by Leigh Walker
The werewolf continued to snarl and bite, and another wolf leapt from the trees. This wolf was pale and lithe, and larger than the other one. “Duncan!” I yelled, recognizing him at once. “Be careful!”
But careful was out of the question. Duncan joined the fight, biting and snapping at the vampire. The three supernatural creatures struggled, rolling around on the ground. The smaller wolf had the vampire pinned, but she thrashed violently beneath him. Her spindly arms got free and she wrapped them around him—he cried out as the vampire’s grip tightened. She bared her fangs then sank them into the wolf’s flesh.
The werewolf’s wail pierced the forest.
Duncan went for her throat, his own teeth bared as he attempted to rip her husk of a neck apart. But the vampire seemed to be stronger than both of the wolves. Even though Duncan was biting her, she didn’t stop drinking from the smaller wolf. After only a moment, the werewolf stopped flailing and lay still in her arms. Duncan growled then grabbed the dead wolf’s body between his teeth and tried to drag it away. But strangely, the vampire clung to it even as she convulsed and began to gurgle.
I didn’t understand what was happening until dark, foul-smelling blood erupted from her mouth like a geyser. A shower of hot, sticky blood rained all over the encampment. I wretched, but as the vampire’s throat gurgled again, I rolled out of the way and shielded myself beneath a tree.
Even though she was ill, the vampire fought Duncan off. He grabbed the dead wolf’s body again and shook it with all of his might, trying to wrench it free. But she still clung to it, even as she vomited again. They were engaged in a gruesome tug of war. I didn’t understand until Duncan finally wrestled the body off of her. He immediately attacked, viciously tearing open her chest. She tried to beat him back, screaming and gurgling, but Duncan was ferociously intent. He tore apart her chest until he ripped something out—her heart?
He raised it up in the air and bit down. The vampire’s heart exploded everywhere.
“Gah!” I screamed as thick chunks of blood and gore rained down on the encampment.
After a moment, Duncan came and checked on me. I could only make out his eyes because his fur was matted with black-looking blood. “Are you hurt?” I asked.
He shook his head no.
“But the other wolf…”
Duncan shook his head again.
Another werewolf joined us in the encampment, and then another. They all pricked their ears, listening to something my human hearing couldn’t detect.
Duncan gave one quick “woof” and then shot off into the forest. “Wait!” I called, but he was already gone, chasing something. Two of the other werewolves followed him, and two stayed behind with me. “There’s another girl nearby,” I told them. “Maya Briones. She’s that way, in the trees.”
One of the wolves left to check on her while the other stayed behind with me. I tried to wipe the blood from my face with my cloak, but it was saturated. The wolf came closer and sat, still and silent, beside me. I noticed it had dark, neat fur, and puffed its chest out in a way that was almost refined.
“Roger?” I whispered.
The wolf bowed his head.
“Ah, I’m very happy to see you—even if it is through all this muck.” I wiped at my face again. “What do you know of His Highness? Is he safe?”
Roger woofed.
“I’m sorry, but is that a yes?”
He was silent, and my heart dropped. “Is that a no?”
He woofed again and I shot to my feet. “C’mon. If the king is in trouble, we must help him. I know I’ll slow you down, but will you take me to Rhys?”
Roger came closer and put his muzzle against my hand.
“Thank you, Roger. Now let’s make haste.” We set off into the dark forest. I prayed that we encountered neither rebels nor rogue vampires, but I had a bad feeling that the forest was crawling with both.
I wiped the blood from my face again and followed the wolf. There was nothing to be done, except to try and be brave.
I owed the Realm at least that much.
The Gathering
Roger led me through the woods and I did my best to keep up. I stumbled over tree roots twice, scraping my palms and tearing my gown. I didn’t have any idea where we were in the dark forest, but I had the sense that he was bringing me back toward the castle.
Roger had indicated that Rhys was in trouble—but last I knew, the werewolf king had been in the treehouse with Joely. Maybe he was still there, safe and warm? Or perhaps Jenny had found him and told him what had happened with the rogue vampire, and he was on his way to help. No matter where he was, I prayed that my werewolf was safe.
The forest was silent except for the sound of my breath as I struggled to keep up with Roger. But then there was a commotion up ahead—shouting. Roger stopped and whined.
“Should we take a look?” I whispered. “I’ll be as quiet as I can.”
The wolf nodded his head.
“Go on, then. I’ll follow you.” I watched his sleek form steal through the trees toward the sound of the voices. I also crept closer, trying to make out what the yelling was about—even though I knew it couldn’t be good.
In the dim light, I glimpsed Roger a few feet ahead of me. He crouched behind a tree. We’d made it to the edge of the forest; a sliver of moonlight lit the grounds beyond. I stared at the clearing as my eyes adjusted. Two groups of people faced each other: on the one side, there were several Black Guard; on the other, a handful of werewolf sentinels.
“Again, I ask you to explain yourself,” one of the Black Guards said. “I was told that the prisoner would be sentenced in the morning, but now she’s gone. Where is she, wolf?”
One of the werewolves stepped forward—I recognized Phillip. He raised himself to his considerable height. “And I was told that the Realm were our lands, and that we’d be able to govern them ourselves. So I’m not quite sure what you and your men are doing here at this late hour, checking up on us and asking for explanations yet again. She’s our prisoner, not yours.”
The vampire didn’t back down. “Where is the prisoner, wolf? I demand an answer.”
“I don’t know where she is—I already told you that. If she’s been removed from the barn, it’s likely that they took her in because she was ill or needed sustenance. If you and your men can wait a minute, I’ll go and check.”
“We need an answer. King Black is awaiting our report.” The vampire smiled at him, but it was not a nice smile. “So go and fetch your master, that’s a good boy!”
Philip’s shoulders sagged. “Why would you speak to me that way?”
The vampire’s eyes glinted in the darkness. “Because as far as I’m concerned, you’re little more than a pet. So run along, canine.”
Philip took a step closer to the vampire. “My pack has been loyal to King Black and the Black Guard for longer than I care to remember. But now that we’ve got our lands, I’ve seen more malice from your kind than ever before. Why is that, soldier?”
The vampire shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe it’s because ever since you’ve got your kingdom, you’re all walking around as if you’re something special. You’re still a werewolf. You still come when I call. You might think you’re on equal footing, but I assure you, the king’s got other ideas about your kind.”
“What’s this bloody nonsense?” A figure burst into the clearing—he went and stood between the two groups, looking back and forth between them. Prince Austin. I’d never been more relieved to see the handsome royal’s face.
The vampire prince glared at his sentinel. “What was that rubbish you were just spouting?”
“My lord.” The guard bowed. “It was nothing, I assure you—”
“It’s not nothing to treat our werewolf brothers as though they’re common dogs.” Austin looked the man squarely in the face. “Only fools say such garbage, and no fool is fit to serve in my army. Guards, take this man back to the castle and put him in the stocks. I’ll deal with him later.”
Two guards dragged the other one off. He muttered and cursed as they led him from the clearing.
Austin turned so that he again faced both groups. “Now tell me—what’s going on here?”
Philip bowed to the prince, then said, “Your Highness, as you’re aware, we have a vampire prisoner who is supposed to be sentenced in the morning. The Black Guard was coming to ascertain her whereabouts again, even though they’d checked on her several hours ago.”
One of the remaining vampires stepped forward. “But she’s gone, Prince Austin. And the wolves don’t know where she is.”
“That isn’t true.” Philip shook his head. “You haven’t given us a chance to go and look for her. You’ve only made time for shouting and insults.”
Austin nodded. “Go and see what word you have on the prisoner, Philip. We’ll wait here.” Philip left and Austin turned back to his men. “Is there anything you want to share with me?”
The same vampire guard said, “Your Highness, King Black asked us to continue to check on the prisoner’s status throughout the night, merely to remind the wolves of our presence. We didn’t mean any harm.”
“Oh, I’m sure you didn’t.” Austin’s tone was laced with sarcasm. “It’s just that one of the Northern guards came and found me, concerned that yet another group was coming to the Realm to investigate. It seems like more than just a reminder. This vampire is King Rhys’s prisoner, after all. She’s not our concern.”
The vampire guard titled his head. “Your father is concerned with her, though.”
“My father needs to learn when to butt out, if you ask me.”
The guard looked shocked into silence.
Austin took a deep breath. “If we don’t mind our ways, we are going to have a battle on our hands.”
Roger crept back toward me; he whined softly when he reached my side. “There now,” I whispered, “we must go and find the king.”
Roger nodded, and I followed him back into the trees. We moved more quickly this time. I was no wolf, but I sensed an urgency from Roger; he seemed to be tracking something through the woods. We hustled for a while, then he must’ve sensed something nearby—Roger shot out of the forest just as we reached the edge of the gardens. He barked once and the tall, frost-covered stalks shook violently, then two figures appeared.
One was Jenny. One was a giant black-and-gray werewolf.
“Rhys!” I ran toward the garden and collapsed before him, wrapping my arms around his powerful shoulders and burying my face in his thick fur. The werewolf grunted, which I took as a greeting.
“I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see you again.” My tears were absorbed by his luxurious coat. “I’m so sorry, Your Highness.”
He grunted again, an encouraging sound, and I continued, “I went out to the barn to check on Jenny, but then one of the rogue vampires abducted me. Duncan and one of your other men saved me, but that poor guard got killed.”
The magnitude of what had happened settled on me, and I wept harder, clinging to my wolf. “And now the Black Guard’s about to fight with our men—Austin’s back there, but it’s all a mess, a terrible mess.”
Rhys grunted again and buried his muzzle in my hair. Then he loosened himself from my grip. He moved back several paces on his haunches, and then began to quiver.
“Look out,” Jenny called. She moved away. “He’s phasing!”
The werewolf king shook violently, moving so fast that I couldn’t fully see him. He lengthened, growing taller, as fur became flesh. Rhys stood before me, gloriously alive, human…and naked.
“Your Highness!” I took one quick peek before I bowed my head. “Are you all right?”
“I am now that I see for myself that you’re still alive.” His voice was tender as he came and knelt before me. He gently took my hands. “Although I’m none too pleased you’re covered in such gore, Lady Layne. That’s vampire and wolf blood. Are you hurt?”
“No, not at all.” I started to cry again. “But I didn’t mean for this to happen. Your soldier, he was trying to rescue me… The vampire got him. It’s my fault.”
“It’s all right, my lady,” Rhys’s kissed the top of my head, a brave act indeed given the gore. “I’ve more questions, but one moment—Roger. Go find Duncan and the others. Have them meet me on the grounds behind the castle at once.”
Roger shot off and Rhys returned his focus to me. “We must speak quickly—are you sure you’re not hurt?”
“I’m fine. But I tricked that soldier, and it was folly for him. He was trying to rescue me from the vampire that Maya sold me to, but she was too strong.”
Rhys’s grip on my hands tightened. “Jenny told me what happened with Maya.”
“The vampire who took me is dead—Duncan detonated her heart.”
Rhys coughed. “So I smell.”
“I believe your guards saved Maya, too, but I don’t know where they went. And I never saw any of the other rogue vampires, just the one, so they’re still out in the forest. And now the Black Guard’s here again, and they’re looking for Jenny. Austin sent one of his father’s soldiers back to the North to be put in the stocks. I’m afraid they’re all about to fight.”
“And I’m afraid you’re right. Not to mention that some of the rebel troops have returned. Not all of them, but enough to try and attack.” Rhys pulled me against his smooth chest, and I tried to ignore the fact that he was naked not only because I was covered in vampire and werewolf gore, but because Jenny was standing two feet away.
Rhys didn’t seem to mind my appearance; he kissed the top of my head again. “I need you to do something for me.”
I looked up at him. “Anything, my lord.”
He chucked me under the chin. “I need you to sit on the sidelines, Tamara.”
I frowned. “Can I qualify my answer to ‘anything but that?’”
“No you may not, and that’s an order.” When I started to object he gave me a stern look. “Remember what I said about you not controlling everything? This is one of those times. Let me do my job—let your teammate finish the game.”
“But I’m very attached to my teammate,” I argued, “and I don’t want him to get hurt!”
“I can handle myself.” He gazed into my eyes. “Take Jenny and go to the castle. I will send word for you if I need to, but now I must go and join my men. We might very well have a fight on our hands tonight.”
“Can’t you and Austin stop it?”
“I don’t know if it’s too late. Things have come to a head. The rogue vampires are making moves, the rebels are out there, King Black is harassing us, Austin’s gotten into the mix now… There’s nothing left to do but take a stand. You were right, if that’s any comfort: sentencing Jenny was never going to help. It just riled everyone up. I will remember to listen to you in the future, my lady. Will you do the same for me?”
“Yes. But I beg you to live long enough so that we may actually have a future.”
Rhys’s eyes glittered. “I do love it when you beg, Tamara.”
I was about to argue when he gave me a quick kiss. “I must go.”
I shot to my feet. “Rhys—”
“Yes?”
I put my hands against his broad chest. “Do not die. That’s an order.”
“Ah, ordering me about until the end.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. “Don’t say it’s the end!”
“Another command.” He chuckled. “I love you, Tamara.”
“I love you, too.”
“Remember what I said.” He backed up few paces, his body already quivering. “Sideline. I’ll see you soon, my love.”
Face Off
As soon as he phased, Rhys shot off toward the grounds, taking my heart with him.
I went to Jenny, who looked weak
er than ever. Her skin was pale and her arms hung limply at her sides. I gently touched her back. “We must make a run for the castle,” I said. “Can you make it?”
She nodded. “I’m weak, but I’ll be all right.”
We set off past the garden, heading toward the palace. Jenny dragged next to me; running wasn’t possible in her weakened condition. The rear entrance of the palace seemed far away as we slowed our pace.
“Thank you for coming to find me in the forest,” I said, keeping my voice low. “How did you convince Maya to set you free?”
“I warned her that Rhys would surely have her head if something happened to you. Then I convinced her that he might find favor with her if she was the one responsible for your safe return.”
“And she agreed?” I frowned. “She seemed rather keen to have me drained as soon as possible.”
Jenny shook her head. “As soon as you left, I could tell that she knew she’d done something terrible. As rotten as she is, I don’t think it goes all the way to her core.”
“That’s generous of you.”
“Not really. I got rather gruesome in my descriptions of what the wolves might do to her if you were harmed.” Jenny shrugged. “She might not be wholly rotten, but she was persuaded by self interest. It’s just lucky that I know her well enough that I could scare her into doing the right thing. She didn’t want her entrails used in a werewolf tug-of-war, and she still wants a chance with His Highness, as loony as that is.”
“I am no fan of hers, but I still hope they were able to bring her back safely.”
“I know you do.” Jenny nodded. “You’ll make a good queen, my lady.”
If I live long enough…and if there’s anything left to govern. “Thank you, Jenny.”
Our conversation was interrupted by more shouting coming from the grounds. We moved as fast as we could, finally making it to the rear entrance of the castle.
But I could see the grounds from our vantage point. I stopped, frozen to the spot.
Eve, Balkyn, and a small army of Northern sentinels had joined Austin. They stood in one group.