Chapter 62
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
ROSAMUND
He leads me around a small maze and through an orchard to a back gate. It’s half-open and we slip out while the lord of the manor is having lunch with his mistresses and guests.
Speaking of whom…
“You lied to me,” I accuse him.
He shoots me a look. “How?”
“You made me think I was pretty. That my scars weren’t ugly. That my future husband may desire me. May want me to know how to offer pleasure.”
“I never lie, Princess,” he says softly.
“You did! He doesn’t want me. Doesn’t like my scars.”
Halting, he releases my hand and bows his head, a vein leaping in his jaw. His hands clench into fists. “He said that to you?”
My mouth trembles. “Yes.”
“He’s a fucking bastard.”
“He’s only being honest with me.”
“Honest? He should be rotting in a dungeon. He expected a child bride,” Valen growls. “Not a beautiful, strong woman. He wanted a child to control and probably fuck, because he’s a monster. A sick fuck. The kind I’d kill without a second thought.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “No, Valen—”
“With my bare hands. Or claws.”
“It was an arranged marriage,” I whisper. “Of course he knew he wouldn’t get to marry me for years.”
“I saw the look in his eyes,” Valen says. “He’s disappointed because you’re older than the girl in the painting. He said so.”
I let out a shuddering breath. “There is no point in discussing this. Let’s go meet your friends.”
After a long moment, he sighs and resumes walking. We head toward a small grove. The day is bright but bitterly cold, and he shrugs off his jacket and places it over my shoulders.
That’s so… Valen. So courteous. Gentlemanly.
I hate how my eyes burn at the gesture, how I want to throw the jacket off me and scream in rage. How I want to clutch it to me and inhale his scent, let it soothe me.
There is another effect to him giving me his jacket: Valen dressed only in tight black leggings and boots, with a loose white shirt on top, is a walking temptation. A walking sin, a walking crime waiting to be committed.
Is it a crime to want him if I’m not married yet?
Gods, that’s not the sort of questions a betrothed lady asks herself day in and day out.
Then he says, “I didn’t lie to you, I… I made a mistake.”
“What do you mean?”
“I told you what I want in a woman. What any sane man would want. You are all that I want, Princess. Everything and more.” We stop right before the grove.
He lifts a hand to my face, places two fingers under my chin, and tilts my face up.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. The most beautiful I will ever see. Fuck, princess, you have to believe me. I—”
“Am I interrupting something?” a male voice drawls, and I jerk back. “I hope I’m interrupting something, because, oh man, the tension? The yearning on your faces? I’d pay good money to watch this shit.”
The man is handsome in a rough-hewn way, his intense gray eyes dominating his face. Pointed ears poke out of his shaggy blond hair, and his clothes are worn and dirty, his boots scuffed and soft.
“Who… who are you?” I whisper, even as it dawns on me from Valen’s scowl and lack of violence that this must be one of his friends. Another alpha wolf, from the looks of it.
“Kon.” Valen rubs a hand over his face. “Fuck.”
“Nice to see you,” the man says with a grin.
“Rosamund,” Valen gestures, “this is Konstam. Konstam, meet Rosamund.”
“Such a pleasure.” To my surprise, Konstam bows to me and reaches for my hand. He bows over it as if to kiss it, but his lips never touch my skin. “Valen wasn’t exaggerating about how beautiful you are.”
“Mind yourself,” Valen growls.
Straightening, Konstam winks at me. “I’d say he’s a tad possessive. What do you think, my lady?”
I can’t help but grin back. “Just a tad.”
“Wait for me! Nobody told me we had a reunion!” another male voice pipes in, and a second man strolls out of the woods.
This one is also impressively tall and muscular, and I bet he’s an alpha, too.
His hair is chestnut, and his eyes are shadowed by the longest lashes I’ve ever seen on a man.
He smirks in my direction, and it’s so… charming.
“I’m Darian. I’m sure you’ve heard about me. ”
“I… haven’t.”
“Oh?” He frowns. “These idiots haven’t told you about me? What a deplorable lack of manners. Maybe I should kick Valen’s ass and teach him how to respect his elders.”
“By a year,” Valen mutters. “That’s it. You’re just a year older than me.”
“It counts.”
“I’m kicking his ass first,” Konstam says, “so get in line, Dar. All this time, he’s been hanging out with this pretty lady and didn’t tell us.”
“None of your fucking business,” Valen growls.
“Oh, oh, the cub bites, beware.” Konstam lifts his hands. “Down, little one. Everything is fine.”
“You’re also older than him?” I blurt out, fascinated by these men who act like children, oddly endearing, but also feeling dangerous, much more so than any other men I’ve ever met.
“By a month.” Valen rubs his eyes. “You were supposed to make an impressive entrance and be courteous and polite. Wasn’t that what we agreed?”
“Well, we didn’t expect this… amorous congress to take place in front of our very eyes,” Konstam protests. “You didn’t consider our sensitivities! Our innocence!”
Valen barks a hoarse laugh, large shoulders shaking. “Your innocence. You’ve fucked everything that moved since you discovered your dick.” He glances at me. “Beg your pardon, Princess. Konstam is a menace. No skirt or pair of pants is safe from him.”
“Are you dismissing me, just like that?” Darian demands, placing a hand on his hip. “Am I not a fucking menace, too? I’m offended.”
“Fine. You two are both a pain. One giant pain in the ass.”
“Why, thank you.” Darian winks at me. “Glad that’s settled. This lady needs to know who she’s getting in with.”
“In what?” I squawk.
“This band of merry thieves. Though, technically we aren’t thieves. Sometimes we borrow some food and drink. Or an animal to feast on.”
“And we aren’t always merry,” Konstam adds. “Only on your average day. Right, Valen? Say something, man. Vouch for us.”
“I brought her to meet you,” Valen says. “Isn’t that enough for you?”
“He’s always so fucking grumpy,” Konstam says on a sigh. “What can you do? He needs a woman’s touch.”
“You could save him,” Darian says, his gaze earnest. “My lady.”
“Enough,” Valen growls again. “I didn’t bring her here for you to tease.”
“But we’re so bored,” Konstam whines. “And she knows this is affectionate teasing, right, Lady Rosamund?”
“We don’t tease those we dislike,” Darian agrees. “We eat them.”
I find myself laughing at their antics, although that last comment… “Do you really eat people?”
“Nah.” Darian waves a hand. “Humans and fae are too bony and stringy. Kind of bitter, to be honest with you. We prefer sheep and goats, cattle, and other grass-grazing animals. In case you were interested.”
“Interested?”
“In knowing more about us werewolves.” He winks. “You do know Valen is a wolf, right?”
I nod.
“Good. He’s an honest man. He’s bearable most of the time, but if he becomes too full of himself, just kick his ass.”
I laugh again. Almost choke on laughter. “I’ve never noticed Valen being too full of himself, and as for kicking his ass… Have you seen him and have you seen me? I barely reach his chin.”
“You have him wrapped around your little finger,” Konstam clucks his tongue. “He’s still wearing the collar you put on him. You’re already kicking his ass.”
I glance at Valen. He isn’t denying any of this. Why isn’t he? And what about the collar?
“Enough about my ass,” Valen says. “Maybe bringing her here was a mistake.”
“No, I… I’m glad,” I say, placing a hand on his corded forearm. “Truly.”
His smile is slow to form but bright. “You mean it?”
“Are all of your people like this?”
“Such idiots?” He shrugs. “Quite a few, yes.”
“I meant, this nice.”
“She thinks we are nice.” Darian preens. “Take that, Valen. Here’s a lady with good taste.”
“I’d say…” Valen turns his gaze to me. “I’d say we’re as okay a people as any other, but my friends and family are the best.”
“Excuse me, I have something in my eye,” Konstam says and theatrically wipes an imaginary tear. “Such eloquence, Valen. I can’t stand it.”
I snort, then clap a hand over my mouth. That’s as unladylike as you get.
But the men only grin wider.
“I like her, Valen.” Konstam nods at me. “You have my stamp of approval.”
“She doesn’t need your approval,” Valen growls.
“I agree with Kon,” Darian says. “You can keep her.”
“She’s not a pet!” Valen roars.
We all stop and stare at him. He’s breathing hard, a flush on his face.
“Valen?” I whisper.
“Apologies.” He turns his back to us. “It’s just… Fuck.”
“Just fuck?” Konstam turns to Darian. “What does that mean? Is it a human expression?”
Darian slaps the back of his head. “He’s upset, you dumbass.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s going to marry someone else.”
I stare at Valen’s broad back, and my heart aches. “I should get back to the manor.”
“Yeah.” Valen runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, you’re right. Time to go back.”
This was fun, but it’s time for me to return to the real world.