Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
ROSAMUND
It looks like we have a deal, the beast and I. Pretending I didn’t lose my self-control and puked out my guts, I straighten my clothes, tuck a few loose strands of hair behind my ears, and make as dignified an exit from my room as one can make under such circumstances.
Della, Kier, and Bert are still standing there.
And so is the wolfman.
Looming over the two men, even taller, even stronger than them. Will it ever stop startling me when I see him there, my nightmare come back to life?
A beautiful nightmare, I have to admit, even with the muzzle and the blood smeared all over him, his broad shoulders slightly hunched.
His shape is just so pleasing. So attractive.
There’s something about the hint of a square jaw and the line of those straight, thick brows, the strength in the way he holds himself, and the way his broad chest dips into narrow hips and long legs that…
“My lady,” Kier says, and it snaps me out of my daze. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Perfectly fine,” I assure him, throwing my shoulders back. “All set, then?”
The leash is back on the wolfman’s collar, and Bert passes me the end of it without a word. I clutch the leather strap in my hand, swallowing down more bile.
“Wolfman,” I say.
“Valen,” he says, his voice sending a new wave of shivers over my body.
I blink. “What?”
“My name is Valen.”
Damn him for giving me his name. Without a name, it was easier to dismiss him as an animal, a dangerous one.
We made a deal, and still his name is what gives me pause, what makes me take an inward step back and hesitate.
Kier and Bert hover as I move closer to Valen. I follow the line of the chain from my hand to his collar with my eyes, steeling myself for an attack.
He’s still and silent, observing me, his bound wrists held out in front of him, his hands encased in those black leather gloves.
“Will you restrain yourself?” I make myself ask. “Will you let me lead you around and not make any attempt to assault anyone, including myself?”
“We have an arrangement,” he says instead of an answer.
“We do.” What I haven’t told him is that the moment we enter the carriage, he will be tied and bound, hogtied in fact, until we can get rid of him. This deal is only meant to protect me, not benefit him.
“Though I didn’t agree to this part.” He lifts his bound hands again. “Being tied. Being led around on a leash.”
“Are you going back on our deal?” Because of course he would.
He sucks in a breath, the sound hollow behind the black leather muzzle. “Fuck. I’m not, but can’t you untie—?”
“No.”
Another strangled sound. “I won’t assault anyone. I swear it.”
“Not good enough. The chains remain.”
After a moment, he leans forward, and I jerk back only to realize he’s sketching a slight, obviously sardonic bow. “As you wish, my lady. It looks like I have no choice but to obey.”
“Don’t you?” I frown at him. Why is he so amenable? “Werewolves and reason don’t go together in my mind.”
“You’re right, but I’ve made my choice and agreed to a deal with you. I keep my promises.”
A rational conversation. I’m still reeling. I’m even more amazed that I haven’t run away screaming, yet. “Fine, then. You’d better behave in a civilized manner during the meals and games.”
“Civilized? These are terms you didn’t mention,” he rasps. “What’s a savage wolf to do?”
My brows arch. “Are you mocking me?”
I swear he’s grinning, although I can’t see the lower part of his face. It’s something about the way the corners of his eyes crinkle. “Just returning the favor,” he says.
“How dare you?” Kier starts toward him, fists raised. “Watch your manners around her, you filthy animal, or I will—”
“Kier.” I throw an arm out to stop him. “I’ll handle this.”
“You shouldn’t have to. Your stepfather has gone too far, this is—”
“Kier.”
He sighs and stops. “Of course, my lady. Your wish is my command. However, Bert and I will accompany you today, if you agree.”
“I gladly accept,” I whisper, my gaze still on Valen. “And the wolf will behave, right, wolf?”
“Right, Princess.”
“I’m not a princess, but you are a wolf, and you will come to heel.” I deliberately turn my back to him and tug on the chain, vowing I won’t let him see my fear ever again. “Shall we? We don’t want to miss the games.”
The chain of the leash is long enough that he can walk a few paces behind me. I wonder what sort of picture we’re giving, me, dragging my supposed bodyguard by a chain, followed by two of the burliest manservants on the estate.
I pretend not to notice anything is amiss, as if strolling in the front gardens pulling a massive werewolf on a leash is something I do every day.
The long tables have been transported outdoors and set along the paths of the garden, under the trees and among the flowering bushes. It’s a good season for traveling, I think randomly. It could have been worse.
Then I catch the horrified and stunned expressions on the faces of those around me and recall why it couldn’t possibly be any worse than it is now.
Not in my wildest, darkest dreams.
The guests are out playing Clubs and Spheres, whereby one, as the name indicates, hits spheres with clubs, trying to send their sphere farther than the rest. Small dogs run around yapping and wagging their tails, and hapless servants race to capture them before they mess up the game.
It’s the very picture of leisure and fun.
At the center of everyone’s attention is the House of Fireflies as well as my stepfamily, the fae sharing drinks and a laugh over the game, together with my stepfather, stepmother and stepsister.
It takes them a while to notice me, while the loose crowd parts to let us through. They are still laughing over something when I stop before them, the leather end of the leash clutched in my hand.
“The Frost Princess,” they whisper.
They really have no imagination to call their own, mindlessly repeating a mocking name applied to me years ago.
Stepfather is the first to notice the sudden quiet. He looks up, goblet in hand, his lips stained red from the wine. “Daughter,” he says, something he never calls me. “You finally deigned to join us.”
“Missed breakfast,” Lord Sinen says in a tone that suggests it’s meant in jest, bait to reel me into their little insider joke. “You must be so hungry, you’ll wolf everything down come lunchtime.” He glances sideways to see if his lackeys caught the joke.
A few scattered laughs greet his words.
Stepfather snorts, his attention still on me. “I see you accepted my gift, but you’re not supposed to chain up your bodyguard. How will he guard you now?”
More scattered laughter meets his witty remark. I stare hard at him, waiting for more. Won’t he tire of it, sooner or later?
“Nothing to say?” Stepfather prods.
“Who keeps company with the wolves will learn to howl,” the fae lord mutters, his mouth stretched in a smirk, returning to the game, his club jauntily propped against his shoulder. “It’s your turn, Liam.”
They are on first name basis? Since when? I frown at them until a low growl from behind me has me jerking around.
The wolf—Valen—is glaring at a human lord who’s standing there with his smirking friends. I can’t see anything off, so I return to my delightful family.
“Come to play?” my stepsister asks with a fake smile. “Or are you tired? You certainly have the wolf by the ears.”
“Not you, too, Matilde,” I mutter.
“You don’t look scared,” my stepmother says, frowning. “I’d be terrified to have an animal following me around, especially…” She makes her eyes round. “After what happened to you.”
“Oh, Gods.” I roll my eyes. “Were you all in the know? Did you plan this together with Stepfather?”
“Come, little girl,” Lord Sinen coos, “are you going to cry? Poor, wronged baby.”
The chain jerks in my hand. “How dare you?” a low, menacing voice asks.
In disbelief, I turn to find Valen glaring at the fae lord. His bound hands are curled into fists.
“Control your beast,” Stepfather says coldly.
“And how do you propose I should do that?” I demand. Uneasy, I tear my gaze away from the werewolf. At least Kier and Bert are there, right behind him, ready to grab him if need be. “You promised me a magical sword.”
“Ah, yes, the sword.”
“I’ll also require some extra provisions for the journey.”
“Provisions ?”
“Yes. I’ll need more men, strong men, and extra-sturdy chains and ropes.”
“Men?” He smirks. “You have your bodyguard. I can’t risk more people for your sake.”
A chill silence falls over the garden. I suppose that was cold even for my haters.
“My marriage will bring you privileges,” I bite out. “The least you can do is send me safely to my husband.”
He scoffs, but shrugs. “As you wish. You will have two more bodyguards for the journey. And your chains and ropes, for whatever you have in mind. Am I allowed to play now, or did you need anything else?”
“No, play your games. I have more important things to do.” Turning on my heel, I drag Valen and the two manservants behind me and start toward the long tables.
Truth is, I don’t know where I’m going.
I hear Stepmother hiss as I go, “Why do you let her speak to you like that? She’s nobody. You’re the master of this house.”
“She won’t be here for much longer,” he says. “Don’t worry your pretty head over her. She poses no threat to us.”
I keep going, blindly trampling grass and flowers, my mouth trembling. Leaving. Yeah, leaving may be the best thing that ever happened to me.
No matter what.
Someone behind me howls like a wolf, and it’s not Valen. Laughter echoes.
I stop and scream silently at the sky.
Then I head for my favorite tree and duck under its thick foliage to compose myself.
Only, I’m not alone. I have no privacy. Not anymore. The chain may be linked to Valen’s collar, but the other end is in my hand, and I might as well be the one collared and leashed.