How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)

He motioned to his squire. “Edmund, you’ll need to announce me, not as a duke but…”

“Aye, I understand,” Edmund muttered, then forged ahead through the jostling crowd. With a loud voice, he yelled, “Make way for Leofric of Benwick, Lord Protector of the Realm!”

By the time Edmund repeated the announcement twice, the crowd had reacted with shouts of panic. Some ran away, while others pressed against buildings, watching with expressions of terror as Leo passed by. Uncle Fred had done a good job of making sure people feared him. The path before them was now clear, and whispers of the Beast floated through the air.

Luciana gave him a sympathetic look.

“I’m used to it.” He motioned toward the fortress. “The news of our arrival will reach the king before we do.”

Sure enough, when they arrived at the gatehouse, the guards there waved them on through. As they pulled to a stop in the courtyard, the king’s chief minister, Lord Morris, rushed toward them.

“Morris,” Leo greeted him as he dismounted. He’d never cared much for the minister. Morris, a former priest and spy, had been rewarded with land and a title. A scrawny man with beady eyes, he’d risen to power due to his willingness to do the king’s dirty work. No doubt, he was the one who had dispatched the assassins to kill Leo and Luciana.

“Lord Benwick.” Morris sketched a small bow. “I see you have brought the Lady of Vindalyn as ordered.”

“Yes.” Leo helped Luciana off her horse. “But my title is now the Duke of Vindalyn, and my wife is the duchess.”

Morris smirked. “I would not press that matter, if I were you. Your recent letter to His Majesty angered him greatly. He was reading it again just moments ago.” He bowed to Luciana. “My lady.”

She curtsied. “My lord.”

“I have urgent news for the king,” Leo said. “If you will escort us—”

“In good time.” Morris waved a dismissive hand. “The king is enjoying his midday meal at the moment and doesn’t wish to be disturbed. He requested that you wait here.”

Leo clenched his gloved hands. Not only was Frederic making them wait, but he was purposefully not inviting them to join him at his table. To be even more insulting, he was not having them shown to some rooms where they could wait in comfort. Unfortunately, it was typical behavior for dear Uncle Fred.

Morris motioned to the coffin. “Did one of your men die on the journey? You should have buried him—”

“I had intended to tell the king first,” Leo interrupted. “As I said, the matter is urgent. I have brought the body of Prince Tedric.”

Morris blinked. “That can’t be. I saw him here at court just a few hours ago.”

Leo tensed. “He was here?” When Morris nodded, Leo continued, “That was an imposter. The real prince is here in this coffin. He was murdered.”

Morris gasped. “You—you killed him?”

Leo gritted his teeth, while Luciana huffed.

She glared at Morris. “My husband would never kill his cousin. Or any innocent man, for that matter.”

Leo’s heart warmed at the way his wife defended him. “Let me explain what happened.” He reported all that had transpired at Benwick Castle, but Morris gave him a skeptical look.

“The murderer changed into an eagle and flew away?” Morris snorted. “That was convenient.”

Edmund, Jensen, and the Benwick guards corroborated Leo’s story, but Morris still looked unconvinced.

“Men who can shift into animals?” Morris scoffed. “Inconceivable.”

Brody sat up in the cart and barked to get everyone’s attention. When he shifted into human form, Morris shrieked and backed away.

“Believe me now?” Leo asked drily.

“Wh-what is that?” Morris pointed at Brody as he shifted back into a dog. “He must be Embraced, an abomination before the Light! He should be put to death!”

Brody growled, and with lightning speed, Leo grabbed the minster’s vest and yanked him forward. “No one touches him. Understand?” He shoved Morris back.

With a huff, Morris adjusted his vest. “Hardly surprising that you would surround yourself with abominations since you’re one, too.”

“He’s the heir to the throne, you ass,” Edmund muttered, then smirked when Morris glared at him.

Leo motioned toward the coffin. “Shall we open it so you can verify the body?”

“I’ll inform His Majesty and send the royal physician.” Morris scurried off to the keep.

After a few minutes, the royal physician arrived with some soldiers, and they pried the lid off the coffin.

“It is the prince,” the physician said sadly. “We should take him to the chapel. Come.” He motioned for the soldiers to carry the coffin.

After a long wait, six of His Majesty’s personal guard arrived to escort them to the king.

“His Majesty wishes to see only the Lord Protector and his wife,” the captain of the guard announced as he gave Leo a stern look. “And you must leave all your weapons here.”

As Leo unbuckled his sword belt, Edmund drew near. “I don’t like this.”

“It’s a standard request.” Leo handed him his sword, then the dagger from his boot. “Don’t worry. My power is my best weapon. And I’ll have some help.” He waved at Brody, and the dog shifter jumped down from the cart.

Luciana handed Jensen her dagger.

As Leo and his wife followed the guards into the keep, he glanced back to make sure Brody was trailing them at a safe distance. Once inside the keep, the dog shifter could sniff out the Chameleon, if he was there.

The guards led them up the grand staircase and down a gallery decorated with portraits of former kings and queens. Brody slunk behind them, keeping in the shadows.

When they arrived at the king’s sitting room, the captain knocked and opened the door.

“We’ll be fine,” Leo whispered to his wife as he strode inside.