“Here we are.” Austin brought me up beside him.
“Where is that exactly?” Going through the forest with Austin had been educational, but I didn’t see anything but trees and bushes.
“We’re at the wolves’ camp.” He went quiet then said, “I know you’re in there, Rhys. I can smell you from a mile away. And I mean that literally, you filthy beast.”
A low growl issued from behind dense foliage. A large wet black nose poked its way out of the bush. The nostrils flared as Rhys burst out, his black-and-gray mane bristling. Even though he was in wolf form, his surprise was obvious. Rhys hadn’t expected to see me here. He looked from Austin to me then back again.
Austin held his stare. “Yes, that’s right. I brought Lady Kensington into the woods.” Rhys snorted, and the prince held up my hand. “Yes, I am holding her hand. I have a tendency to do that.”
I glanced at him. “You can understand what he’s saying when he snorts?”
Rhys snorted again, sounding a bit put out, and I quickly corrected myself. “I mean, when he makes a noise like that.”
“I can understand him in wolf form, yes.” He turned his attention back to Rhys. “Have you seen anything since you’ve been out here?”
The wolf shook his head.
“Oh, I get it!” I said. “It’s sort of like talking to Beast—I always know when he wants a treat.”
Rhys snarled.
“That’s enough, that’s enough.” Austin waved his hand, dismissing the conversation. “Have you spoken with the other sentinels? I sent them this way first thing this morning.”
Rhys nodded.
“And did they set off toward the encampment?”
The wolf nodded again.
“Have you been up there?”
Another nod.
“And were there as many of them as I said? Did they look ready to attack?”
Rhys bared his teeth in response. I took that to mean yes and that he was ready for them.
“Good work. Meet me back at the castle once the sun sets. Does your pack need anything?”
The wolf shook his head no, but he whined as he looked between us again. He tilted his chin questioningly at Austin.
“Ah, yes. Lady Kensington. I’ve designated her to rule in my stead should anything happen to me.”
Both Rhys and I stared at the prince. This is official?
“I brought her out here today to show her more of the grounds as well as our tunnels and encampments. I figure she ought to have an idea about the lay of the land.”
“Not that you’re going to be dying anytime soon, my lord,” I reminded him. “You’re immortal, remember?”
“Yes, of course.” He bowed to the werewolf. “Keep up the good work. We’ll talk more tonight.”
With that, we headed in the opposite direction. I waited until Rhys was out of sight before I spoke. “My lord. Are you serious about me governing in your absence?”
He stopped and turned to me. “I’m absolutely serious. When I left you and Eve in charge while I was in the settlements, it was a test run. There is no one I trust more.”
“But you yelled at me when you got back, remember? About the prisoner?”
“Of course I remember. We discussed the matter of your security, and we’ve discussed it since. I now believe we are on the same page—the ‘neither taking too many risks nor treating you like a teacup’ page.” He gazed into my eyes. “Are you trying to talk me out of this?”
“No, of course not,” I said. But am I? This is all happening so fast! “It’s just that… I have no legal claim to your throne. I’m not from here, and I’m human. There are all sorts of reasons your people would not accept me as their leader. Not the least of which is that I’ve never led anyone anywhere except to the kitchen for a snack.”
Austin clasped my hands in his. “You have a clear eye, intuitive fairness and, as I said, a mostly level head. That is what I’ve always aimed to have as a leader. There is no one I trust more.”
“My lord… Th-thank you.” I was touched.
“As for a legal claim, there are of course things we can do about that.”
My heart hammered in my chest. “What sort of things?”
He led me by the hand through the forest. “We’ll talk of it later.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
We walked for several more hours, to the edge of the forest and back. I glimpsed the abandoned village on the other side, but the prince didn’t linger. The rebel camp wasn’t far. After he’d shown me the approximate location, he brought me back to safety.
Once we returned to the castle, Austin bade me farewell. “I’ve got to meet with my sentinels to hear their news. Tell the others to meet in the dining room in an hour. We will dine and drink tonight in good humor before we leave for battle in the morning.”
I nodded. “Thank you for everything today. For showing me the forest, for letting me see Rhys, for including me. For everything.” I kissed him gently.
He squeezed my hands. “It was my pleasure. Sharing this with you today has actually left me relieved. I know that you are capable of helping. It’s a great comfort knowing that I have you on my team.”
“Austin.” My eyes pricked with tears. “Stop.”
He winked at me. “Never.” With another brief kiss, he was gone.
I staggered into the castle, feeling overwhelmed and tingly.
Eve was inside, talking to a sentinel. She took one look at me and dismissed him. “What’s the matter with you?”
“I’m in love.” I slapped my hand over my mouth.
She laughed. “You can’t tell me you’re just figuring that out.”
I dropped my hand and laughed, but I felt shaky. “I’ve known for a while. But I’m afraid it’s official.”
“That’s a funny thing to say. What’re you afraid of?”
“Nothing.” Everything. I looked around, keeping my voice low. “That he’s going to war tomorrow and keeps talking about me governing in his stead.”
Eve motioned for me to follow her. “Come with me.” She led me into a small salon and closed the door. “He discussed this with me, you know.”
“He did?”
She nodded. “He said if anything were to happen, you are to lead in his place. And he made me take a vow.”
“What sort of vow?”
“To protect you with my life.”
“What did you say?” I asked.
“I said yes, of course! But I don’t expect that anything will happen to His Highness.”
I sank down in to a nearby chair. “Then why is he saying these things? He’s making quite a production out of it.”
Eve paced near the bookshelf. “Ah, that’s where I think this gets interesting. I think the prince is soft launching the idea of marrying a human to his people.”
I blinked at her. “I’m sorry?”
Eve stopped pacing and put her hands on her hips. “Blake, don’t start getting daft on me now. He plans to marry you, and he needs his people to adjust to the idea. You are a human, after all. Up North, these types of relationships are new. No one’s done such a thing before.”
I opened my mouth then closed it.
“Gnome got your tongue?” She arched an eyebrow.
“No, it’s just… This is all a bit sudden.” I shook my head. “Did he tell you he planned to propose?”
“No, but Tamara called it just as soon as she got here. And I hate to admit it, but she’s usually right about these things.”
“I don’t know what to say. She could be wrong. There’s a first time for everything.”
Eve frowned. “The gnome is direct evidence, as is the way he can’t keep his eyes off you. The prince loves you. Everyone knows it. Now he’s just got to get his people to accept the idea.”
“Is it such a radical one?” I rubbed my forehead. I hadn’t thought of my relationship in that context before—a political one. I figured politics was the province of Dallas and Gwyneth. But Eve was right. Of course, the Northerners would have an opinion about their leader’s relationship. I might think it no one’s business but our own, but Austin’s people were his family, whom he’d vowed to protect and serve.
How have I failed to worry about this before? I must’ve been too busy getting kidnapped by werewolves and errant vampires. Ooh, and falling in love. That’d do it.
My friend peered at me. “You look quite confused.”
“I would describe it more as overwhelmed.”
“Well, I suppose it comes down to one question—which, as of this evening, you’ve already answered.”
I furrowed my brow. “What question?”
“Do you love him? The answer is yes.” Eve shrugged. “So I suggest you start preparing yourself for your role as princess of the North. Show the people who you truly are, and they will love you as much as His Highness and your friends do.”
“Aw, Eve. Thank you.”
She smiled. “It’s my pleasure. And I fully expect to be a general, or something equally fantastic, under your benevolent rule.”
I laughed. “You’ve got it.”
But as I climbed the stairs to my chambers, I wondered whether I was actually prepared to rise to the occasion.