Chapter 12
Lucy: Encounters of a Frightening Kind
Getting the two designers settled took more time than Lucy had expected.
For one thing, Damien kept trying to kiss her, which was hard enough to dodge, but then Donatella decided that the best way to control her brother was to roughhouse with him.
The two managed to smash two beautiful and expensive vases in their chamber before Lucy finally got them into a bed.
Even then, she had to find someone to guard the door so that they wouldn’t just go walkabout as soon as she turned her back.
Unfortunately, by the time she got them settled, she’d missed lunch and the first hour of the challenge.
She shook her head. That wasn’t a good impression on either the emperor or Sebastian, who was expecting her to help him.
A whole ensemble was difficult enough for a team of two designers with an assistant or two, nevermind one who was trying to do it on his own.
With that thought in mind, she hurried through the residential chambers of the palace, trying to find her way back to their assigned workroom. She was in such a rush, she almost didn’t see Thaddeus before she smacked into him.
He scowled at her, looming over her in such a way that she was almost certain that his wolf would come out, regardless of the moon cycle.
Memories of her assault ran through her mind, unbidden and she took a step back.
As if he could read her thoughts, Thaddeus’s scowl turned into a smirk.
“You should watch where you’re going, little Lucy-lo-lu.
You never know who you might meet in a strange place like this. ”
“Thaddeus. What are you doing here?” Lucy asked, putting another step between them. Despite her panic, her voice didn’t tremble. “I thought you’d be back with the Company.”
“They asked me to oversee a few things,” Thaddeus said, waving his hand. “For an upcoming job. But the real question is, little Lucy, what are you doing here?”
Lucy took another step back. “You know why I’m here. Sebastian—”
“What did you tell him?” Thaddeus interrupted.
Lucy glared at him. “Nothing. I didn’t even tell him it was you who accosted us on the road.”
Thaddeus’s eyes flashed. “That’s an awfully bold accusation, lo-lu. Do you think he’d believe it, even if you were to tell him? After all, no one believes a madwoman.”
Lucy flinched. “I know it was you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “And Robin. I don’t know who the third one was—”
“Good grief, lo-lu, do you ever stop talking?” Thaddeus demanded, closing the difference between them.
“I already told you what would happen to you if you told your precious soldier boy. Why are you even humoring him? He left you, remember?” With every word, he was stopping closer.
She backed up against the wall, her heart beating like a drum.
Then, all at once, his fingers curled around her throat. “He’s nothing but a no-good, common—”
Lucy closed her eyes and wished for something…anything to get her out of the situation. Then, all at once, a change overtook her. Her limbs shrank and contorted. Hair sprouted all over her body. One moment, she was a petite, frightened maiden, and the next she was a fox.
Thaddeus swore, dropping her to the ground, and she took her chance.
Like greased lightning, she shot out of the hallway and into the sunshine of the nearby courtyard.
She blinked in the sudden sunlight, but she did not allow herself to stop running.
Her keen ears caught the sound of Thaddeus’s footsteps pounding behind her. She needed to get out, to get away….
She dove into the tall grass and stayed very still, praying that he would not find her. She could hear nothing but the sound of her heartbeat. Her eyes darted this way and that, searching for threats.
“Lucy!” Thaddeus’s voice rang out in the courtyard and she shivered. She watched as he looked around, his dark eyes trying to perceive her hiding place. For a moment, she was afraid that he had found her. But then he shrugged and disappeared back into the palace.
Lucy took a deep breath, trying to slow her thumping heart. She needed to make a plan, to figure out the next steps, but all she could think of was her horror at finding Thaddeus at the palace. Why did he keep following her? And, a better question: how could she make him stop?
She could talk to her father, she supposed.
As a Beta, Thaddeus had to respect his Alpha’s commands.
But she worried that if she revealed the man’s harassment, he might take it out on her grandmother or another member of her family.
Even if she didn’t particularly like Tala, she didn’t want to accidentally put her in danger.
She could talk to Sebastian or Oliver. They were her friends and, theoretically, held some type of political power.
Then she remembered how Sebastian had disappeared from her life without a word.
No, he’d sent word—through Thaddeus himself—that he never wanted to see her again.
If he’d trusted Thaddeus with such an important message, she had to assume he knew the man, and therefore she couldn’t be sure that he would help her if she came to him.
Which left her with very few options. Just try and make it through the competition, she decided. Once it’s over, you can disappear. Perhaps you can become one of Lady Quinn’s informants or…or something
The thoughts left a bitter taste in your mouth. Leave her family, the few friends she’d made? But then she remembered the unknown werewolf’s hands all over her body, ripping at cloth, probing deeply, painfully, never stopping, no matter how much she pleaded, until—
No. She needed to go. Begin a new life, free of the wolf’s touch. Only then would she be safe.
How long will I be a fox? she wondered. She’d tried to remember anything she’d ever heard about kitsunés, which wasn’t much.
As far as she knew, kitsunes could transform of their own free will.
When she’d transformed last time, she’d done it when she was frightened, and it was only after she’d calmed herself that she’d turned back. Maybe that was the secret—
Before she could think much more about it, two figures emerged into the courtyard.
She recognized one as the emperor. He wasn’t nearly as imposing now as he had been in the throne room.
He had a vacuous look on his face and he kept running his fingers up and down the fabric of his robe, as if it had entranced him.
A tall, painfully thin man accompanied him.
“Your imperial highness, you must stop. This is madness!” the thin man said.
The emperor laughed. “Madness, Han? I thought I was doing what you asked—taking an interest in the surrounding countries, making up celebrations for the people, getting out of my closets.”
“Yes, but the way you’re doing it…” Han stepped in front of the emperor. “You must know it’s not safe. We won’t have time to imbue whatever clothes they make with protection spells to ensure that they aren’t coated with some type of poison. Queen Snow White was ever so displeased when you—”
“Enough.” The mirth was gone from the emperor’s voice now.
“You’re making a big stink over nothing.
Queen Snow White won’t jeopardized relations with Umber.
And I’m sure that someone has investigated all the designers thoroughly.
There is no danger here, so let me enjoy getting nine new ensembles and leave the paranoia to the soldiers and guards. ”
“But, sire—”
“After all, it’s a celebration!” the emperor said, throwing his hands into the air.
“An empire’s 500th anniversary isn’t something that happens every day.
We should just relax and enjoy the festivities.
Let go of all the anxiety and fuss and work.
” He scowled at the last word like the very sound of it was poison. “Just stop worrying so much, old boy.”
The advisor scowled. “I have to worry, your highness. Because if I don’t, who will?”
“Life is too short for you to worry so much. Especially when nothing is going to happen. Now, look here at this design. Can you see the image?” The emperor held out the sleeve of his gown.
Han barely looked at the fabric. “It baffles me that you are so na?ve, your highness. After your parents—”
“My parents are none of your concern.” The emperor’s voice grew hard.
“After all, they are dead and buried. And I am alive.” He held out the sleeve again.
“Look closer at the beautiful intricacies of this design. Why, it looks like someone painted on the robe. Can you believe it? I would never have thought to do that. Would you?”
“No, your highness.” Lucy could see the advisor was biting his tongue before he could say that he wouldn’t have thought to do it because it didn’t interest him.
“That’s what I’m hoping for during this competition,” the emperor said, withdrawing his arm. “That the competitors will all do something that I’ve never seen or imagined. If a team can do that, they will win the prize and my respect.”
A thrilling rush ran through Lucy’s body.
This was it. It was the advantage she and Sebastian needed to win the competition.
Why do you care? The insistent voice in her head was back, and, true to form, refused to be quieted.
It’s not like you’re going to hang around here after the competition is over.
You’ve already decided that you’re running as soon as no one is looking.
You have to. The memory of Thaddeus’s gaze lingering on her sent a completely different type of shudder running through her body, and she felt as if someone had dumped a pail of ice water on her.
Still, she reasoned, she could try to help Sebastian win. And maybe, just maybe, doing that would help them prevent the attack. An idea was forming at the back of her mind.
The emperor sighed and stretched. “Well, I think I’ll head back into the closet and see if I can find anything fine enough to judge the competitors’ offerings. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my audience.”
“Of course, your highness,” Han said through a sigh. “And I should go make sure everyone is working. Did you know the assistants for the team from Moyar showed up, well and truly in their cups, and one of the designers had to help them back to their rooms? It was absolutely disgraceful.”
The emperor shrugged. “But very entertaining, I’m sure.
And besides, that just means that their designs won’t torment us.
I told Lady Soto that their designs were simply not up to the standard I’ve come to expect, and she had the nerve to say that we had already invited them, and it was too late to back out now.
And then, of course, they were late to the opening ceremony. Positively scandalous.”
“As you say, your highness,” the advisor said, following the emperor out of the courtyard. Gradually, their voices faded away.
Well, at least I know where we stand in the emperor’s eyes, Lucy thought. But if I want to help Sebastian and have any hope for us to stay in the competition, I need to get out of this stupid fox form and get back into my proper body.
As soon as the thoughts crossed her mind, her body began to shift and change.
Her limbs lengthened, and the fur receded until she was crouching in the tall grass, safely in her regular body, none the worse for the wear.
Well, other than the stains on her gown, but she’d figure out how to deal with them later.
Lucy scrambled to her feet and twisted her red curls into a very makeshift bun. Then she took off down the halls at a run, intent on finding her way back to Sebastian’s studio. She had an idea about how they were going to win this competition, and, for once, she was going to be helpful.