by Leigh Walker
“Tears? Emotions? I thought it was going to be me dancing with them and maybe drinking some of those fizzy drinks like we had last night.”
“Oh, there will be all that.” I nodded knowingly. “But there will be a lot of the other stuff, too. Relationship stuff. Personal talk—lots of it—about your feelings and what you think about each girl. And you’ll do all this talking while wearing tight-fitting clothes and heaps of makeup, mark my word.”
Rhys’s dark eyes looked as though they might pop out. “That’s not something I’m prepared to deal with. Maybe it’s not too late to back out,” he said hastily. “Thank you for telling me all this, my lady.” He made a beeline for Mira Kinney, who was seated with Rose, Robert, and some other members of her television crew.
Cheered, I helped myself to some plump, juicy roast turkey then joined Blake and the others at our table. “Good evening.”
“Come and sit. You’re looking much improved since this morning.” Blake patted the chair next to her. “Are you feeling confident with your decision?”
I smiled as I speared a bite of meat. “Yes, I am. In fact, I think Rhys might pull out of the show, too. I just gave him an earful about what to expect, and he wasn’t having it.”
“Oh boy.” Blake put down her goblet, her worried gaze finding Rhys, who was speaking intently to Mira Kinney.
“What’s the matter?”
She went pale. “Nothing.” She was a terrible liar.
“Blake Kensington Black, you tell me what’s wrong right now,” I commanded.
“Nothing.” She fiddled with the stem of her chalice. “It’ll be fine.”
Now Eve leaned closer, aqua eyes blazing. “Spill it, Blake. You can’t keep a secret to save your life.”
She groaned. “I just want to say that I am not mad at you, Tamara. I understand your position entirely.”
“Fine. Now, tell us what’s wrong.”
“It’s just that Austin was relieved about the show. He was certain it would help things with his father.” Blake sighed and leaned back in her chair. “This is the first time the king has shown any positivity about the werewolf kingdom. Austin couldn’t believe it—he’s been trying for months to get his father to see his side, but there’s been a growing animosity between them.” She looked around quickly before continuing in a low voice, “When Mira Kinney told His Highness about the idea, the king saw an opportunity for himself, of course. He wants any favor he can win with the settlers to maintain the strength of his position. To turn something he saw as a negative—the werewolf realm—into a positive was huge for him. Now he’s excited about the idea because it will show him in a good light: the benevolent ruler offering more opportunities to the humans. The settlers love the shows, of course. Mira told me that our wedding’s broadcast was watched in almost every household back home. The king wants to capitalize on this new feeling of inclusion and optimism even if it isn’t how he feels about things.”
“So the king really wants the show.” I put down my fork, my appetite evaporating. “And Austin also thinks it’s a good idea. They’ll both be disappointed if Rhys backs out.”
“Not necessarily—”
I got up before Blake could finish. It was one thing for me to have a strong feeling about the contest. It was another thing for me to entirely derail it. The budding politician in me understood the views of both the king and Austin. The show would be a way to include the werewolves in our society by joining them with the settlers. In a lot of ways, it was a brilliant public relations move. Everyone stood poised to benefit—the wolves, the vampire royals, and the settlers. And just because I didn’t want to marry the werewolf didn’t mean that no one else did.
Austin and his family had been good to me. My own family, back in Settlement 11, had benefitted from my participation in The Pageant. Their status and importance in the community had reached an all-time high. I needed to make this right before the king got wind of the disruption.
“Mira, Rhys, may I interrupt?” The vampire and werewolf turned to me. It was obvious that their conversation had already become heated. Rhys’s cheeks were flushed, and Mira had a hard glint in her eyes, the kind she got when things weren’t going her way.
“What is it, Tamara?” Her voice was icy.
“Rhys and I were talking before, and I’m afraid I teased him a bit.” I reached over and squeezed his arm. “I’m sorry about what I said. The show will be good for you, and its benefits will outweigh any inconveniences.”
Rhys kept his gaze on Mira. “What do you have to say about it, vampire? Will the show be a blessing or a nuisance?”
“A blessing.” She exhaled in a hiss. “It’s true what Tamara said; human women are sensitive, and it will be some work to get you up to speed on courtship. But I promise that I’ll let you be yourself. In return, you have to promise to follow my guidance. I want to put you and the Realm in the best light possible. You understand that, don’t you?”
Rhys quickly looked at me then back to Mira. “Yes.”
She leaned forward. “I can’t tell you how disappointed the king would be if I went to him and told him our plans for the show were off. He’d be very, very angry.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I blurted out. “It was my fault really. Rhys was excited before I started running my mouth.”
“Don’t mention anything to the king—I’m still in.” Rhys nodded, looking certain. “It will benefit my pack in the long run. You have my word. I’ll see it through.”
“Fine.” Mira leaned back in her chair and eyed me appraisingly. “And what about you? Have you changed your mind about participating?”
Rhys looked at me pleadingly. “Please, Lady Layne. I know you’ll help me with all of this. I’m out of my territory, so to speak.”
Mira cleared her throat. “Before you answer, Tamara, you should know something. The king wasn’t pleased earlier when I told him you weren’t interested in being a contestant. He went off, as they say. I think he went to find Prince Austin and have it out with him.”
Just then, Prince Dallas, Prince Austin, and King Reginald strode into the room. Prince Austin’s face was drawn tight, his coloring a bit red. Prince Dallas had a grim set to his mouth as if he’d tasted something sour. King Reginald looked objectively unhappy, a deep frown etched into his face.
When the king saw our little group, he headed immediately toward us. “Uh-oh.” Mira hastily refilled her wine goblet.
But she needn’t have worried. When the king reached our table, his laser-like gaze was directed at one person only—me.
“Tamara,” King Reginald said, “a word, please.”
I nodded stiffly and followed the king to the hall. I was surprised that the king did, in fact, know my name, and even more shocked by his demeanor. He was icy cold as he escorted me from the room. I caught sight of Dallas and Austin nearby, watching us. They both looked grim. My heart sank as we reached the quiet of the hallway.
The king turned to me. “I understand that you have refused our generous offer to include you in the newest show.”
“Not exactly. But I’m focused on my own career at the moment, Your Highness. I wasn’t sure how these two such endeavors could overlap. When I commit to something, I commit wholeheartedly. Right now, I’m committed to being a Goodwill Ambassador.”
“Excellent.” King Reginald regarded me coolly. “Then I hereby appoint you Goodwill Ambassador to the Realm. You will represent the crown’s interests—my interests—in the new kingdom. And you will participate in the show as a contestant.”
My cheeks heated. He was issuing a direct order. “I’m happy to represent the crown as Goodwill Ambassador to the Realm. But I don’t understand why it’s necessary for me to compete.”
“It’s necessary because I say so.” The king looked at me as though I had three heads.
“Yes, of course, Your Highness.” I swallowed hard, reminding myself that he was a vampire who could drain me dry in an instant. I scrambled for some sort of
compromise that would appease him. “Perhaps… Perhaps I could assist Mira as an on-air host? Offer commentary on the contest in my function as ambassador?” My pulse quickened. It was a decent idea. I’d appease the king, my fans from The Pageant would be pleased to see me on television, and I wouldn’t have to compete for the affections of the werewolf.
“Mira Kinney believes that you and the wolf have a special connection, one that would work well in front of the cameras. From my brief observations last night, I agree with her.” He eyed me up and down as if seeing me for the first time. “I understand that for a human, you’re rather bright. You also look like werewolf bait, which is perfect fodder for the show.”
I cleared my throat. “I appreciate your candidness, Your Highness. I hope you will appreciate mine. I cannot marry the werewolf king. I have other things in mind for my future. If you and Mira Kinney are right about his attraction, I fear he’ll choose me in the end. And then, if I say no, that could be a public-relations disaster.”
“Ah, don’t worry so much.” The king turned almost jolly. He smiled. “Attraction among such beasts is a fickle thing. Mira will find some other candidates to turn his head. And if he happens to choose you in the end, that might suit me just fine. You will be my eyes and ears in the Realm for years to come. Thank you for your continued loyalty. Good evening, my lady.” He bowed his head and was off.
Apparently, the matter was settled. Like it or not, it seemed that I was a contestant.
The king had never been my favorite, but he’d officially sunk to the bottom of the list. Werewolf bait, indeed! By insisting in my participation in the contest, he was putting me in a corner with no avenue for escape. I couldn’t ignore a direct order from the vampire king; that would constitute treason. But what bothered me even more than all this?
I was certain the king had already forgotten my name.
Trial Prep
Vampires didn’t sleep. That made it easy for them to accomplish quite a lot in a short amount of time. On top of that, they had determination, grit, and an obsessive nature. They could get things done very quickly.
Such was the case with Mira Kinney in her fervent preparations for the show. As soon as we said teary goodbyes to Gwyneth and Dallas and more formal adieus to the king and queen, Mira got to work.
Several things happened immediately at her behest. The property boundaries for the Realm were staked. The small country bordered the North on the western side and was comprised mostly of the forest where the pack had lived throughout history. At the forest center, a five-mile tract was cleared. This would be the Realm’s hub. Mira had her camera crew ready. She sent Robert, her lead cameraman, to film the new village being built. She planned to use the footage in the opening montage of the show.
She’d insisted that Rhys break ground on his castle so that it could be used for filming. Construction began in earnest. As part of their agreement with the wolves, the Northern vampires were to help build the new village. Austin himself was helping, as were Blake and Eve. The vampires and the wolves were out in the forest all hours of the day and night; we could hear them from the castle grounds, bringing in materials and cutting down more trees.
We barely saw the workers. When they came back to the palace to eat, they were filthy, starving, and smiling. They loved the physical labor as well as the camaraderie. There was a feeling of excitement in the air. For the first time in history, the wolves had a kingdom of their own, and the vampires were helping to build it. This job would have taken humans months, if not years, to complete. But the supernaturals planned to finish rough construction in as little as three weeks. Everything moved at breakneck speed; the show would be filmed as soon as the new palace was furnished. A massive order of furniture and linens had already been placed in the settlements. Mira noted that this was yet another example of how the show was good for everyone, as the rushed orders would help the stagnant economy of the settlements.
There was a lot of talk in the castle about how strange it was that the wolves would have a castle and homes in the village. Bets were placed that the pack would still sleep in the woods, under the stars, when the cameras weren’t rolling. Despite the wagers, both Mira and Rhys were thrilled. Her show was coming together, and so was his kingdom. For my part, I’d taken to allocating a large number of my daily calories for chocolate and alcohol. I’d been forced into doing the show and still hadn’t made peace with it. I would participate in the contest as directed, but my function would be to help where I could. Let the other girls fight over the werewolf. My destiny lay elsewhere—with titles and an estate all my own.
I didn’t tell anyone about my conversation with the king. When asked about entering the competition, I merely said that after talking to King Reginald and thinking it over, I’d changed my mind. I hadn’t been in politics long, but I’d seen enough to know that the closer to the vest I kept things, the better.
While the village was being built in earnest, Mira poured over dossiers for the additional candidates. She had a casting team scouring each settlement for young women. Her team sent reports daily, and Mira met with Rhys every evening to review the preliminary girls. Rhys asked me if I wanted to help vet the other candidates. I politely but firmly declined.
“You’re going to marry one of them, after all,” I reminded him. “You need to be clear about what you want.”
He looked a little hurt, probably because I’d used the word them. But the werewolf needed to know where I stood. I was an unwilling participant in the contest, and I wasn’t interested in him getting down on one knee to propose. The sooner he understood that, the better.
Before I was ready, the finishing touches were being put on the new palace, the candidates were chosen, and the notifications were sent. Each girl immediately accepted the invitation to join the contest. I knew little about them, except that one candidate came from the poorest settlement, one from the richest, and two hailed from the middle class. They would arrive in the North after the weekend. Then we would start filming, ready or not.
As with The Pageant, no one from the television team announced specifically that Rhys was more than human. If the girls were ignorant of supernatural creatures, they were in for a shock when they arrived. I personally hadn’t learned about the existence of werewolves or the gnomes until I went to live at the castle for The Pageant. Most of the settlers were still ignorant on this topic. That was one of the only things I was looking forward to with respect to the contest—the surprise of the new girls.
Mira worked around the clock to prepare the launch clips for the show. It was named The Realm: The Bachelor King. Shaye, Blake, Eve, and I were invited to watch the first preview. My pulse quickened as we gathered in the game room and settled onto the couch in front of the enormous flat screen. Shaye brought the popcorn; I brought the wine. I had a feeling I was going to need it. We settled into our seats as the screen glowed to life. The first image was Rhys, unnaturally clean and ridiculously handsome in a dark ceremonial tunic. He looked every inch the civilized royal he was not. The grounds of the North served as a backdrop to his aristocratic profile, the rolling lawns and lush gardens gorgeously shot. In a voice-over, Mira said, “His Highness Rhys, Ruler of the Realm, is ready to be settled.”
“Does he have no last name?” I scoffed, having taken a healthy sip of wine.
“You know, I don’t think so.” Blake frowned then paused the show. “I think the wolves have pack names. So his proper title would be Rhys of the Northern Wolves, king of the Realm. I don’t expect Mira would lead with that, though.”
“Of course not.” I snorted. “And one other thing—we’ve all been calling him ‘King Rhys,’ but when was he actually crowned?”
“Per the deeded rights of the Realm, he is the ruler,” Eve piped up. She always knew the logistics of things. “But he hasn’t had a coronation ceremony yet. It’s just for show, of course. I overheard Mira say that she wanted to film the coronation, so I expect it will be one of the first things staged.”
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“That sounds like Mira,” I said. She always had a plan, that one.
Blake resumed the clip. “Five young maidens have been selected from the settlements as contestants in this newest dating competition. Each lucky young woman will be brought to the Realm, where she will receive red-carpet treatment as the new king gets to know her, dates her, and romances her. After he gets to know each of the candidates, King Rhys will choose his bride. You are invited to watch every private moment between the handsome royal and the young maidens.”
“Oh boy—private moments.” Shaye helped herself to more wine. “This is getting good.”
“Tonight, we are announcing the first of our five candidates, Lady Tamara Layne.” An image of me from Blake’s wedding flashed on the screen. The purple gown sparkled and clung to my curves, and my dark hair hung in loose waves and spilled over my shoulders. “Fan favorite Lady Tamara Layne, Goodwill Ambassador and esteemed member of the royal court, has signed an exclusive agreement to compete as a contestant. Tamara is an heiress from Settlement 11, whose beauty and grace are unparalleled. The settlements got to know and love Tamara during The Pageant, in which she was one of the final contestants.”
There was a brief montage from The Pageant. Me arriving at the castle…bowing to the royals…strolling around the reflecting pools…smiling in that spectacular deep-purple gown I wore to the finale. Then there was footage from Blake’s wedding—Rhys staring at me from across the crowded room. “Sparks will fly between these two, guaranteed. Is it finally time for Tamara to meet her match and settle down? Tune in next week and find out!”
“So it’s an exclusive agreement, is it?” Eve waggled her eyebrows. “I can’t wait to see the sparks fly.”
I sat up straight. “I am going to do my best to make the show a success. But if you must know, I consider the hound to be a bit below my normal standards.”