Page 20 of Wolfkissed
“I’m not a princess, but youarea 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 somethingwhen 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’llwolfeverything 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.”
