by Leigh Walker
“Hear! Hear!” The werewolves raised their glasses to mine.
Even Duncan tipped his chalice. “A fine toast, Missus. But don’t you think you might be too late for such pretty words?”
“Oh, I’m definitely too late.” The punch was making my lips dangerously loose. “That’s why I’m here—to talk to you about my plans for the Contestants’ Challenge. If I’m to go home this evening, I want you to know what I came up with. I hope you might continue to work on the idea.”
“And what idea is that?” one of the advisors asked.
“It has to do with…relationships.” Even though I was a bit tipsy, I was still mindful of the rules: no discussing supernaturals. “It seems it’s been a long time since any of you have been able to focus on your personal lives. I have some insight on how to properly treat someone from the settlements. From what I’ve seen, potential partners are a little scarce up here in the Realm. So if you’re going to start marrying and raising families, the objects of your affection will have to be imported. And from my brief experience here, it’s clear to me that none of you know the first thing about relationship etiquette.”
The men talked excitedly amongst each other for a moment.
“It’s true, we’ve no experience with courtship.”
“Where would one go on a date, anyway?”
“D’you think other settlers would like it up here? The contestants seem to…”
While they talked, I took the opportunity to look around. Rhys and Joely were lip-locked in a dark corner, and the camera crew surrounded them feverishly. Dae was watching them, her face twisted into a grimace. It didn’t feel great watching them make out, but I was becoming accustomed to the sensation. Rhys’s hands roamed down Joely’s back—apparently, my friend’s fears had been unfounded.
That left me and mine.
I drained my punch and turned back to the advisors. “You see my logic here, don’t you? I thought it would be a unique way for me to help the community. My plan was to give lessons on how to date. A relationship clinic, if you will. I planned to demonstrate proper dinner etiquette, dancing, hand-holding, and how to carry a decent conversation that doesn’t involve the words ‘hunt’ or ‘rut.’”
The advisor closest to me nearly choked on his punch.
“But as I’m likely to be cut tonight, I won’t be able to help you. I still think it’s something you, as a group, need to pursue.” I looked directly at Duncan. “I’ve been accused of not caring about the Realm and its constituents, but I do have your best interests at heart. And I also know you need all the help you can get in this department.”
“I hope you’re wrong about being cut,” the advisor next to Duncan said. “I agree with you that such a clinic is vitally important to the Realm.”
Duncan scoffed. “You think using the proper fork is ‘vitally important’? You’re a bigger fool than I thought, Will.”
Will smirked at him. “When I have a finer bride than you and she’s impressed by more than just my fork, we’ll see who’s the fool.”
They started arguing, and I slipped away. Let them fight about my idea—I stand behind it. If anyone needed dating advice, it was Duncan. He would be lucky to get a date with a dinner fork with his piss-poor attitude.
“There you are.” Dae looked relieved that I’d returned. “I can barely stand to watch this by myself. He hasn’t taken his hands off of her, not once.” We watched as Rhys and Joely stopped kissing long enough to stare into each other’s eyes and have some sort of intense conversational exchange. Dae frowned. “What do you think they’re saying?”
“Um… I love you? You’re the one? Let me see how much groping we can get away with in public?” I looked down at my microphone—oops. I guess the audience would know I was more than a bit jealous. Perhaps it was best to go out with an honest bang.
“I can barely stand this.” Dae shook her head.
“It’s unpleasant, to say the least. Come, now—let’s not fret. Let’s have some more punch instead.” I made the perilous decision to refill my glass, but Dae covered the top of her goblet with her hand.
“I can’t. I’m wobbly as it is.”
“Fine. More for me.” Judgment fled as I had another sip of the delicious concoction. I would have to remember to thank Mira later—the alcohol wasn’t numbing my pain, but it was at least distracting me by making the room spin a little bit.
Rhys and Joely separated, and she fanned herself as she walked away. Rhys looked discombobulated as he scrubbed a hand over his face. He grabbed another drink from a passing server and promptly drained it. Then he squared his shoulders, smoothed his tunic against his powerful chest, and headed our way once more.
“Here we go.” I nudged Dae. “One Royal Highness is coming in for a landing, fresh from snogging our friend.”
Dae blew out a deep breath and fixed her bangs. She smiled at him brightly as he reached us. “Your Highness. How are you?”
Rhys blinked at her. At first, he looked a bit dazed, but then he held out his arm. “I’m better now. Will you come and spend some time with me?”
“I’d love to.” Dae’s eyes were clear, her smile brilliant. I wondered if she was perhaps smarter than me for staying slightly sober.
“Please tell me there’s more punch.” Joely arrived at my side, still fanning herself. “I need to cool off.”
I grabbed a full chalice from the bar and handed it to her. “It looked like you had some success just now. Cheers.”
“Ah, thank you. Cheers.” Joely’s skin was flushed, and her lip gloss was long gone. “I’m quite shaky.”
“It looked pretty intense between you and His Highness.”
“He puts me under a spell.” She blew out a deep breath. “I’ve never experienced something like this. I don’t know if you feel the way I feel about him—it’s like I can’t control my reactions when he’s near. He’s just so handsome. And so charming. And so…so…”
“Hot?” I asked as she fanned herself some more.
“Yes. Hot.” She had a sip of her drink. “I don’t mean to make you upset by talking about him like this.”
“I’m not upset. I mean, I am, but I hardly blame you.” We watched as Dae led Rhys to the back of the room. She leaned against the wall so that her face was turned up toward his. He was saying something, and she appeared to listen with rapt attention.
“Ugh, this isn’t going to be fun, is it?” Joely had another sip of punch.
“‘Fun’ probably isn’t the right word for it.”
Dae wasn’t wasting any time. She clasped her hands around Rhys’s neck and stared up at him worshipfully.
I chugged some more of my punch. “At least if I’m ill tonight, I’ll have an excuse besides being green with envy.”
Joely patted my arm. “You still have your turn with the king. The evening’s not over yet.”
Rhys lowered his lips to Dae’s. He wrapped his powerful arms around her.
I frowned at Joely. “No, but I wish it was.”
Barely Breathing
Not that much time passed. Still, it was enough that I had another ill-advised chalice of punch. When Rhys and Dae finally broke apart and he headed my way, I realized that I was more than a bit tipsy. Oh boy.
I smiled when Rhys reached me, even though his hair was mussed, his lips red and swollen. “Hello, Your Highness.”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You’re still speaking to me?”
I took his hand in mine. “As this might be my last opportunity to do so, yes, I am.”
His expression softened as we went and stood before the fire. He squeezed my hands. “I expect I have a lot to apologize for. I’m sorry you had to see me like that with the other girls.”
“No, Your Highness, you don’t need to apologize. It’s a contest—I knew what I was signing up for. And although it hurts me to see you with the other girls, it’s a hurt I can accept. I’ve no one to blame but myself.”
Rhys peered at me, inspecting my
face. “Lady Layne, are you feeling quite all right?”
“Sort of. I’ve had too much punch, so everything’s a bit woozy and maudlin even though I promised myself I wouldn’t sulk. Still, I am grateful to be here. Put your arms around me, please. If this is our last few minutes together, that’s what I want to remember—the feel of you holding me.”
“Tamara.” He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t say such things.”
I sighed happily against his chest. I didn’t care if Joely, Dae, Duncan, and ten million viewers at home watched me make a fool of myself. “It’s the truth, though, isn’t it? I saw you with Joely and Dae. You look happy with them, and you haven’t always been happy with me.”
He stroked my hair. “I’m happy right now.”
I snuggled against him. “We’ve had too many fights already, I suppose. A clean slate would be preferable.”
“Or it could be boring.” He kissed my hair again.
“Or it could be a canvas for a lovely new beginning. There’s no chance of that for us, I suppose. You’ve been difficult, but so have I. It’s been hard, doubting myself.”
“Tell me about this self-doubt.” Rhys didn’t loosen his hold on me. “You don’t strike me as someone who suffers much of it.”
“Oh, you know, it’s the usual introspective mumbo-jumbo. It’s rather boring.” I yawned against his chest and felt so safe and warm that I might have drifted off. “We should be kissing, you know, not speaking of such things. All you did was kiss the other girls.”
“We’ll kiss, we’ll kiss. But right now, it seems as though you’d rather fall asleep.”
I blearily stared up at his handsome face. “Is that a polite way of saying it looks as though I’m about to pass out?”
Rhys grinned down at me. “You’re going to have quite a headache tomorrow, Lady Layne.”
“Perfect. At least I’ll have something to occupy me in the settlements.”
“So you believe you’re going home?”
I tried to widen my eyes but somehow ended up opening my mouth instead. “Aren’t I?”
He brought his face close to mine. “It would be so boring around here without you glaring at me, huffing about, and tossing all that hair of yours. I don’t know what I’d do with myself.”
“Is that an invitation?” I asked.
“It’s a statement of fact. Ah, Mira is heading our way.”
“Already? That went by too fast. It’s all a blur.”
“The blur might be from all the liquor.” Rhys chuckled. “Quickly, is there anything else you’d like to say to me?”
“Yes, there is.” I inhaled his earthy scent, and my eyes suddenly pricked with tears. If these are my last words to him, I should tell the truth. “You smell so good it makes my mouth water. Every time I see you, I get butterflies in my stomach. I hate it when you kiss the other girls. And I intend to sleep with your sweater every night once you banish me back to the settlements.”
He kissed me on the cheek. “Good girl. You should have punch more often.”
I wanted to ask what he meant, but Mira interrupted us. “Your Highness, cocktail hour has been a great success, but I’m afraid I was rather liberal with the liquor in the punch. The party has become a bit rowdy.” She eyed me, plastered against the king’s chest. “Lady Layne, perhaps you should have a seat as the king makes his announcement.”
I wagged my finger at her. “Definitely, Mira. I will do that. Red is your color, by the way.” I turned back to Rhys. “Thank you for everything, Your Highness, except for”—I caught the disapproving look in Mira’s face and chose my words as carefully as I could—“except for not kissing me tonight. I shall chalk that up to one of my life’s greatest disappointments.”
Rhys chuckled and briefly kissed me on the lips. “There, you’ve been kissed. Not properly, but I don’t expect you’re up for that at the moment.” He sat me gently in a nearby armchair and turned to Mira. “I’m ready. Lead the way.”
A hush fell over the room as Rhys and Mira went and stood before the fire. Cameras surrounded them. Another crew stood near Joely and Dae, and another camera was right next to me, filming my expression. I resisted the urge to swat it away.
“Your Highness, it’s been a whirlwind of a party.” Mira grinned at him for the cameras. “We saw that you had time with each of the three remaining young women from the settlement. Have you made your decision? Please tell us—which contestant is going home tonight? Is it Joely Raine, Dae Phillips, or Tamara Layne? You seem to have so much chemistry with each of them.”
“It’s true, I do.” Rhys raked a hand through his hair. “And I’ve made my decision.”
“Well?” Mira put a hand over her heart, and I wondered if she already knew his answer.
He looked at Mira then straight at the camera. “I’m afraid this is going to be a major upset.”
Excited chatter broke out in the room. Mira shushed everyone then motioned for His Highness to continue.
“I’m not sending anyone home tonight.” Rhys shook his head. “I can’t. Each of these three young women is dear to me. I’m asking—no, Mira, I’m begging—to let each of them stay through the overnight dates. I’ll make my final choice of a bride then.”
Mira’s jaw gaped. “You don’t want to cut anyone?”
The werewolf shook his head. “How can I? You’ve all seen these women. They’re amazing. It’s an impossible choice, and it’s the most important decision of my life. Please, Mira.” Rhys dropped into a deep bow. “As king of the Realm, I am begging for your mercy. Please let me ask all three contestants to stay.”
“I-I don’t have that sort of authority.” Mira shook her head.
“But I do.” From the entryway, King Black stepped into the room. The advisors parted, and the cameras turned to film His Majesty. “I’ve seen how much King Rhys cares for these girls. I believe each of these contestants offers unique talents and attributes that would make them worthy queens. I commend you, King Rhys, on taking your time to make such an important selection. I hope your queen brings you as much power and joy to your life as Queen Serena has brought to mine. So by the power vested in me as King of the Settlements, I grant you your wish. Each contestant may stay through the final episode, during which you will choose your bride. Ladies, congratulations.” King Black inclined his head toward each of us. “You will stay to see another dawn in the Realm.”
Rhys went and bowed before the king. “I am humbled by your kindness and generosity, King Black.”
A broad grin spread over the king’s face. “And I am grateful for your loyalty and your careful attention to my subjects.” With that, he turned on his heel and was gone.
“Well, you heard it here first, settlers—all three girls are staying,” Mira announced. “Ladies, please come here. I’m sure the audience would love to hear your thoughts!”
Dae and Joely went and stood by the television host’s side, and I stumbled after them. The klieg lights glared down on us. There were too many cameras to count. The room started to spin, and I held onto Dae’s arm, feeling as though I might tip over.
“What a wonderful surprise,” Mira was saying. “What is your reaction to the news?” She held the microphone near Joely.
“I’m so glad no one’s going home,” Joely said. “I think I might cry!”
Dae spoke next. “It’s definitely for the best.” She nodded, her dark ponytail bobbing up and down. “Each of us has so much to contribute.”
Mira put the microphone before me. “And what do you think, Lady Layne?”
I scrunched my face up—the bright lights were hurting my eyes. “Did King Black really just issue an order allowing us to stay, or did I imagine that?”
“It’s true. The king’s generosity knows no bounds.” Mira smiled tightly. “All three of you are staying.”
“So I’m not going home tonight?” The bright lights glared, and the room tilted perilously, but nothing could dampen my excitement. “Yeehaw! I am so
excited! I can’t fuc—”
Mira yanked the microphone away, and the room tilted further, almost upside down. The last thing I saw was Rhys’s face. He laughed as he caught me right before I hit the ground.
Humanities
The first rays of sunlight crept across my comforter, and for some reason, I awoke immediately. Elsa and Beast whined at me. “No,” I croaked. “Too early.”
My bed seemed to be spinning, and I felt as though I’d swallowed cat litter. My head throbbed. The gnomes whined again, and I became angry. “Leave Mommy alone.” When Elsa cried, I felt terrible. “I’m sorry, but Mommy is not herself this morning. She had nine glasses of punch and almost said the f-word on live television last night.” Rose would’ve bleeped it, but still. Shame flooded me. I’d made a mockery of myself.
There was a quiet knock on the door, but it was still much too loud. “Go away and never come back,” I called. My own voice split my head with white-hot pain. The door opened a crack. “I said, go away.”
Rhys stuck his handsome face into the room. “May I come in? I have tea. And aspirin.”
“You aren’t supposed to be here.” I pulled the covers up to my eyes.
“I don’t care.” He gently closed the door behind him and came in, setting the tea tray down and pouring me a cup. He sat on the edge of the bed. “Tamara, sit up. The worst thing you can do for a hangover is wallow.”
I pulled the covers up higher. “I’m not wallowing.” My voice came out muffled.
“I understand you’re embarrassed about declaring yourself to me last night then almost passing out on national television, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It happens more often than you’d think—at least the first part.”
I sat up straight, wincing from the searing pain the sudden movement caused. “I did not declare myself to you.”
Rhys grinned. “Did so. In fact, you said you’d be sniffing my sweater for all of eternity. You also said the word ‘yeehaw’ when you heard you’d be staying in the Realm. That’s an expression I’d never heard before. Whatever does it mean?”