by Kat Zaccard
“It can’t be that bad, Princess.” I whirled around, surprised as a shadow detached from the darkness; a man stepped into the light thrown from the party behind us. He was tall, broad-shouldered and, like everyone in the palace, impeccably dressed. His appeared to be a formal military uniform, complete with epaulets and sword. He radiated strength.
“Have we met?” Nadia’s advice seemed to be rubbing off as I brushed his comment aside. Good Princess Pony, have an apple. I smiled to myself, deciding the second glass of champagne was a bad idea. The man must have thought the smile was for him, and he grinned broadly at me, swept his arm back and extended a foreleg, bowing low before me, revealing thinning hair on the back of his close-cropped grey head. I wasn’t sure if he was being flamboyant or facetious. In theory, I outranked every noble here, but most only nodded their heads at me or bobbed a hint of a curtsy.
“Forgive my rudeness, Your Royal Highness. I am Duke Aleksandr of the Royal Clan Ivanov, diplomat from the Russian Pack, at your service.” He bowed again with a flourish. His sincerity surprised me, and I realized he knew exactly my rank.
“It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Aleksandr—I mean, Your Grace.” I blushed, stumbling on the proper title now that Nadia wasn’t here to coach me.
The Duke smiled even broader. “I, too, am not so familiar with all this formality. In my home, I much prefer my other suit.” He laughed heartily, and I smiled. He was a natural at putting one at ease, and I had no trouble picturing him tearing out of his uniform in a fit of fur and fangs and bolting into the woods in his wolf skin.
“Please don’t tell, but so do I. A run would be lovely right now.”
“Ah, perhaps a kindred spirit? Tell me, Your Highness, do you yearn for the full moon each night or fear its coming?”
I was pretty sure he was teasing me, being so young and new to the shift. No one expected me to be in control my wolf. It would be satisfying to enlighten him, but not smart. “I neither yearn for nor fear what is already inside me.” There. That sounded good, and the liquid courage I’d gained from the champagne almost made it true.
He laughed heartily. “Yes, I definitely like this one!” he said to himself, then, “Tell me, Princess, do you look forward to your coronation?”
“It hardly seems real.” The confession slipped out before I realized it.
“Hmm … would you rather abolish the heir succession to the throne?”
“I must confess that I don’t know. If I become queen”—the words I’d never said out loud before sent a shiver through me—“it would be because of my lineage. But I was raised in a democracy, and while ideally I think people should vote for who leads them, it still seems to be a system easily corrupted.”
“There is always the old way: trial by combat.” His blue eyes sharpened.
“That seems a little…” I wanted to say “barbaric,” but insulting a werewolf’s ideology alone in the dark just didn’t seem prudent, so I went with, “Extreme?”
He snatched at my insecurity like a bone. “Extreme? Perhaps, but then the Pack knows that the one who leads them has the strength to do so. Some say a true alpha is the strongest among us.”
“Strength is measured in different ways, Your Grace.”
“True, Your Royal Highness, with that, I do agree. But what do we make of this pomp and circumstance? These fancy balls, pretty gowns, and sparkling gems. What do they matter on the battlefield? What do they matter against the upyr?”
“Upyr?” I asked. The word was a test, and I had failed. I could see it in his eyes. The word was familiar somehow, but where had I heard it before? My mind flashed back to my first day at Mt. Henley. Diego had mentioned it to Jack, and Den Mother Grissle had called the upyr a myth, like the boogeyman. I wanted to ask Duke Aleksandr to explain, but I already looked ignorant. Guarded, he reached toward my elbow and steered me toward the French windows and back into the ballroom.
“But here, you have shivered. Come in, come in, Princess, before you catch your death.”
When I reentered the ballroom, I noticed how stiflingly hot the air felt compared to the cool breeze of outdoors. I longed to escape back onto the balcony, but Logan approached on the heels of a tall, distinguished man sporting short gray hair and a close-cropped beard. His tuxedo practically shone along with the military and royal insignia attached to his lapel. I noticed many of the werewolf dignitaries wore sashes of their nation’s flags and family crest pins. I needed another cheat sheet on family crests and military awards. I made a mental note to ask Nadia.
I couldn’t avoid the determined man coming toward me. Logan looked rather reluctant in tow, but followed along willingly. The man stopped before me with a click of his polished heels. He bowed formally.
Logan cleared his throat and said woodenly, “Your Royal Highness, allow me to introduce Prince Ulric III of the Royal Clan Dolph. Grandfather, may I present Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice of the Royal Clan Luna, Heir to the Throne of the Great Pack and future Alpha Queen.” Logan nodded his head toward me like he’d swallowed nails.
I curtsied politely to Prince Ulric. “A pleasure to meet you, sir.”
Nadia, who had seemingly just materialized beside me, pinched my arm, and I hastily straightened up. I deduced her annoyance. I had forgotten I wasn’t supposed to curtsey back.
“Your Royal Highness, the honor is mine.” He stepped forward and kissed both of my cheeks. “Welcome to the family, my dear. We are so pleased you’ve returned to us.”
It was my turn to smile woodenly at the elder man. Logan caught my eye and almost twitched a smile at my discomfort. I resisted sticking my tongue out at him, but just barely. The orchestra playing in the background switched melodies to a waltz I unfortunately recognized. It was the same music Nadia had me practice dancing to for the last two weeks. She loved to giggle at me as her fourteen-year old brother Nolan tried to teach me the steps. I wasn’t terrible by the end of our lessons, but it’d be a few weeks before Nolan’s broken toe healed, even with werewolf-speedy healing.
“Aww, the Dolph family waltz!” exclaimed Ulric with a clap of his hands. “My boy, this is your moment.” His eyes twinkled as he nudged Logan in my direction.
Logan approached, bowed, and asked for this dance. I could tell his end of the exchange was as rehearsed as mine. We took the dance floor, and the crowd opened up to encircle us, murmuring and smiling at the royal couple destined to wed. Cameras flashed, and I tried to avoid Logan’s toes as I blinked white spots out of my eyes. Logan held me stiffly and spun me across the floor. He didn’t say one word. When the music ended he twirled me to a stop and bowed formally over my hand, kissing my red glove.
He looked up at me, his face a mask. “Thank you for the dance, Princess.” And he led me off the floor. As soon as we blended back into the crowd, he fled. Well, as much as I could in my red gown in a sea of white. I wasn’t surprised to be abandoned on the sidelines and instead made my way to the refreshments in search of water and a snack.
Popping a stuffed mushroom into my mouth, I scanned the room from the refreshments area. I was partially hidden behind a large, marble pillar and I relished the opportunity to take in the dance for a moment, unobserved. The great hall was strung with garlands of white tulle, evergreen, and twinkle lights. The large, floral displays combined spruce, white lilies, and LED light sticks. The whole room felt magical. With a sigh, I set aside my disappointment in Logan, my nervousness about the council, and my secrets as a werewolf. For just a moment, I was a girl in a pretty dress at a lovely ball.
“Did you see how they danced?” I overheard a couple of guests as they approached the refreshments on the other side of my white marble pillar hiding place.
“Like a fairytale!” exclaimed a high-pitched voice. “Can you picture the wedding? We’ll outdo the British with this one.”
“Hard to imagine a wedding with that red dress, though! Do you think that was on purpose?” I held still, realizing they were discussing me.
“Of
course! It’s brilliant! I mean way, to stand out!” laughed the first voice.
“I don’t know, kind of flouts the tradition,” said the second voice, critically.
“I guess, but she looks incredible. You can’t deny that.”
“She does look a lot like her mother.”
“I never thought I’d see the Lost Princess return, let alone in person!” The voices trailed off as the guests mingled back into the crowd.
With a sigh, I stepped back into the spotlight, as well.
Chapter 15
The next morning, I woke up sick. My head was pounding and my stomach was doing flip-flops. For a moment, I thought I’d been poisoned; something I’d eaten must have had dairy in it. Then I remembered the champagne. So this was a hangover? It sucked.
I was halfway through my shower before it dawned on me that, in theory, I could have been poisoned if someone had been inclined to try. I thought about what Nadia had said the night before. Could I really be such a threat to the queen that she’d have me killed? Could I show her I’m not a threat?
“But I am a threat,” I told my reflection. In all honesty, that’s what it came down to. Did I want the throne? Should I abdicate? I’ve been told it’s my birthright, but what right do I have from parents I didn’t know? I thought about my training. I couldn’t win a trial by combat, could I? No, I couldn’t kill.
I sighed and went to get dressed. Today was the council meeting and dinner party. One last function and meal and then I could escape this mad kingdom, for what? Another crazy reality I’d just have to accept? I was going mad. I had to get out of the castle for a little while.
Wishing I had better winter gear, I settled for jeans, boots, my too-fancy-for-function parka, hat, and gloves. I probably looked ridiculous walking through the gilt-papered hallways, but luckily only to a staff member or two. I wound my way toward the back terrace and slipped out into the snow-covered garden, where I breathed in deeply, that sharp, cold air needling my nose and throat. It felt amazing.
I walked quickly through the plowed walkways and off the beaten path to the farthest edges of the gardens and back property. I followed the stone wall north, hoping to come to a gate. I had no idea where the security cameras were, and I wanted to be as discreet as possible. I knew there were woods beyond the wall, and my inner wolf wanted out.
I was just about to give up hope and started to weigh my options: go back or strip here? Luckily, a break in the stone wall revealed an old iron gate, well maintained, and locked. I smiled. It would do.
Nimbly, I climbed over the gate and dropped into the snow below with a satisfying crunch. I tromped my way toward the tree line and walked deeper into the woods. Freedom. Before long, I spotted an outcropping. Glancing around and seeing nothing but snow-covered trees, I quickly shed my layers, shivering as the wind pricked my human skin. I rolled my clothes into a bundle and wedged them under a rock. With a brisk shake and one last horse-lipped, “brrr,” I shed my human skin as well and melted into my wolf. Shifting felt fluid and easy, as natural as breathing. I trotted lightly through the woods, weaving between trees and letting my senses tell me about my surroundings.
I heard the startled animals get used to my presence, and their chirps and chatters resumed. The smell of frozen water pulled me northwest as I searched for the source. I came to a mostly frozen brook fed by a natural spring. The ice had been broken through to reach the freezing water below. I lapped up a few cold sips, savoring the fresh taste, even though the cold made me sneeze. Shaking droplets off of my muzzle, I followed the frozen stream awhile, not wanting to risk the ice by crossing.
It was strange to not have any other wolves around. At school, on the full moon runs, the brain signatures of the wolves of Mt. Henley could be overwhelming. It was like the radio tuned in and I could hear the general mood of any werewolf. It was worse when we were all together; the noise was like a constant background hum on top of mental chatter of the strong projectors. Kulani and Jack had been helping me learn to shield, but I hadn’t realized how much effort it took until it was gone.
Out here in the woods, in the silence, I could appreciate the difference. I could separate the information from the noise. I felt like my other senses were heightened. Without the distraction of the strange mental link only I seemed to notice, I could see farther, hear better, touch and taste … I also realized I could sense the other creatures of the forest, at least some of them—squirrels vibrated a little faster and seemed to me to be light green. I couldn’t see the color exactly, but my wolf would say I could taste it. I shrugged at the logic of wolves.
I stopped, sensing something else. It wasn’t a wolf, but it was a brain signature. I just wasn’t sure what kind. It was definitely different from anything else alive out here. It smelled wrong. I stared across the riverbank. Was that a flash of movement? Then I saw her, a young girl no older than me. She had pale, silvery blond hair and her skin nearly blended in with the snow. Her clothes were light-colored, camouflaging her in the winter wonderland of the snow-filled forest. Her outfit, loose pants and thin, cream shirt, didn’t look very warm. She stopped and looked around. Her coal-black eyes found mine, and she stiffened. She must have held her breath because I didn’t see her exhalation on the air. Oh, right. I looked like a scary, larger-than-average wolf. I sniffed the air but couldn’t catch her scent. What was a girl doing out here? I smelled blood and death and noticed she was holding a broken rabbit. I took a step toward her, breaking the pregnant breath between us. She dropped the dead bunny. I barely heard her clothes swish as she spun and ran. She was out of sight before I’d finished my step. I blinked, and she was gone.
I was debating whether or not to try to cross the frozen river to follow her wondering if the girl needed help. Was there a human town nearby, beyond the palace compound? Would she freeze? Then again, a wolf tearing after her would be scary enough, not to mention one that turns into a naked girl when she catches you. Hi, want to be friends? And of course there’s the number one rule for all werewolves everywhere: Don’t reveal your true nature to humans. Debating these conflicting thoughts, I decided I had to trust my gut. My instincts told me she wasn’t in danger. I had to assume the girl out in the woods knew what she was doing. She was only frightened by me because I looked like a scary wolf, obviously.
A twig snapped behind me, and I whirled around. It was a wolf I didn’t recognize, and he didn’t seem too happy to see me. I’d never met a wolf in my wolf skin outside of Mt. Henley, perhaps that’s why he’d snuck up on me before I noticed his brain waves. He was good at shielding, that’s for sure; not a peep from his brain. If I listened hard, I simply felt menace, like a low growl. Oh, wait. No, that was perfectly audible, actual menace … he was growling. And he seemed to be pawing the ground in a surrender-so-I-don’t-eat-you kind of a way.
Shock wore off and panic took over. I took off, darting down the riverbank and veering into the trees. The wolf was right on my heels. I didn’t have many options. This guy was likely a patrol, knew the woods better than me, and was bound to catch me soon. My only hope was to get to my clothes before then, so at the very least I didn’t have to face him naked. Sure, I could have tried the river and maybe crossed, and maybe he would have fallen through. Maybe I could have eluded him, but by my calculations, I was toast. So, do I face certain capture naked vs. certain capture clothed? It was a no-brainer.
I was a few feet from the outcropping when a large, furry weight barreled into my side. Rolling and snarling, I tried every defensive maneuver I’d been taught. He had me pinned in two seconds flat. Fighting was a lot harder when my alpha powers didn’t influence the outcome. I realized I needed to train harder, as well as seriously consider my ethical choices. In the meantime, I gave in and decided to use my ability on him if I could. I put every ounce of power I could summon into the command: Let me up.
The wolf released me, dazed, then shook his head and showed me his teeth.
Wait! I commanded and darted to the rocks where
I nosed the clothing bundle out from hiding, then stared at him pointedly. With a warning rumble, he turned around. I shifted and quickly dressed. I was chilled, but werewolves run a little hotter, so by the time I’d dressed, I was comfortable again. I pulled on my boots and let the wolf know I was ready.
When I turned back, a very tall, very naked Duke Aleksandr of something or other stared back at me. Somehow, even without his military dress uniform from the evening before, he still looked militaristically imposing. His arms were crossed, and he also looked angry.
“Your Majesty.” He bowed very formally. Not easy to pull off when you’re stark naked, but he cut an admirable figure in the snow.
“Uh, yeah, hi. I know I’m not supposed to be out here, but you get it, right? It’s a beautiful day, the woods are empty, and it’s just too perfect not to run. You know what it’s like, to need a good run, right?”
I babbled and wondered if I was turning into my mother after all. His frown deepened, then softened, and then slowly the quirk of his mouth was definitely upturned if not almost to an outright grin.
“Yes, Princess, I get it.” His accent mangled the phrase, and we both smiled. “I am surprised to see you, and in your wolf skin, no less.” He arched an eyebrow.
“Yeah, about that, I’m just an early learner I guess.” I shrugged, but he looked skeptical. “Could you please not tell the queen?” I didn’t mean to sound petulant, but worried I’d failed.
His Grace was hard to read; something still troubled him. Smiling at me, he affirmed, “The Queen Regent will not hear of this from me, Your Majesty.”
Duke Aleksandr swept me another deep bow, and I kind of wished he’d stop doing that. We decided it’d be best if he escorted me back to the palace grounds, and I was relieved when he shifted into his wolf to do so.
At the gate, he watched me climb over, and even managed a regal bow as a wolf. I smiled and waved and walked back to the castle, colder on the outside but warmer on the inside. I looked back once and saw his glowing gold eyes watching me. I was so relieved not to be in trouble for leaving the palace grounds. Knowing Aleksandr kept my secret felt like having an ally.