The Realm

by Leigh Walker

  “Yes, and Mira.” Rhys shook his head. “She said I’m not to have any contact with your lot unless the cameras are around. But I was born to break rules, you see.”

  “You’re about to be crowned king,” I reminded him. “You’re supposed to make the rules.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m going to make a rule that the next person who comes at me with a makeup sponge or rouge is a goner. I’ve now had to wash my face twice in one week—that’s a record.” We made it to the landing, and Rhys opened the door carefully, making sure the coast was clear. “Come on, then. Back through the kitchen and onto the grounds before they catch us.” We snuck through the kitchen and out into the cool night air. “Ah, my lady, take this.” Rhys removed his sweater and put it over my shoulders. “The wind’s coming.”

  The drop in temperature didn’t seem to affect the wolf at all. Rhys was in his element outdoors. Even though he only wore a T-shirt, and was barefoot, he didn’t appear to be cold. He inhaled the fresh air deeply and grew calmer. “This way. There’s a building back here I haven’t shown you yet.”

  “What sort of building?”

  “It’s for something special, but I need your opinion.”

  I hustled to keep pace with Rhys’s long strides. “My opinion about what?”

  “D’you think you could just wait a moment? Patience, my lady. We’re just about there.”

  The sky had darkened, and a crescent moon rose in the eastern sky. In the distance, I could see a large building that looked like a barn. “Are we milking cows or something?”

  Rhys grinned as we reached the building, and he slid the door open. “No, my lady. But I can arrange that if you like.”

  I was about to argue with him, but I was distracted when we reached the building. This was no barn for livestock. It was enormous and, like the rest of the Realm, brand-new. The barn was open and airy, the ceiling stretching toward the sky. A huge wrought-iron chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling, hundreds of tiny candles blazing. There were also candles set on long tables and fresh flowers in pretty aqua vases.

  “What do you think of this space, Tamara?” Rhys watched me carefully.

  “It’s lovely. What will you use it for?” There were all sorts of possibilities—parties and meetings and dances and conventions.

  “I’d like to use it for the coronation ball.” He frowned. “But Mira doesn’t think it’s grand enough. I was hoping to hear your opinion. I had some of my men bring in the candles and the flowers to help set the scene.”

  “Oh, I think it would work nicely.” I took a step back, visualizing the ball, the women in their colored gowns, and the men in their ceremonial uniforms. “The vibe is great—rustic elegance. It suits the Realm, and your pack, perfectly.”

  Rhys’s expression brightened. “That’s what I think, too.”

  “Then you should fight for it, Your Highness. Don’t let the television types boss you around, for you are the boss. They’re here to do your bidding, along with King Reginald’s. I think this is a splendid place for the ball. You have my blessing, for what it’s worth.”

  “It’s worth a lot to me, my lady.”

  “Really?” I put my hands on my hips. “Is that why you’ve been eye-snogging all the other girls? Mira said your chemistry with each of them is combustible.”

  “Why, Tamara, are you jealous?” Rhys stepped closer, inspecting me. “That’s adorable.”

  I raised myself to my full height. “There’s nothing adorable about being auditioned for a harem, Your Highness.”

  “No one’s asking you to join a harem.” He gave me a long look, and the flames from the candles were reflected in his dark eyes. “I asked you before this competition started if you wanted to marry me and be my queen.”

  Alone with him, in the darkness of the barn, the words hit me hard. “I remember.”

  “Do you also remember that you turned me down?”

  The wind picked up outside, rattling the windows. “I remember that I’d hardly gotten to know you when you asked me to whelp your litter. Not exactly my idea of a relationship or a proposal, Your Highness. At the time, it did not seem such a loss to give it up.”

  He took another step closer to me and I could feel the heat rolling off him. “And now that there’s some competition?”

  “And now I see that you’re happy to lust after five different girls and that I am not so special after all.”

  “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong.” Rhys closed the distance between us and stood over me. “You would be my queen in an instant if you said the word.”

  I stared up at him, my cheeks growing hot. “I can’t do that, and neither can you.”

  “Why not? You just said I was the king, remember? I can do whatever I want.” He put his big hands on my hips.

  My heart rate kicked up. Even though I didn’t want to, I forced myself to take a step back from him. “You made a commitment to the crown to do this show, and the other girls are already here. It’s been announced, Rhys. You can’t back out now. And I can’t be the one responsible for you changing your mind. The king would view it as treason, to be sure. He’d have both our heads.”

  He moved closer, bridging the distance between us again. His movements were wolflike—those of a predator unable to give up the chase. “What if I told you that I don’t care—that if you said the word, I’d grant your wish? For it’s my wish, too, my lady. Just say it.”

  I shook my head. Why is the room so damn hot? “I can’t do that—not to you, not to me.”

  He sighed. “D’you see that this is why I must have you? You are always in the right, Tamara. I would throw the contest and my own crown out this instant if you would just let me have you. I’m following my instincts—I wouldn’t be sorry about it, either. But you persuade me, my lady, to do the right thing. I admire you, you know.”

  “Th-Thank you.” We looked at each other for a moment, and I felt a pull toward him deep in my belly. This was a foreign sensation for me on many levels. I was usually so in control of everything—my emotions, my thoughts, my body. I felt a bit wild. It would be so easy to give in and let him put those big paws of his on my hips again, pulling me closer. But as his words sank in, I understood what he needed from me—a firm hand to guide him. “We should get back, Your Highness. We’ve been gone too long. Mira will be on the warpath if she finds you’ve spent time with me without letting her know.”

  He grunted then turned away and stared at the inside of the barn. “But you approve of this, do you not, my lady?”

  “Of course I do,” I said. He was still too close. The room had gotten so stifling that I needed to get out. “We should go.” But I hesitated as the king reached for me.

  “It’s cold outside, my lady. Let me protect you.” He pulled me close against him as we left the barn, his arm around my shoulder. The wind whipped us as we clambered back to the palace. The weather had taken a turn for the worse. By the time we reached the back entrance, I was breathless—from the wind and from being held so close to Rhys.

  He released me as we climbed the stairs then put his hands on my shoulders. “Tell me what to do about the contest. That’s an order.”

  “You must continue with it, Your Highness. You can’t back out now, and you can’t openly play favorites. The audience is expecting a real competition, and you must give them one.”

  He stared down at me, dark eyes searching. “And what will you do?”

  “I will do my best, of course. That’s what I always do, and I haven’t let myself down yet.”

  “Ha! I do love your spirit, girl.” He moved his hands up to my cheeks, cupping them, and his cool breath washed over me. I felt shaky, and Rhys must have noticed. “Shh, there now. If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be able to control myself.”

  “You have to.” My voice was weak, as was my resolve. That werewolf allergy was really starting to break me down.

  “Fine.” But Rhys didn’t let go of me. He brought his face close to min
e. “I will follow the rules; you will do your best. Between the two of us, I expect we will find some success.”

  When I didn’t say anything, he inclined his head. “I can hear your heart beating, Tamara. It’s a bit wild. I want to know if that’s because I’m near you.”

  “No,” I lied.

  “I would like to test something,” the werewolf said. “I would like to kiss you.”

  “No,” I said again.

  He stared at my mouth. “D’you mean that?”

  “N-no.” It killed me to tell the truth, but my heart was racing. The wildness was taking over, making me reckless.

  He put his lips to mine, gently at first. I willed my body to stay still, but when he sank his hands into my hair, I involuntarily arched my back. Rhys deepened the kiss but only for a moment. The he pulled back, grinning wickedly. “Your heartbeat tells me you want more.”

  My breath was coming fast. “My heartbeat is an idiot and a liar.”

  “Ah. Well, then—I shouldn’t take counsel from idiots and liars.” The grin never left his face as he bowed. “Thank you for your counsel this evening and for testing my theory. Until we meet again, my lady.”

  “Wait! Where are you going?”

  But the wolf disappeared into the darkness of the grounds. I didn’t have a chance to argue or to tell him that I hadn’t liked kissing him, not one bit. Pouting, I opened the door to the kitchen. I intended to find a very large chocolate biscuit to soothe my jangled nerves.

  Instead, I found the other four contestants inside, staring at me.

  Hard Angle

  “You said she was just a tourist,” Dae complained to Maya. “So why’s the king snogging her?”

  “Why were you kissing His Highness, huh?” Maya watched me, her eyes more intense and focused than Mira’s laser pointer. She took in the sweater I was wearing, which was five sizes too big and clearly the king’s. “I thought you played by the rules, Tamara. Acting like you’re better than the rest of us, a member of the royal court, blah, blah, blah.”

  “I didn’t break any rules.” I tossed my hair with a feigned confidence and wrapped the sweater tightly around me. I went to the tins on the counter, looking for some chocolate, any chocolate. I was frazzled, but I couldn’t let it show. “No one said I couldn’t meet with His Highness if he asked me for something. And no one said I had to rebuff his shows of affection, either.” I finally found a biscuit. “I don’t see that it’s any of your business, in any event.”

  “In any event, it’s absolutely our business.” Maya’s cheeks were bright pink. “If you’ve got an unfair advantage because you’ve been in the North for so long and you’ve gotten intimately familiar with His Highness, we need to know about it. You should be taken off the show. It’s unfair.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” I eyed another biscuit but vowed to adhere to my one-dessert-per-day rule. “There’s nothing untoward going on. If His Highness prefers me, it’s simply because he has good taste. There’s nothing unfair about it.”

  “But you got one-on-one time with him, and the rest of us didn’t.” Joely’s voice was gentle. “And that isn’t fair, Tamara.”

  “Fine,” I said. Unlike Maya, Joely wasn’t on a witch hunt. “I’ll simply ask His Highness to afford you each the same opportunity.”

  “You don’t need to ask him,” Maya said immediately. “We’ll take this up with Mira. You don’t need any more direct contact with Rhys. It’s completely unfair, no matter what you say.”

  “Do as you see fit.” I tossed my hair one last time for good measure on my way out. “See you in the morning.” But I lingered in the hall, listening to them.

  “I can’t believe he’s already kissed her!”

  “It’s probably not the first time.”

  “What else do you think they were doing out there in the dark?”

  “Just wait till I bend Mira’s ear about this! I won’t tolerate this type of behavior.”

  Blah, blah, blah, I thought. But of course, had the tables been turned, I would have pitched a complete fit.

  I wanted to rub the kiss in the other girls’ faces—or at least, in Maya’s face—and I also wanted to relive it over and over. But neither of these courses of actions suited my ultimate goal—to have the show be successful and to please the king in order to further my own standing within the royal court.

  I knew better than to be out with Rhys in the dark without authorization. I had to be on my best behavior, and I was failing. But Tamara Layne never failed at anything, and I would find a way to make this right.

  I went straight to the game room, where Mira and her staff were drinking wine and relaxing after the long day’s shoot. “Tamara?” She looked up from the game of cribbage she was winning. “Is something wrong?”

  “I need a word, please.”

  She followed me into the hall, where I started to pace. “Is that the werewolf’s sweater?” Mira sounded intrigued.

  “Yes. The other girls are upset with me—and not just about the sweater.”

  “Ooh, good. Just let me get the cameraman! We do love a spat on the show. The viewers love the drama.”

  “I’m sorry, but the moment’s already past.”

  “Well, tell me what happened, and perhaps we can stir the pot tomorrow.” When I didn’t say anything, she crossed her arms. “What’s going on, young lady?”

  “I kissed Rhys, and the other girls saw me. They’re quite upset.”

  “Ah.” The television host’s eyes sparkled. “They think he prefers you—that you two have a secret bond.”

  I shrugged. “I guess that’s what they’re worried about.”

  “Are they right?” Mira watched me with interest.

  “I don’t know. I only know they wanted to tell you, but I beat them to it. Maya will demand to have me expelled from the competition, of course.”

  “I’m sure she will.” Mira chuckled. “But I won’t let that happen. You needn’t worry, but you must not let this happen again. If the other girls think they’re being tricked or that you have an unfair advantage, we’ll have a coup on our hands. That won’t do. I will speak to Rhys. Even if he prefers you, he can’t make that obvious to the other girls. It will kill their spirits and poison the well. You keep your distance, and only spend time with him when you’re told to. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, Mira.”

  “Well, then, get some rest. Tomorrow’s a long day for you mortals.”

  “Goodnight.” I climbed the stairs with a heavy heart. The other girls were still in the kitchen, laughing and talking. Rhys was probably outside, indulging his wolf side and hanging out with his pack. But I was on my own, and without the heat of the werewolf at my side, I felt chilled.

  Rhys had told me that he’d make me his queen if I said the word. Even though I couldn’t take that step, I let the thought comfort me while I got ready for bed in the lonely quiet of my room. It worked at least long enough for me to find refuge in sleep.

  The next morning dawned fresh, bright, and new. We were dressed in our finest and brought immediately to the Northern castle. The other girls walked in a group, oohing and aahing and stopping to gawk at every knickknack as they made their way deeper inside. I stuck to myself, quietly following Balkyn and one of the sentinels to the formal salon for tea.

  “These other girls are attractive, aren’t they?” the sentinel asked Balkyn in a low tone.

  “They’re fine. Typical young human girls.” Balkyn sounded more neutral than unkind.

  “I just mean, Rhys should have a hard time choosing,” the sentinel persisted. “I thought that Tamara would be the hottest girl by far, but I dunno. These other candidates could turn a bloke’s head. I daresay he’s got a full-scale predicament on his hands.”

  “Then maybe you should stick around.” I cleared my throat and stepped past them. “You can scrape for Rhys’s sloppy seconds.”

  “My lady.” The sentinel grimaced. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone was near. That was inapprop
riate.”

  I shrugged as I strutted into the salon. “I’m not afraid of some healthy competition.”

  Balkyn grinned at me. “I expect you’ll do quite well, Lady Layne.”

  “Thank you for the vote of confidence. A girl can always use that, particularly in a predicament such as the one I find myself in.” I gave a curt nod to the guard and sashayed away.

  His words didn’t bother me much. After a good night’s sleep, I was feeling much more optimistic about my prospects. Rhys had told me that he preferred me, and he’d kissed me under the stars. I’d kept his sweater and tucked it for safekeeping in my armoire. Let the other girls call foul—I had a stolen moment and a borrowed sweater to keep me warm, and it was enough. I’d be on my best behavior from there on out.

  Blake, Shaye, and Eve waved me over. “Ah, there you are!” Blake said as she hugged me. “We’ve been waiting to see you. Tell us everything about the past twenty-four hours, and do it quickly before the cameras start filming!”

  “First of all, I miss you terribly. I’m on my own over in the Realm—I’m afraid the other girls don’t like me very much.”

  “No.” Shaye shook her head, curls bouncing. “That can’t be true. You’re supposed to be helping them, aren’t you?”

  I shrugged. “They seem pretty capable of helping themselves.”

  Just then, the other four candidates sauntered in. Maya wore a low-cut baby-blue gown. The skirts swished gracefully around her and showed off her curves. Joely wore a tangerine frock, fitted and becoming. Her creamy complexion was set off by the gown’s juxtaposition to her flaming auburn hair. Thalia wore a white frock that contrasted beautifully with her gorgeous dark skin. Dae had chosen a geometric-print fitted sheath that hit just below her knees, showing off her toned calves.

  “Oh boy.” Blake watched them with interest. “Remember when we were first contestants? We did not look like that.”

  “I still don’t look like that.” Shaye bit her lip. “They’re sort of intimidating, aren’t they?”

  “Good thing Tamara’s able to hold her own.” Eve patted my shoulder encouragingly. “They’re still green compared to you, my friend.”