Cloaked in Blood

by T. F. Walsh

  Enre’s lips pinched into a hard line, his gaze falling behind hooded eyes. That look was a warning that if I didn’t tell him the truth, he was about to make sure I had a very bad day. Except, Father had already beaten him to it.

  “I don’t believe you,” Enre said. “And just because we’re going to stay in a nicer room, doesn’t mean we aren’t in prison.”

  Nothing I said would change this tune. I had to show my brother I meant every word.

  Daciana finally broke the strained silence. “Thank you, Marcin. You’re a true blessing.”

  “Come, let me show you to your quarters. I’ll get you both new clothes, food, and anything else you need.” I picked up the light and headed out of the prison cell.

  “I want to return home,” Enre said.

  “I’m working on it.”

  Daciana walked by my side, smiling, and the footsteps behind me confirmed Enre followed. I couldn’t blame his cautiousness because I wasn’t fooling myself into believing everything would turn out rosy. But unlike my younger days when fear dictated my actions, I refused to repeat my mistakes.

  Sure, Father would explode after discovering what I’d done here, but I had no problem taking on his wrath for my brother. It was long overdue.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Selena

  “You’ve been requested to dance for everyone during dinner.” Father’s words were stern, yet his averted gaze screamed hesitation.

  “Baba, I won’t do it.” No way would I prance around for Levin and his minions.

  “Selena.” Father’s voice echoed through the guest room. “We don’t have a choice.”

  I glanced at the scratches covering the door, wondering if the last guests here made those marks while being tortured by Levin. “My dance was meant to be a private one. Marcin and me. As part of our mating ritual. Not to the entire Hungarian pack. Levin delights in humiliating us.”

  Father, his white hair unruly, placed his hands on his belly. His purple kaftan with golden embroidery around the sleeves and neckline was in desperate need of an iron. His brow furrowed, and he nodded in agreement. “Levin’s taken offense that he wasn’t invited to the private dance.”

  “Because he isn’t my future mate.” My voice climbed.

  “I know. Do you think I want you dancing for all those strangers? It’s a slap in the face, an embarrassment for you to be up there like a common belly dancer. But Levin insists that if we don’t comply, we’re to leave tonight. Then there’d be no stopping him from attacking our home.”

  A ghostly finger traced the length of my spine, and my shoulder blades jutted together. Was this a sign of my future in Hungary—jumping through hoops for Levin?

  Father took my hands in his warm ones. “We have no choice. Give them a simple dance, nothing too extravagant. Quick and short. Let’s show Levin we can cooperate.”

  My response stuck to the roof of my mouth. What could I possibly say when I was asked to deal with a bit of humiliation to protect my family from imminent war?

  The sincerity in his eyes weakened my resolve. His heart was in the right place, always had been, which was why I’d agreed to this mating in the first place. It wasn’t for me, or for him, but for Aisha and every other wulfkin back home who shouldn’t live in terror of being attacked by the Hungarians.

  Outside the window, snowflakes drifted from fat clouds, and the cold refused to leave my bones. I missed the warmth of home, the ocean views, and the banquets. But Hungary was my home now, and I had to make the best of it.

  I sighed and dragged myself to the furry blankets. Dropping to my knees, I foolishly hoped that Marcin would, at least, welcome me. But his earlier comment had made it crystal clear where he stood—he had no interest in mating with me. I’d be stuck in the enemy’s home with a mate who didn’t want me.

  Aisha opened her bedroom door, and Klaus, my pet dracwulf, squeezed between her and the doorframe, knocking her aside. The four-foot-tall wolf trotted toward me on all fours, head high, tongue dangling from his mouth, his nails click-clacking across the flooring. Sure, I couldn’t keep him in Hungary, I accepted that, but I’d miss him insanely. In the woods back home, we’d found two dracwulf pups, barely larger than my hand, so we adopted and trained them. I’d never spent time away from them. Now, they were obedient and loyal like any ordinary dog, just larger.

  “I’m joining Levin for afternoon coffee.” Without another word, Father left the room.

  I lifted myself to my feet and scratched Klaus’s long ears, loving how the tips were inky black, and the underside of his chin was white as if he wore a beard like Santa Claus. The rest of him was light gray. Dracwulves were banned under Hungarian law because in ancient times, wild dracwulves ate entire villages and hunted their prey for weeks on end. But under Turkish rules, they were seen as sacred animals, good omens sent to us from the moon goddess. It was believed that the spirits of our ancestors resided in dracwulves, and their lively, aggressive behavior was a reminder that we weren’t untouchable. Remain grounded and humble were Father’s words when we grew up.

  But Father had agreed for us to bring our pets to Hungary with Levin’s approval, and I suspected it had something to do with showing Levin that even the most feared creature had compassion if treated well. Whether an emperor who had his ego stuck up his ass, as Levin did, would recognize such subtleties was a different matter.

  “That blows about the dance.” Aisha’s amethyst genie pants billowed with each step, and the golden coins around her ankles sounded the familiar chimes of home. “It sucks that you have to be their show pony tonight. Someone ought to teach Levin a lesson.”

  “Absolutely.” I leaned against her shoulder and noticed the curved lines of henna swirling from her ankle down to each toe. Impressive. No one in all of Turkey had steadier hands than Aisha.

  “Come, I’ll do yours for tonight.” She smiled. “You’ve got to impress Marcin.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  I stroked Klaus’s back. “Not in the mood to impress anyone.” A part of me refused to play nice. Not when Levin thought he’d wear us down with humiliation. If it was a dance he wanted, then I’d show him one.

  • • •

  Still unable to shake away the cold since arriving at the castle, I pulled the winter surcoat tighter around my chest, the bells on my costume jangling underneath. With me needing to entertain the locals, changing outfits was out of the question.

  I took a step through the parting grand doors and into the dining hall alone. Aisha insisted she was attending later.

  Candelabras hung from the arched ceiling above the U-shaped seating arrangement in a room with close to thirty wulfkin inside. Nearly every chair was taken. Guards from both Varlac clans lined the walls, standing at attention; the musky wolf scents invaded my nostrils. The air was thick, as were the chattering voices. On the back wall, a display of swords was fanned out above the two Varlac clans’ flags—the Hungarian iron wolf and our black wolf floating in a tangle of red smoke and howling to a crescent blood moon. Wisps of crimson mist floated upward from his mouth, representing our souls connecting with the moon goddess.

  Back home, we rarely held large banquets. No females were ever invited to meals when guests arrived. But here things were different, with the female wulfkin being allowed complete freedom to go wherever they wanted. The notion was unnerving, yet exciting.

  Red tablecloths darkened the dim room while the red and white tiled patchwork across the floor was definitely a modern addition. I stepped deeper inside, spotting Father at the center of the table, alongside Levin. Then my sights landed on Marcin, who hadn’t noticed me yet.

  No one batted an eye at me.

  A piercing scream from a woman at the dinner table penetrated the room, raising the hairs down my arms.

  I froze.

  Wulfkin jumped to their feet, recoiling against the back wall, several escaping out the side doors. Four guards stepped forward on either side of the tables. The electric charge of wulfkin about to transfo
rm crackled through the air. Every single eye focused in my direction.

  What—

  A long howl broke out behind me, and I jerked around.

  White as snow, Aisha’s dracwulf, Grit, stood in the doorway. My sister gripped his leash as his muzzle lifted into the air with his song.

  Was my sister insane?

  She stepped closer with a nervous smile on her lips; violet fabric flowed down to her feet with a thick matching belt, showing off her tiny waist. Henna tattoos curled up her arms with wisps of the art stretching toward her collarbone. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, striking against her dark eyes and bright red lips. A golden chain crossed her forehead. Grit trotted alongside her.

  Oh, fuck.

  I gripped her arm. “What are you doing? Father will murder you.”

  She broke my hold. “Someone has to show Levin he can’t walk over us.”

  I nervously glanced around at Father. His forehead glowed red, the way it always did before he exploded. The guards behind him approached, probably waiting for an order to drag Aisha out.

  Levin stood from his seat, while Marcin hurried toward us, a grim expression crossing his face, maybe to usher us out before we caused more pandemonium.

  “We should leave,” I said. “Quickly.”

  Before I could pull Aisha out of there, Marcin reached us, his gaze locked on Grit. “What are you doing with a dracwulf? They’re illegal. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

  “They’re our pets.” Aisha’s voice wavered, but when Levin and Father stepped up alongside Marcin, I lost all feeling in my legs.

  “Aisha just got confused. We’ll get rid of Grit.” I nudged Aisha by her shoulder to retreat. But Father lurched past me and seized Aisha’s arm. His face was on fire, and his lips bent out of shape into a snarl.

  The pain his grip must be causing would hurt, but Aisha held her ground. “He’s harmless; you know that.”

  Levin pushed past Marcin and said, “How dare you bring those abominations to my dining hall! I agreed to you bringing them into my home, but having them here where we eat is an offense.” He halted the moment Grit looked up and released a growl. The kind that said, come closer and I’ll rip your arm off.

  Aisha snatched her arm free from Father’s.

  “Sultan, what’s going on? I thought we agreed that you’d keep them locked up.” Rage inflamed Levin’s words.

  Father stared at the Hungarian emperor and raised his voice. “Because we don’t ban dracwulves, back home we welcome them into our lives, including joining us during our meals. They are creatures of the moon just like us. The moon goddess loves them. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given them life. Grit has been trained from a pup. He’s never hunted a thing in his life and is more obedient than my own daughter who should have known better.”

  “You share a meal with these disgraceful creatures?” Levin’s response was a spear to my chest.

  Father’s posture stiffened as he inhaled loudly. “Your laws are no less disgraceful. Our embrace of the dracwulves is about nurturing life. Protecting animals.”

  Levin’s face contorted in a disgusted expression as if Father’s belief was beyond his comprehension. “Wulfkin are at the top of the food chain, or have you forgotten what your ancestors fought for?”

  The two alphas eyed each other, neither blinking—egos, puffy chests, and creased noses on show.

  Ice formed in my veins. The Varlac leaders were about to break out into war over Aisha’s stupid stunt. I choked on the tension in the air.

  “This was my idea, and if anyone is to be punished, it’s me.” Aisha lowered her gaze, attempting to show some remorse, though, in truth, I doubted she felt it. On the bright side, maybe if Levin saw that dracwulves could be trained, he might be more lenient toward Daciana.

  No one said a word at first until Marcin spoke up. “No one is punishing anyone. It’s a simple misunderstanding of cultures. Come, let’s all sit back down and enjoy the blood wine that’s flowing.” His attempt at a jovial laugh came across strained, but I appreciated his attempt to cover for Aisha. He patted Levin’s shoulder. “I’m sure some of our rules seem strange to them too.”

  Looking up, I studied Levin. He gave no smile or slip of emotion from his angry pose—furrowed brow, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, fists pinned by his side.

  Silence.

  Was Levin going to sentence Aisha to death alongside Enre and Daciana?

  Levin ran a hand down his face and pushed a tight smirk across his lips as if he’d just had the same realization. “That animal is not joining us for dinner.” He faced Father with a snarl. “Boran, you need to teach your daughter to grow out of her childish ways. Otherwise, I will.”

  “I had no idea she was bringing it to tonight’s meal. For that, I must apologize.” He glanced Aisha’s way, and the promise of retribution and punishment was clear in his stony, cold eyes.

  Where was he going to lock Aisha up after he finished with the belt? I wouldn’t sit back and let him touch a hair on her head. Sure, Aisha was an idiot, but her actions came from a good place.

  Father waved over several guards and instructed them to take Grit back to our rooms before turning to Aisha. “Return to your chamber with the guards. You don’t deserve to be here after that show.” He turned away. “Come, Emperor, let’s return to our meals.”

  Levin’s cheeks were bright red, and he shook his head before joining Father back at their seats. The majority of wulfkin also returned to their chairs.

  Aisha pouted as she traipsed outside with Zeki, the captain of our guards. Well, that sure got Levin’s attention. Maybe her stunt was my fault, and I should have made it clear she wasn’t to pull one of her antics, especially since they weren’t new to her. Half the pack in Turkey expected trouble when she was around.

  “Shall we?” Marcin offered me his bent arm.

  I draped mine over his, and a jolt passed through me from the touch. The only other time that happened was the first time I had touched Marcin back in Turkey. All of a sudden, my wolf was shaking with need, with urgency to claim him, with the shattering realization that she identified Marcin as our soul wolf.

  Marcin glanced over and smiled in that knowing way. Did he feel it too? Then he broke into a chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Don’t think anyone can ever beat that entrance.” Marcin leaned close as we skirted around the tables, his fresh kindling and musky scent weakening my knees. “Your sister’s got spunk.”

  “Thanks for standing up for her.”

  “I know what it’s like to be cornered.” He winked.

  He might as well have kissed me. Every molecule in my body liquefied as I stared at him striding alongside me, a permanent and delicious smirk splitting his lips.

  The candlelight drew attention to the long scar lining his chin, an injury he didn’t have the last time I’d seen him.

  He stared at me with a hunger he hadn’t held earlier in the day.

  My heart betrayed me as it twirled in an unruly prance.

  He directed me to a seat right next to Father, who I swore was ready to pop. On the other side of Father sat Levin, chortling like a pig. Next to him, Marcin spoke with a handsome wulfkin that had tanned skin and short, cropped hair.

  I eyed the plates of raw slices of meat on the table. The sweet smell tickled my nostrils, so I forked a small piece and ate it in one bite.

  Settled in my chair, I grabbed a goblet and guzzled the water, ignoring the glances my way. Maybe I needed a full bucket of blood wine to forget what had just happened. Instead, I focused on finishing my meal. Nothing like drowning my sorrows in food. Then I spotted a familiar face, even though it had been years since I’d last seen him. Irmak sat several seats away to my left. He had been appointed to live in Hungary under the care of Levin’s pack as a way to forge a better alliance between our two clans, to keep a treaty, stating that neither clan was to cross the border of each other’s territory. We also had
a Hungarian ward living with us back in Turkey. Though in truth, I wasn’t sure if it kept Levin in check as well as it should have. Hence, my proposed mating to Marcin.

  I smiled at Irmak, and he responded with a polite nod before swinging back to a conversation with someone on his side. He seemed established and happy enough, so maybe all hope wasn’t lost for me.

  Levin pushed to his feet and clapped a few times, silencing the room. “That was quite the introduction, wouldn’t you say? Since things have calmed down, we can all feel safe once again. Tonight is a special occasion for us all and hopefully one of many more to come. We are lucky enough to have the company of the Varlac alpha from Turkey, Sultan Boran, whose reign extends all the way to China. His blood carries the lineage of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, a true warrior of his time. Though”—he wiped his lips and smirked—“rumor has it that Mehmed had lost the Transylvanian land when he fought Vlad Țepeș back in the 1400s.” Levin thumped Father’s back. “Those would have been the days.”

  Father broke into a forced grin, though the tightness around his mouth revealed his annoyance.

  “We are also honored to announce that Marcin has found a mate. The young wulfkin is Selena Kurt, daughter to Boran.” Levin swept a hand in my direction.

  Fire hit my cheeks. Everyone in the room gawked at me. I smiled nervously and noticed Marcin was studying his goblet, obviously embarrassed.

  “She’ll make a nice addition to the family.” Levin clucked his tongue, staring at me. “And don’t forget, anyone interested in participating in the upcoming venery challenge, please place your name in the bucket. Everyone is welcome to join, but only the first twenty randomly selected will participate. Maybe I’ll even join.” He laughed, coaxing the crowd to join him like a pack of obedient hyenas. “All participants will be announced at first light tomorrow.”

  The boon on offer swept into my thoughts ... an opportunity for me to claim anything without question, though I suspected there would be limitations. But what would I claim? Freedom to choose my own mate, to leave Father’s control, to end war between the clans? Like that would happen easily. My thoughts flew to Daciana and her punishment relating to her alpha who’d raised a dracwulf. Here we were with them as our pets, and that poor wulfkin was about to be put on trial for one. So, maybe me gunning for the boon wasn’t such a bad idea, especially if I got to free Daciana from Levin’s punishment, show Father that girls could be just as powerful on the field, and protect Aisha from any other forced mating proposals.