by Leigh Walker
“Is that right?” a familiar voice growled behind me. “I must say, Lady Layne, you are not deterring me. Hounds do love a good chase.”
Coming Attractions
Hounds do love a good chase? Oh, for the love of all things holy!
I turned to find Rhys staring down at me, eyes twinkling.
“What do you want?” Unabashed, I primly took another sip of wine.
“A word, my lady.” He held out his hand for me. I put down my glass, said goodbye to my friends, then stalked right past him into the hall. He chuckled and followed me. “No hand-holding for you, I see.”
I crossed my arms against my chest and faced him. He looked more like himself—bare-chested, his hair loose and flowing down past his shoulders. “What do you want, Rhys?”
“I want to show you something.”
I looked him up and down. “What is it?”
He grinned wickedly. “I’m happy to show you just about anything—”
I turned on my heel, but he said quickly, “Come now, I was only joking. The furnishings are in. I want to show you my new castle, my lady.”
“Oh. That I wouldn’t mind seeing.”
He chuckled and bowed his head. “Then please, let’s grab your cloak. The sun is about to set, and it’s getting chilly out.”
We fetched my cloak then headed down the steps to the western edge of the grounds. The nights were growing cooler and the sun setting earlier each evening. Summer was coming to an end.
“Aren’t you cold?” I eyed his bare chest.
“Never. My kind runs hot. D’you want to feel?” He grinned at me mischievously.
“No, thank you.” I looked back up at the darkening sky. The moon hadn’t risen yet. “You aren’t going to phase on me, are you?”
“No, my lady, I wouldn’t be anywhere near you if it was my time to shift. The moon is waning and won’t be full again for several weeks. You’re safe with me.”
“Is it dangerous when you do shift?”
Rhys looked thoughtful. “Not usually. But there isn’t as much game in these woods as there used to be, and as a result, my pack has had less opportunity to hunt. There was a time not that long ago when I went onto the castle grounds in my wolf form because I could smell the humans and I was starving.”
I shivered, putting a little more distance between us as we reached the edge of the forest.
Rhys led the way down the path through the trees. “My lady, you have nothing to fear from me. You live in a castle filled with vampires, do you not? All of us creatures have learned to control ourselves. Besides, now that there are more of your kind here, there’s been a pleasant and unexpected side effect.”
“What’s that?”
He chuckled. “All the food that the staff prepares for you. They didn’t cook this way back when the North had slaves, mind you.”
I stared. “Human slaves?”
“Yes, my lady. A long time ago, the vampires kept human slaves to feed from,” he said. “We’ve come a long way. Now the staff makes such treats for the human guests—you can smell the cooking from the woods. My pack has taken to joining the meals. There used to be a time when my kind looked down on taking charity from the vampires. We thought it made us weak, just like we thought human food made us weak. Years ago, my pack would only eat meat, even when we were in human form. But I issued a decree that we should vary our diet while we’re in human form. Now we’ve tried vegetables, stews, and breads. I must admit, my pack seems better fed and healthier than ever.”
“Perhaps you should try another puffed pastry,” I suggested.
“I think not, my lady.” Rhys grimaced. “But the fact that we can eat with the humans is also better for the show. We’ll look like normal people for the cameras.”
I gave him a quick glance. “Has Mira given you instructions on such matters?”
“Yes, more instructions than most of my men can handle.” His nostrils flared. “We’re not to eat raw meat around the others, no on-set howling, no references to our wolf forms, blah, blah, blah.”
“But the candidates will know what you are.” I motioned to his chest and his wild flowing hair. “There’s no way to hide that you’re not human.”
“They will know because I will tell them in private. I made that a condition of the contest,” Rhys said. “I don’t want to trick the girls. They are coming to meet me, and I’ll take one of them as a bride. They should know who, and what, I am. I only want them in this competition with their eyes open.”
“Are you concerned that you’ll frighten them away?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Mira said I must tell them before they’re announced on television, in case one or more decide to drop out. But I’m not worried. If a human can love a vampire, one can love a werewolf.”
I arched an eyebrow. “How can you be so sure?”
He stopped and turned to me, a wicked grin on his face. “First of all”—he motioned to his chest—“this is hard to resist. Second of all, every wolf in my pack is the result of a human mating with one of our kind. We’re often deemed irresistible. Humans love us for good reason.” His chuckle made me blush, and I was glad for darkness of the forest. “And I also happen to believe that our society is changing. I can see it with my own kind. The prejudices that divided us for centuries are eroding. I see us all as being more alike than different.”
“Why, Rhys, that’s very…civilized of you.”
His grin broadened, white teeth flashing in the darkness. “I knew you’d come around.”
“Oh, please. I’ve done no such thing.” We started walking again. “Let’s return to logistics, please. How will you handle shifting on the show? What will you do once the candidates are here and it’s your time to phase?” Typically, the werewolf pack disappeared from the grounds during the days surrounding the full moon. My understanding was that they couldn’t control their change. They shifted into werewolf form and went deeper into the woods to hunt game. I’d also heard that they could phase at will, but I’d never seen it.
“For the show, when it’s the full moon, we will simply say that we have business matters out of town for a few days.” He shrugged his big shoulders. “Mira has a stump speech for everything, of course. She has it all planned. And I’ll warn the girls in advance about what’s happening and make sure that my pack is far from the Realm by the time we phase. Ah, speaking of the Realm…” We came to the edge of a clearing, and he stopped again. “Here we are.”
I gaped at the village before me. They built a kingdom! It was a brand-new village which included a large castle made from smooth gray stone. Its spires jutted into the sky. Smaller structures surrounded the palace, most likely dwellings for the pack, and a large fountain bubbled in the middle of the pristine landscaped square. “Rhys, I can’t believe it—it’s a whole city and a castle!”
The werewolf leader beamed at the village. “I gather you’re not easily impressed, my lady, so I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I stepped into the square. In the clearing, the light was better; the meticulous construction of the castle and the buildings was easy to see. I gawked at the buildings surrounding me. “How did you do this so quickly? I can’t believe it’s finished.”
“Between the vampires and my pack, we had many hands. All of us worked hard to make this a reality.”
I went to the center of the square to see the fountain up close. A tree made of gold arose from its center. Water bubbled from the roots into the basin. “This is stunning,” I said. “What is the tree’s significance?”
“My kind believes that nature is the center of all life. The trees give us shelter, warmth, clean air. Plus, Mira wouldn’t let me have a wolf with water shooting out of its mouth.” Rhys laughed. “Not for my lack of trying, mind you.”
“I like the tree,” I said. Each of its leaves was delicate, with detailed edges. “It’s stunning and very welcoming.”
“Thank you, my lady. Let me show you the castle. I had my men light the
candles and fires inside so you won’t catch a chill.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t tell him that I was taken aback by the careful detail and ambience of the village, as well as by his civilities. Perhaps Mira had been coaching him. We reached the castle steps, and I stared up at the enormous structure. The windows, doors, and edifices were intricate, every small detail ornate and precise. “I can’t believe you built this in less than a month.” I shook my head. “How is that possible?”
Rhys stared up at his new home. “We’ve had the plans forever, of course, back from when they were just dreams that we sketched around the campfire. I’ve been waiting my whole existence for my pack to have a place of their own, a place to be proud of. A place of recognition. So this castle was in my mind’s eye for longer than I can remember, since I was a pup. Once we started building, my men wouldn’t rest until it was done. Austin and the others were here all hours of the day and night, too. We had a vision, and everyone was excited to see it come true. Plus”—he turned to me, eyes twinkling—“we’re supernatural creatures. There are no limits to what we can do.”
Why does everything he says sound so dirty? “Humans are extraordinary, too,” I countered.
“Of course you are.” He eyed me up and down. “I believe your talents are quite limitless.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Can you please stop doing that?”
“What?” His tone was innocent.
“Making everything sound lascivious.”
He shook his head, confused. “Lasiv-a-what?”
“Dirty.” I kept my voice low. “And you know I don’t mean roll-in-the-dirt dirty.”
“But we could do that, too, my lady.”
I jabbed my finger at him. “When I tell you to stop, you must listen to me and obey. Do you understand?”
The smug smile dropped from his face. “Yes, I do. I do not mean to harass you, my lady.”
“Then don’t.” I quite liked ordering him around. “Now, show me inside, please.”
He bowed and, without another word, opened the enormous front doors of the castle. Nothing had prepared me for the inside, even though I’d lived in the palace in the settlements as well as the Northern castle. I hadn’t been expecting the Realm’s flagship building to be finished, let alone to be as grand as those other structures.
But it was stunning. The lobby was all gray stone—the floor, the walls, the soaring ceiling. Huge colorful tapestries decorated the entryway, giving it interest and warmth. Hundreds of candles made the interior bright and inviting. “Let me show you the formal salon, where we’ll receive guests.” The note of pride in Rhys’s voice was clear as I followed him to the right of the entryway. We entered a large, spacious room with a huge fire roaring in the floor-to-ceiling hearth. Cozy couches, warm throws, and comfortable-looking armchairs were arranged in small groups around the room, probably to encourage intimate conversations. But the best part was the back wall, which was filled with windows with a view of acres of lush lawn.
“So the Realm has grand grounds of its own. I’m impressed.”
Rhys’s expression was pure joy as he looked out the windows at the grounds and the woods beyond. “I can’t believe my people finally have a place to call home and be proud of. We have the deeded rights to all of it.” He shook his head. “It still doesn’t seem real.”
“But it is real,” I said gently. “And look at what you’ve accomplished already. It’s staggering, Rhys. You have a country now and a village that’s been put together in a matter of weeks. And the castle—it’s breathtaking, really.”
“Please, let me show you more.” He held out his arm in a gentlemanly manner, and this time, I didn’t refuse it. Inside the castle walls, Rhys was changed. Gone were the leering and teasing. He radiated pride, gratitude, and a hint of disbelief as he brought me through the rest of the house. The kitchen was massive, boasting three enormous stove tops and enough fresh ingredients to make a chef weep with joy.
“What’s all this for—are you going to learn how to cook for your pack?” I asked.
“No, my lady. They’re sending some of the best chefs over from the castle, so that you and the other girls can enjoy fine meals.”
“That’s one of the perks of being in the contest. The other girls will love that.” Back in the settlements, my family had managed to retain our wealth. We’d never gone hungry or suffered. But I remembered the first meal we’d eaten at the palace during The Pageant—some of the other girls had been so hungry that I was embarrassed for them. One girl cried because she wanted to eat more but her stomach had gotten full too fast, shrunk from years of going without. I didn’t know what the new contestants were like, but I guessed that regular meals from a gourmet chef would be a cause for much excitement.
Rhys showed me a games room with chess, darts, and other entertainments, and then he brought me upstairs. “Each of you will have your own chambers, of course.” He showed me four bedrooms, each of them bright, comfortable, and finely decorated with flowered duvets and gilded mirrors. At the end of the hall, he stopped in front of another door. “This is your room.” Rhys ushered me through and watched my reaction with interest.
The entire room was decorated in pinks and purples, my favorite colors. The other girls’ rooms were well furnished and pleasant, but mine was positively opulent. There was a large crystal chandelier, and the mirror was bordered with jewels. I went to the closet and found ten new gowns, all stunning, all my size. My inspection of the bathroom revealed an enormous soaking tub as well as a state-of-the-art shower, along with luxury bath products and cosmetics that must have been shipped in specially from the settlements. I spied my favorite bath salt, my favorite perfume, and a fresh tube of the lipstick I’d favored since high school. Best of all, purple and pink gnome beds were situated on the floor near my armoire.
“Rhys.” I turned to him, a bit breathless. “What did you do?”
He motioned to the little beds. “I thought you would want your creatures with you.”
“Of course I do. Thank you. But what I meant was, what about all the rest of this? How did you know my favorite colors, my favorite makeup? Why do I get a crystal chandelier when the other girls don’t?”
Rhys cleared his throat, looking a bit nervous. “I asked Mira to make sure you had all the things you liked. I want you to be happy here, my lady. I know you didn’t want to be in the contest. I consider it a great favor that you changed your mind, and I wanted to do something nice for you.”
For once, I didn’t have a nasty retort. “Well… Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He winked at me. “The best part is that my room’s right across the hall, in case you ever need me.”
“Ha ha.” But for some reason, I didn’t have anything else to add. My skin flushed; I felt a bit shaky. I needed to check out that werewolf-allergy theory, and fast.
The Contestants
Much to my surprise, Rhys was the perfect gentleman when he escorted me home. He left me in the lobby with a formal bow. He’d been practicing, I could tell. “The contestants arrive tomorrow, my lady. I will see you then.”
I was glad that I’d visited the castle and that everything was in order. It made me feel better to know that we’d be in a lovely setting while filming, instead of sleeping on cots in the middle of a construction zone like I’d feared. Still, I tossed and turned all night. I couldn’t stop thinking about my new room and wondering if the other girls would think that Rhys favored me—then I’d find myself hoping they would be jealous and wondering if he did favor me.
“Well, what did you think of the Realm?” Eve asked at breakfast the next morning, jarring me from my reverie.
I poured myself another cup of tea. “You built it; you know what it’s like.”
“But I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Rhys was very specific about some of the details, and I wondered if that had anything to do with the fact that his crush has very luxurious tastes.”
I cleared my throat. “W
ell, I will say that I was impressed. Much more so than I expected.”
“Ah.” Eve leaned forward, eyes blazing. “Tell me everything. Was it the purple bedspread that won you over or the chandelier? Or your precious lipstick? I daresay Blake and I had a good chuckle when we ordered that—”
“Isn’t that Balkyn over there, staring?” I interrupted. The handsome vampire was, in fact, gazing longingly at Eve from the next table. “He looks as though he’s in need of a good snogging.”
Eve snapped her mouth shut.
I smiled playfully. “Come, now, has the cat got your tongue?”
A grin crept back over Eve’s face. “No, but I will have a good laugh when the hound has gotten yours. Now, if you’ll excuse me, your beast is on his way over here, and Balkyn and I need to get to combat training.”
Before I could give her an earful, she was gone, and Rhys was looming over the table. He smelled like fresh air, but his mood looked sour. “Good morning, my lady.”
“Good morning, Your Highness.” Wanting to cheer him, I fluttered my lashes. “How may I assist you?”
“I… Uh…” Rhys fidgeted in his tight collared shirt and black jodhpurs that fit snugly across his bulging thigh muscles and were tucked into high black boots. He was like a little boy on picture day at school, uncomfortable in his dress-up clothes.
“The other candidates will be here shortly,” he blurted, looking miserable. “I’m nervous, is all.”
“I can help with that.” This was where I could be useful. I had the expertise to make his life bearable. “What are you worried about exactly?”
He tugged his collar. “The cameras are going to start filming. Mira made me wear this bloody thing, and she sent me to fetch you. We’ve got to go to something terrible called ‘hair and makeup.’”
I patted his hand. “It’s just for filming. Don’t be nervous. It won’t be much worse than getting ready for the wedding.”
He groaned. “That was bloody horrible, my lady. I can’t do this every day. How do people wear such things?” He itched the front of his shirt.