Chapter Two

The only sound across the garden was the distant chirp of crickets. If I’d been wearing hair pins, I’d have pulled one out to see exactly how loud it would have been against the marble. It didn’t last, of course, but it was nice while it did. The outburst didn’t come from my grandfather, like I half expected it to, but from farther back in the crowd.

“This is absurd!”

Meeting my grandfather’s gaze, we both ignored the man gliding up the walkway as if he hadn’t spoken. It had to be DeSoto since he wasn’t waiting with the other major houses near the dais. Thanks to Cole’s briefing in the car, I felt as if I could identify most of the major players I’d have to contend with tonight. Mentally, I thanked my mother for drilling the house symbols into my head despite my protests, because that helped, too. Between the two, I wasn’t the ignorant savage they all might have expected.

Shock was giving way on my maternal grandfather’s face, replaced by suspicion and something deeper. I’d bet my favorite reading chair that he was trying to figure out a way to spin this entire scene to his own advantage. He was nothing if not politically savvy.

“How dare you sit in our presence?”

That was going to be DeSoto’s argument? Even in my ignorance, I could tick off three bigger insults for him to scream about. Repressing the smile on my face would have been impossible, so I didn’t waste the effort to try. It wasn’t a pretty smile, even I knew that. I was feeling entirely too power drunk and smug for it to be.

“Well.” I paused for effect. One, two, three heartbeats. “The law states that the highest born officiates formal calls to council unless there is a superior elected official. Is there anyone here who claims to hold that right over me?”

“You’re…”

DeSoto’s face was flushed to a rather unbecoming shade of red that didn’t complement his peaches and cream complexion one iota. I was willing to bet he took care of his skin. He just struck me as that vain. Not only was his hair carefully styled to accent the sharp planes of his face, but his eyebrows were waxed from the artful curve of them. I mean, come on, no man has perfect arches in his eyebrows.

“Lord DeSoto, do you have a problem with my granddaughter?”

The voice came from the shadows and I saw a man step out into the torch light. For a moment, my heart stopped. The little girl inside of me cried because Andrew DeStephano looked so much like his son that I wanted to run to him and throw my arms around him.

Daddy, I miss you so much.

But this man wasn’t my beloved daddy. He was a force to be dealt with. People flowed back out of his path as he strolled toward the area in front of me where the other eight House Lords were gathering. The diffidence they showed him gave me an idea as to how the balance of power was shifting among them. From what Cole had told me, the nine major families were squabbling, and it looked as if my paternal grandfather was winning. I made a note to ask Cole about it, later. Speaking of…

My gaze locked onto his and I gave him a small inclination of my head. I felt a little better at not being abandoned. My attention was yanked back to the drama unfolding when DeSoto opened his mouth wide enough to swallow his foot.

“This is intolerable insolence, Lord DeStephano. Surely, you see that…”

His tone was both cajoling and condescending. That took talent. None of the major players were buying it, either, from the looks going around.

“Are you offering to challenge her rights?”

All the breath left him in one swoop and his face paled. I pitied the man. By showing up tonight and stepping into my role, I was forcing him to move sooner than he was ready. Whatever support he’d been expecting from his peers was obviously not there as the crowd melted away from him.

“Lord DeStephano, sir. I understand she’s your granddaughter, but surely you must acknowledge that she’s been neglectful of her duties. If she wished to be an active part of our society, she should have come forward when she reached her majority and presented herself to the council. A proper marriage could have been arranged…”

Marriage? Oh, these people were out of their minds. Somehow, I was betting he had a son just about my age who would have been the “perfect” candidate. No, thank you.

“You know, Lord DeSoto, I think you’re forgetting one crucial point. My parents were banished. If I’d come here four years ago begging for your favor, you’d have had the right to slit my throat as much as hear me out. The only way to return from a banishment order is by invitation.”

Pulling the engraved invitation out of my evening purse, I waved it into the light. His face showed anger and more than a little resentment. He had expected me to be ignorant of the laws, and the fact that I wasn’t infuriated him. While my parents may not have preached court etiquette, they’d hardly been neglectful of drumming the laws that I’d have to live by as a shapeshifter. Ignorance won’t keep you alive, knowing the rules will.

“Lord DeStephano—” DeSoto’s appeal was cut off by a forceful voice.

“Are you issuing a challenge?”

The man who asked the question stood in the rough semi-circle that had evolved in front of me. It was as if none of them wanted to have the others at their backs. Court dynamics at work. Mr. DeSoto had a heartbeat where he gaped like a fish, then collected himself.

“Lord DeLuca, I issue no challenge. The girl should have better manners.”

“Lord DeSoto, we all understand your objection to having Princess DeStephano present this evening. I believe the purpose of this meeting was to declare a vote for the tigers to take their place among the voting council before they meet to ratify some rather progressive motions this summer. Since all the pertinent members are present, shall we have the vote? Then all minor issues can be addressed. My lady?”

It took me a moment to realize that the bow and the question were aimed at me.

“By all means, go ahead. The floor is open for nominations.”

Several young men were put forward by their alphas and I couldn’t help but notice that they all looked wet behind the ears. Figureheads, the lot of them. No one could possibly believe any of them had the innate power to hold the position. Nervously, they stood on the bottom step facing me. They were all eying me like a starving man would eye a steak. If they thought I came with the job, they were going to be sorely disappointed. With a frown, I waved them around and decided to make sure they knew it.

“Turn around, boys. I’m not the one you need to be looking at. After all, I’m not part of the package.”

More than one person chuckled at that and I wondered if I was missing something in the bargain. Nope, still the master of my own fate, thank you. If and when I chose a mate, it wasn’t going to be some poor milksop who would faint if I said “Boo”.

One by one, they turned around. When there were a dozen of them, Lord DeLuca closed the floor and inclined his head toward me. Something about his manner told me he would be an ally, if I gave him a chance. It was nice to know I had one. I nodded back to him and then he surprised me.

“As the nominations are closed, House DeLuca will cast the first vote, with my lady’s permission? House DeLuca declares for Princess Alexandra DeStephano.”

Effort alone kept my chin out of my lap. When had I made the ballot?

“House DeStephano declares for our daughter, Princess Alexandra DeStephano.”

“House DeRusso declares for our daughter, Princess Alexandra DeStephano.”

I’m sure my mother was rolling over in her grave. I watched my grandfathers look at one another across the circle and felt a shiver run down my spine. It was probably the first time in thirty years they’d agreed on anything. I was equally certain that they were both thinking of ways to manipulate me into being the figurehead they’d hoped for, too. Well, even the power players had to learn to live with disappointment.

One by one, the chips fell. The entire nine ruling houses voted for me over their sons standing before me. Of course, they were all probably thinking I was going to be open for wooing and they would come by the seat honestly. They should have known better. I was my mother’s daughter, after all.

“Since it’s unanimous, there’s no reason to call a vote of the minor houses. Welcome, princess, and may your reign be prosperous.”

Reign? I wasn’t going to be the one who led them into the twenty-first century. I had a life and it didn’t include making decisions for them in the long term. This was only for the next voting meeting then I was off the hook for another decade. Surely, they’d have found someone else before then. The conversation in the car played back through my mind and I felt horribly set-up. My gaze found Cole’s as he dropped to one knee on the edge of the circle in front of me. It was like pushing over dominoes.

My grandfathers were the first to stand back up and everyone else followed. Just like that, the conversations buzzed through the crowd. I’d forgotten just how many people were there as the force of it washed over me.

“Thank you, all. I understand I’m allowed to choose some advisors to help me?”

“You are, madam.”

Lord DeLuca was entirely too smug for my liking and I wondered how much of a dissention factor was running in the crowd tonight. If this went to hell in a hand basket, I was blaming him, personally. I hoped he understood that. I read the house badges on the young men who were edging to the top of the crowd. Blinking, I realized the nagging little detail that had bugged me when I’d arrived. Cole had been announced as a lord, but his coat was lacking the golden embroidered badge that signified his status. In fact, his coat was lacking any adornment, at all. He wore a plain black tux in lieu of the formal dinner jackets around him. Of course, that made him stand out like a sore thumb.

“Lord Reyes, please step forward for the honor.”

Why did I give him what he wanted? Simple. I didn’t know anyone else there and I could always disappoint him, later. Besides, he was part of the reason I was in this mess, so he might as well be part of the solution. Power was a wonderful thing. If I’d not appointed anyone, the speculation would have been that I was going to try to muscle my way through things or that I was ignorant of the ways things were run. I wasn’t brave or hungry enough to want to muscle my way through anything tonight, and I couldn’t afford the weakness of assumed ignorance. I knew enough to get me killed. I was going to trust Cole not to let that happen.

Unfortunately, Cole wasn’t the one who stepped forward. I watched a blonde young man about my age start up the steps with a frown.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Lord Thomas Reyes, Lady Alexandra.”

That he neglected to give me my title meant that he thought he was my equal. The look on his face said he wanted to be my superior. I disliked that and him. Raising my hand, I shook my head. Two could play at that game.

“I didn’t mean you, Mr. Reyes. I meant Cole.”

His face flashed with temper and I knew I didn’t like him for a reason. I rarely went wrong when I trusted my instincts.

“I am the legitimate heir to the Reyes House. You called for me.”

“My oversight, Thomas.”

“Thomas, step aside.”

Lord DeLuca was gaining a lot of bonus points with me tonight.

“I refuse to step aside for a Spanish whore’s bastard.”

Well, if the jury had been out on my opinion of him that would have settled it. I watched Cole’s face still. Stepping up on the steps, he walked across them until he stood opposite Thomas. Standing side-by-side, the resemblance was striking. While they were polar opposites in coloring and manner, they had the same sharp, aristocratic bone structure.

“My lady, I ask your permission to address this insult.”

There wasn’t any asking in his tone, but I understood the point. The formality of the situation made him say the words. I don’t normally approve of violence to solve a problem, but I had a suspicion that Thomas wouldn’t settle it any other way. Some boys just had to have the sense beat into them.

“Go right ahead.”

“So it’s challenge for the right to her, then?”

Did every man here think I was a prize to be won? I had always understood my parents’ decision to leave society to live their own life, but for the first time, I sympathized. If this was what my mother had gone through, it was a wonder I’d been born at all.

“No, Thomas, the challenge is for the slight to my mother. Lady DeStephano can answer her own challenges, if you’d like to issue one? You’ll still have to face me in the challenge circle, though.”

“You’re awfully sure of that, Cole. What have you been doing when the rest of us haven’t been watching?”

The way his gaze slid over me let the insinuation be all the worse. That some of the people in the crowd followed it and whispered behind their hands really made it worse.

Cole’s temper flared and it washed hot across my skin. The tiger liked anger and mine responded. It took all of my control to keep my power from washing out to meet his. I had enough problems without advertising that my parents had bred true and my tiger was begging to join in the fun.

Without looking at me, Cole stalked away with Thomas behind him. From my seat, I saw the crowd part and ring a marble circle set in the middle of the garden. It was gorgeously arranged as a focal point with paths branching off into the deeper recesses of the garden. Until the people ringed it, I wouldn’t have called it a challenge circle. Whoever had designed this garden had been a genius.

I was fascinated with it all to the point I didn’t notice the two men slowly undressing. By the time I realized it, Cole was turning his back to strip off his pants. It took a moment for it to register and I had to look away. The guy already hit my radar and the last thing I wanted to do was gawk at him. I did see enough to know that his coloring was absolutely natural. Well, either that or he tanned in the nude. That thought alone reinforced the urge to jerk my gaze as far away from him as I could manage.

“Don’t turn away.”

I blinked and found myself in company I’d not even sensed. Hot embarrassment flooded through me and all I could do was blame it on the hormonal overload. Grinning at Lord DeLuca, I waved him to the bench to sit beside me. Instead, he dropped to sit on the cool marble, heedless of his elegant slacks.

“Thank you, but I’m not exactly in the habit of watching men strip. I’ll preserve my modesty, thank you very much.”

My tone was tart enough to make him laugh, which brought an answering smile to my face.

“Modesty. I didn’t realize it still existed.”

My mouth dropped open and I laughed with him.

“Well, maybe if you started asking everyone not to strip out in packs to go running under the moon, there might be a little bit more of it.”

“Ah, too late for that.”

I followed the direction he was looking and saw what I’m sure Thomas wanted me to see. He stood facing me, letting me get an eyeful. Putting on a bland face, I looked directly at his face and waited. I wasn’t sure what upset him more, the fact I didn’t check out what he was offering or that I didn’t turn away in embarrassment. Either way, he snarled and shifted in a flow of magic and blinding light. One moment, he stood as a man, the next, as a tiger in burnished orange. I was surprised to see his color, though. My mother had platinum blonde hair like my grandfather and they were both whites. My father had passed on his dark hair and his golden color on to me. Genetics are a wonderful thing. I’d have expected Thomas to be a white from the fairness of his skin and hair, too.

Cole earned a few extra points in my book by not making a display of himself. Instead, he shifted with his back to me and his color surprised me, too. He was the rarest color of them all—black. I wondered if I’d be able to see the black stripes on the black coat in the daylight like the black jaguar I’d seen in the zoo, but let the fascinated thought pass.

He turned to me with a graceful twist of his body, bending a knee in salute. I’ll say this for the guy; he certainly had flare and style. Guess some guys are just born with it.

In size, the two cats were in the same class. They began to circle one another in a slow stalk. Thomas swiped a claw out, but Cole dodged back easily. I suddenly had the horrible realization that this could turn ugly, fast.

“Tell me they’re not going to…”

I waved my hand, trying to find words that didn’t sound so, well, fatal.

“First blood, only, princess.”

Glancing down at him, I realized that I didn’t know anything about him. My family stood just a few feet away from me; however, this man was the one who sat beside me to answer my questions.

“Why are you doing this?”

“What?”

It was a shock to realize he wasn’t that much older than I was. Because he’d stepped in to mediate earlier, I’d thought he was older. All shapeshifters aged well. It was in the genes. Actually, it was the constant remaking of the body and the magic. The honest questioning in his face made me like him, and trust him, so much more.

“This. Why did you put me forward? Better yet, why didn’t any of you put up anyone fit to fill the bill?”

He flashed a dimpled grin at me and had the audacity to wink.

“It was all in the plan, ma’am. All in the plan.”

Before I had a chance to ask what plan, movement caught the corner of my eye and I looked up. Any doubt I had that this had been brewing for awhile died when Cole sprang forward, raking his paw hard enough on Thomas’s head to send him sprawling onto the ground. It should have ended there, but Cole had left his claws sheathed. Until blood was spilled, the fight was still on.

Cole sprang and added several more powerful blows to Thomas’s flanks before bounding back, pacing while the orange tiger gained his feet. Hatred burned in his amber gaze as he launched himself at Cole with a roar. Cole dropped and rolled under the leap, coming up on his feet behind his brother. Recovering, he launched himself to land on his back. For a moment, the black fur stood out starkly against the orange. I bit back a scream as his mouth opened wide and he clamped down on the back of Thomas’s neck. Time stood still as the momentum of the two cats sent them into a roll, but Cole held on. When they stopped, Cole stood over Thomas, teeth dug into his neck. He thought about it. I could see it in his eyes. One quick shake and he could snap that fragile spine. Letting my power roll out, I stood up.

“That’s enough, Cole. Let him up.”

Cole growled, gave Thomas a little shake, and then did what I told him to do. Honor had been satisfied. He shifted back before he reached his clothes and I jerked my gaze away only to find the crowd staring at me like I’d grown another head. Realizing I was still broadcasting my power, I cut it off and stuffed it back in the box. So much for hiding my light, so to speak. And to think, I had thought to come in here and not flaunt the fact that my parents had bred true to their power. Things would have gone a lot easier if the general population didn’t know that I was magically gifted beyond the norm.