The Daughters Grimm

by Minda Webber

  Rolpe grinned, and it was the same wolfish grin that always set her stomach aflutter.

  “I mean it, Rolpe. You will have to learn the fine art of compromise.”

  He cocked a savage brow, and then winked.

  She laughed. “I didn’t know wolves could do that! My gracious, Rolpe, you’re haughty even in wolf from.”

  He nudged her playfully, to let her know he agreed with her kind assessment. And with her proposal.

  “You know, I really like you like this—all bark and no biting remarks.”

  He growled menacingly, then snapped at the air.

  Ignoring his wolfish snit, she threw her arms around him, saying gaily, “I love you, anyway, pompous paws and everything else. You’re also very warm, and my feet are freezing.”

  He licked her face tenderly as she gazed into his beautiful eyes, understanding the love he held for her. It was evident even in his altered form. He expression seemed to say: “Yes, my liebchen, let’s do get wedded as soon as humanly—or otherwise—possible.”

  Greta snuggled closer to him for warmth, her heart filled with joy. She had not only exonerated herself with her discovery that vampires really did exist, but she had also found her true love. Her father would be so relieved. Their financial gloom would be lifted with two sisters wed so well and out of the house. Soon, she and Rae could introduce Faye and Taylor to upper society so they too could find such happy fates. She couldn’t believe it. She, Greta Grimm, was marrying a prince! Her mother would be so delighted.

  Yet, she also knew the news would be bittersweet. After all, it was her aunt’s victory in seeing them wed, and not her mother’s—as they all would be daily reminded, she was sure. But Greta would tolerate her mother’s complaints with the patience of a saint. She had found her knight in shining armor. Or gleaming fur. But then, what had she expected? This was, after all, the Black Forest.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  The Boy Who Cried Werewolf

  Speaking of black forests, Rae was noting that the woods were far from lovely, but more dark and deep—as she had first thought. As the moon rose higher in the midnight sky, her surroundings were getting downright creepy. For every evil under the sun, there was always a remedy, she had thought. And to Alden, she had a promise to keep.

  Rae had set out to the cobbler’s to get Alden’s lamp fixed. The cobbler had assured her that it would be done today and, since Fen had been called away to another part of the estate on business, Rae had decided to go into Wolfach after tea to fetch it. Every time she had seen Alden’s sad little face, guilt had chewed on her nerves. Now she had the lamp, and the cobbler had done a remarkable job; the lamp looked good as new. He had even engraved Alden’s name on the bottom. But only now was she headed back to the castle.

  As the temperature dropped and Durloc was still nowhere in sight, Rae began to doubt the wisdom of her actions. Fen would be worried if he returned to the estate and found her missing. If so, then he was probably out combing the forest for her now. That eased her mind slightly. She should have gone in the carriage, Rae admitted as the full moon glared down upon her, and she certainly should not have gone alone. But she had really felt the need for some quiet time by herself. Even though things had been running much more smoothly with the children, the rowdy bunch still could be taxing to a new stepmother’s nerves. Oh, and she definitely shouldn’t have tried that shortcut.

  As she urged the mare through the tenebrous woods, Rae shivered. The ever-deepening shadows appeared to host a multitude of malicious forces. Every crackling sound had her heart racing, whether it was the tree branches rubbing together or the sounds of a large predator moving through the low-hanging underbrush.

  “Drat!” she cried. “I should have taken the carriage—or at least the sled.”

  Her mare, although remarkably lovely, with a hint of Arabian in its blood, was actually rather dimwitted; she appeared not to care in the least that they were lost. Instead, the silly steed kept trudging through the knee-deep snow in the same straightforward direction, even when Rae had given the mare her head and hoped it would instinctively lead them home.

  They had miles to go before they could sleep. The thought of curling up in warm blankets with her husband by her side and the warmth of the fire in the hearth nearby was almost more than Rae could tolerate. Her nose was so blasted cold, she felt it might snap right off, like a tender branch weighted with too much snow.

  Suddenly, Rae thought she smelled smoke and turned to head in that direction. Perhaps she could ask for directions back to the castle if there was a cottage nearby. Her feet were freezing off as well. Soon, she would be a snow lady…a beautiful snow lady, but frozen over nonetheless.

  Glancing up at the thick foliage of the trees above her, she was relieved that she at least had the bright moon to light her way. Whichever way she was going.

  Her mare shook a dusting of snow from its head. It found what she hoped was a trail homeward, and she urged it on. In the next moment several things happened at once: Her horse shied, almost unseating her. A crow in the tree branches above looked down upon her and screeched. Rae screamed. And from the ebony shadows, a figure on horse back burst forth. His horse panted hard as it galloped into the small clearing. And its rider…

  As the rider came into a spotlight of moonbeams, Rae noted with great relief that it was her stepson, Napoleon! He rode to her rescue with a scowl on his face that was an exact replica of his handsome father’s.

  “Nap, how wonderful!” Never had she been so thrilled to see her stepson’s face. “You’ve come to escort me home. Thank you. It’s a brave thing to do. You do your family name and your father proud by rescuing me,” Rae gasped, relieved.

  Nap’s scowl lessened. He had been angry at feeling such a strong urge to go after his stepmother. Alden had spilled the beans by saying that she’d gone to Wolfach to fetch his lamp. Though Wolfach was not a great distance from the castle, the thick woods made it difficult to navigate for those new to the area. Since his father had not returned by supper, either, Nap felt he had no choice but to look for Rae. As the eldest, he’d understood it was his responsibility to see to his stepmother’s safety.

  A bit embarrassed and pleased by her praise, he nodded.

  Rae rode up alongside her stepson. “I hate to admit it, but I got lost.”

  “It was a silly thing to do, going to town and back alone,” Nap remarked.

  “My gracious, but you sound just like your father. You even wear his scowl.” If Rae now knew one thing, it was how to tell when a male was in a mood. Especially one of Fen’s brood.

  “Do you think so?” Nap asked, the eagerness in his tone impossible to hide.

  “Definitely. You also have the same look about the eyes, and his majestic nose. Your hair color is similar, if yours is lighter. But I imagine that will change when you’re older. I surmise by your gallant efforts that your father has not returned home yet?”

  “Nein,” Nap replied, and relaxed a bit further. He wasn’t used to seeing this cheerful and complimentary side of his stepmother.

  Rae sighed. She was tired and hoped her husband would reach home in time to greet her. She hoped everything was all right on the other estate.

  Catching Nap’s glance, she returned her attention to the boy. She remarked, “But you have your mother’s mouth and the shape of her face.” For Rae had spent much time studying the late Baroness Schortz’s features, and knew that she spoke true.

  Glancing over at his stepmother, Nap frowned. “I wish I took after her more.”

  Rae thought it was a strange thing to say. Most sons wanted to be exactly like their fathers; especially if they had a father like Fen. “I would think you would be proud to be as much like your father as possible. He is a good man. You probably couldn’t find a better one.”

  Nap was rather surprised by this defense of his father. The enemy, she was. Although, lately, he was thinking less and less of waging war against her. He just couldn’t be sure whether
or not to trust her. They had all suffered so much with the loss of their mother. His father and younger siblings were just too vulnerable still. He feared they were all falling for someone who would leave them as well as soon as…He realized she was staring at him, waiting for an answer.

  “I do want to be like my father, of course.”

  As he listened to the crunching of the snow under the horses’ hooves, Nap realized this was the perfect moment to find out if he could trust his new stepmother. If they all could trust her. And perhaps, if they could even love her. He debated for a moment. His father would be powerfully angry with him for what he was about to do. He would probably get whipped for it, but Nap had to do it. It was time to give his stepmother another little test. If she passed…well, then maybe he would let her into his heart.

  “Still,” he replied nonchalantly, “I would like to have inherited my mother’s werewolf tendencies.”

  His words burst into the dark night like a bolt of lightning. Pulling her horse up short, Rae stared at him. Her jaw dropped open, and she squeaked, “Werewolf tendencies?”

  Nap reined in his stallion, glad to have shocked her so. Would the news send her packing? He was curious to see. She pretended to care about them, but did she really? If she really loved them then she would still feel the same after his wild announcement.

  “Is this like the ogre thing with your father, or the ghost in the hall?” Rae couldn’t help but give Fen’s eldest son points on originality and determination. “Do you know you rival my brothers in their fairy-tale telling?” She was amused. Certainly her husband would have mentioned, at least in passing, that his seven little Schortzs were werewolf pups.

  Staring her straight in the eyes, Nap replied with a sincerity that even the cleverest priest at confession would find hard to doubt, “I’m not jesting.” He hoped his little test would give him the answer he wanted. Although he wasn’t quite sure what that answer was. He had truly despised Rae in the beginning, but now…Well, she had fixed Alden’s lamp. And for the first time in such a long while, his father was happy again. So were Quinn, Merri and Poppy.

  “Good grief! What a grave, hairy secret. I’m surprised you’d trust me with such a startling confidence. Especially since you detest me so.”

  “I don’t detest you. At least not now.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “I’m merely telling you since our father didn’t. It is something a stepmother should know.”

  Rae hid a smile. Really, Nap could well surpass Ernst in acting abilities if he continued in this vein. “Yes, you’re quite right,” she agreed. She smiled up at the moon. “I suppose since this is a full moon, your brothers and sisters will all be out howling tonight.” She laughed.

  Nap frowned, glancing over at his stepmother. She was taking this awesome news rather mildly. “My family comes from a royal werewolf line. The Beowulf ancestry is ancient,” Nap remarked proudly. “That’s the part of my mother I wished I had taken after. I have some of the blood, but will never change by the light of the full moon as others do.”

  Clutching her cloak around her as the bitter winds blew colder, Rae replied politely, “Then Wolfach is a werewolf haven, I assume. My sister will be surprised. She and Countess DeLuise were certain vampires inhabited the area, stealing corpses, drinking the blood of innocents.” Yes, she could talk fable talk with the best of them. “So, your mother was a werewolf?”

  “She was a lovely werewolf, full-blood and solid gold. When the full moon came out once a month, she changed. You should have seen her run. She could catch rabbits with the best of them.”

  “How delightful.” Rae sighed. Really, the idea of a full-grown woman turning furry and chasing rabbits was ridiculous. This story was just getting better and better. “I must write William and Jakob about this. When they come to visit, I think you will be great friends. I must tell Greta, too. Won’t she be excited that she’s related to werewolves through my marriage? Just think, she’s run herself ragged digging up dirt, trying to find vampires by haunting cemeteries and stealing garlic. All along she’s had her eyes on the wrong type of fangs. The paranormal has been right under her nose. Close enough to take a bite out of her, so to speak.”

  Nap glared at her from the back of his horse. “You don’t believe a word I’ve said.”

  Instead of returning the glare as she once might have done, she shook her head. “Why should I? You’ve lied to me from the start. And now this? Why, it’s just too ridiculous. Your mother a werewolf? What poppycock.”

  Nap’s eyes burned with ire, but he couldn’t really blame his father’s new wife for disbelieving his words. He had done much to trick her again and again. Still, he persisted in his interrogation. “But suppose Papa was a werewolf? What would you do?”

  Rae reined in her horse momentarily, which made her stepson also halt. “I guess I would just have to love him—fur, fangs, howling at the moon and all.”

  Nap studied her thoughtfully. There appeared to be more than met the eye with his stepmother. She genuinely did seem to care for his father. “And if some of my brothers or sisters were full-bloods?”

  Rae smiled, amused. She could just imagine the sight. She’d go running into the night howling if such an awful thing were true. Having one ankle-biter in the family was more than enough. Imagine, having a whole pack of them!

  “I’d have to make sure they didn’t track paw prints into the hall when the moon’s full. I’d also invest in a few dozen pair of stout walking boots for around the castle,” Rae confided. “Alden’s teeth are sharp enough in human form.”

  Nap smiled. Then he thought about her words.

  Rae sighed in relief. She thought she recognized the trees up ahead. As she caught sight of a tip of the castle tower in the moonlight, she smiled, laughing at herself. Yes, her stepson knew his way about the woods. It hadn’t taken them long at all. Her own lack of direction was deplorable. She must have ridden around in circles for hours.

  The full moon shone brightly from the velvety black sky. The rest of the ride was in silence, each rider lost in his or her own thoughts.

  Wearily they reached the stables. Nap kept a close eye on Rae. She looked up at a sprinkling of stars as the stable master took the horses. The real test of fortitude and devotion was about to begin.

  “I do so hope your father’s returned,” she said. But before Nap could reply, the doors of the castle entrance suddenly flew open.

  Fen came rushing out the door and down the steps. He had returned home to find that his wife was missing, gone to town, and that his eldest had gone looking for her in the dead of night. He knew from experience how very dangerous the woods could be. He had just been about to start out looking for both of them when he caught sight of them riding toward the stables.

  “My dear! You two had me frantic.”

  Rae smiled at the concern in his eyes and trudged through the snow toward him.

  Merri and Shyla followed their father down the steps at a more sedate pace, while four pups with very sharp teeth came tearing out of the large door behind them. Fen winced. Well, the wolf was out of the bag now. He had hoped to tell his wife at supper and prepare her, but he had been detained. And now, the truth was playfully snapping at her heels.

  “Down, Poppy,” he said.

  Flabbergasted, Rae turned to Nap in surprise.

  “See? I told you so. Four of my siblings inherited my mother’s full blood,” Nap said smugly, just as the littlest wolf snatched the fold of Rae’s cloak and began to yank with its sharp little teeth.

  “They…they really are little beasts!” Rae gasped. Then the ground rushed to meet her as she fainted.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Truths Are Always Inconvenient

  Fen rushed to his wife.

  “Papa, she fainted again,” Merri grumbled, and several shrill little howls stretched into the night.

  “Ernst, don’t you dare do that. You cannot mark your stepmother as yours! Put down that leg!
” Fen said sternly, scooping up his wife. She was very pale. “Stop biting at her cloak, Alden. Poppy, quit howling like that, she’ll be fine in a few moments.”

  Rae only faintly heard them as the blessed darkness took her.

  Inside his study, Fen gently deposited Rae onto the couch. He rubbed her hands as the children and wolf pups gathered around. He hoped the shock would not be too much for his new bride. He could kick himself for not telling her sooner. What she must be feeling, his poor love. Fen sighed.

  A few minutes later, Rae awoke feeling slightly disoriented. A cold, raspy tongue licked her hand, and something tugged on her skirt. She opened her eyes to find her large, handsome husband staring down at her with a worried look on his face.

  “Are you all right?”

  Glancing around the room, she noted that the children who were in human form were strangely silent, and the rest of the bunch were rather subdued for wolf pups. “Alden, quit pulling on my skirt, and Fen, help me up please.”

  He did so gently. “Are you certain you’re all right? I know you’ve had a shock.” He patted her hand, wanting to lessen the blow. She had come to mean a great deal to him, bringing lightness into the shadowy world of his pain. She was his little Rae of sunshine. And he hoped the truth would not take her away from them.

  Cocking an eye at him, she stifled the sudden urge to laugh. “A shock? You could say that.” One of the wolf cubs was stalking a shadow near the fireplace. “When did you plan to tell me this little secret?” she asked with a hint of asperity. Carefully, she studied her husband for signs of extra hairiness. She also checked out his teeth. Then she breathed a sigh of relief. He appeared his same, wonderful self.

  Fen appeared embarrassed. “I don’t know, but I did plan to tell you.”