Page 23 of Alpha's Magic

By the time they were done, I’d finished my breakfast and drew on a long, brocaded robe that had appeared beside my bed to go over and get in the tub. The robe may have belonged to Asher, because it was much too long, and I had to hold it up off the floor so it wouldn’t trip me. It was lined with the softest fur, though, and I felt pampered, like a prince in a fairy tale. I folded the robe carefully and put it on the end of the bed and then climbed in the tub and sank beneath the sudsy surface.

I’d left the amulet alone, of course, but I began to worry about it getting wet. I carefully began to wind it around my neck to shorten it, when I had the idea to test it to see if it had indeed been the amulet that had changed me back into a human or if it could have been the death of the witch. I started to ease it up over my head and immediately my skin began to feel prickly like hairs were sprouting all over me. I slammed the amulet back down and rocked slightly back and forth, waiting for the odd, prickly feeling to go away. And I vowed never to take the amulet off again. No matter what.

When I recovered enough to bathe, I found it to be heavenly, and I could have stayed there for hours. The water began to cool, though, so I finished and got out, after calling for the servants to bring in drying cloths. Afterward, I sat by the fire to brush my hair and fluff it dry.

I was still there thirty minutes later when Rory walked in. He was so friendly, and unlike any king I could have ever imagined. And so pretty, with his black, springy curls and emerald-colored eyes. He seemed to always have a smile on his face, since the moment I’d arrived.

“I usually go for a walk in the mornings, but I thought you might enjoy a ride through the village, just to get your bearings. I can have a horse saddled for you, if you like.”

“I appreciate it, Your Majesty, but I haven’t ridden a horse by myself since I was a child. Could we go for a walk instead?”

“Of course, whatever you like. And please just call me Rory. I know you didn’t have a chance to pack much to bring with you, so I’ve had some of my things brought over and hung in your wardrobe while you were sleeping last evening. I think we’re nearly the same size.”

“I don’t know how to thank you, sire…I mean, Rory.”

He reached over and squeezed my hand. “I’m glad to do it. I used to think I had a rough childhood until I heard about yours. I’m so sorry for all you suffered, and for the loss of Grimora. I know you must be feeling devastated.”

His kindness and the mention of Grimora brought tears to my eyes, and I dashed them away with the sleeve of Asher’s robe. “I was lucky to have known him. He saved my life, and he was like a father to me.”

“It’s a terrible loss for Igella too. I’m going to tell Lex that we should have a memorial built for him near the cave. To remember him and his kindness.”

“That would be so nice,” I said, as the tears sprang to my eyes again.

He smiled and nodded, patting my shoulder. “We can talk about it later. For now, just send a servant to let me know when you’re dressed, and I’ll be waiting for you. It’s a lovely morning and the sun is shining but do wear the ermine I put in your wardrobe. It’s cold this morning.”

Ermine? I dismissed my servants as soon as Rory left and ran over to the huge clothes cabinet to find it full of beautiful things, fit for a king, including the furs. Grimora had told me a little of Rory’s story, so I knew he’d struggled for most of his life too, and I knew he had every reason to despise Rozamond, just as I did. I hoped our mutual troubles might be the basis for friendship.

I picked out an outfit to wear that was made of heavy brocade and soft velvet. I found some leather boots too that actually fit my feet like a glove and topped it all with a gorgeous ermine coat and matching hat. When I was ready, I went to the door and told a passing servant that I was ready to be taken to the king’s room, where he was waiting for me.

I felt so grand saying that, but she smiled and nodded and asked me to follow her. She took me down one long hall and then another short one and knocked on an ornate door. King Rory himself came to answer it. He was holding a beautiful, dark-haired, chubby, red-cheeked baby of about a year and a half, who looked a little bad-tempered at the moment.

“Come in and meet my daughter. This is Princess Vesper Diane, and she’d teething. So she’s not happy. I’m going to leave her with her nurse and take a little break.” He kissed the baby’s head as he handed her to her nurse, and the baby held her hands back out to him.

“I’ll be back soon, sweetheart, but if Daddy doesn’t get out of here for a few minutes, he’s going to start crying too. And that won’t help either of us. Papa will be home soon, though, I promise.”

He turned back to me and smiled. “Lex has spoiled her shamefully.”

“But not you, huh?”

“Oh no. Not at all.” He laughed and dropped a few more kisses on the baby’s head. Then he turned to me. “Let me get my coat and we’ll leave. With any luck, Lex and Asher will be here later this afternoon.”

Chapter Nine

The sun was shining when we left the castle for our walk, but its light was weak and pale, and a cold wind was blowing out of the north. It was colder here to me, away from the sea, and the wind pushed at my coat and hat and tried to find a way to sneak up my sleeves and scurry down the back of my neck. But I was still warm inside my furs and my boots kept my feet nice and dry. I think I was still tired from the long ride the day before, though, and I stumbled a little over the frozen ruts in the road.

Rory took my arm in his to steady me, and we walked that way all the way to the village. It wasn’t all that far—I could see it from the castle windows—but distances at a distance could be deceiving, and it was probably a half a mile away by the road. As we walked, I began to stretch my legs and I did begin to feel a little better and stronger. When we arrived in the village, I saw that it was busy with farmers moving their cattle to the fields, children running everywhere and housewives industriously cleaning their windows, shaking out their bedding or washing clothing outside their small houses with washboards and round tubs. It reminded me of the small village I’d lived in before my father and mother were killed. We had lived in the big, manor house, but my amal had taken me to the village sometimes so she could meet with her friends, and I’d played outside with some of the children.

We made it to the outskirts of this village after about thirty minutes, stopping here and there to speak to the farmers and the children on the winding path. When we got to the outskirts, we could see the main road, newly constructed and stretching out into the dark forest.

Rory smiled at me and said, “If we went down that road, we’d eventually come to Morovia. But maybe this is far enough, though. I don’t want to tire you out too much on your first day, and I don’t think the rain is over quite yet.”

I smiled back at him and was about to say I was feeling pretty well and could walk a little farther if he wanted to, when he stiffened and his mouth fell open. He jerked on my arm, and I saw the blood drain from his face.

“What is it?” I said in alarm and whirled around. I had to blink a few times, not believing what I was seeing. There were wolves spilling silently out of the woods and onto the road behind me from the trees—three of them, but not the skinny, rangy looking creatures that usually inhabited the woods in Igella. These were massive, powerful looking creatures straight out of a storybook, standing maybe four feet tall at the shoulder and way too big to be real. They had solid black fur and yellow, glowing eyes, and a cold chill ran down my back as I stared at them. The one in the lead, a few steps in front of the others, raised its head and sniffed the air. Its eyes glowed even brighter as it lowered its head again and showed me its teeth. A rope of saliva fell off the huge incisors and sagged down onto the road. A menacing, low-pitched growl that literally froze the marrow in my bones came from its throat.

They headed toward us, and they weren’t coming fast, but acting like they had all the time in the world. They kept up a measured pace, and their big, yellow eyes never left us. Their pink tongues lolled from their open mouths.

“Oh gods,” I gasped and turned to run, but Rory held fast to my arm. “If we run, they’ll give chase,” he said, keeping his voice soft and low. “Just back up, slowly.”

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