by LeAnn Mason
“Ice now, hot bath later,” Allya replied, matter-of-fact. “It’ll help. Trust me. But you’re gonna feel it tomorrow.”
Perfect.
CHAPTER 28
I hadn’t seen Rory once since we’d parted at the behest of his mother over a week ago. Instead, I spent my days inside the Archives, shelving, reorganizing, helping students locate texts or sections for browsing. When I was caught up, I spent my time in various alcoves, researching different supernatural topics. Willow and I spent time just hanging out. He was great to talk to, especially when Allya wasn’t around. Her newfound healing trick came in quite handy though, and again, she'd healed most of my road-rash. The aches and bruising had been deep though and taken several days to subside. I still had pretty dark bruising at the top of my left knee and had a slight limp but nothing I couldn't handle.
Too small to ride, Willow, who I'd taken to calling Will, was strictly a companion, and I treated him as such, keeping him in a newly roped off area behind Elsie’s cottage. He didn’t need the lead when we went for walks anymore, and I’d even venture to say that he might actually stick around if a pissy lioness were to growl in his face again if it meant being between me and the threat. The little guy had a lot of spunk and personality that shone brighter the longer we spent in each other’s company. I’d been surprised when he’d turned his back and backed up in threat the next time we’d come across Risa.
He’d gotten a nice, juicy apple for that move.
Though I hadn’t seen Rory at all, we’d texted a bit. I didn’t know if his mother knew or didn’t, but I was grateful to still have a window into his life, even if it was all I’d get from here on out. He’d backslid a bit. Got too jittery when he left the estate but seemed to be doing all right with people within.
He worried about his birthday. The ceremony where he would be announced as Prince Regent and was expected to take on the role of intermediary monarch of Grimm Hollow’s Shifters. The ceremony would take place that evening, and he wouldn’t be able to text at all until the next day at the earliest.
Of course, I hadn’t been invited to the event, but Allya, Jason, and Nick each had. Probably because they were Shifters. I was pretty surprised that the queen sent one to Allya after how she'd treated us that last day. Elsie had gone, too. I guessed that meant the Elders of the magic wielders and probably other influential figures had been invited as well.
Being alone, knowing everyone else was at the Leone Estate watching Rory accept his role as the leader of his people, was excruciating. Good thing I had Will. He was a great escape when I felt the weight of the world crashing onto me. I always breathed easier around him, his mere presence like a balm to my soul.
His mane and tail were silky and untangled with my constant ministrations, even laying prettily to only one side of his neck after a few days of braiding. His coat was still long but shone like spun gold when the sun hit it. His hooves looked to wear pretty well naturally, but I’d found a rasp and researched how to barefoot trim a miniature horse to make sure that I could maintain my friend in healthy, working order. I'd even gotten some rubber boot-type things to put over his hooves to help with the concussion of the unforgiving paved surfaces we traversed.
I wasn’t sure about teeth though. Apparently those things needed tending too. Who knew that horse’s teeth were continually growing? There were a myriad of problems that could develop if left unattended, and we couldn't have that.
Same with cleaning his… boy parts. This also needed to be done on the regular. Not easy, either physically or mentally. No one wants to reach up under there and start pulling off the crusty, smelly, oily smegma that builds up over time. But neither did one like having such things accumulate on their body, so we’d come to an understanding: I’d be quick and gentle if he didn’t kick me.
It was a work in progress. It did what I needed though and kept me from worrying about Rory and what I missed at the estate. Considering that it was dark out, maybe that made it easier for both of us to forget just what we were doing out there.
All clean, I pulled off the gloves—because ew—and patted Will’s wide back. “I’ll be back with an apple, buddy. You deserve it.” His happy nicker followed me into the cottage, making me smile. I loved that sound. Not only was the sound itself fun, but it meant my boy was happy, and I lived for that. Didn't have much else to look forward to.
Don't think about it, Mae.
I was going to figure out how to break a curse, dammit. And if nothing else, I'd given the Shifter heir the tools and mindset he'd needed to get himself on the path to right. I wasn't useless, and I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself because of a guy. I was better than that, and it was high time I remembered it.
My phone trilled from the pocket I'd stowed it in, alarming me with its tune. The only people who called me were Allya and occasionally Marie, and they usually chose to text. Pulling out the shrieking device, I peeked at the number as I returned to Will, apple in hand. Seeing Allya's name, I answered hastily.
“If you're calling to rub it in, I don't want to hear it. Will and I are enjoying our evening just fine, thank you,” I admonished drily.
“Mae, you need to get here, now.”
Alarm bells rang in my head at the tone of her voice and the noise filtering in from the background. It sounded like a menagerie… then the roar.
“I’m on my way.” I hung up only to realize I had no quick mode of transportation to the estate. Elsie and Allya had taken the car, and there was zero chance I had enough stamina to run all the way across town.
Will’s insistent nicker brought my attention his way. Could I…? Nah. He was too small even for me. But maybe…
I strapped on the rollerblades I’d gotten a few days ago with some of my Archive funds. I’d planned on trying them out to give Will a bit of higher octane exercise.
Guess there’s no time like the present.
With the wheels strapped to my feet, I teetered toward where Will stood watching me like I was as crazy as I imagined for trying this little stunt. Attaching the ten-foot leads to his bright yellow halter, I prayed.
“Please, God, if you’re listening, let me arrive safely and quickly.” To my faithful little horse sidekick, I pleaded, “Please don’t kill me. C’mon, buddy.” Then I gave him my permission to go, fast, sending the ropes to jiggle at the metal D rings at the sides of his hairy jaw. The tremor got his little legs going, and I sent another to let him know we needed to go faster. “This is a really bad idea,” I mumbled as we picked up speed. The sound of his little hooves beating against the concrete coupled with the sound of my wheels hitting each divide in the sidewalk consumed my hearing, but I kept to my task. I needed to make sure my weight was far enough back that I stayed upright but loose enough that I could shift my weight for turns… which I made in a wider arc than the pony.
“This was a horrible idea!” I yelled, careening down the street toward the center of town.
Luckily, I’d had the foresight to attach two ropes so that I could at least give him some direction toward where I needed to be aimed. We were traveling a lot faster than I realized was possible, and I had to fight the visceral reaction to close my eyes as the town literally flew past me in a dark blur. Well, I guess technically, I flew past the town but… semantics.
Thundering along the street toward the Archives, I began to hear the warnings Rory was delivering to someone, or everyone? The roars were growing in magnitude and ferocity. He was getting worked up, and we were close enough now that I could hear the return warnings of other animals and people. “Whoa. Whoa, Will.” I needed to get in there. Luckily, it looked like they were out in the garden. Probably because they’d thought Rory could hold it together better out there. I wondered if Lorraine had magicked some more rose bushes into full bloom or if there was a conspicuous bare patch where the tall shrubs had been until… well.
I patted Will’s now sweaty hide as I glided past him toward the wrought-iron opening to the space that, tonight, wa
s open wide in invitation. Twinkling lights were strung up throughout the space, making it even more beautiful. If I were to stop and notice such things, but I only had eyes for one thing.
Rory.
I had to push my way through the throng of crowded onlookers who had all gathered toward the exit but hadn’t spilled out and run away screaming. Shifters. They wouldn’t be chased off quite that easily. They’d just be herded into a corner. Much safer. My blades were now a hindrance where I didn’t have the space needed to push into a glide. I could only affect a choppy rolling walk as I attempted to gain purchase. To see what was happening.
“Allya!” I tried to gauge where I needed to go by her return call. Toward the terrace. Of course. At least there, he could be corralled… as long as he didn’t really want to fight. Nothing would stop him if that was the case.
Suddenly, I heard a feline yowl, it sounded… submissive, placating. That couldn’t be Rory, could it? The deep roar answered my question. A hiss and half-roar were followed by a yelping keen.
Finally breaking to the front of the gathered onlookers, I spotted Allya. Her cloak was like a beacon that I homed in on, my heart beating both from exertion and fear. I had hoped that Rory had indeed found his way to normalcy prior to my eviction but… no.
“Mae, thank God. He was doing… okay until she pushed it,” Allya growled. Ebony was high, awake, and riding Allya hard. They were ready to turn and do what they could to calm the situation if needed. Right then, Rory was pretty focused on just one other.
A lioness.
“The queen?” I breathed, searching the scene for anyone I knew, trying to map the players.
“Risa.”
CHAPTER 29
Risa. The name was like a shot to the gut. “What happened?”
Another series of roaring yowls broke out as I watched the lioness slink toward the giant male, low to the ground, almost like she was crawling. “She’s being submissive but still pushing…”
“Yeah. When Lorraine announced a betrothal between Rory and the bitch,” she waved her hand at the scene behind her. “This. Luckily, he’s pretty focused on her, so the others haven’t had to intervene, yet.”
I noticed a giant gray wolf standing between the combatants and guests and a jaw-dropping bear flanking the scene. Both ready to jump in if need be. They didn’t see a reason to keep Rory from bleeding the lioness though.
I smiled at that. It bolstered something in me.
“Seems like the Prince Regent does not agree with your choice of bride, Your Highness.”
“Who do you think you are?” The queen hissed, stepping forward under the stage lights that lit the terrace scene almost as if it were a paid fight.
I tried to walk forward, the skates making the simple action awkward. “Stupid things.” I reached down and unbuckled the contraptions to slide my feet free. Now I was only in socks. Classy. I pulled out my phone and quickly pulled up a song I knew he’d had on his playlist, because I’d heard it, and turned it up as loud as I could get it.
It worked, pulling Rory's attention, but the lioness attempted to take advantage of the distraction, to come to his side again. He noticed, lunging at her with a growl to wrap his gaping maw around the back of her neck as she crouched back to the ground, stalled. He bit her neck several times, each with a rumbling chuff. A reminder to stay down.
The catchy drum beat rang out through the space as I stepped forward. Everything else died away as my eyes met with round golden orbs. “It ain’t your fault. It isn’t, Rory,” I soothed, taking small steps, steps that were matched by Allya. Rory noticed. Switching his gaze to my friend, he rumbled another warning. “It’s fine, Al.”
“Like hell it is,” she groused, still matching my forward steps.
Rory kept his attention on my friend, stalking down the steps toward where we were coming to meet him. He chuffed a warning before moving to interject his substantial body between us. Allya, seeing that the cat didn’t mean me harm, conceded.
The song on my phone changed to a tinny keyboard opening, building to a lead-in that I couldn’t help but move my head along to. After all, the song was about being only human. I could relate. Rory chuffed another short, pulsing call, knocking his maned head into my body to rub the length of his body across my side. After recovering from the weight hitting me, I laughed a little and reached a hand out to rub along his back as it trailed by.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lorraine screeched in outrage. “You are not permitted to this ceremony. I do not condone this!”
Rory, now facing his mother and the formerly simpering Risa, roared his disapproval of her words, her tone. Maybe that mattered more when he was in this form. His sounds were so deep that I felt each thrust of sound that left his mouth, no matter the force he used to expel it. My hand again found its way to tangle among the thick mass of strands surrounding his head and shoulders. Probably because he was huge and came up to about my shoulder.
“You’re enormous, Big Guy,” I whispered. “Can you turn back now, Ror?” My muscles were starting to protest the coil I’d held them in since coming upon the scene. Maybe if he shifted back, I could relax a tad. “Allya, maybe you could thin the crowd a bit? I’m not so sure we need an audience anymore…”
“You have no say here, child,” Lorraine sneered again. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t bring myself to think of the woman as Queen anymore. She’d lost any amount of respect I’d mustered toward her when I’d arrived.
“Do you want your dirty laundry aired for the whole of Grimm Hollow to see? If I am correct in my assumption, and I usually am,” I added haughtily, “You don’t hold sway over his actions anymore.” I didn’t need to yell even though the music still blasted from my phone. These were Shifters; their hearing was amazing.
“I am his mother and the queen! I have all the authority!” Someone is losing their composure. The thought made me smile.
“I beg to differ. The whole point of this party was to transfer power to your son. He is now Prince Regent and intermediary ruler while your husband, the King is unable to perform as expected. Sucks being a part of a patriarchal monarchy, doesn’t it?”
“Damn, girl, you are a badass nerd,” Allya said, grinning from her new spot beside Hunter, Jason’s counterpart.
The lionesses, however, fumed. Lorraine looked to be losing the battle to contain her lion, her palms again bloodied, eyes glowing, and teeth lengthened.
Risa, whom I'd forgotten about in my talk with the matriarch, had stalked closer to the edge of the platform. Head lowered and eyes pinned on me, she moved silently. Rory moved in front of me, and in an explosion of golden sparks, returned to human, kneeling on the path next to where the fountain burbled contentedly. His rise to standing was slow, measured; dramatic. In fact, it reminded me of a movie about a humanoid machine sent from the future to kill a bunch of people.
I half expected the iconic music to start blaring from my phone at any moment. Why did he always have to be naked? I couldn't focus on standing my ground if I was ogling that perfect visage…
“I will not marry Risa.”
“Ror—”
“No. You no longer have control over my actions. By holding this ceremony, you acknowledge my right and my ability to lead our people. That means I have the right to choose my mate or to refuse one you have picked.”
“You need a mate, Rory. A worthy queen. Someone to continue the Leone line.”
“All true. But I do not have to choose a lion or even a Shifte—”
“You're awfully close to blasphemy, son,” Lorraine seethed. “Leone's have always been lions. To allow the possibility of another animal…” Risa roared shortly in agreement.
“I have another in mind but have yet to broach the topic as this is all kind of new to her,” Rory answered reasonably.
I was trying to make sense of the argument when a collective gasp rushed through all mouths in attendance to this wrecked shindig.
“Her? A human?” T
he furious matriarch threw an accusatory finger at me.
A quick thunder of tiny hooves alerted me to Will's approach in time to notice that Risa, too, advanced at a high rate of speed. Rory turned to meet her at the same time Will reached my side, rearing up onto his back legs to kick out with his front legs, whinnying and snorting for all he was worth.
“Will! Don’t!” He couldn’t get hurt! I needed his fuzzy hide around to snuggle with. The lunging cat suddenly snapped to the side, out of line with either my horse or myself, when she was tackled by a bronze blur.
“Don’t do it again, Risa. Accept it, and leave,” Rory ordered, removing himself from the enraged lioness, his voice barely discernible it was so gravelly with the beginnings of a shift.
But he held it off.
The new song pulsing from my phone was almost like a soundtrack to the crazy. The violin winding up and crashing with a quick trance beat appeared in time with the lunging and batting each combatant displayed. Willow got a great shot in, his back hooves connecting solidly with Risa’s jaw and twisting to keep her claws from slicing into and grabbing hold of his flesh.
But the girl was having none of it. She just kept trying to get around Rory and Will. She’d been surrounded, or so I assumed. I couldn’t see her much, but my friends all loomed in a circle, facing where she fought.
Pinpricks met my throat and my stomach where something banded, clenching around my middle like a vise. “Back away, slowly. Don’t make a sound if you don’t want me to gut you right here, right now.” Doing as told, I took a step back, my captor—the freaking queen—pulled away so we moved further to the side, off the path, and into the foliage. I'd bet it looked rather innocuous from the rear and didn't alarm any of the still-lurking bystanders. Not even when I disappeared from view. Easy enough to assume the queen was helping me to remove myself from the scuffle.