by Leigh Walker
“I did. Have you seen them before—the wolves?”
“Yes.” I took a deep breath. “They’re werewolves.”
His eyes darkened, his mouth set in a grim line. “I know.”
“You do? I didn’t believe it until I saw it for myself.”
Balkyn nodded. “Me too. And then I wanted to unsee it forever. They’re a rather rabid group.”
I nodded, clutching Beast against my chest. “They’re not my favorites.”
Austin’s eyes blazed when he saw me enter room, but to his credit, he kept his mouth shut. Eve, Lucas, Lord Bryson, and a dozen sentinels were already seated around the table. I took a seat, scratching Beast’s head so he wouldn’t make a fuss and interrupt.
Lord Bryson peered down the table at me. “Your Highness, is that a gnome on Lady Kensington’s lap?”
“Yes.” Austin cleared his throat.
Am I imagining it, or are his cheeks turning pink?
The lord looked taken aback. “Well, I never—”
“It’s Lady Kensington’s pet. I heard Ambassador Layne wants one as well.” Austin looked cheered as he announced this.
“It’s unheard of!” Lord Bryson sputtered.
“Yeah, well, now you’ve heard it. Let’s move on to other beasts. The werewolves are in the forest. You all heard them. My scouts confirm that there are at least ten of them. The rest must be waiting for instructions before they return.”
Everyone started talking at once. Austin shushed them then continued. “After what happened a few weeks ago, our objective is clear. We fight to the death. No members of their pack are allowed to leave these lands alive.”
Again, the table erupted into worried talk. “Enough, that’s enough!” Austin hit his hand against the table until the others stopped. “I understand that we had an arrangement with them as well as a longstanding, if strained, peace. But that’s changed.”
Lucas leaned forward. “Your Highness. May I speak?” When the prince nodded, Lucas continued. “We need to consider the bigger picture. Our relationship with the wolves is not the only thing that’s changed. There are two humans at our table.” He motioned toward Balkyn and me.
Austin bristled. “I asked them to be here. Do you have some sort of problem with that?”
“Not at all, Your Highness,” Lucas said quickly. “My point is, the dynamics of our alliances are changing. Do you think it’s wise to try to talk to the wolves first? If they know that the rebels are planning an attack, they might revise their plans.”
Austin rubbed his chin. “I’ve thought of it, of course. But Rhys, their leader, kidnapped Lady Kensington in an attempt to bend me to his will. I will not forgive or forget. In light of his actions, I also don’t think I could ever trust him again.”
“My lord”—Eve nodded—“I think that Lucas has a good point. I was here when the werewolves moved against us, and I have no love for the beasts, only contempt. But the more allies we can garner at the moment, the greater chance we have against the rebels when they strike.”
Everyone started talking again, and for the moment, Austin let them. He stared at the map in the middle of the table, lost in thought. When the conversation subsided, all eyes returned to the prince. “I vowed to take revenge against them, and I never back down from a vow. But you’re correct, Lucas and Lady Eve. The more numbers we have, the better chance we have of keeping the rebels at bay. My vow has no expiration date, I suppose.”
I shivered, remembering how Abigor’s heart had exploded when the wolf killed him. The idea of Austin fighting Rhys and the others frightened me. I filed his vow away as something to talk to him about later. Maybe, just this once, he could alter his plans…
“I’m taking a team into the woods to meet with them. Lady Eve, I’d like you to accompany me. Blake, you need to stay on the premises. I will assign a guard to watch you. Everyone else, to your posts.” Austin nodded, dismissing us. “Balkyn, a word. Blake, you can stay for this, too.”
The others left, and Austin sighed. “I spoke to the prisoner. She was not very forthcoming—or polite, for that matter.”
Balkyn scrubbed a hand across his face. “Chase has a very specific world view.”
“She spat at me.” Austin chuckled. “You have to admire her spirit, if nothing else.”
“What would you like me to do?” Balkyn asked.
“I want you to talk to her—lie if necessary—and get her to believe you’re still sympathetic to the rebels. If she will only speak to humans, then you and Blake will act as her liaisons. Blake, I would like you to accompany Balkyn to the dungeon to interview the prisoner. Find out what she knows. Balkyn, if Blake is harmed in any way, I will have your head, my friend.”
“You have my word. I will protect her, Your Highness.” Balkyn smiled, but his face still looked drawn.
Austin studied him. “Did this woman…did she pull some sort of horror show? You’ve got that look.”
“She left me for my best friend.”
The prince nodded. “Yes, well, that’ll do it. Let me know how it goes.”
Balkyn stood and bowed, but I frowned at Austin. “Are you sending me to do this so that I won’t ask to go with you to see the werewolves?”
“I’m sending you to do this because you are human and because you have a kind face.” He sighed. “Perhaps the prisoner will take a liking to you.”
I frowned some more. “I highly doubt—”
“Your Highness!” A winded-looking sentinel burst through the door. “We’ve word from the scouts on the road. The rebels are coming. They’ve made camp miles from here, but it’s confirmed. They are on their way.”
Austin clenched his fists and muttered some curse words I’d never heard before. He looked at the guard. “Tell the others to assemble. I’m going to talk to the wolves and see what they’ll agree to. Then we prepare to fight.” Lost in his own thoughts, he started stalking toward the door.
I jumped in his path. “Not so fast!”
“Blake.” His face softened. “I have to go.”
“You have to stay safe.”
“Yes, of course.” He grabbed my hands and briefly kissed me. When he pulled away, his face was grim. “Stay with your guard at all times. That’s an order, my lady.”
I wanted to argue, but I kissed him again, instead. “I have an order for you, my lord.”
The dark cloud evaporated from his face, and he smiled. “I am all ears.”
“Come back to me.”
He bowed. “I will always come back to you.” With another quick kiss, he was gone, his dark cape sailing behind him.
My only comfort was that Austin always kept his word.
He would come back to me. He’d promised.
Chapter 8
Traitors
“Let’s get this over with.” Balkyn watched me pace near the library’s window. “The sooner we’re done, the sooner you can get back to your vigil.”
I looked out at the forest. It was still too dark to see anything, but dawn was coming. “The prince wants to keep me locked in the castle.”
“The prince wants you to stay alive.” Balkyn smiled at me. “Shall we? I’d like to check this off my list, if it’s all the same with you.”
“Of course.” We headed toward the dungeon, the sentinel assigned to me following close behind. “Once we get down there, you’re going to have to wait in the hall,” I told him. “The prisoner’s a bit of a bigot.”
“Yes, Lady Kensington. But I’ll be within earshot if there’s any trouble.”
“Thank you.” I would never admit it to the prince, but having a vampire bodyguard was rather nice. With Austin and Eve gone, the wolves in the forest, and the rebels on their way, it was a relief to know I had an immortal close by who could kick arse.
I took a deep, steadying breath as we descended the stairs. I could hear mice scurrying and smell the fetid hay that lined the floor of the cells. The sentinel took his place in the hall as Balkyn and I entered the cell block. I
winced to see Chase curled up on her thin cot. I’d given her blankets and extra food, but a dungeon was a dungeon. It was dark and bleak down there, with a damp chill.
“What do you want?” She sat up, and I could see that her lips were cracked and chapped. Dark circles bloomed like bruises underneath her eyes. At least she and Balkyn had that in common.
“I wanted to see how you were.” Balkyn crossed his arms against his chest.
“Like you care.” Chase sneered at him. “Vampire lover.”
“You know, you really are a child.” He shook his head.
I stepped forward. “We wanted to see if you needed anything.”
“I’d like to be free of the vampire’s castle, thank you very much, and as far away from all their kind as possible.”
“Your people are coming.” I glanced at Balkyn, wondering if he’d approve of what I was about to say. “If you gave us more information about what they have planned and what type of weapons they have, we could set you free. You could join them and get away from here once and for all.”
Chase stepped closer to the bars, her dark eyes wild. “Do you really think I’m going to believe the likes of you? I know who you are. You’re traipsing around here like you own the place because you’re a vampire’s whore. I’m not going to fall for your blue-eyes-and-blond-hair, dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks routine. So sod off.”
I blinked. Her hatred was so fierce that I could feel it rolling off of her. “My offer stands. If you change your mind, we’ll set you free.” I didn’t know if I had the actual authority to offer that, but I had to try.
Chase’s gaze raked over me. “I’ll die before I help you.”
“That is your choice.” I turned to Balkyn. “I’ll just leave you two to it.” I quickly left for the safety of the hall, happy to get away from the prisoner. I hoped Balkyn had better luck with her.
The sentinel raised his eyebrows when he saw me. She’s a right nut, he thought-spoke into my mind. I nodded. She was indeed. I leaned in closer so I could hear her conversation with Balkyn.
“You’re so bitter,” Balkyn said. “I can’t believe you just spoke to her that way. And I heard that you spat at the prince. You’re lucky to be alive.”
Chase laughed, but it sounded brittle. “Excuse me if I’m not feeling very lucky at the moment. I’m locked in the vampire’s castle, and here you are, his little pet. You disgust me.”
Balkyn was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know why you came here.”
“I told you—to see if you were alive. To see if you needed my help. I couldn’t believe it when they told me you deserted. I knew you’d lost your way a little bit, but I’d never taken you for a traitor, Balkyn.”
“I’m no traitor. You, on the other hand, don’t have a lot of room to talk.”
“I told you!” Chase exploded. “You were never the same once you escaped from the royals! They bloody brainwashed you. Your own sister married one of their kind. You’ve been taken by their black magic—you and your family. I heard your father walked her down the bloody aisle. It’s insanity! We fought them for years. You gave up everything—your home, your family, all comfort. We did terrible things to them, Balkyn, and you were right alongside me, and never once did I hear you say you regretted it. Never once did I hear you give mercy.”
“That’s because I was blinded by my hate.” Balkyn sounded as if he might cry. “Just as you are blinded by yours. I used it as a justification for everything.”
Chase snorted. “Just look at you. I can’t believe you’re such a blubbering turncoat wanker.”
I had to stop myself from marching in there and smacking her. Truly, she was unbelievable.
“I never want to see you again. That’s been true for quite some time. Goodbye, Chase.” Balkyn swept into the hallway, and I patted his arm. His face was stormy. “That wasn’t particularly productive.”
“There’s very little that can be done with prejudice like that.” I linked my arm through his and started up the stairs.
But as we left Chase behind, I wondered if she still might have a part to play.
The sun came up as I stalked by the library window. Shaye and Tamara came in, each looking pale. “They let us out to see you for a moment, but then we’re supposed to head straight back to our rooms.” Shaye’s brows were pinched. “What’s going on?”
I stopped pacing. “Did you hear the howls last night?”
“Of course we did.” Tamara sank down onto the couch. Beast rolled to her, and she picked him up, scratching his head. “I take it those weren’t regular wolves?”
I shook my head. “They’re werewolves. They ran off several weeks ago, but now they’re back. Austin and Eve are out there right now, meeting with them.” I clenched my hands together. I didn’t want to frighten my friends, but they needed to know the truth. “And another thing. Our scouts came back in the middle of the night—the rebels are coming. They’ve set up camp miles away, and we believe that they’re going to attack.”
“Then why on earth did the king and queen send us up here?” Tamara’s eyes flashed. “We would’ve been safer back in the settlements!”
I resumed pacing. “Who knows what the rebels have planned? But I believe they want to take back the castle. It’s better that you’re here.”
“So what are we going to do? And we still haven’t talked about something important.” Shaye looked between us, a miserable expression on her face. “Are we really rooting against our own people? My father and my brothers could be out there. I haven’t spoken to them in years, since they left to join the revolution. They could be gearing up to storm the North for all I know.”
Tamara patted her hand. “I know you love your family, but do you really believe it’s better for the country to have the royals stripped of power? Because I don’t.”
Shaye shook her head. “I don’t, either. That doesn’t mean I want my family to be punished.”
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt, either. I’m very pro peace.” Tamara straightened her shoulders, looking quite full of herself. “But the rebels are striking for the wrong reasons. In the beginning, yes, we didn’t know what would happen when the Blacks took over. We had reason to fear them. But now that they’re making positive changes, the settlements finally have a clear direction and a brighter future. The rebels are just grabbing for power.”
“I understand that.” Shaye stared out the window. “I still don’t want my father or brothers to die today.”
“Of course you don’t.” I rushed to my friend and pulled her in for a hug. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. You mustn’t worry—not yet.”
She shakily sighed. “I never meant to be a traitor. I never pictured myself being kept safe against the rebels by an army of vampires.”
I clasped her hands. “You’re not a traitor. But you see the world with new eyes now. You had an experience you never could’ve expected. If you were able to talk to your family, I’m sure they would understand.”
I thought of Chase, rotting and bitter down in the dungeon, and shivered. Perhaps not.
“I do see the world through new eyes.” Shaye nodded, still staring out at the forest. “But I wonder, after five years of fighting the vampires, what do my father and brothers see?”
Chapter 9
Promises, Promises
I stayed glued to my post for the rest of the morning. As a reward, I saw Austin returning from the forest before anyone else. “He’s back!” I yelled in the direction of my guard as I sprinted out of the library and down the hall. I barreled through the foyer, out the door, and down the front stairs.
“My lady, wait!” One of the sentinels reached for me, but I dodged him.
“The prince is back. I just saw him!” I hurried across the wet grass and around the corner to find Austin talking to another sentinel.
“Blake—what are you doing out here?” Austin’s glare traveled from me to my guard, who was close on my heels.
He threw his hands up into the a
ir. “She’s rather autonomous, my lord.”
Austin scowled at him. “That’s no excuse. Get her inside. Now.”
“Austin, wait—” But I stopped short. Behind him, at the edge of the woods, stood Rhys.
I hadn’t seen the werewolf leader since he’d held me prisoner in the forest. I remembered that night all too well. He’d said that he planned to use me against the prince. He would bargain for power with my return. That was the same night that another werewolf had killed Abigor, making his heart explode in every direction. It was also the night that Rose’s human life had ended.
Austin glanced back over his shoulder and addressed the werewolf. “If you make a move toward her, or even look in her direction, I’ll have your eyeballs. In fact, I’ll have all your balls.”
Rhys snorted, but he pointedly looked away. I took the opportunity to inspect the pack leader. As when I’d last seen him, he was shirtless and shoeless, wearing only pants. His dark skin glinted in the early morning sunlight. His thick, wiry black hair was pulled back into a messy knot.
“What’s he doing here?” I asked Austin.
“His pack has agreed to help us against the rebels in exchange for a dedicated portion of northern lands.” Austin clenched his hands together. Agreeing to this must have cost him. “I brought him here to show him the map. We will concur about the parameters of the land and sign a contract. Then I expect Rhys will go back into the woods and set up a lookout, like the good little wolf he is.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Rhys snarled. “We don’t have an agreement yet.”
“But you want the land, and we both know it. You’ve been salivating more than usual since I made you the offer.” Austin turned back to me. “Go inside, please.” His voice was icy.
I hesitated. I wanted to go to him, to hug him and welcome him back, but his big shoulders were tense, warning me not to.
“Ooh, are you two having a lover’s quarrel?” Rhys chuckled to himself.