How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  The stonemasons halted their work and watched with alarm as he neared them.

  “Stand aside,” he growled.

  “Y-your Grace.” Their leader bowed. “His Highness wanted this job finished by sundown.” He motioned toward the setting sun. “It’s almost—”

  “Do you know who I am?” Leo removed his gloves and stuffed them beneath his belt. As he lifted his bare hands, sparks sizzled around his fingers.

  The stonemasons dropped their tools and ran.

  “You won’t make any friends that way,” Edmund muttered as he approached with Brody and Jensen.

  “Wait,” Luciana whispered. “Your cousin says you shouldn’t blast through the stones. The tower is too fragile and might collapse. Then you would never find his body and be able to prove his murder.”

  Leo groaned. Right now, he had a need to blast something to tiny bits.

  “Tedric recommends you use the door on the wall walk,” Luciana continued. “It hasn’t been sealed with stone yet.”

  “Very well,” Leo grumbled. He gave Brody, Jensen, and Edmund a stern look. “Guard my wife well.” He dashed toward the stone staircase that led up to the wall walk. Halfway up, he heard the imposter yelling at him.

  “What are you doing?” The false Tedric glared at him from the entrance to the Great Hall.

  Leo paused on the staircase. “As the Lord Protector, I have the right to inspect your defenses.”

  The Chameleon’s eyes narrowed. “Access to the tower is forbidden.”

  “Why? What are you hiding there?” Leo continued up the stairs.

  “Guards!” the Chameleon yelled at his soldiers on the wall walk. “Stop him!”

  The nearest guard on the wall walk approached the top of the stairs and drew his sword. Leo used his power to rip the sword from the guard’s hand and pull it toward him. It landed with a clatter on the step in front of him.

  The guards on the wall walk backed away.

  The Chameleon ran down the steps into the courtyard. “Guards, arrest the duchess!”

  Leo tensed as half a dozen guards advanced on Luciana with drawn swords. “Brody!” He grabbed the sword from the step in front of him and tossed it to the dog shifter.

  Brody caught it while Edmund and Jensen drew their swords. All three men surrounded Luciana as she held up the dagger Leo had given her. The soldiers paused in a stalemate. In the midst of his fear for her safety, Leo’s heart squeezed at the sign of Luciana’s courage.

  “Only a simpering coward would attack a woman.” Leo slipped his gloves back on as he descended to the foot of the stairs. “Or hide behind a false face. We know what you did, you murdering bastard.” He drew his sword. “You’re not leaving here alive.”

  With a roar of anger, the Chameleon unsheathed his sword and ran toward Leo. Slashing downward, the Chameleon attempted to cleave Leo’s head in two.

  Leo blocked it and pushed the Chameleon back. “You just proved you’re not my cousin. Tedric doesn’t know how to fight. You pathetic coward, you killed a defenseless man.”

  The Chameleon slashed again at Leo. He defended himself but fell back, pretending he was being forced up the stairs. He continued to hurl insults at the Chameleon to keep him angrily attacking. Near the top of the stairs, Leo jumped onto the wall walk and dashed toward the tower at lightning speed.

  “No!” The Chameleon raced after him.

  The tower entrance was blocked with a wooden door and padlock. Leo ripped off his right glove to blast the lock away. After keeping his power suppressed, too much energy burst out, and the whole door exploded, causing the tower to tremble.

  Leo cursed inwardly. He needed the tower to remain intact until he located his cousin’s body. As soon as he crossed the broken doorway, he smelled death. Tedric.

  He darted up the spiral staircase as the tower swayed. A step crumbled beneath his feet, but at the speed he was going, it didn’t stop him. The stench grew heavier as he approached the top floor. Behind him, he could hear the labored breathing and cursing of the Chameleon, who still followed him.

  “Tedric.” Leo covered his mouth and nose as he gazed down on his cousin. The body was stretched out on the wooden floor next to a guard. Blood stained their shirts where they’d been skewered through the chest.

  The tower shook as the Chameleon sprinted up the crumbling stairs. Leo could blast him, but then, the tower would collapse on them both. First, he needed to make sure everyone saw Tedric’s body.

  He picked up his cousin and headed up the last flight of stairs till he emerged outside on the top of the tower. “People of Benwick Castle!” He stopped in front of the parapet that overlooked the courtyard and lifted his cousin in the air. “Behold Prince Tedric, murdered by the Chameleon who has been posing as him!”

  The people in the courtyard reacted with shouts of anger and wails of grief. The guards who had surrounded Luciana and his friends lowered their weapons.

  “Watch out!” Luciana shouted.

  Leo glanced back just as the Chameleon charged toward him and shoved him hard against the parapet. The stone barrier plummeted to the courtyard below as the people screamed and ran to avoid being crushed. As Leo scrambled not to fall, he lost his hold on his cousin’s body, and Tedric fell, landing on top of the rubble in the courtyard. Leo’s legs went over the edge, but he caught himself by grasping onto a protruding stone that managed to remain firm. He heard Luciana’s scream from below.

  With a triumphant laugh, the Chameleon stomped on Leo’s left gloved hand to make him lose his grip. But Leo’s right hand was still bare, so he grabbed the Chameleon by the ankle and sent a shock wave through him.

  With a scream, the Chameleon fell onto his back.

  Leo swung his legs over the edge and hefted himself back onto the tower floor. From a crouching position, he reached for the Chameleon’s leg to give him another shock.

  The breeches were empty.

  “What the hell?”

  Suddenly an enormous eagle burst from the Chameleon’s shirt and flew right at Leo’s face. He fell back on his rump. Caught by surprise, he was a second late shooting out a bolt of lightning. He missed the eagle’s body and hit one of its clawed feet.

  The eagle screeched, then circled in the air to attack him once more. At the last minute, the bird dove below the tower, and Leo’s bolt of lightning struck a section of the parapet. The stones plummeted to the wall walk, and the tower shook.

  The eagle rose again, soaring above Leo. He ran toward it, releasing another blast of lightning. The tower swayed beneath his feet and he grabbed onto the parapet to keep his balance.

  With a triumphant squawk, the eagle soared away. Dammit to hell. Leo clenched his teeth. How would he ever catch his cousin’s murderer when the damned Chameleon could shift into anything? He didn’t even know what the bastard looked like.

  The parapet gave way as the tower began to implode beneath his feet. With only a second to spare, Leo leaped off the edge overlooking the moat.

  He hit the water hard, but welcomed the pain since it meant he was still alive. As he swam to the bank, he passed some dead fish and realized his power had killed everything in the moat. With a muttered curse, he hefted himself up onto the bank.

  Shouts drew his attention to the drawbridge where all the people were spilling out of the castle. His wife and friends led the crowd, and Luciana collapsed onto her knees, crying, when she saw he was alive.

  “Don’t cry.” He slipped his glove back on so he wouldn’t accidentally hurt anyone, then motioned toward the moat. “On tonight’s menu, fried duck.”

  With a laugh, she ran toward him, and he caught her in his arms. “Leo!” She wrapped her arms around his neck. Then she pulled back and thumped him on the chest. “You scared me to death! Don’t you dare do that again!”

  “I was scared, too, that you would be hurt. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” She ran her hands over his chest and arms. “You’re not injured? The fall didn’t break anything?�
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  “I’m not that easy to kill.” With a grin, he patted his stomach. “This is pure muscle.”

  Brody scoffed. “Where have I heard that before?”

  Leo smiled at his friends. “Thank you for protecting her. Are you all right?”

  “Aye,” Edmund answered, then bowed.

  Beside him, Brody and Jensen also bowed, and behind them, the crowd of people knelt and curtsied.

  Leo inhaled sharply as he realized the full import of his cousin’s death.

  He was now the heir to the throne.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Luciana woke to the sweet sensation of her husband caressing her breasts. Leo was curled against her back, nuzzling the back of her neck. She moaned softly as her nipples pebbled in response to his fingers.

  “Are you awake?” he whispered against her ear before drawing her earlobe into his mouth.

  “Barely.” She’d slept only a few hours for they’d made love half the night.

  He rubbed the hardened tip of a nipple between his forefinger and thumb. “I can’t get enough of you.”

  “Mmm.” After two and a half weeks of marriage, she knew that to be true. Her poor husband had grown up starved for touch. Not that she ever complained. The things he did with his fingers and mouth were magical. He seemed to know her body better than she did. He’d certainly explored every inch of her, and each time he brought her to climax, she screamed his name and begged for more.

  She stretched, entwining her legs with his. He tugged gently on her nipple, and moisture pooled between her thighs. Good goddesses, she wanted him to touch her. She was as insatiable as he was. “Can we stay here for a few days?” And never leave the bed? “I’m so sore from all the riding.”

  “Poor, pretty bottom.” He moved his hand to her buttocks and gently massaged. “I wish we could stay here, but we need to take my cousin’s body to court. If we don’t provide proof of his demise, then the Chameleon could impersonate Tedric again and claim that I’m lying about his death in order to inherit the throne. The king would probably believe him and try to have me executed.”

  Luciana nodded. “I can see why the king would believe him. What father would want to admit his son is dead?”

  “Right. So we’d better take the body to court before it deteriorates any more.”

  “I’m so sorry about your cousin.” Luciana rolled onto her back to look at her husband. “Won’t you be safe once the king realizes you’re his only heir?”

  “I should be.” His hand stroked her belly. “You should be safe, too, since you could be carrying a future king.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You mean future queen.”

  With a smile, he patted her belly. “I think our firstborn should inherit the throne, then the second can be the next Duke of Vindalyn.”

  “You mean Duchess.”

  He gave her a wry look. “Are you intending to give me only daughters?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  His hand slipped down to play with the curls between her legs. “They would, no doubt, be as brave, clever, and beautiful as their mother, but I do foresee a problem.”

  Her smile faded. “How so?”

  “There would be no men anywhere on Aerthlan who would be good enough for them.”

  “Ah.” Her smile returned. “Are you worried about becoming king someday?”

  “Not as long as I have you.” He stroked her gently, and she opened her thighs so he could make her squirm.

  “You will always have me.” She pressed herself against his hand. Already she was wet and eager to feel him inside her. “I love you, Leo.”

  He moved between her thighs as she wrapped her legs around him. “And I will always love you.”

  She reached for him as he slid inside.

  * * *

  An hour later, just after sunrise, they were dressed and ready to leave. Their party was larger now, Luciana noted, since her husband was taking a handful of castle guards with them to protect the deceased prince. A wooden casket was now carrying Tedric’s body, and it would be taken by cart to Ebton Palace. The guards would also serve as witnesses that the Chameleon had killed Tedric in case the king tried to pin the murder on Leo.

  As the guards loaded the casket onto the cart, Luciana saw her sister floating toward her with a happy smile on her face. She moved to an isolated spot beside the stables so she could talk to Tatiana unnoticed.

  “Are you excited that we’ll be at court in a few hours?” Luciana asked.

  Tatiana gave her a sheepish look. “I’m not going.”

  “What?”

  “Tedric asked me to stay here with him! Can you believe it? A real prince!”

  Luciana’s mouth fell open. “You and Tedric are…?”

  “We’re just friends for now.” Tatiana clasped her hands together and whirled in a circle. “But I do believe I am falling for him. Do you know what we did last night? We sat on top of the battlements over there and he pointed out all the different stars and constellations. You wouldn’t believe how knowledgeable he is!”

  Luciana smiled. “That sounds lovely.”

  “And I made him laugh! Especially when I told him his favorite constellation looks like a man with an erection. Tedric said I made him laugh more last night than he’s ever laughed in his entire life.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “And he told me the strangest thing. He thinks we are mistaken to worship either the sun or the moons because who made the sun? Or the moons? He believes there is one Creator who made everything in the Heavens. Plus every living thing on Aerthlan.”

  “Oh.” Luciana blinked. “That’s … interesting.”

  “I know! Ted—he said I could call him Ted—he’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before. He wanted to read some of his favorite books to me, but he said he wasn’t able to open the books or turn the pages, so I told him I would give it a try. We went to the library, and I did it!”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “That’s what he said I was. And he’s so intelligent!” Tatiana sighed with a dreamy look on her face. “I never realized before how attractive a smart man is!”

  Luciana grinned. “That’s true.”

  “I was such a fool.” Tatiana winced. “I used to think it was brute force and aggression that made a man attractive. But that only means he’s an ass. Tedric is a real gentleman. He kissed my hand and said I was so lovely, he was tempted to give up going to the Realm of the Heavens so he could spend eternity with me.”

  “Oh, my. That’s beautiful.”

  “I know.” Tatiana’s eyes filled with tears. “So as much as I would love to stay with you and be your spy—”

  “No, you must stay here. You deserve to have your own life. And your own love.”

  A tear rolled down Tatiana’s face. “We’ll come see you at court every now and then. Ted says he would be happy to provide counsel for his cousin if he would accept it.”

  “I’m sure Leo would love that.” Luciana blinked away tears. “And I would love to see my sister. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”

  Tatiana laughed. “Better late than never.”

  * * *

  On the way to Ebton, Leo surveyed the land surrounding them as he was accustomed to doing as a soldier, but this time, he also observed the sky in case the Chameleon was in eagle form, keeping an eye on them. After discussing the new enemy with Brody, Jensen, and Edmund, they had all reached the same conclusion. The Chameleon had demonstrated too much determination to take over the Eberoni throne. He would not give up easily.

  Leo suspected that by now, the Chameleon could have already infiltrated the court at Ebton, perhaps taking the place of a guard like he had at Benwick Castle. Brody claimed that he could pick up his scent. Leo glanced over at the shifter, who was currently in dog form and hitching a ride in the cart. The Chameleon might also walk with a limp, Leo thought, since he had managed to scorch the eagle’s right foot with a bolt of lightning.


  As Leo surveyed the sky once more, his thoughts turned to what Luciana had told him about Tedric’s new idea. One Creator who had made everything in the Heavens and on Aerthlan. The theory appealed to Leo’s military-trained sense of logic and organization. There could be only one commander, or your troops would be in chaos. But if this Creator was real, why had he neglected to show himself to the people of Aerthlan? They could certainly use some heavenly guidance. The countries were continuously at war, not only with one another but also within their borders.

  Leo looked again at the blue summer sky, and the way the sun sparkled off the Ebe River to his right. To his left, the rolling hills boasted green meadows and stately forests. The world was beautiful, a creative work of art. Perhaps the Creator had made himself known after all.

  He pushed the philosophical thoughts aside as they reached the summit of a high hill and the town of Ebton stretched out before them.

  On the outskirts, poorer homes lined dirt streets that were still muddy from the recent rain. The wooden houses had thatched roofs, and every bit of fenced-in yard was dedicated to growing food. Farther into town, the streets were paved with cobblestones and flanked with larger buildings of brick and stone, two and three stories high, roofed with gray slate. Along the river, small ships had docked at the numerous piers, and merchandise was being carted to and fro.

  From their vantage point on the hill, he could see the town squares where merchants ran their shops and vendors set up stalls to sell fruits and vegetables. The streets and squares were crowded with people, and the noise they made sounded like a dull roar. They had no idea, Leo thought, that their king used them as hostages in order to keep him and his army from rebelling.

  The bell tower of the Church of Enlightenment rose above the town, its gold-plated bells glowing in the sun. And just beyond the town, the outer curtain wall of Ebton Palace stretched for miles to encircle the enormous fortress. Inside the wall, the huge square-shaped keep overshadowed numerous smaller buildings. Attached to the fortress, a long bridge spanned the river with a wooden drawbridge in the middle for boats to pass through.