The Wolf Prince

by Karen Whiddon

  Glad of her jeans, she went around to the opposite side of the large tree so she’d be hidden in case a guard happened to look this way. Shimmying up the trunk was more difficult than she’d expected, but she made good progress and reached the lower part of the balcony without any trouble.

  Glancing one more time toward the guards, she realized she couldn’t even see them. Perfect. She climbed up another foot or two, then took a deep breath, grasped the largest of the four branches and swung herself out over the balcony. And then she let go.

  Landing was awkward and loud and only slightly painful. She stayed crouched on the floor while she assessed the damage to her body. Not bad. Only her ankle hurt and it wasn’t that bad. She doubted it was even strained.

  Waiting another moment to see if she’d been noticed, she pushed herself to her feet and went to try the door. To her surprise, it wasn’t locked. All of her intuitive alarms began chiming. This was too easy.

  She thought about abandoning her attempt and leaving it for another day. Then she pictured her mother’s reaction if she noticed the missing earring and decided to go for it. In the end she didn’t really have a choice.

  So she pushed open the door and boldly stepped inside.

  * * *

  Like some sort of supernatural caravan, Ruben and his father followed the man who followed Willow. Of course the two high Royals of Teslinko remained in wolf form. They hadn’t taken the time to change back to human. Yet.

  From the shelter of a grove of aspens, the stranger stopped to watch as Willow shimmied up the tree. They all saw her drop onto a balcony, try the door and go inside.

  Apparently satisfied, the other man turned and went back the way he’d come. Clearly unaware that he’d been followed, he made no attempt to hide his passing.

  Ruben glanced at his father. Since as wolves they couldn’t speak, he whined once, jerking his head in the direction of the stone temple.

  King Leo shook his shaggy gray pelt and made for their castle instead. Ruben understood and followed. It would take too long for them to return to the stone temple in the woods and change back to human.

  Their captain of the guards was Pack. He kept several changes of clothing stashed in the guard house just in case. They’d change there. That way, they could get inside and catch Willow before she had a chance to plant another bomb.

  And, Ruben thought grimly as he loped alongside his father toward the guard house, he’d send some soldiers to find that man in the woods. Just in case.

  Again, Ruben realized he’d underestimated his wolf. Once allowed to take form, the beast resisted the necessary change back to human. Heart pounding, Ruben battled his inner animal, praying his father was sufficiently distracted and didn’t notice the savage fight.

  Ruben won and forced the change back to human. Each time, it grew more and more difficult. He could easily foresee a day when the wolf would win and he’d remain in his lupine form forever. On that day, he knew he’d slide over the last slippery slope to madness.

  What worried him was how badly he wanted to.

  A few minutes later, human and fully clothed, King Leo and Ruben alerted the guards. Men were dispatched to the woods to search for the stranger, and the palace was quietly put on high alert. Willow would be caught and interrogated. Ruben hoped she wouldn’t resist. Despite everything, he didn’t want her hurt.

  Yet.

  Of course he’d already decided to question her himself. Though their association had been brief, he’d foolishly believed they’d connected on some visceral level. More proof that his mind was slowly unraveling, he supposed. Now, he wanted her to look him in the eye and explain.

  * * *

  Fuming, Tatiana put on her riding boots, trying to keep from scowling as she didn’t want to cause wrinkles. First her sister—whom she’d planned to pair with Prince Eric—had managed to disappear unnoticed, but now Prince Chad had begged off, claiming he had a headache. As if. And when she’d questioned him, he’d had the audacity to say he felt it better if she and her fiancé spend time alone. He’d grinned mockingly as he’d spoken, taunting her.

  This not only infuriated her, but aroused her, as well. Tatiana had never met a man who wouldn’t let her have her way.

  A challenge was exactly what she needed. But first... She stood, adjusting her ponytail. She had to deal with the buffoon she was supposed to marry.

  Sparkles of Fairy dust. This was going to be a long afternoon.

  Prince Eric waited, standing beside his mount. She noted he’d chosen the largest, flashiest horse in the royal stable, a cantankerous gelding appropriately nicknamed Trouble. She wondered if the stable hands had bothered to tell their visitor that he was indeed asking for...well, trouble. The only one Trouble would allow to remain on his back was King Puck. And that was only when the giant beast felt like it.

  At the moment, he stood docilely, mouthing his bit while Prince Eric eyed her and preened. Since she knew he was waiting for her to compliment him and say how handsome he looked next to the magnificent steed, she kept her mouth shut and pretended not to notice. After all, he hadn’t bothered to comment on her appearance—and she knew she looked absolutely, freakin’ gorgeous—so why should she bother with his?

  Her own horse, a beautiful gray mare her father had given her for her twenty-first birthday, had been saddled with her favorite saddle. Trying to appear lighthearted, she swung her leg up and over, settling on her horse with the abundant grace she’d been born with.

  “Are you ready?” she chirped brightly. Just once she wished she didn’t have to put on the act of beautiful, gracious princess. She’d have hoped, with the man she was supposed to marry, at least she’d get a chance to be herself.

  Not that this oaf would notice. She suspected Prince Eric was such a narcissist that he only noticed others if they made him look bad. Which of course, she would never do.

  Or would she? Even thinking such a thing made her shiver with delight. She was twenty-four years old. Maybe the time had come to make some changes in her life.

  Tatiana had always been the good child, doing what was expected of her. When she’d been little, her mama, Queen Millicent, quite enjoyed treating her like a doll, dressing her up and changing her elaborate outfits sometimes as much as three times a day. She knew she was spoiled and if she often felt suffocated, well, it made her dear mama so happy. How could she even think of disappointing the one who’d given her life?

  Despite the fact that Tatiana had grown increasingly bored and unhappy, she’d always taken care to please her parents. She’d found other avenues to vent her frustration and unfortunately her poor younger sister had taken the brunt of things.

  But Willow never seemed to mind. At least on the surface. Tatiana suspected that she also kept her true feelings locked away inside.

  They might be sisters, she reflected grimly, but neither truly knew the other. Maybe that too would have to change.

  Prince Eric cleared his throat, bringing her attention back to him.

  “Daydreaming?” he asked, his bored tone indicating he didn’t really care what she answered.

  So she didn’t. Instead, she urged her horse forward, ignoring the man trying to mount the skittish gelding. As he swung his muscular leg over the animal’s back and Trouble bucked, she held her breath, hoping she’d get to watch Eric get thrown.

  To her surprise, he got the horse under control easily, without too much fuss. Once Eric was certain Trouble would respond to the touch of his heels, he rode up alongside her. “This is a fine animal,” he told her, grinning triumphantly. “I’ll never understand why you’d geld a horse that looks like this.”

  Instead of answering, she considered him. He looked human, for the first time since she’d met him. Albeit, a spectacularly beautiful human. Certainly, his smile transformed his handsomeness into another realm entirely; the kind of male beauty about which songs are written.

  Though used to such beauty—she possessed numerous mirrors—Tatiana couldn’t hel
p but stare.

  Seeing this, he laughed out loud.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked him, cross.

  “You don’t really want to marry me, do you?” he asked.

  Insight and beauty? Would wonders never cease? Now it was her turn to laugh. “Is it that obvious?”

  “Only when I look at you.” His smile faded.

  “Then don’t,” she popped off, making him laugh again. Oddly enough, she actually liked him now, when he was making absolutely no effort to impress her.

  “How about this?” he offered. “Why don’t we quit worrying about impressing each other and just hang out like friends? We’re pretty evenly matched, at least in the looks department. Why don’t we try and get along?”

  She thought about that for a moment. “I’m not sure I know how,” she finally admitted, bracing herself for his derision and scorn.

  Instead, he merely cocked a brow at her. “It’s an acquired skill,” he said, his tone dry. “I promise you, it took me a while to learn it, as well.”

  Urging his horse sideways until their knees were nearly touching, he held out his hand. “Friends?”

  Though she wasn’t sure this wasn’t some sort of trick—after all, in her experience men like him were always exactly like they seemed—she took his hand and shook it.

  “Friends.” Then, yanking her hand free, she urged her horse away and into a run. Trouble’s ears went back and she suspected he’d buck at any moment. “Catch me if you can.”

  * * *

  At first, the darkness of the room Willow had entered threw her off. Then, as her eyes gradually adjusted, she looked around her with great interest. The only part of this mammoth palace she’d seen had been the ballroom area downstairs.

  She’d entered a bedroom. A masculine one, judging from the abundant leather and metal used to decorate the room. She took a step forward, the animal skin so plush and deep that she left footprints. Resting her hand on one of the leather chairs, she shuddered, unable to keep from wondering if the animal had suffered and hoping not.

  A certain scent lingered in the air. She sniffed, a memory tickling at the edges of her mind. She knew this scent and if she had all the time in the world... It was tantalizingly familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it. But she liked the smell. It made her smile.

  Now to find her mother’s precious pearl earring. Once she’d located that, she could beat a fast retreat, hopefully unnoticed. Especially by the handsome Prince Ruben. Moving confidently, she started toward the door.

  A sound from the hallway made her freeze. Someone shouted. Another man answered. Footfalls, coming close. Heart pounding, she glanced around the room, searching for a place to hide. There. Quickly and quietly, she crossed the room to a set of double doors that could only be a closet.

  More footsteps out in the hall. Several people, running. Guards, most likely. Someone must have seen her breaking in. Trying not to panic, she gave the closet door a tug. Nothing. Another tug, this time with more force. To her relief, the door opened. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. It made a small sound as the handle clicked into place.

  As she stood in the middle of someone’s clothes, she tried to breathe quietly when her body wanted her to inhale in great gasps. She willed herself calm and began to take in the scent surrounding her. This was the same masculine cologne she’d noticed earlier. All at once, she realized whose closet this was. If she closed her eyes, she could see his face and once again smell this particular scent of candlewood and spice.

  Prince Ruben. Bad enough she’d broken into his room. But now she was hiding in his closet. And he was the last person she wanted to see right now.

  Liar. Even as she formed the thought, she knew it wasn’t entirely true.

  Listening hard, she heard nothing else from outside the hallway. Still, she waited, her heart beating slow and steady.

  She would succeed. She would not be caught. If her mother learned she’d taken her jewelry without permission... Even thinking about the possibility made her shudder. Avoiding her mother’s ire was worth any risk.

  After a few seconds had passed without any more sounds, she cautiously opened the door a crack. And waited again.

  Finally, satisfied that the danger of discovery had passed, she pushed the door open and stepped into the room.

  The instant she did, the lights came on.

  Chapter 6

  “Care to explain yourself?” Prince Ruben, muscular arms crossed, blocked the doorway into the hall. Another man, who looked so much like him that he had to be his father, the king, stood in front of the balcony, cutting off that way of escape.

  Caught. Swallowing hard, she hoped her voice didn’t betray her fear. “I came to get—”

  He cut her off. “Who are you working with?” The ice in his voice felt like frost hitting her heart.

  “I don’t understand,” she began. “I’m not working with anyone.”

  “You cannot expect me to believe you caused the explosion alone.”

  Stunned, she narrowed her eyes. “Explosion?” Fear forgotten, she drew herself up straight. Now her wintry tone matched his. “You honestly think I had something to do with that?”

  “Are you saying you didn’t?”

  “Of course I am. I helped you with the wounded, remember? How could you possibly think that I could...”

  Words failed her. To her shock, she found herself blinking back tears, one of her flaws that she hated with a passion. She always cried when she was angry. Indignity warred with exhaustion as she pushed herself away from him. “That’s it. I’m out of here.”

  “Sit down,” he ordered. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  She nearly laughed in his face. Instead, hands clenched into fists, she raised her head and looked him in the eye. “I’d rather not sit, if you don’t mind.”

  Almost nose to nose, his gaze shot daggers back at her. The older man still hadn’t spoken. Willow glanced at him, surprised to see his mouth twitch in the beginnings of a smile. This was amusing him? Really?

  “Look.” Moving back half a step, she took a deep breath, including them both in her apology. “I’m sorry I broke into your palace, but I swear I had absolutely nothing to do with the bomb. I came here looking for my earring.”

  Something flickered in his gaze. “Your earring,” he repeated back.

  Noting his complete lack of surprise, she took heart and continued. “Yes. It’s made from pearls. I was wearing it at the ball last night. Maybe you saw it? Dangly and very old. It’s a family heirloom and therefore quite valuable. You’ve found it, haven’t you?”

  Instead of answering, he uncrossed his arms. She couldn’t help but notice how the fabric on his shirt pulled against his muscles as he moved. She also noticed the way he had his hands clenched into fists. Just like her. Taking another deep breath, she forced herself to relax and try again. “That earring doesn’t even belong to me. It’s my mother’s. I have to return it to her.”

  “I’m sure she’ll understand,” he drawled. “Especially when she finds out her daughter is being held until we have some answers.”

  “Held?” Her stomach churned. This wasn’t good. They had visitors back at home. Now was the worst possible time for her to disappear. “You can’t keep me here. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Prove it.” His amber eyes dared her. “I’m perfectly willing to hear a plausible explanation. That is, if you have one.”

  “I’ve told you the truth.”

  “No, I suspect you haven’t. Why would you break in and try to search my home for your missing jewelry? Why not simply ask to see me and request my help?”

  Put that way, he made her sound like an incompetent bungler and a thief. But that still didn’t make her a mad bomber.

  The man over by the window cleared his throat, drawing her gaze. “Who are you, my dear?” he asked, his voice as warm as Prince Ruben’s was not.

  For one startled instant, she almost gave her true name and title
. As in Princess Willow of the SouthWard Brights. But her people didn’t exist in this world. “My name is Willow,” she said instead.

  Prince Ruben snorted. “Is it really?” he asked rudely. “Or did you make that up, too?”

  Shades help her, she saw red. “Too? I’m telling you the truth. Look, I know I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have broken in here. But—”

  “Then why did you?” Again he interrupted her, his voice low and furious. “It couldn’t have been because you didn’t want to see me again, now could it?”

  At that, King Leo chuckled. “Enough. Both of you. Ruben, bring your lady friend and let’s go downstairs to my office. We have much to talk about.”

  Though his rigid jaw belied his anger, Ruben nodded. “After you,” he told Willow. “And don’t try to make a run for it. You still have a lot of explaining to do.”

  She shook her head, docilely following the king. At least he didn’t appear to think she was capable of bombing their palace. Truth be told, she didn’t understand why Prince Ruben did. Had her disappearing the night of the ball angered him that much?

  If so, then he was more like her sister and mother than she’d care to admit. And since she normally avoided toxic people as much as possible, she’d been right to take off without a word of goodbye. Though she still felt marginally guilty, for some reason.

  “I’ve already explained,” she grumbled as they marched single file down the long hallway to the circular marble stairs. She wondered what they’d do if she took off running—she was pretty sure she could outrun the older man.

  But probably not Ruben. And if she tried such a foolish stunt, she would be in an even worse place than she’d been from the beginning. Without the earring and with Prince Ruben considering her his enemy. Which apparently he already did.

  Oddly enough, that rankled nearly as much as the knowledge of the punishment her mother would dole out if Willow didn’t return the jewelry.