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One I was determined to give them.
My people weren’t peasants, and it wasn’t the Middle Ages no matter how he tried to force people back into them. It was the twenty-first century and while we might choose to be a little different than the rest of the world, that did not mean my people had to suffer and starve. And it would take a long time before my people trusted me completely, although they were being far nicer about things than I had any right to expect. After what they’d been through, and I knew I didn’t have all the information about that yet, if they’d hated me and demanded I step down in favor of a new government, it would be no more than I deserved.
True, I’d been a small child when my uncle murdered my parents, but I’d been an adult long enough to have pushed harder to assume my responsibilities. My practical side insisted he’d only have killed me. He’d been planning that anyway, hoping to replace me with a more “genetically perfect” version of myself, my twin.
Dumbass thought we were identical and believed not talking was less flawed than not hearing. He must have believed a queen without the ability to speak couldn’t fight him. As if I ever had.
But, although the view out my window hadn’t changed much close in, the roads were already showing differences. The people were dressed in brighter colors, and many wore more modern garb as well. Their animals looked a little better, and there was even the occasional motor vehicle. Those were usually driven by people returning from wherever they’d fled to avoid starvation, but at the pace things were changing, and with the grant program, there would soon be more. I planned to expand the program to include things like transportation and home improvement next.
When my sister came to visit, I wanted her to be proud of my efforts, to feel she’d made the right decision in leaving me on the throne when at a word from her I could have been unseated. Sometimes, when I was tired and disheartened and it all seemed to hard, I was jealous of Jillian, but then I’d visit with a farmer who was so excited to show me their new tractor or a baby lamb or a chicken house with all the latest updates, and I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone’s, not even my happily mated sister’s. Happily mated to three of the best brothers-in-law I could ever wish for.
A hand laid on my shoulder, and I turned. “My lady,” Candace said, “Leif is waiting for you.”
I nodded. “Thank you.” We’d planned a run today and, while my wolf was doing cartwheels inside me, I was nervous he’d try to push for an early mating. I had so much to do, my own happiness or unhappiness could not be a priority. After all, a huge ceremony and party for a queen’s mating would be costly and time-consuming. And anything less would shame my people.
Again, I glanced out the window, taking in the landscape and remembering when I’d been so bored I’d wanted to claw my way out of my skin. Then I sighed. My happiness came after that of the least of the citizens of our land.
Leif waited in the foyer, and I joined him to walk across the courtyard and through the grounds to the tree line where we stripped and shifted. His wolf was as handsome as the man himself, and my wolf preened each time she saw him, butting her head against his muzzle and prancing, ready to run.
Anywhere in particular in mind?He tossed his head back. It’s a fine day to be out.
I don’t care where we go. Just to stretch out and clear the cobwebs from my mind.
Then if Your Majesty will follow me, I will take you somewhere I don’t think you’ve been.
Shameful, but there were probably a lot of places like that in my kingdom. My uncle rarely let me past the palace walls, insisting it wasn’t safe and my wolf could just as easily play in the gardens. My parents had felt differently, and had taken Jillian and I out in the forest, but it had been too long to remember
Lead on, good sir.It was such a pleasure to talk without struggle, something I could only do in wolf form. If Jillian had wanted the throne, I could have shifted and stayed that way almost all the time, mind speech replacing my struggles to hear.
We crashed on through the woods, darting around trees and leaping streamlets, talking a little, but mostly just running. A light breeze ruffled my fur, and dappled sunlight made its way through the trees in their full-summer leaf. We ran for at least an hour before he dodged to the left and ran straight at a hill.
I balked, slowing.Wait! You’re going to hit —
Then he didn’t crash into the grassy side of the hill but disappeared through some low bushes. Poof. Gone.
Leif!
What are you waiting for? Come in!
I paced forward slowly, ducking through the prickly brush and finding myself in a tunnel under the hill.Where are you?
Keep coming. You’ll find me.
I waited for my eyes to adjust then rolled them. Or as much as wolf eyes rolled. Because my vision in this form was so much better than as a human. And a pair of glowing orbs right ahead of me showed me where Leif waited.
A cave, huh?It was nice, but I didn’t see anything really special about it.
Join me, mate. And you’ll see what makes it amazing.
Mate… About mating, I think we need to talk. It’s not the right time.I paced closer to him, the narrow tunnel gradually widening.It’s too expensive, and our resources need to be for the people.
No rush.He said it so casually, I paused.But it’s not a ceremony that makes mates. That’s just for show.
I know there is a contract in place…
That’s not either, mate. Can’t you feel it? It’s nothing to do with anyone but us. Our wolves, our other halves. It’s not paperwork for us.
Leif.But then I saw what he wanted to show me, and it blew me away.Is the whole hill hollow?
