would wear with the couture outfit. I had saved every penny since I splurged on Shea’s gift for the Fall Fling, and I was so relieved when my debit card went through that I didn’t even look at the total. By the end, I had no idea how much it had all added up to, and when they started talking about dyed ostrich feathers and red velvet lining on a matching cloak, my face blanched. Nadia had laughed and told me that I really must start acting like a princess.
“Just make sure you take a picture for me!” Shea insisted with a grin, her strawberry-blonde curls bouncing with the balls of her feet. “Knock ’em dead, Princess!”
I laughed as we handed our bags to the driver, and I turned to hug my friend. “Okay, just don’t call me Princess!”
I waved goodbye to Shea, then climbed into the limo after Nadia.
Nadia and I went over our itinerary and then chatted about the trip. We were headed to the Kamloops airport, and from there we’d board a private jet to the Winter Palace estate. I still wasn’t exactly sure where that was, but I was pretty sure it was somewhere in the northern-middle part of the country. The way Nadia described it, the estate grounds sounded like a massive palace encompassed by a small metropolis in the middle of the most beautiful nowhere.
Nadia had been to the Winter Palace several times before and assured me she had booked an ideal spa package for the day before and after the ball. “One to prepare, and one to recover!” she said with a laugh. When I asked about the cost, she waved it away. “It’s all on the royal tab once we step off the plane.”
With that, I sat back and enjoyed the ride. I wished I had a chance to talk to Jack. I hadn’t seen him lately, though I did sometimes sneak out to his property to run. I wanted to get his take on the royal scene and his opinion of my friend’s parents who were council members. I had time to learn about the politics, but I wished I knew a little more about the council members I was sure to meet at the Winter Palace. This was a gathering of the heads of state, as well as the wealthiest and most influential families in the werewolf world. And I had to appear capable to lead them. I had to be capable.
We boarded a private jet and I was surprised to see Ms. Grissle on board. She laughed at my startled expression. “Can’t let you go without a chaperone, you know.” Then she returned to her magazine. Nadia pulled me to the seats farthest away from Ms. Grissle, and we settled ourselves in the large, comfy leather seats.
“Don’t worry about her,” Nadia assured me. “We’ll have plenty of fun. She has to tag along with us, but she’s just as happy to leave us alone. It’s her break, too.”
The plane took off shortly after that, and we settled in for a relaxing flight. They served flutes of champagne and almonds, dried fruit, and caviar on rice crackers. I joked that if the plane food was this good, I couldn’t wait for the ball. Nadia gave me a small smile that held a note of pity that this was my first time eating caviar. Then her porcelain face finally cracked with a genuine smile. “Honestly, the food is the best part of the whole thing!” I was happy to see Nadia come out of her shell a little, and I thought we just might be real friends after all.
I had been leery that she was more like the fake girls who hung around Jillian, but after getting to know Nadia, I noticed she didn’t really care about popularity. She just happened to be popular because of her family’s prominence, but she mostly kept people at arm’s length. Growing up royal meant it was tough to know who your friends really were, and who just wanted a leg up on the social ladder.
“That’s what happened with Jillian and me,” she confessed. “We used to be close friends, and then I caught her spreading rumors about me and … well anyway…” Her face grew red, her eyes stormy. “I realized she didn’t care about me. When her mom began petitioning the council to elevate the Reynold’s name to royal status, her attitude toward me completely changed. I realized she’d been sucking up to me before. Jillian acted even more superior to everyone, like she was the queen. She tried to take me down because she thought I was the alpha of the royal kids or something.”
“Well, to be fair, you are,” I teased to break the tension, and it worked. We both laughed. Nadia could seem indifferent sometimes, but I guess she had her armor for a reason. We all did.
The flight passed quickly, and by the end of it, I felt I could trust Nadia. I was happy and tired and in no way prepared for the view as we stepped off the plane.
I felt like I was in an old Hollywood movie, climbing down the stairs to the tarmac, the amazing estate spread out before us. Central was a massive mansion that would dwarf Buckingham Palace. The rolling grounds were snow covered and extensively groomed. Several large estate houses dotted the horizon, and I knew somewhere on the grounds was a large shopping center and mini town square. Twilight was turning over and lamps began lighting up along the cobblestone streets. Northern lights began to dance and shimmer green across the darkening sky. The entire Winter Palace was covered in white lights and looping boughs of evergreens and holly.
We grinned at each other and headed to the waiting limo to take us into the estate. I was surprised to learn we were staying in the palace itself. Apparently, all royals have rooms during the Winter Ball. Some areas were off limits, like the west wing, where the monarch resides, but otherwise, I would be free to roam the Winter Palace.
Upon my entry, my eyes went wide, and I had to mentally check that my mouth wasn’t hanging open. Staff took our coats and scarves and led us through the enormous entryway that was covered in murals of ancient life. The roof was domed, richly painted and gilt in real gold, though I couldn’t make out the details of the scene because it was so high up. We followed the staff down richly carpeted hallways and I did my best not to look awestruck, but it was difficult to hold still when I wanted to whip my head around and look at everything at once.
Nadi
a’s room was near mine, but at least a hall’s length away. When I opened my door, I realized just how big the suite was. It was three rooms, plus a bathroom and a walk-in closet. I could see out large, iron-wrought picture windows, and a private veranda stretched the length of the rooms. Maybe our suites were right next to each other! I couldn’t believe the grandeur of the room: velvet-trimmed wallpaper, huge oil paintings of French countryside, suede couches and settees, and the bedroom!—the bed itself was practically the size of my entire room back home. I was still touring the suite, when there was a gentle tap at my door.
I opened the door to a uniformed bell hop who wheeled in a cart with large silver-covered dishes. The steam smelled delicious, and my mouth watered as he lifted lids to point out each dish. Meanwhile, several staff brought in all of my bags and arranged them in my closet. I was given an itinerary of events, mandatory events highlighted, with a curt bow and a swift exit.
I was relieved to discover my first night in the palace would be alone. It was a bit overwhelming, all of the opulence. The meal was unbelievable. I glanced at the itinerary, but only briefly. Tomorrow was a spa day, with the only concern being a formal dinner for royal guests. That should be interesting. Feeling like Cinderella, I slept that night in a cloud of down pillows.
Chapter 14
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of the twelve-foot-tall, blue velvet curtains being flung open with a shriek along the brass curtain rod. The light streaming in blinded me, and only my confusion kept me from leaping out of bed, ninja-style. As I blinked the dust motes from my eyes, I saw a young woman in what must have been a palace uniform bob a quick curtsy.
“Pardon the rude awakening, Your Highness. I didn’t know how best to wake you, and we really mustn’t keep the queen waiting.” The girl looked nervous at the thought and began to bustle around my room, grabbing hangers off of the settee to present to me.
“I’ve looked over your wardrobe—a bit meager, I must admit—but I think this is your best bet.” She held up the silver dress with the low-cut back I had planned to wear to dinner.
“Wait, hold on. What meeting with the queen? It’s not on my itinerary. And that’s my best dress; I planned to wear it to dinner the evening after the ball.”
“Yes, yes,” she tutted, “I can see that. A shame. You absolutely cannot wear the same dress to two interviews with the queen.” She laughed at the thought. “Obviously, the couture bag must be hiding your ball gown for the Winter Ball. Well, I suppose the green, then. It’s an odd color for the palace, but one cannot help you weren’t raised royal—” She cut herself off with a gasp. “Forgive me, miss—I mean, Your Highness. I ramble when I’m nervous. And really, you must get out of bed. We must get you to the queen.”
I couldn’t bear to get this poor girl in trouble over my ignorance, so I dutifully got out of bed and allowed her to dress me. I felt silly as she pulled my green silk dress over my head before tying up the back. I had planned to wear it to the council meeting later that week. I liked green.
“Let me do your hair, Princess.” Holly was her name, and as far as lady’s maids went, I was glad to have a chatty one. She filled me in on the particulars while transforming my unruly curls into a mass of braids and twirls. She said that the queen had decided to meet me prior to the formal dinner that evening, and I was to greet her in her morning salon immediately.
Holly rushed me down the hallways winding through the castle, saying that she’d never entered the morning salon and would leave me at the door. She promised to wait and take me back through the maze to find my room.
Uniformed guards eyed me covertly before opening the ornately gilded door. Though it hardly seemed possible, the grandeur of this room far outshone my own resplendent suite. The striped pink-and-yellow Louis XVI furniture and lavish wall tapestries warred for my attention. But dwarfing the opulent swag was the queen herself, draped with practiced ease across a throne-like chair near a cluster of couches and settees.
Her hair was ice blonde, like her daughter’s, straight as a razor that cut in severe angles just below her jawline. She wore a diadem with a pale blue stone that glinted in the light and sang its beauty out into the world. Her dress was silver, and I was so glad to be in green. Though of course her silver dress put mine to shame and was made of intricately woven silver brocade with most likely genuine gold thread weaving small wolves in an intricate pattern through the fabric. She was stunning.
A courtier I hadn’t noticed behind the door announced my presence. “Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice Luna, may I present Her Majesty, Queen Christina the First, Leader of the Great Pack, First of Her name, Queen Reg—” A glance from the queen and brief gesture halted the litany of appellations on her great deeds. Still, I saw a pleased glint in the queen’s eye through her feigned modesty.
“Well, now, my dear niece, it is so nice to finally meet you.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. I was surprised to be regarded as her niece, but I supposed we were related by marriage.
“Your Majesty,” I responded with a glance down and an awkward curtsy that Holly had assured me was always an acceptable response among royalty more royal than you. The jury was still out on which of us should technically do the curtsying.
The queen laughed gently, amused, I supposed, by my obvious discomfort. Who dresses in a couture gown at ten in the morning, by the way?
“Please, my dear Alice, come sit here with me and let us get to know each other a bit. Allow me to welcome you properly to the family and to your place here in the Pack.” My inner wolf was screaming at me to be wary. Was it more than nerves?
“Thank you, ma’am.” I moved to the chair across from hers, grateful I had grilled Holly on the proper greetings for meeting the queen.
“You may call me Aunt in private, but of course in public we must maintain decorum for the sake of our royal stature. Your Uncle Frederick was so fond of your mother, and I was saddened by your … disappearance.”
Hmm … a tactful way to say “Why aren’t you dead?” I had so many questions, I didn’t know where to begin. Holly had insisted that peppering the queen with questions was not allowed, but wasn’t he my great-uncle? Still, no woman liked to have her age pointed out. My mind was racing, and I sternly reminded myself to keep my nervous mouth shut and get through this interview.
“Thank you, Aunt.” And to fill the awkward pause: “What was he like, my uncle?” The word “uncle” was also a question.
“Oh, Frederick was a powerful wolf and a great leader. He was your mother’s uncle, of course. We lost them both far too young.” I clenched my teeth. I hadn’t anticipated her bringing up my birth mother, and the unexpected emotional cascade that followed surprised me. My feelings about my birth parents were still very mixed. I managed the semblance of a smile.
“Tell me, darling”—the drawled endearment rang hollow—“how are you getting on at school?”
I told her a few things about Mt. Henley, ending rather lamely with looking forward to the ball. She smiled and nodded through my mini monologue and outright grinned when I mentioned the ball. “Ah, yes! A princess at a royal ball! With your prince, no less! You must certainly feel like Cinderella.”
I smiled tightly. The reference wasn’t lost on me. I was beginning to realize there were layers of meaning to everything the queen said. She was likely trying to assess how much went over my head. And really, the comparison was somewhat apt; I felt out of place next to this embodiment of monarchy. I wasn’t sure I could play her game. Instead, I went for bald honesty. “Truth be told, it’s a little weird to be betrothed to a prince I only met a few months ago.”
“Yes. Traditions run deep, though, and a betrothal is a binding legal contract. I hope you don’t find Logan disappointing?” The question felt loaded.
“Oh, it’s not that. I like Logan a lot and happy to give things a chance.” I stalled, and she smiled encouragingly. “It’s, well … it’s just hard to know what to feel when you wake up one day and someone
tells you you’re engaged.”
The queen laughed again; her go-to reaction toward me, I guess. “Oh, my word, I do see your point when you put it that way. Not to worry my dear, being related to the Queen has its perks. I may be able to pull a few strings for you, should things sour with Logan.” Her laughter was the kind you were meant to join in with, so I chuckled a bit. She kept emphasizing our relation, without once mentioning my birthright to the throne. Yeah, not the time to spring that political bear-trap. Um … wolf-trap?
I smiled tightly, remembering Shea’s warning that the queen might strengthen her hold on the throne by marrying Jillian to Logan. “So far, we get on well enough, but I appreciate the support.” Two can try this double-talk thing.
Queen Christina tinkled her musical laughter. “Getting on well is one thing, but it takes so much more to have a strong political ally. I can see we have much to teach you about royal life, dear niece.”
I forced another smile, not trusting my voice. She was clearly a master at double-speak, and I a mere novice. My inner wolf growled a silent warning, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Every offer of help felt more like a veiled threat.
“It must seem very foreign to you, the idea of a queen,” she continued, “being American, that is.” I raised an eyebrow. The Queen Regent was also American, but she’d grown up within the werewolf monarchy.
“It is,” I admitted. “I’m a little uncertain if I want to be queen.” I laughed nervously, immediately regretting my words when I saw the gleam in her eyes.
She smiled slowly. “Well, my dear, I am happy to rule in your stead, as I have these past sixteen years. And if you abdicate the throne, the Dolph family will certainly annul the betrothal. It is a plan worth considering.” She nodded sagely at me.
