by C. A. McHugh
Ranealya threw her spoon in the bowl, her appetite vanishing. “If I remember correctly, the goddess saw fit to punish Travodus for his actions and tossed a few lightning bolts at you and your brethren, as well. I wouldn’t call that a blessing, nor this.” She held out her hand and extended her claws.
“Now, now, there’s no need for things to turn violent.” Malinius crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair while the other shapeshifters mirrored Ranealya’s changes. “Not when we came here to invite you to join us.”
While the other shapeshifters stayed in loosely formed packs, Ranealya remained on the outside. For centuries, she’d drifted from one place to another alone, never part of any community. Once the people realized what she was, disgust and terror filled their eyes. But it was better than joining with those that had destroyed the life she once had.
“I’m not interested,” she said in a flat voice. She started to rise, but one of Malinius’s thugs clamped a paw over her hand, pinning it to the table.
“Just please hear me out.” Malinius gave her a gracious smile, but the glint in his wolfish eyes spoke only of bloodshed. “I think it’s time we took our rightful place in the kingdom.”
“You mean all your dutiful service to the crown hasn’t gotten you there?”
The smile twisted into a snarl. “For years, the kings have thanked me for my service, for the tasks I’ve carried out for them, but their thanks is nothing more than mere words. Where is my title? My lands? My wealth?”
“Perhaps you should’ve negotiated better terms with them before agreeing to do their dirty work.”
“Or perhaps it’s time we rise up together and show them how powerful we really are.”
A chill rippled down her spine. She fought to keep her voice calm as she said, “And you think I would want to join you?”
“You have no love for the human king, or humans in general, if I remember correctly.”
“But you’ve conveniently forgotten how much I loathe you and your former master.” She jerked her hand free, the wound created by her captor’s claws healing within seconds. “I’m not interested.”
This time, when she tried to stand, the shapeshifters on either side of her grabbed her arms and shoved her back into her chair. She morphed her features, softening them to appear younger and more innocent than she did when she’d entered the inn. “Let me go,” she shouted in a high-pitched voice.
Several of the men in the inn turned around. One of them stood, his hand on his sword, and approached her table. “Are these men bothering you, young lady?”
One of the thugs drew back his lips to reveal his fangs, but Malinius stepped between him and her would-be rescuer. “This is nothing to concern yourself with, sir. My daughter ran away when I informed her of her betrothal, and now is refusing to come home.”
The man’s gaze slid to her, then back to Malinius. She held her breath in vain hope he’d come to her aid, but even he seemed to know better than to take on five burly men who appeared to be barely one step above beasts. His hand fell from his sword, and he went back to his table.
Malinius turned back to her. “Come along, darling. Your future husband awaits.”
He dropped a few coins on the table for her meal and their beer. At the sound of the clanking metal, her captors tightened their grip on her and dragged her from her chair toward the door. Every eye in the room watched as she struggled for her freedom, but no one had the courage to come stop Malinius and his men. They all believed his lie.
Perhaps it’s time they knew the truth.
The last time she’d allowed herself to be captured, she been turned into this form she abhorred. She could only imagine what sick plans Malinius had in store for her now. The only way she could gain her freedom was to do the one thing she was forbidden to do—reveal what she was.
Normally, she’d choose to shift into a vicious predator with sharp claws and cruel fangs, something that could kill its prey in one swift motion. But they’d be expecting that. No, she needed speed and stealth. Feathers erupted from her skin as her body shrank, slipping free from their hands. Her body shifted into a peregrine in seconds. The humans screamed in panic. With a few flaps of her wings, she’d climbed above their heads and out the second story window into the icy night air.
She’d managed to reach the woods bordering the town before the burning sting of claws ripped across her back. Her wings snapped taut from the pain, and she tumbled into the snow covered branches. Malinius’s scent filled her nostrils as she fell. Her blood pounded through her veins. She was now the prey unless she did something to turn the tables.
She rolled over, shaking the snow from her feathers while her body shifted again.
Malinius emerged from the shadows, the moonlight catching on his yellow fangs and eyes. The wolf was his favorite form, one he used for battle and intimidation. She’d seen him like this enough to shift into a she-wolf that would be more than enough for him to handle.
They exchanged snarls and growls while they circled each other. Malinius jumped first, tossing her back into the snow. His jaw snapped at her neck, but she managed to roll to the side, knocking him off balance in the process. Then it was her turn to go in for the kill. Her teeth missed the vital structures of his throat, sinking into the thick muscles of his shoulder instead. The gamey taste of blood filled her mouth.
Malinius reared back on his hind legs, throwing her back. A howl of pain broke free from her as he buried his fangs into her side. Her ribs snapped under the pressure of his jaws, and the air bled out from her lungs. Waves of pain engulfed her. Her body rebelled against her mind, assuming its natural human-like, fur-covered form. She lay helpless on the cold ground, struggling to suck in a breath while a wolfish Malinius hovered over her with her blood still dripping from his lips.
He morphed into his own natural form, his arms braced on either side of her. “I’ll give you one more chance, Ranealya. Join me, or die.”
Her body was already repairing itself. She just needed more time for it to complete its task. “What are you planning on doing?”
“It’s time Elgeus had a new monarch.”
The mad gleam in his eyes told her exactly who he thought should assume the role as next king. “Even if you kill Dezrik, he has heirs.”
“Not if I kill them first.” His grin darkened, his breath hot on the side of her face. “Think about it, Ranealya. We could own this kingdom. All the other races would tremble before us. We are so much more than they could ever hope to be, and we can make them pay for shoving us to the fringes of society.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping so his words barely hit her ear. “Think about how you’d make those elves pay for casting you out of their lands. Think about how much you’d love to have your revenge.”
The face of Elisus, the high elf elder who cried the loudest to have her banished, flashed through her mind. How she’d love to have him grovel before her, to have him beg her for mercy right before she snapped his neck. But then she saw the pain and disappointment in her brother’s eyes from her actions. If she killed Elisus, Galen would be forced to sever all ties with her. Even during her years of isolation, she could always count on him welcoming her into his home as long as he safely could. She had no desire to destroy the one constant thing in her life.
“And where do I fit into this, Malinius? Surely, you have enough support to carry out your plan without me.”
“You and me, we are not like the others, and you know it. We’ve perfected our powers, blended in almost seamlessly with our enemies, taken forms they could only dream of taking. You and I are the epitome of what our race can become.” He paused, the light in his eyes turning from murder to something equally as fearsome—desire. “And when I am king, I will have you as my queen.”
Her stomach rolled at the prospect of having him lean over her like this every night while he forced himself into her. “I’d rather die than become your whore.”
“I’m not asking you to be that. I want you as my equ
al.” He wrapped his hands around her wrists, his claws digging into her flesh. “I’ll give you one last chance. Come with me and rule beside me.”
Her ribs had finally knitted back together enough to allow her to take a deep breath. She stared at Malinius, choking back her fury and using it to tighten her muscles. “You already know my answer.”
She slammed her knee into his groin. A cry of pain pierced the night, and his hands loosened enough for her to shove him aside. Her claws slashed across his throat. Blood squirted out onto the snow. Malinius covered his wounds and stared at her with narrowed eyes. She raised her hand to deliver the killing blow before he recovered from his injuries, but the scent of other shapeshifters filled the air around her. She froze and searched the dark woods for them.
Malinius tried to laugh but choked on blood filling his throat. “You should’ve accepted my offer.”
Ranealya jumped to her feet and backed away, every muscle in her body poised to spring if attacked. “You’ll damn us all if you try this.”
“Only if I fail.”
The scents of the others grew stronger with each breath. She could finish him, only to be killed herself. Running away was the only way to ensure her survival. “I urge you to reconsider this,” she warned before shifting back into a peregrine and flying away.
This time, no one followed her. Their scent grew weaker with each flap of her wings. She’d escaped.
For now.
***
“Hurry up, men,” a male voice barked below. “We need to get the royal carriage out of this drift.”
Ranealya, still in her peregrine form, blinked the sleep from her eyes and peered down at the scene below. A small regiment of about twenty soldiers choked the road. A massive, gilded carriage lolled to one side, its wheel buried in the snow. On the opposite side, the door opened, and two small children jumped out.
“Give me back my doll,” the girl shouted after her brother.
The boy laughed and held it out of her reach. “Catch it if you can,” he teased.
A man emerged from the carriage, making everyone around him stop what they were doing and bow. King Dezrik had grown into a man since she’d last seen him. Of course, that was over a decade ago when he was on his way from the Academy of Magic in Arcana. He stomped over to his son and snatched the doll back, laying it gently in his daughter’s arms. “Stop tormenting your sister.”
“But, Father,” the young prince whined, “I’m bored. How much longer until we get to Dromore?”
The carriage rocked from side to side. The horses surged forward at the flick of the coachman’s whip, pulling the wheel from the drift.
The king smiled in approval. “Well done, men. Now, back inside children. As long as we don’t encounter anymore delays, we should reach my castle at Parvy in time for supper. Then, it’s only two more days to Dromore.”
“But I want to play.” The prince tugged his sister’s hair and ran away as she chased him. Their laughter echoed through the woods and stirred a deep ache inside Ranealya’s chest. Her brother had always been too old to play games with her when she’d been a child. What had she missed out on?
The wind rippled through the trees, carrying Malinius’s scent. Ranealya’s gut twisted. He said he wanted to kill the king and his heirs. Would he really murder them in cold blood right here? It was one thing to attack a grown man who could defend himself. But innocent children?
King Dezrik needed to know about Malinius’s plan, but she doubted he’d believe her if she shifted in front of him and warned him right now. No, she needed to get close to him first, to find out who his trusted advisors where and mimic one of them when she delivered the news. And as she watched the children run around the carriage, she formed a new plan.
What better way to gain access to the palace and protect the young prince and princess than to pose as a royal pet?
She drifted down from the branches, waiting until she knew she was out of sight before shifting into a small kitten. Then she started mewing as loud as she could.
The princess paused, her eyes widening. “Do you hear that?”
Ranealya took a few steps toward them, cursing the way her paws sunk into the wet snow. But, she needed to play helpless if she wanted to get their sympathy.
At last, the little girl spotted her. “Oh, look, a kitten!” She dropped the doll and ran toward Ranealya, scooping her up in her arms. “Can we take it home, please?”
Dezrik studied her as though he might have suspected her true nature. But as his daughter continued to beg, he sighed. “Very well, you can keep it. I suppose if you grow tired of her, the kitchen can always use a good mouser.”
Ugh! As if I would let myself be reduced to eating rats.
At least her plan was working. She purred and cuddled up against the princess, enjoying the warmth radiating off the girl’s body. If Ranealya had to travel to Dromore, this was the way to do it.
The carriage lurched forward, and Malinius’s scent faded.
***
Ranealya lifted her head from the bed and watched the steady rise and fall of the children’s chest. At last, they slept. After destroying nine of the princess’s ribbons, their nursemaid finally had declared that enough damage had been done and it was time for bed. Thankfully, both the prince and princess were in the same room tonight, making them easier to guard. She really didn’t want to be forced to choose between them if attacked.
She hopped off the bed and sniffed the air. So far, no sign of Malinius or the other shapeshifters. A quick circle of the nursery showed only one way in. The locked windows were too small to allow a bird to fly in and too high to allow a small creature like a mouse to climb up. A small wardrobe stood in the corner with the key still in the door, but a quick inspection showed only clothes inside. Everything was as safe as it could be for the royal heirs.
But this wasn’t the royal palace in Dromore, and if Malinius wanted to attack, this would be the ideal place to do so. No thick walls with soldiers patrolling the ramparts. No collection of knights sworn to protect their king. No maze of defenses to overcome before he got to his prey.
She cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the children, making sure they were asleep before shifting into the maid who’d attended them earlier. Surprisingly, the door to the hallway was unlocked when she tested it, and she slipped out of the nursery to find the king.
All the rooms in the castle clustered around the main tower which housed the great hall below. King Dezrik was deep in conversation with another man, and a few soldiers stood guard around the perimeter of the room.
“There was a report of a group of shapeshifters causing a fight at an inn in Wellix,” the man said.
The king nodded, his face grim. “How many killed?”
“Seven, Your Majesty. One of them was a shifter.” The man gripped the hilt of his sword so the firelight caught the crest on his scabbard. The Knight Protector, the king’s closest bodyguard. No chance she could stroll up to His Royal Majesty without getting past him. “They are becoming bolder since you had that argument with Malinius.”
“I know.”
“Have you given any thought to his demands?”
“What can I do?” The king rose from his throne and paced in front of the fireplace. “By giving him what he wants, I’d be acknowledging his race as a legitimate part of our kingdom, not to mention exposing the fact he’s been a royal spy for generations. What would my people think if they discovered the creatures they feared had been mingling with them on my orders? How would they react if one of them became their lord and ruled over them?”
“How would it be any different from any other races?”
“The other races have gone out of their way to avoid us. They keep to themselves and wish only to be left in peace. As long as they continue that way, I have no issue with them. These shapeshifters, however…” His voice drifted off, his face becoming drawn with worry. “I fear their ability to become whomever they choose to be. What’s to stop them
from mimicking you or me?”
“You think I haven’t considered that?” The Knight Protector rubbed the hilt of his sword. “I’ve been studying Malinius for years. The one thing I’ve always noticed about him was that his eyes never appear to be human, no matter what form he takes.”
“I’ve noticed the same as well. Perhaps that is the only sign we have to differentiate them from our people.” The king paused and stared at the floor. “I have made my decision, and I stand by it. But, on that note, I will no longer rely on Malinius’s service. To do so will only strengthen his claims.”
“And his frustration.”
The door to the great hall opened, letting in a blast of wind that flickered the candles and made the hair on the back of Ranealya’s neck stand on end. Malinius’s scent hung heavy on the air.
“Your Majesty, might I have a word with you?” a man dressed in noble finery asked as he strolled into the room.
“Of course, Lord Tevron,” the king said, but the Knight Protector stiffened as though he could smell Malinius, too.
“It seems we have some unexpected guests tonight.” The lord’s voice deepened into Malinius’s. “Perhaps I should introduce them to you.”
The door banged open, allowing a pack of over thirty feral wolves into the great hall. The Knight Protector drew his sword and moved front of the king, followed by the soldiers in the room. But the wolves crept closer, their lips drawn back in growls to reveal their razor sharp fangs.
Malinius slid into his natural form, still clad in Lord Tevron’s clothes. “You see how it easy it was for me and my people to slip past your defenses, Dezrik?”
The king’s face hardened, showing no evidence of fear. “You’ve made your point, Malinius, but more importantly, you’ve shown yourself to be a threat to the crown and will be dealt with accordingly.”
“If you survive the night.” Malinius laughed and waved the pack forward. “It’s time for the new King of Elgeus.”