A few minutes later, Vasilis ordered everyone out of the great hall and watched his father take his time as he strode to his throne and sat down.
‘So, you have already chosen a bride,’ his father began slowly.
Vasilis braced himself. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. ‘Yes. I have.’
‘Do you see yourself being faithful to this woman after you wed? For all eternity if she chooses to turn?’
‘Yes.’
‘I see.’ The king raised a dark brow. ‘What of the one hundred women outside waiting to compete for your hand in marriage?’ he continued slowly, his dark gaze unwavering.
‘Cancel the contest,’ Vasilis said with an edge to his tone.
‘There will be a riot, my son. Do you know how far some women have travelled?’
‘Give them all coin for their time and trouble.’
‘Aye, I can do that, but do you know how much that will cost us?’
Vasilis was angry. ‘I don’t care what the cost. Do it, cancel the contest. You wanted me to wed and I will. I am going to marry Alex.’
The king nodded, his hard expression slowly lifting to reveal a satisfied gleam. ‘It is done. I will make the announcement tomorrow.’
Vasilis was relieved. ‘Thank you.’ He turned to leave.
‘Wait,’ his father commanded.
Vasilis stopped and turned around.
‘Does she know what we are?’
‘We were ambushed by our kind in bandit area.’
‘So, this woman is not afraid of you?’
‘This woman is a warrior. She fears nothing.’
‘She is also very beautiful. Have you already bedded her?’
Vasilis tensed. ‘No.’
The king leaned forward and clasped his hands before him, his expression serious. ‘Son, you must tell her of the legend. If this is your one and you bed her, she will turn into one of us on the next full moon.’
Vasilis never believed in the legend. All he believed in was that Alexandra affected him like no other woman ever had and he wanted to be with her and only her. ‘Father, you know how I feel about the legend.’
The king raised a hand. ‘Nevertheless, my son. You know how what happened to our dear queen and you must be sure Alex is prepared.’
Vasilis grew agitated. ‘A human turns into a werewolf when he is bitten by one on a full moon. That is the only legend I know of to be true.’
The king looked like he wanted to say more, but clamped down on his jaw. ‘So be it.’
* * * *
The bed in the bower room was big enough to hold four men comfortably and Ariel bounced on it with glee.
‘Child, you mustn’t exert yourself. You must be calm,’ Hesta declared, rushing to Ariel’s side. ‘Your breathing isn’t cured and you must be careful not to encourage another attack.’
Ariel stopped jumping and allowed Hesta to lead her into the adjoining smaller chamber. ‘Come. It’s time for your bath.’
Alex smiled gratefully at Hesta and bent down to kiss Ariel before they left the bedroom. She looked down at herself and cringed. She needed a bath, too, along with a change of clothes, but all she’d brought with her were the single pair of trousers she’d been wearing continuously and the two shirts she interchanged when one was drying.
There was a knock at the door and her stomach jolted. Vasilis! Nervously, she went to open it and stared at two women. One was pushing a trolley with plates that had lids on them and the other was carrying a huge bundle of clothes.
The woman with the trolley said, ‘The prince wishes you and Ariel to eat. He wasn’t sure what you preferred, so he made me prepare a different array of dishes for you two.’
Alex was touched. She lifted one lid and her mouth watered at the succulent pheasant. She lifted another lid and inhaled the tantalizing aroma of pork. Other plates carried bread, vegetables and broth. She smiled her thanks to the woman.
The other woman carrying the clothes laid them out on the bed. She turned to Alex. ‘Milady, the prince asked me to bring you these gowns. This cream satin is for the royal dinner tonight, these are your bed wear and the rest are for everyday. I hope they’re all to your liking,’ she added shyly.
Alex gasped, staring at the gowns. ‘They’re beautiful.’ She lifted a few more items, noticing smaller gowns and nightwear for a child.
‘Those are for the little one,’ the woman continued with a smile.
‘Please thank the prince for me. He really didn’t have to…’ she couldn’t finish what she wanted to say because she was too busy swallowing the large lump in her throat.
‘Aye. I will tell him, Milady.’
As the two women took their leave, the one who had pushed in the trolley turned to her and said. ‘He wishes you to meet him in the great hall at sundown for the royal dinner. I will return to escort you there.’
Dumbfounded, Alex nodded. When she was alone, she sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at the food and clothes.
When she first met Vasilis, she thought he was an arrogant, abrasive barbarian. Now she realised he was every bit as much the charming, kind, generous prince she’d envisioned.
Her heart thudded as she brought a hand up to her mouth. ‘Oh my God. How did this happen?’ she whispered tremulously into the empty room. She was starting to fall for him.
* * * *
A few hours later, Alex bathed in the huge brass tub in the adjoining bath chambers. After she dried herself, Hesta helped her pin her hair up in cascading waves and helped Alex into the cream satin gown. She slipped on the satin slippers that had been part of Vasilis’s gifts to her. She gasped. They were so lovely.
Hesta tied the bodice with the laces along Alex’s back and told her to turn around and face the mirror. Alex did so slowly, smiling at Ariel’s gasp of pleasure. She looked in the mirror and froze.
Was that her? She…she looked different. All feminine and pretty and soft. She brought a hand up to the dress’s neckline and flushed at her cleavage, recalling too readily Vasilis’s mouth and hands on her skin. She drew in a shaky breath and focused on her image. Her gaze went over her small waist, her bare arms, the black lace trimming the edges of the gown and she inhaled though her nose. Slowly, she turned to the uncommonly silent Hesta.
‘How do I look?’ she asked quietly. She knew Hesta wouldn’t mince words. She would tell her the truth.
‘Child, you look breathtaking. The master’s heart will cease to beat when he sees you.’
Alex was relieved. She wanted to look nice for him tonight. The door opened. It was the woman who said she would escort Alex to the great hall.
She paused at the door, smiling. ‘You look beautiful, Milady.’
‘Thank you,’ Alex said shyly.
She’d never seen herself as a great beauty. Her ego always lay with her strength, and her weapons and combat skills. For the first time, she felt feminine and it made her feel uncertain.
‘Are you ready?’ the woman asked.
‘Yes.’ Alex kissed Ariel, told her to be a good girl for Hesta and then smiled at the healer. ‘I won’t be long.’
Hesta chuckled. ‘Child, after tonight, the master won’t let you out of his sight.’
Alex followed the woman down two flights of the grand staircase through the hall until they reached the massive double doors of the great hall. She heard harps and violins playing inside and the sound of loud conversation. Loud male conversation. The woman opened one of the doors and on nervous legs, Alex entered the room.
The great hall was exquisite with massive chandeliers, magnificent balconies lining the room above and an immensely long table draped in silk. The castle servants were going around the table filling crystal goblets. She froze.
Where were the women?
The table was filled with about thirty royal guards, all dressed in their finest warrior garb. She took an uncertain step forward, looking for Vasilis. The king sat at on one end of the table and on the other sat Vasilis, looking every bit as handsome and strong as she remembered. He was speaking with Malek seated to his right and her heart fluttered as she stood there, wondering what to do next.
As if sensing her presence, Vasilis stopped talking and slowly turned his head toward her. From where she stood, she could see him stiffen as he slowly lowered his goblet. One by one, the noise around the table stopped as all male eyes focused on her. She couldn’t look at anyone because Vasilis’s dark gaze held hers captive as he rose and made his way toward her. He seemed tense, his mouth almost a thin line, as he drew near to her. When he stopped, towering before her, she saw a curious muscle clicking maddeningly along his strong jaw. His gaze flickered over her appearance, resting a bit longer on her breasts. When he looked into her eyes, she felt breathless.
‘You look beautiful,’ he said, his tone deeper than she remembered.
‘Thank you,’ she replied in a small voice.
He put out his arm and she took it gratefully as he led her back to the grand table. He pulled the seat out on his left and she sat down. Malek smiled at her and she smiled back nervously.
‘Welcome, Alex,’ the king said loudly from the other end of the table.
‘Thank you for having me here,’ she replied.
‘The pleasure is mine, my dear, as you will shortly be my daughter-in-law.’ He raised his glass to her and the guards followed suit.
Alex froze. She hadn’t yet spoken to Vasilis about that and gave him a guarded look.
The king and the guards went about their conversations as Alex picked up her glass and took a sip of wine. She’d never gotten drunk in her life, but getting tipsy now didn’t seem like a bad idea.
‘The contest is cancelled,’ Vasilis began without preamble. ‘My father is announcing it tomorrow morning and we will wed in the evening.’
She was speechless.
His mouth tensed. ‘Isn’t this what you wanted? Didn’t you come here to compete for my hand in marriage?’
‘Yes, but…but…’ This was too easy. ‘Why are you doing this?’ she asked quietly.
His face was grim. ‘Hesta is a miracle worker with her teas and herbs and I will have her care for Ariel even if you refuse to marry me,’ he said abruptly. ‘But that would solve only part of your problem. If you marry me, I will make sure you and your sister are taken care of for the rest of your lives.’
‘Why?’ she whispered.
‘And we can be married only in name,’ he said roughly. ‘The only thing I ask is in the eves when it is time to retire, you sleep with me.’
Alex’s problems were solved–and she didn’t even have to compete with all those women. Ariel would have the treatment she needed and a chance at a grand life and Alex would never have to worry about their future.
A mixture of happiness and disappointment coursed through her veins, but it was the disappointment that disturbed her. He would marry her in name only, he said. He didn’t want to bed her because he would bed other wenches after they wed.
His face darkened. ‘Do we have an arrangement?’
He was right. It was what she wanted. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.
He seemed to relax and lifted his goblet to take a drink. She was dying to ask him if he was going to bed other wenches, but she couldn’t very well ask that, could she? She had no right. He’d given her what she wanted and he wouldn’t have to go through the ordeal of a contest tomorrow. As well, she realised in afterthought, she knew he genuinely cared about Ariel and he must have been doing this for her.
The servants began serving dinner, roasted lamb, and she ate slowly, trying not to overly analyze his feelings toward her because the answers she kept coming up with left her feeling discouraged.
She was starting to care for him and the thought of him being with other women distressed her.
‘Are you enjoying the lamb?’ he asked.
‘Mm, yes. Thank you.’
‘Ariel liked the gowns and nightwear I sent her?’
Shame made her face grow warm. ‘Oh, yes. Vasilis, I’m sorry I didn’t thank you right away for your generous gifts.’
He gave her a hooded look. ‘You liked your gowns?’
She smiled at him. ‘I did. They’re all lovely.’
He nodded, his expression satisfied. ‘Alex, there are things you need to know.’
Slowly she put her fork down and looked at him. ‘Okay.’
‘The king, the royal guards and most of the villagers are Lycans. The ones who are still human can choose to turn whenever they want. My father, me, the guards–our oath is to protect our people.’
She didn’t say a word and he continued grimly. ‘Our palace was attacked years ago by our evil kind on a full moon. It took one bite and we turned instantly, but we all refused to follow them and so we fought that night for our lives, our families, our land and we drove them away. Since then, on every full moon, the castle doesn’t sleep. We’ve had battles since, but less and less over the years.’ He paused. ‘I am immortal, Alex. Our castle was attacked over two hundred years ago.’
‘I know.’
His brows went up.
‘The man who taught me everything I know was a very wise and knowledgeable man. He was my mentor. My teacher. He was the father I never had,’ she said, her voice breaking.
‘He was the one who told you of my kind.’
‘Yes.’
‘I would like to hear about him,’ Vasilis said quietly.
Surprisingly, she heard him above the noise in the room and oddly enough, she felt as though they were the only two people in the great hall.
‘I was eighteen at the time and I was coming home from the market. My father had just remarried and my stepmother sent me to pick up some wheat. Anyway, I was still grieving over my mother’s death a couple of months prior and I was walking home, sobbing. I didn’t want the town folk to see me so I took a different path home. I happened along a small road and met a nice man. He lived in a small hut tucked away in the woods. I remembered my stepmother talking about him, calling him the yellow skinned man with the slanted eyes.’ She tensed her mouth. ‘He was different and everyone avoided him, but I didn’t. I went back to see him nearly every day.’
‘He taught you how to fight.’
‘Yes. I trained with him for six years, but that wasn’t the only thing he taught me. I learned to read and write. He taught me philosophy and astronomy. And…and he told me about Lycans.’
‘I see. Did he ever see one?’
‘No, but he believed they existed. That’s why he fashioned all my weapons out of pure silver.’ Her gaze fell. ‘He died in his sleep six months ago. I was the one who discovered him.’
‘I’m sorry.’
She reached for her wine, giving him a small smile. ‘It’s okay.’
‘And your father?’
‘He died when Ariel was one year old.’
‘So it was just you, Ariel and your stepmother the past few years.’
She nodded, unable to speak.
‘Am I correct in assuming you’ve been more mother than sister to Ariel since she was born?’
She didn’t want to talk about this. ‘Yes, please can we drop this sub–‘
‘Your stepmother marked your back, didn’t she?’ he asked, his tone dropping dangerously.
‘Yes.’ She saw him clench his fist on the table as he inhaled sharply though his nose.
‘I cannot allow her to get away with this.’
‘Vasilis,’ Alex said. ‘She’s dead. I…I killed her the day before I received the royal parchment for the Royal Contest. I packed up Ariel and myself and left right after that.’
‘What happened?’ he asked, but she could see the black of his eyes changing colour. Turning amber.
‘Vasilis,’ she urged, taking his hand in hers. He blinked and looked down at their hands. When he raised his gaze to hers, his eyes had returned to normal. ‘I killed her because she was about to hurt Ariel. For years, I suffered her abuse so she wouldn’t harm Ariel. She was about to take the whip to Ariel because she was having a breathing attack and wouldn’t stop. I snapped and fought her. She lunged at me with a knife, we scuffled and I stabbed her.’
‘I would kill her myself today if she were alive,’ he said, his dangerously soft tone hinting at the violent truth behind his words.
She believed him. ‘It’s over now.’
‘Yes. To beginnings.’
‘To beginnings,’ she whispered back, removing her hand from his and taking her glass.
She didn’t exactly know what she was toasting to, but she prayed he meant them.
* * * *
Vasilis and Alex stood behind the king as he faced the crowd of women.
King Drago raised his hand and all the women fell silent. ‘I have an announcement to make. Some of you may not like what I have to say, but once you hear me speak, I am sure you will all be satisfied.’ He paused, looking around the crowd. ‘I am cancelling the contest today. My son has already chosen his bride.’
A deep, wide grumble rose from the crowd and King Drago raised his hand again. ‘We will be handing out bags of coin and gold to all of you for your time and trouble.’
‘Yeah, but that doesn’t change the fact one of us could have been crowned princess,’ someone yelled from the crowd.
Alex peered into the large group of women and tried to see who said that.
‘Yes, one of you would have been crowned princess and the rest of you would have left empty handed. This way all of you are winners because you all go home with coin. Coin and gold more than sufficient for the time you took to come here.’ A mumble of satisfaction ran through the crowd until one by one, the women applauded.
‘And now,’ the king continued, ‘I want you all to welcome Alexandra.’ He motioned Alex to step forward and she did so nervously.
She knew every woman here had her own story for competing in the contest and she wasn’t without understanding.
The women applauded respectfully and Alex smiled with relief, looking over her shoulder briefly at Vasilis. He stared at her with a look on his face that took her breath away. It was possessive, warm and proud.
