Shifter Royals 3: The Crown

by Leigh Walker

I hated myself for lying to her. I tried to stay as close to the real story as possible. “After I told you what happened at the ball, I also shared with one of Rhys’s werewolf advisors—Duncan—about the vampire girl. He promised to keep my secret, but he did tell Rhys that there was a strange vampire wandering the forest. Rhys was upset that I hadn’t told him first. He went into the woods to look for her, and that’s when he was attacked.” So far, that was the truth.

  “Tell me what you know about this vampire,” Eve commanded.

  “She’s young, newly turned, and apparently whoever made her a vampire abandoned her. She wasn’t taught the basics.” This was where the truth ended and the lies began. “She didn’t know about drinking from a werewolf, I guess. She was starving when she found Rhys, so she attacked him. She kept biting him, feeling sick, and then trying again.”

  Eve stopped pacing. Her eyes blazed. “Do you know what a load of rubbish that sounds like?”

  “No.”

  “To a vampire, werewolves smell terrible, bloody awful. A newly turned vampire is most sensitive to all the sights and smells that assault them once they’ve awoken. I have a hard time believing she didn’t become violently ill immediately upon drinking from him. How did she overpower Rhys in the first place? He’s a strapping wolf and an excellent fighter. It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I don’t know.” King Black hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort when we’d explained the incident to him. “King Black didn’t seem to question it.”

  “That’s because he’s a weenie who’s never fought a werewolf in his life.” Eve sneered. “I’ve killed a werewolf, so I know drinking from one makes you vomit buckets of blood. You have to hold them down and drain them, and it isn’t easy to keep drinking from them. It’s disgusting. You can’t just be taking sips as if you’re a mosquito.” She turned and faced the fire. “Something is very off about this story. I want to know the truth. I’ll have to go and see Rhys.”

  “He’s busy.” When she shot me a look, I nodded. “But perhaps you should talk to him.” Maybe he would take Eve into his confidence, and then I could, too.

  Blake burst through the door and swept me into a hug. “Tamara!” I was enveloped by her long arms and surrounded by cascades of her blond hair as she hugged me tighter. “You must’ve been worried sick. I can’t believe Rhys was hurt like that!” She pulled back and regarded me with wide eyes. “How on earth did another stray vampire get onto the grounds—or was it the same one who visited you? Is His Highness better? Austin and I would like to come and see him, but Mira sent word that you’re too busy with the show.”

  I didn’t know where to start answering her questions. “Yes, it was the same vampire—she must’ve hidden herself in the woods and escaped detection. And Rhys healed incredibly fast. He’s back to his old self.”

  Blake’s brow furrowed. “What about the contest? Mira said that they’re filming quickly, so as to wrap the show up. What’s the rush?”

  Eve leaned forward, all the better to hear my answer.

  “I think Mira is concerned that with this recent attack and the talk of the rebels, it’s best to quit while we’re ahead.” At least that was the truth. “She doesn’t want the broadcast to be compromised in any way. We’re already doing everything ourselves because of the lockdown—all of the production and editing—I think she’s ready for the contest to be over.”

  “And you?” Blake peered at my face. “Last time we talked, you were upset by what this vampire had told you. Then the next thing I know, you’re hear with Joely and Dae, talking the king’s ear off all night. Then you ran back to the Realm, and Rhys was injured. What’s really going on? I feel as if I have a bit of whiplash.” She dropped down onto the couch and looked at me expectantly.

  “I… Um…” I wrung my hands together. “I can’t tell you everything.”

  Eve stepped forward. “We’re your best friends. Of course you can.”

  I looked miserably from Eve to Blake. “I can’t right now. I made a promise, and I can’t break it. Just like if I made a vow to either of you, I would keep it no matter what.”

  Eve arched an eyebrow. “And just who is this promise to?”

  I took a deep breath. “To Rhys.”

  “Ah.” Blake’s eyes sparkled. “The truth at last—one of them anyway.”

  “What truth is that?” I asked.

  “You love the werewolf king,” Blake said knowingly. “Eve said you did, and she was right.”

  “I…” My cheeks were burning. “Well…”

  Eve looked triumphant. “Told you so.”

  Blake nodded. “That’s the only reason you’re stammering, and it’s the only reason you’d keep a secret from your best friends. And it’s the only reason we’ll let you, at least for now. If things get too dangerous, all bets are off, love or no love. Do you understand?”

  I opened my mouth then closed it. I nodded, grateful to be let, at least somewhat, off the hook.

  Eve looked smug. Blake looked curious. I felt mortified.

  It was lovely that my friends knew me…at least most of the time.

  Charmed

  Elsa wouldn’t look at me for the rest of the afternoon.

  “Mommy said she was sorry that Beast couldn’t come, too. But Blake said we’ll get you together again in the next day or two!”

  That explanation made no improvement on the gnome’s mood. She refused to eat her dinner and went to bed without begging for her normal evening walk.

  I went downstairs with a heavy heart and joined Joely and Dae in the library. Dae poured me a glass of wine, and I settled onto the couch.

  “What’s the matter?” Joely asked. “You look sour.”

  “It’s Elsa. She won’t eat, and she won’t look at me. She’s got terrible separation anxiety from Beast. She saw him this afternoon, and now she’s even worse.”

  “You should let her have a sleepover with him,” Dae suggested. “That would cheer her up.”

  “That’s a good idea. I thought about leaving her with Blake, but I was worried she wouldn’t want to come home with me tomorrow.” I sipped my wine. “I feel terrible.”

  Duncan poked his head in. “What about that pestilent ball of fur?” His pale hair was tucked behind his ears. Duncan was one of Rhys’s closest advisors. We’d gotten off to a rocky start, and he’d bluntly told me he thought I was too “fancy” for the king, but things had improved between us. At least I thought they had.

  “Please do not refer to my pet has a ‘pestilent ball of fur.’” I frowned at the werewolf. “Why are you eavesdropping on us anyway?”

  “I wasn’t eavesdropping—I was coming to fetch you. It’s time for you to visit the children’s center. Put down your wine, ladies. You’re on the clock.”

  “I’m going to fetch Elsa and bring her with us. You owe me at least that, with your inappropriate and insensitive comment.” I didn’t wait for him to answer. I ran up the stairs and tucked a listless Elsa into my tote. “C’mon, then. More fresh air will cheer you.”

  She whined in response.

  I met Duncan and the others in the foyer. We put on our cloaks and gloves and headed down the front steps of the castle. The square glowed as the sun set.

  Joely chattered excitedly. “I can’t wait to see what they’ve done with the construction so far. Are the cameras there?”

  “Of course they are.” Duncan sneered. “What else would we be doing mucking about? If it’s not being filmed, it’s not happening.” His gaze flicked to me. We both knew that wasn’t the case—a lot was happening behind the scenes, and none of it was good.

  We passed the fountain with the tree in its center. The water bubbled up gently around the golden roots. Elsa peeked out from my tote, and I set her on the ground. She rolled silently alongside us.

  “Elsa seems okay.” Dae nodded encouragingly. “A brisk walk ought to do the trick.”

  I frowned. “I hope so.”

  “Hold up now. Who is this?” Rhys and severa
l other wolves stepped out from one of the paths between the square’s stone buildings.

  “It’s me, and your ladies-in-waiting.” Duncan didn’t sound very happy about it.

  The king grinned as he got closer to our little group. His spirits seemed high. His cheeks were ruddy, and his eyes were bright. He looked as though he’d been outside for several hours, which would explain his buoyant mood. “This is the best-looking field trip I’ve ever seen! Where are you headed?”

  Duncan pursed his lips. “While you all were off hunting, I’m stuck babysitting your groupies. We’re going to the children’s center.”

  “Ah, Duncan, don’t be sore.” Rhys clapped him on the shoulder. “There’s not a finer group of women to spend time with.”

  “Easy for you to say now that you’ve had a chance to hunt and stretch your legs.” Duncan snorted. “I’ve been dealing with the intricate woes of a depressed gnome and how to make it feel better.”

  “What’s that, now?” Rhys peered down at Elsa, and she whined. “You having a bad day, furball?”

  Elsa whined again, and Rhys grinned. “I’ve got just the thing, little buddy.” He held up a cloth bag then pulled out a dead squirrel by the tail. “Here you go! Nice little treat.” He tossed it at her feet.

  The gnome quivered then rolled behind my legs.

  I grimaced as Elsa quaked behind me. “Um, Your Highness…”

  “What?” He looked perplexed. “It doesn’t like meat?”

  “‘It’ is a ‘she,’ and yes, she likes meat. She just doesn’t like a bloody squirrel carcass tossed at her.” When the werewolf still looked confused, I added, “She’s a bit more refined than that.”

  Duncan snorted again. “See what I’ve been dealing with, Your Highness?”

  Rhys ignored Duncan and reached for the squirrel. “Well then, I’ll just clean this up.” He stuffed it back into the bag and peered at Elsa. “Sorry, mate.”

  “You shouldn’t be sorry.” Joely fluttered her eyelashes at him. “You’re so kind, trying to help the animal like that.”

  Duncan made a gagging noise.

  Not to be left behind, Dae stepped forward. Am I imagining it, or is she thrusting her chest out a bit? “It was kind, Your Highness.” She beamed at the werewolf king. “Not that I’d expect anything less.”

  Rhys grinned at both of them then turned to find me scowling. “What about you, Lady Layne? Would you like to sing my praises?”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and fake-smiled instead. “Of course, Your Highness. Thank you for your careful attention to my gnome, even though after all these weeks you didn’t know she was a girl. And you’ve never paid attention to the fact that she prefers to eat small, dignified, fully cooked treats from the kitchen.” I turned my fake smile on Joely and Dae too. “But please, all of you keep congratulating each other.”

  I reached down and scooped up a quivering Elsa. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a children’s center to visit.” I stuck my nose in the air and stalked past Rhys.

  Duncan let out a low whistle as he caught up to me. “You’re playing hard to get, Missus. I admire your willingness to take a risk.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Me? If a suitor ever tosses another dead rodent at my feet, they’re the one taking a risk. And if you ever refer to Elsa as a pestilent ball of fur again, I’ll make a coat out of your hide. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a contest to win.”

  The werewolves had accomplished an amazing amount of work on the children’s center. They’d cleared two acres, laid a foundation, and begun the flooring. The supernaturals were fastidious and extremely quick with construction. They completed in days what humans could only accomplish in weeks.

  We gaped at the large structure before us and the open space surrounding it. The center would be enormous when completed, a huge contribution to the Realm’s infrastructure.

  “Well done, Joely,” I told my friend at the end of our tour. “Your idea has made an incredible impact on the community. This will be where so many of the citizens spend happy times and provide for their families. It’s amazing, really.”

  Joely’s eyes shone. “I can’t believe that they’re making it happen so quickly. It makes it seem like the future of the Realm, one with loving families and children, isn’t that far off, you know?”

  I swallowed over a sudden lump in my throat. “I agree. Happily ever after is closer than it seems.” I stared at the center one final time. Rhys had dedicated many resources to Joely’s project, so what did that mean about his intentions toward my friend? I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, one I’d hoped to have left behind. But it appeared that I was still susceptible to the envy that curled inside me, as green as a snake.

  I forced myself to smile at my friend. “Well done.” And although I meant it, the words tasted bitter on my tongue.

  Tremors

  I tossed and turned that night. I couldn’t shake the fear that things had gotten out of control. But it wasn’t fear, not really—it was the truth. We had a vampire prisoner in the basement, I’d lied to my friends, Joely was about to run a victory lap because of the massive children’s center, Rhys had been attacked by vampires possibly sympathetic to the rebels, and he’d tossed a dead squirrel to my gnome. And I was in love—all-consuming, wrenching, desperate love—with the werewolf king. And I’d told him as much. And I might lose him by the end of the week in this little contest we were all playing. Or I could lose him after that if he died or was taken prisoner while battling the vampire king for sovereignty of the Realm.

  The tossing and turning continued.

  A few hours from dawn, I was about to give up on sleep. I considered getting dressed and sneaking downstairs for tea when my door creaked open. “Roger?” I asked.

  “I’d hope that Roger would have the decency to knock, unlike me.” Rhys closed the door gently behind him and crept into my room. “May I?” He motioned toward the bed.

  “No.” My voice was haughty.

  He sighed. “For the love of all things holy, Tamara, I am sorry about the squirrel. Forgive me for not paying attention to your pet’s dietary preferences. I have been trying to run a country and heal from a massive vampire attack in case you don’t remember.”

  “You’re bringing up the attack just to make me feel bad.”

  He leaned closer, and I could see the hopeful look on his face. “Is it working?”

  “Oh, get in.” I pulled back the comforter for him.

  He climbed into bed and opened up his arms. “Only come here if you want to.”

  Life was short, so I didn’t hesitate. I pressed my face against his T-shirt, and he wrapped his big arms around me, enveloping me in his warmth.

  “There you are.” He inhaled the scent of my hair. “And I worried you’d tossed me aside, all because of a rodent carcass.”

  “I thought about it,” I mumbled against his chest.

  “Well, I’m glad that you’ve come to your senses.”

  I stayed pressed against him. I had a million questions that I didn’t dare ask. We were quiet for a moment, until he said, “What did you think of the children’s center?”

  “It was bigger than I expected,” I admitted. “And I was surprised a bit, I guess, by how much effort you’ve already put into it. It seems like the Realm’s flagship structure.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It means that it’s an important building, that it’s the most important building next to the palace.” I wanted to ask if by extension that meant Joely was the most important, but I held back. “What do you think of it?”

  “I’m pleased with the construction. I believe it’s going to be a masterpiece, and I agree—it’s a very important building in the Realm. That’s where the children will be taught. That’s where they’ll play when their parents are protecting their lands.”

  I sat up straight. “Are you still very focused on that? On fighting?”

  When Rhys had shared his suspicions that King Black was coll
uding with the rebels, he’d said he would wage a war against the vampire king.

  He pulled me back down. “I said protecting.”

  I stared at him in the brightening room. “You meant fighting.”

  Rhys shrugged. “You say ‘squirrel carcass.’ I say ‘snack.’”

  I couldn’t help it—I laughed. “You drive me crazy.”

  “Ah. I know, my lady. And you wouldn’t have it any other way.” He nuzzled my ear.

  I wriggled out from under him, even though I didn’t want to. “I thought we were saving physical affection for the cameras.”

  Rhys scrubbed a hand across his face. “Lady Layne, I’m afraid you’re a bit of a buzzkill.”

  I rolled over to my side of the bed. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Now tell me, what plans do you have to protect the Realm? What’s happening?”

  “Nothing yet.” Rhys’s tone turned serious. “When I saw you earlier, I was coming back from tracking in the woods. We found the scent of the vampires who attacked me, but they’ve gone. They left for the southern forests. I have my guards checking to see if they’re doubling back. If they come to the Realm again, we’ll be ready for them.”

  I blew out a deep breath. “Any sign of the rebels?”

  “Nothing yet. But I’ve told you my suspicions about the king. Nothing has changed on that front. In fact, his response to my injuries only strengthened my unease. He seemed relieved that I had been hurt. He wants me weak—I know it. All the better to bait and switch for the rebels, to let them have the Realm when they’ve been fighting for the Settlements these last years.”

  “But you don’t know for sure. You don’t have proof.”

  Rhys stared straight ahead. “No, but I have a gut feeling. And my instinct has rarely failed me in the past.”

  “You can’t start a war based on a feeling.”

  “I’m not starting anything. Not yet.” He turned toward me. “I have other news, my lady. I’ve made arrangements to have Maya Briones brought here. She won’t know it’s because she’s being punished—she thinks it’s an invitation to come back on the show.”