by Tara Brown
“It’s fine.” He laughed. “My cousins are exactly as you say, without usefulness.”
“I’m sure they paint and draw and embroider beautifully.”
“Yes, spending their summers pretending to care about the arts when really it’s the company they seek. Groups of other students, ladies who mock whoever isn’t there.” He furrowed his brow. “Landon and I have spoken with the king about this on many occasions. Allowing women to work, beyond the peasants who work out of need. He’s against it, of course. Ladies ought to have children and run homes and create social lives and improve their husband’s life. Nothing more.”
“You mock him but you laughed when you heard I had employment at the docks?”
“I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at the situation. Of course the beautiful girl I couldn't stop staring at, who visibly didn't give a fig about me, had employment and did what she wanted. She was her own person, strong and independent. I laughed because of course you would be put in front of me, to torment me. I spoke to my aunt not a fortnight before we met, telling her I wouldn’t agree to a marriage unless I met a girl who fit those exact specifications.” His cheeks flushed with color. “You see, you’re not the only one being forced into a marriage they don’t want.” He stared at the ground, fighting a smile. “I didn't believe a girl like you existed, though I had heard of the youngest of Lady Elsie Chadwick’s daughters many times. You lived up to everything I’d expected.”
“How? Why? How?” she asked quickly.
“My aunt, the queen, speaks of your family often, of you often, in close circles. You were always her favorite. Adventurous and funny and naughty. She said she could tell, even as a small child, you would be a handful and your mother wouldn’t understand you. She wished you were the one to marry Landon and be her daughter.”
“The queen said that?” Lenny wrinkled her nose.
“She did. She received constant correspondences from your mother. They wrote all the time. Her stories of the naughtiness you were always up to, became a source of joy for those of us who listened as she read certain parts of the letters aloud to us.”
“Dear gods.” Lenny gulped. “She didn't.”
“It wasn't out of spite. My aunt treasured your rebellious nature and your refusal to play the games of a proper lady. She’d warned your mother you would be this way. I think she saw a lot of herself in you, which of course recommended you to me. I felt I knew you well before we met. And I hold my aunt’s opinion in high regard. She’s not what you think. Not useless.” He smiled, meeting her gaze.
Lenny gulped again.
“So you see, when we met, I already knew a great deal about you. And you didn't disappoint.”
“You do realize being infamous in the courts as a disobedient brat isn’t something young ladies hope to achieve?” Lenny laughed, trying not to overreact to the news she was discussed often and laughed at. “Being a source of entertainment is humiliating,” she lamented.
Before he could reply, something washed over Lenny.
A fear.
It rode the whistling wind that snuck in through the cracks of the old barn, whispering of something terrible to come.
She lifted her head at the same moment Scar raised hers from Lenny’s lap, growling. Ollie stood, staring at the barn doors. Lenny’s own ears perked up as she stood and crept to the doors, peaking through the cracks. She saw the house and the yard, and though everything seemed normal, she had a sense of dread she couldn’t shake.
“What is it?” Lord Ivor lifted his head, bleary eyed.
“I don't know. I have a feeling.” She scanned the yard and house, as much as she could through the small gap between the doors.
“What sort of feeling?” Lord Ivor stood.
“That we should hide in the rafters and not make any noise.” She motioned her head at the ladder to the loft.
He answered that thought by lifting his sword from the hay where he’d put it earlier and unsheathing it. “I wish you hadn’t left the sword I gave you with the smith.”
“Me too.” She gulped.
“Here.” He pulled a long dagger from a holster on the side of his leg and handed it to her.
She noticed how warm it was as she gripped the hilt, staring at it. “What will we do if it’s more lupine?” she whispered.
“In that case, I’ll throw you my sword and you can deal with them,” he joked but stepped closer to her, closing the gap between them.
“That’s not funny.” She sniffed.
“It is and you know it.”
She gazed up into his eyes to tell him she was scared but somehow got lost in the beauty of the color. She hadn’t noticed them before, beyond thinking him handsome, but they were stunning. The same color as the stone when she found it. A jewel blue. Twinkling gemstones that widened when he noticed the look on her face.
“You are so beautiful,” he said as he lifted his free hand to her cheek, placing the palm against her skin.
“I know all girls pray for this, a lord to come and court them and tell them they’re beautiful. But I’m not like that,” she whispered, not certain how else to say this.
“I know you aren’t.”
“My wishes were always to be independent and to live my own life. And now suddenly I am overcome with a strange sensation, perhaps it’s the lupine or the storms or the loss of my brother that’s changing me. Or maybe it’s like my gran always says, I will know it when I see it.”
“See what?”
“Looking at you now, there’s something plaguing me—” She didn't answer his question. She was lost in a daze, a daydream. Something was pushing them together, and she didn't know how to explain her feelings for him.
“What?” He encouraged her to speak.
“I need you to know something, if I die. I like you. A lot. More than I want to.”
He sighed in relief, beaming at her. “I like you a lot too. More than you want me to.”
She leaned into the warm palm cupping her cheek. “If I die, and your feelings for me are genuine, stand at the shores where you wish me to come, and let your tears fall into the water. I will find you,” she murmured.
“You won’t die.” He lifted her face so she had to see him. “I will kill everything that stands between you and me and whatever this is destined to be.”
She parted her lips but was cut off by a scream from inside the house.
Ollie jumped up on the door, barking like Lenny had never heard him bark before. Scar sank lower, ready to pounce.
Lord Ivor turned his hardened stare to the door. He lifted his sword as Lenny spun and readied herself with the dagger.
“I’ll run out, you run for the house and protect your sisters and the princesses.”
“Okay,” Lenny agreed with a quick nod.
He walked to the doors, lifting the beam that held them secure. “Ready?” he asked, turning to her.
“Yes,” she said, but she wasn't.
She was terrified.
Chapter 28
He threw open the doors, releasing the hounds into the darkness. The storm was ripping around the yard. Lenny ran out but turned back to the doors, securing them, though Asher sounded like he might tear the barn apart.
When she got them closed and barricaded, she scanned the yard. The hounds had run for the house, Hilde had the door open. She was screaming for Lenny who came when called.
Lord Ivor was nowhere to be seen when Lenny burst into the house.
“It’s the lupine, Lenny! I saw one in the yard. It jumped on the roof!”
Lenny pushed Hilde back inside and slammed the door, locking it. “Where’s Lord Ivor?”
“He’s gone round the other side—”
“Get upstairs, hide under the bed in your room. Make sure the four of you stay together. Take the hounds with you.” Lenny shoved Hilde for the stairs. She hurried up them, crying. “Make no noise, Hilde. If they hear you, they will come.”
Hilde paused at the top of the stairs, s
taring back at her little sister. “Be careful, Lenny.”
“I will. Ollie, up with Hilde!” She pointed.
He ran after Hilde but Scar refused to part with Lenny.
Lenny hurried to the other side of the house and opened the front door, listening and watching the whistling wind and pelting rain that came in sideways, hitting with gusts like a slap to the face. She was surprised at how it had gotten dark so fast.
Voices drew her to the left. Her father and uncle were coming on horseback from town. They carried swords that glinted in the light of the lanterns they carried. She hadn’t seen her father fight, not truly. She’d heard he was brilliant, and she hoped it was true as she closed the door and ran for the yard.
Lord Ivor came around the back side of the house, drenched and holding his sword. “I saw nothing.”
Scar’s keen eyes darted about the yard nervously. She didn't focus on a single spot.
“You all right?” Edwin asked his daughter as he jumped down from his horse.
“Hilde said she saw the lupine in the yard. But I don't see anything. How’s Mother and the queen?”
“Fine, everyone in town has gathered at the hall to ride out the storm together. Everything is closed up. The guards have stayed with the queen to protect them.” Edwin met his brother’s eyes. “We found bodies—” He winced, his words becoming lost in the wind and rain.
“Bodies?” Lenny shouted.
“Three. Two men and a woman, half eaten. Near Cyril’s house,” Alek added, his voice laden with fear.
“Why is this happening?” Lenny asked as the rain beat down on her face.
“I wish I knew,” her father said. His gaze darted to Lord Ivor’s. “Is it true you’re one of the best battalion leaders in the kingdom?”
“I don't know—”
“This isn’t a time to be shy, son.”
“Yes.” Lord Ivor admitted candidly, “It’s true.”
“Good. We need a plan. We can’t stay here. They’ll rip this house apart in no time. We don't even know how many lupine there are. Let’s talk in here, I don't want to scare the girls more than need be.” Edwin walked to the barn, opening the door and stepping inside. Lenny and Scar followed them all inside, securing the door with the beam, though it did nothing against the wind, which rattled it violently.
“You’re right, we need to get Amaya, Hilde, and my cousins to the hall,” Lord Ivor said after a moment. “Staying here is dangerous. If there are more than two, we won’t survive this. And I fear they see better in the dark and rain than we do. They cut through my men in Pyle faster than anything I’ve seen before. We won’t stand a chance against them in this storm.”
“The carriage?” Lenny asked. “We put the four girls inside and the four of us ride on the outside, each taking a corner and fighting anything that attacks?”
“That could work, if we get it fitted fast enough,” Alek agreed.
“You will go inside the carriage with them,” Edwin growled. “I’m not having you die, fighting like one of the men—”
“She fights better than I do,” Lord Ivor cut in. “She’s a natural. We’d be fools not to use her skills to our advantage.”
“You might be fine with risking her life—”
“I love her.” Lord Ivor shocked them all. “I would never do anything that risks her, but I also see I cannot control nor choose for her. That is the burden of loving someone like her.” His eyes drifted to Lenny’s.
Edwin’s cheeks flushed and Alek’s eyes widened, matching Lenny’s in size.
“Shall we?” Lord Ivor asked, nodding at the door.
“Of course,” Alek agreed.
“Lenny and I will stand guard while you fasten the horse and ready the carriage.” Lord Ivor opened the door again.
Lenny’s father turned to his daughter. His brow knit as he pressed his lips together. He said none of the things he wanted to. Instead, he grabbed her face roughly and kissed her forehead, before storming from the barn into the dark.
She hurried after him, listening and watching Scar who sniffed the wind and scanned the dark yard.
Alek and Edwin hurried about, fetching the saddles and gear.
Near the carriage and the door to the house, Lord Ivor planted his feet. Lenny stood with him, but he placed his back to hers, his body pressing against hers. She leaned into the warmth of him while continuing to scan the yard and check Scar for changes in her demeanor.
“I’m sorry that is how you heard me first say those words,” Lord Ivor spoke softly, though the wind carried his words to Lenny’s ears. “I had hoped we would be in the gardens at the castle, or perhaps my estate in the country. It would be a calm day, not raining hell down on us. The sun would be on the cusp of setting and the warm summer air would gently flicker your hair. We would have known each other an amount of time that would make you more comfortable with me. I would brush the locks from your cheek maybe, keeping my hand there.” His empty hand found hers, soaked with rain but warm. He entangled his fingers in hers and squeezed. “I would kiss you and tell you that I have loved you from the moment I met you.”
Lenny swallowed hard.
“And of course you would argue that love at first sight was a lie and it was impossible. And I would kiss you to shut you up,” he said with a smile, Lenny could hear it in his voice. It made her smile too. “And then perhaps, I would ask you to marry me.” He squeezed tighter. “Although you didn't pray for me, Lenny, I have spent my life praying to the gods for you.”
Her heart leapt, nearly out of her chest.
But she was too scared to react so she gripped his hand for a moment, her eyes continuing to watch for movement that came a heartbeat later.
A shadow ran past the left side of the barn.
Another on the right.
A third moved under the cover of trees across the yard.
The yellow eyes glowing in the darkness, giving them away.
Lenny’s heart began to pound.
“Ready!” Edwin shouted. Alek climbed onto the carriage to drive the horses.
Edwin ran for the house.
Rain beat down on them.
Wind twisted the world around the farm, moving everything at once, creating chaos.
Lenny’s trembling hands clung to the dagger, terrified of the death she faced.
Scar stood next to her, ready for the fight. Teeth bared and hackles up.
The door to the house opened, Ollie ran for Lenny, taking her other side. He mimicked his sister. Edwin ushered his daughters and the princesses from the house. The girls cried and whimpered as they were rushed to the old closed carriage.
“Let’s go!” her father shouted as more yellow eyes began to appear at the forest’s edge.
Lenny gulped as she watched them materialize. There had to be dozens of them. Ivor grabbed her good arm, spinning and flinging her at the carriage. She leapt and grabbed the footman’s post, climbing on and taking the left side.
“Ollie, Scar!” Hilde shouted from the carriage.
“Inside!” Lenny yelled at them, pointing with her dagger at the carriage door. The hounds obeyed reluctantly. The door slammed as the reins came down on the horses, and Alek screamed for them to gallop.
Lord Ivor ran and jumped aboard the carriage as it took off.
That was the moment the lupine charged, racing from the woods to follow.
Edwin stood, sword in hand, next to his brother as he drove.
Lord Ivor guarded the right flank, holding his sword ready too.
Lenny gripped the dagger, unsure how to fight with it, assuming it would be similar to a sword except the foe would be closer.
The bumpiness of the ride jostled her about as she clutched the railing of the carriage with one hand and the dagger with the other.
The yellow eyes got bigger as they drew closer.
Her breathing grew shallow and her heart felt as if it might burst from her chest.
A dark shadow shot from the bushes at the same moment a v
oice whispered inside Lenny, an instinct.
She leapt from the carriage, ducking and slicing up the middle of the ashen beast’s furry belly, spilling him onto the path.
“Lenny!” Ivor screamed as the horses’ hooves beat the path, dragging him and the carriage away.
Lenny stood her ground as the yellow eyes were joined by gnashing mouths and snarling faces.
She lifted the dagger, challenging them to come at her.
The first leapt. She spun low and sliced him along the side. The next took her dagger in his throat. She ripped it from his flesh and screamed, charging the pack.
She spun and sliced as they tried to get past her, but none made it. She moved with precision and knowledge that she drew from somewhere deep inside her.
She leapt on one, stabbing into his neck, as she used him as launching plank to leap to the next, swinging onto his massive body and slicing his throat.
They scratched at her and bit but she moved faster than they did, impossibly fast.
When her feet touched the ground again, the carriage was far enough away that she couldn’t hear it anymore.
She turned and ran hard, her feet digging into the path and pushing off, driving her forward. A lupine snarled behind her, his footsteps coming hard and fast. She spun, arm out, aware he was leaping, and sliced across his face, separating his jaw from his head. She kicked him in the chest and used his body to drive her forward more. She turned and ran again, her pace gaining on the horses as the carriage came into view.
They were at the smithy, skidding to the left to get to the hall.
The rain and wind attempted to push Lenny back, but she leaned into it, forcing herself forward.
A sound rode the wind near her, a voice. It was the same one she’d heard singing in the water when she found the stone.
The winds blew harder.
The rain was blinding.
But Lenny didn't give up.
As a lupine tried to jump on her back, she moved to the right, pushing off and leaping back left, landing behind him. She jumped on his back and sliced his throat, stepping on him as he fell, and took off running again.