The Wolf Prince

CHAPTER 16



Abruptly the room went utterly silent. Whispers died down, everyone making no secret of their rapt attention. Willow kept her gaze fixed on the king and told herself that she didn’t care. These were not her people. Not yet, at least.

Back straight, heart in her throat, she faced down the man who, for whatever reason, had not only failed to acknowledge her parentage, but had done his best to pretend as if she’d never been born.

It shouldn’t have hurt so badly.

He bent his head, his expression pensive. Again, he didn’t appear to be ready to give her a direct answer. That was all right. She’d waited her entire life. She could wait a few more minutes. But no more than that.

“I loved your mother once. Twice,” King Drem mused, his tone pensive. “And I believed she loved me. We made plans to wed, but right before our wedding, she told me she would be marrying King Puck instead. She wasn’t royalty then and to her it was a heady thing, to be made queen of her own people.”

Shocked, Willow took pains to conceal it. This was news to her. She’d always believed her mother had come from minor royalty. But then, since Millicent was extremely tight-lipped, Willow hadn’t actually known anything of her mother’s history, nor she suspected, did Tatiana. Her mother had always been very secretive of her past. Now Willow understood why.

For a moment, an old pain flashed across King Drem’s autocratic features. “I loved her,” he repeated, his low voice breaking. He looked away, obviously gathering his composure. Out of respect, Willow glanced down at her feet, waiting until he spoke again.

Finally, he cleared his throat. “She had a choice,” he continued. “True love and ruling over my people or...her own people. She chose to remain among the Brights.”

Eyeing her blankly as though he didn’t really see her, the Shadow king appeared lost in thought and memories. His obvious grief, even after all these years, made Willow’s chest ache.

She glared at the court, willing them to converse. She hated that they were so bold as to intrude on such a private moment. Everyone in the room strained to listen with no shame.

“That was her reasoning?” Willow asked, pitching her voice as low as she could to keep it from carrying. “The desire to rule the Brights meant more to her than her true love?”

Of course, knowing her mother as she did, Willow could easily imagine this scenario. What she couldn’t picture was her mother actually loving someone other than herself. Though, the more King Drem spoke, the more it sounded like she hadn’t.

“Millicent didn’t want even to try to overcome the prejudices of our two peoples against each other. She would have been an outsider here.”

Raising his head, he sighed, gazing off into the distance. “So she chose Puck instead. They married amid great celebration, or so I hear. I, of course, was not invited to the wedding.”

“But this was all too long ago to have resulted in my birth,” she protested. She fell silent when King Drem raised his hand.

“You have no concept of how difficult this was for her,” he said. Though privately Willow doubted that, she nodded and kept her mouth shut.

“Were your two people enemies then?” Ruben asked. He’d come up beside her and, to her surprise, took her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers.

“Not enemies,” King Drem said sadly. “We weren’t friends, either, but we did do a fair bit of trading between our lands. That has completely stopped these days.”

Willow nodded. Though many years had passed, and Shadow handicrafts were few and far between; their knives were valued for their craftsmanship and beauty.

This was all very well and good, but didn’t even begin to answer her question. Again, Willow faced the king, drawing strength from Ruben’s fingers intertwined with hers.

“If this is the case, did you ever see my mother again?” she asked. “Obviously, you must have.”

Focusing on her, slowly King Drem nodded. “I did.”

“When?” she persisted, wishing he’d just come out and say she was his daughter.

“Years had passed and Millicent had been married to Puck several years. She had already borne her husband a daughter when she sought me out. She was unhappy and wanted to see if what we’d once had still burned as bright.” His throat worked as he swallowed. “I, of course, could never refuse her anything.”

So it was true. She waited for a sense of joy that never came.

The king smiled sadly. “Obviously, you were the result of that union. Foolishly, I thought she’d stay. But her husband wooed her back with jewels and honeyed promises.”

She couldn’t help but notice he didn’t mention the baby she’d been. Willow squared her shoulders and braced herself to hear the rest. She’d come here for the truth and the truth she would have. No matter how much it hurt. “Weren’t you curious about me? Did you truly have no desire to see the child you helped create?”

His dark brows came together in a thunderous frown. “Your mother didn’t tell you?”

She shook her head. “Tell me what?”

He sighed. “I wondered if you knew. I was forbidden to contact you, as long as you remained in your land. King Puck said he would wage war on NorthWard if I tried to see you or get in touch with you in any way. So I did not.”

Her knees almost buckled. Now at last, she understood everything. She felt a rush of anger toward the woman who’d raised her. All these years. Teased by her classmates and her sister, gossiped about by her own people and shunned by the man she’d believed to be her father. All the while wondering why.

And now she knew.

Something of her thoughts must have shown in her face. Leaning forward in his massive black chair, King Drem studied her. “You didn’t know?” he asked quietly.

Still gripping Ruben’s hand, she took a step closer, bringing him with her. “No. I suspected, when I first met you. But then why were we bound and made to wear hoods? We were brought to you, then. Did you not order this?”

He smiled, looking anything but regretful. “I did not. My closest advisor took it upon himself to do this, as a gift to me.”

“I don’t understand...”

“Years ago, when I located a portal that led to your lands, I’ve routinely sent men to check on you and report back to me. This time, you and your friends were riding so close to the portal that he couldn’t resist. You were bound and hooded so he could bring you through, without giving away the location.”

So she’d been right.

“Do you not worry about my parents’ retribution for this?”

Again he smiled. “I don’t think they’ll be so eager to pursue that now. As far as they will know, unless you tell them differently, you came to me.”

She nodded, agreeing silently. “So you did send the hawk—” Horrified at what she’d almost revealed, she bit back the rest of her words.

But the king looked pleased. “You’ve inherited my gift then, daughter. I too can communicate with wild things.”

Stunned, she felt tears well up in her eyes. Not only had he called her daughter, but they shared the same abilities. She couldn’t believe she was no longer an outcast, no longer alone.

“Come here,” King Drem ordered, opening his arms wide. “Come here, my child, my girl.”

Letting go of Ruben’s hand, she walked into her father’s arms.

* * *

As she watched from the back of the room, Tatiana took care to remain hidden. She’d found one of the drab dresses favored by the Shadows and hidden her bright golden hair under a hood. With this disguise in place, she’d not only managed to avoid Eric and Chad, but move around the palace unnoticed.

Jealousy gnawed at her as she saw the way the human prince supported her younger sister. Here, Willow was no longer an oddity. Among her own people, she was not ugly but beautiful. Here, she fit right in.

For the first time in Tatiana’s life, she was made to feel outcast, undesirable and alone. For this she hated Willow, but when she saw the Shadow king take her sister in his arms and proclaim her daughter to his entire court, she almost lost control. Digging her nails into her palms, she clamped her mouth shut to keep from screaming. She wanted to rush forward, rip Willow out of King Drem’s embrace and fling her across the room.

“Do I detect a bit of rage in the set of your jaw?” Chad drawled from beside her.

She almost snapped at him for startling her. Instead, she gulped in a deep breath of air and, when she was certain she had her emotions under control, turned to him.

“How did you recognize me?”

His leering smile widened. “Such beauty shines beyond any disguise.”

“A compliment?” She didn’t even smile. “Tell me, what are you doing here?” Though her tone was silky, she let him hear hints of her anger. “I thought you were with your brother, being fawned over by admiring women.”

“Tsk, tsk. Jealousy and anger do not become you.”

“I believe this is an emotion you’re familiar with,” she said smugly. “You despise Eric as much as I loathe Willow.”

He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room. Stumbling after him, she allowed him to pull her down the hallway. Her heart racing, her blood pounded.

No one stopped them.

Chad shoved open a door and yanked her in after him. Thoroughly aroused, she went willingly, though she feigned a token protest. Chad kicked the door shut behind him and pushed her onto the bed. Panting, she lay on her back, gazing up at him. His expression was cruel as he tore her dress, yanked down his trousers and climbed on top of her.

Thrilled, she clawed at him. Her last coherent thought as he pushed himself into her ready body was that she’d finally found The One. They were two of a kind.

Later, pleasantly sore, she gazed up at Chad as he adjusted his clothing. His handsome features were austere, as though they hadn’t just shared a savagely brutal sexual encounter.

She stretched, grinning. “I get to be the one in charge next time,” she said.

He blinked, gazing down at her as though he had no idea what she meant. “Next time?”

Unable to resist boasting, she pushed up on her elbows, well aware that her enormous breasts were on full display. The better to tempt him. “Honey, with me there’s always a next time. Unless I don’t wish it, that is.”

Chad scowled but didn’t respond. She couldn’t help but smile. He’d already proved he was powerless to resist her.

* * *

Watching Willow reunite with the father she’d never known brought mixed emotions. Poignant, true, but Ruben also felt a sense of loss. She’d found what she’d unknowingly been seeking, while he...had failed on all levels. So far. He refused to admit defeat yet.

He finally understood the dual nature of his task. Yes, he had to find the murderer and bring him to justice. But he also needed to find a way to heal his fractured psyche, to learn to coexist with the wolf inside him. If he did not, he knew he’d either go completely mad or he’d die.

One thing he did know for certain. He wasn’t going to find anything he sought here. And while he’d let himself hope that Willow would be part of his journey, now that she’d reconnected with her past, he wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to stay here.

He wished he knew what she wanted. She hadn’t shared this with him. She took visible delight in her new family, and their apparent acceptance of her was like balm on her troubled soul. He hadn’t seen much of her the last few days and the fact that she’d been willing to walk with him both relieved and worried him.

She’d changed in many small, subtle ways. He felt as if she were slipping away from him. Not that she’d ever been his to begin with, but he was no longer certain she’d even go back to SouthWard with him and the others.

No matter. The sense of urgency had returned full force. A killer had yet to be caught. Restless, Ruben knew he’d soon have to be moving on. Tatiana, Eric and Chad had made no secret of their readiness to return home.

Willow, however, was less easy to read. Either way, it was time for him to leave. With or without her. He only wished the thought of leaving her behind didn’t feel like his heart had been ripped from his chest.

So he bided his time and let her enjoy her new family. He roamed the palace, waiting. The few times he had encountered Willow, she had seemed like a ghost, clearly no longer interested in anything but her newfound family.

Finally, he’d had enough. By his reckoning, nearly a week had gone by. Time wasted that he could have been spending hunting the murderer. Eric, Tatiana and Chad also kept to themselves, so he didn’t even have them to discuss this with.

He knew he could wait no longer. When he did see Willow again, it was by chance. Returning from yet another solitary stroll in the woods, he’d made up his mind to seek out the others, learn what they wanted to do, before finding King Drem and informing him of his plans to leave.

Willow was first on his list.

As if his thoughts had summoned her, he saw her hurrying down the path toward the meadow. She carried a small bouquet of flowers. How beautiful she looked, as though the mist and rain agreed with her, her dusky skin glowing with health.

“Willow,” he shouted. She turned and waved, the joyous expression on her face warming his heart as she hurried over.

“I’ve missed you,” she said, hugging him. Chest aching, he hugged her back, before setting her apart. Cocking his head, he studied her.

Though she colored prettily, she continued to hold his gaze. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you,” she finally said, breathless.

He nodded, momentarily unable to speak over the lump in his throat.

“How much time has passed since we’ve been here?” he finally asked her. “I mean in my world. I remember you said time passes differently here.”

She frowned, looking up from her contemplation of a particularly dark rose, as scarlet as blood. “I’m not sure. Why?”

He resisted the urge to touch her and smiled gently. “Because I’ve got to go back to your land, the land of the Brights. I’ve got a killer to catch, remember?”

The look she gave him told him that she had, in fact, managed to forget. This saddened him more than he could express.

As she rearranged her expression back to one of bland vagueness, he reflected that the woman standing before him was nothing like the Willow he’d come to know and care for.

Maybe there was a good reason why this was so.

“Willow.” He cleared his throat, smiling slightly to lessen the sting. “Are you all right?”

She gave him a quizzical look. “Of course. Are you?”

“You seem different. I’ve got to ask. Are you under some kind of spell?”

“What?” She recoiled, blinking rapidly. “No. A spell? Why would you say such a thing?”

She’d barely finished speaking when the blankness crept back into her expression. He swore he could see it take over her eyes, much like a storm sweeping across a previously cloudless sky.

Curling his hands into fists to keep from touching her, he sighed. “Because you’ve been acting differently, completely unlike the Willow I’d begun to know.”

Her face was expressionless as she replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Again, the toneless voice. Unable to take anymore, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her close. Expression unchanged, she allowed this.

“Willow, where are you?” he said, choking as he searched her face. When she didn’t react, he cupped her face with one hand and brushed his lips across her mouth.

Still she didn’t react.

So he deepened the kiss, forcing open her lips with his tongue and kissing her deeply, devouring her sweetness.

Finally, she melted against him, kissing him back, making desire sing in his veins. He felt their souls join—surely she had to feel this, too—and he knew he had his Willow back. He only hoped he could keep her.

Finally, he stepped back, breathing heavily. “Willow?” he asked, praying she wouldn’t disappear inside herself again.

Intense astonishment raced across her face, as she stiffened in shock. “What just happened?” she asked faintly. “Where am I?”

Still holding her as close as he dared, he stroked her hair as he explained. When he finished, her shoulders sagged and she gave a sheepish smile.

“I’ve felt like I’ve been living a dream,” she admitted. “I’m not sure if I should be angry or worried. Who did this to me?”

“Your father?” he guessed. “Probably out of some misguided attempt to keep you here, with him.”

She sighed. “You’re probably right. It’s been hard on him, not being able to contact me. But to do this? That’s wrong on so many levels.”

“I’m not sure it would accomplish anything to speak with him about it.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “He needs to understand he can’t go around doing things like this.”

“You were acting like a ghost,” he told her, more relieved than he’d care to admit, even to himself.

She buried her face against his throat. He held her, his heart thumping in his chest, so hard it almost hurt. How could he even think of going on without this woman, when she was his best friend?

At the thought, the wolf part of him snarled. More than that, he realized. His heart, his...mate?

No. He felt like he’d taken a blow in the gut. That wasn’t possible. Straightening, he gently moved her away. Not his mate. He had no right even to think such a thing, no right to claim anyone as his mate. Not until he completed his quest and figured out whether or not he was well along the winding path to insanity. Here, he thought, the magic might be affecting him, much like a drug. Taking off the rough edges and keeping everything on an even keel.

While he liked this, he wasn’t sure what would happen when he returned home. Would he be better or worse?

“Still battling yourself, I see,” she said wryly, her lips curving at the corners, making him want to kiss her again.

“Sorry,” he told her, meaning it. “I’ll eventually figure everything out. But first, I’ve got to find this killer.”

She nodded, her gaze becoming slightly remote, making him worry until she sighed and met his gaze. “I suppose we do have to go back. I’m so different now. I don’t know how I’ll do back home.”

“Different how?”

“I don’t know. It’s all been very, very strange. I can’t believe I have an entire family. Though we were completely unknown to each other, they all seem to care about me very much. And I’ve come to care about them, too.”

Taking a deep breath, he asked the question he knew he had to ask. “Do you want to stay?”

“Here?” She tilted her head, seriously considering the question and looking so beautiful she made his chest ache. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“Come on,” he prodded, needing to be certain. “You can’t tell me the idea has never crossed your mind.”

Turning away, she was silent for so long, his soul began to hurt. Even though they’d made no promises to each other, he would feel as if he’d lost his heart if she chose to remain here. More than his best friend. With the possibilities stretching endlessly in front of them, he would lose his future, as well.

For the first time he realized he needed to think about what it would feel like when he finally got back to his home, to Teslinko. Without her. He just couldn’t see that happening.

Pushing the thought away, he forced himself to focus on his task. “I’m going to find the others and see what they want to do. Then I’m going to meet with King Drem.”

“When?”

“Before the end of the day.” He was unable to keep from touching her and took her hand. “Please let me know your decision as soon as you can.”

“My decision?” She frowned. “Surely you don’t really believe I’d stay here with the Shadows. Though they feel like family, this is not my home. Plus...”

“Plus?”

Her entire face turned pink. “There’s you,” she said quietly. “At some point we’ll need to talk about that. But for now, I’m going with you.”

Relieved, he kissed the top of her head. “I’m glad.”

Moving away, she tilted her head, watching him. “You know I plan to help you find whoever murdered your servant. But it’s really like trying to locate a needle in a huge haystack. We don’t even have a single suspect.”

“Actually, I do. I’ve begun to wonder about Chad.”

“Chad?” Considering, she finally nodded, apparently agreeing to exactly what he meant without him having to say the words. “The animals fear him and he has done things that...” She swallowed hard, aware of the war she’d start if she told Ruben all that Chad had done to her. “He gives me a weird feeling, as well.” Understatement of the century.

“The animals?”

She nodded again. “Yes. I suspect he has more issues than he lets on.”

Crossing his arms, he waited for her to continue. When she did not, he prodded gently. “Care to elaborate?”

“The horses do not like him,” she confessed, the worry in her caramel-colored eyes making him want to pull her close and comfort her again. “They believe him to be cruel and violent.”

“Are horses usually a good judge of character?”

She nodded. “All animals are. Ask the wolf inside you. He’ll have insights that may surprise you.”

The wolf inside him. Ruben carefully considered her words. Had he been so involved with making sure his wolf self didn’t take over his life that he’d missed using a valuable part of his intuition? For far too long he’d regarded his beast as the enemy. What would happen if he actually began to consider it his friend?

Shocked, he realized he actually didn’t know. It had been forever since he’d tried.

“You might be right,” he said slowly. “Next time, I’ll test out your theory.”

The brilliance of her smile warmed him all the way to the core. His wolf, sleeping until now, rumbled his approval.

“As a matter of fact,” she mused, “Chad’s the last person I spoke with before this...fugue. Though I can’t imagine why he’d do such a thing, it’s entirely possible he put the spell on me that made me forget.”

With a flash of insight, Ruben understood. If Chad actually was the killer, it would be to his advantage to have Willow want to stay here in NorthWard indefinitely. The longer they remained here, the less likely they were to be successful in the hunt.

He said as much to Willow.

“Do you truly think he’s the one?” she asked.

“It’s entirely possible. That would be one reason why he used this glamour to change his appearance.”

She nodded. “At first I thought he did it to make me like him more. But you’re right. We need to watch him more closely. Especially on the ride back home.”

A feeling of foreboding settled over him. “Maybe we should confront him here.”

Her eyes widened. “Safety in numbers?”

“Something like that.” Jamming his hands into his pockets to keep from touching her, he gazed off into the forest. “Let me come up with a plan. Once I have one, I’ll talk to King Drem.”

She nodded then crossed the space between them. Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him. Her scent, lilac and fresh air, made him shiver with desire.

“Thank you.” Smiling, she stepped away. “And your wolf is saying he needs a run before we leave. Make sure you take care of him, all right?”

Then, leaving him staring at her in astonishment, she walked away.