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We were outside and halfway back to the palace before I reacted to Elmyra’s startling comment. “She thinks we’re mated, it seems. I didn’t have the heart to tell the poor thing it’s a working relationship.”
Silence. After a long moment, I glanced to the side to see Leif’s cheeks were ruddy. Had he gotten too much sun? “Leif? About her funny comment?”
“Your Majesty…”
“I think when we’re alone it should be Janis, don’t you? Sometimes it’s nice not to be formal.”
“Fine, Janis, then. I was starting to wonder…that is…has nobody told you about the betrothal?”
I pulled my horse to a stop and waved the footman ahead. “Go to the castle, James. You’ll be late for your dinner.” As he cantered on ahead, I kicked my horse into a slow walk. “Leif? Why aren’t you laughing? It’s a joke, right?”
“No, we were betrothed at your birth. There is an agreement in place that we soon. You truly didn’t know?”
I squeezed my eyes closed for a moment. “Does it sound as if I knew? I suppose I should ask what other contracts were signed that affect my life. Sometimes I’m caught between the twenty-first and the eleventh century.”
“Do you really want to know?” He grasped my horse’s bridle and slid from his saddle to come alongside me, face tipped up and that voice I could still hear rollin over me. “Because if being betrothed to me is a shock, I’m concerned about your reaction to the rest.”
Oh hells. “What are you going to say? I’m engaged to someone else who’s going to turn up soon?”
Leif grasped my waist and lifted me down to stand in front of him. Then he took my hands in his. “Two somebodies. Your sister, as the presumed next queen was promised to two men, but since she’s already abdicated the throne and mated to the three from the Crystal Cavern pack, the contract specifies the next queen also inherits the matings.” Someday soon, I’d be unable to hear him.
I jerked my hands, but he didn’t release them. “Wait. So my sister picked out three men to mate, and that means I’m not only obligated to the one my parents selected for me but her leftovers? Her rejects? Am I never to be free to make my own decisions?”
My voice rang through the trees flanking the pathway, I mean, probably since I was trying to speak loudly, but nobody appeared to save me from decisions made without any input from me. “Why did I think being queen gave me autonomy?”
“Just the opposite, I’m afraid.”
No kidding.
Chapter Ten
I’d barely had time to process the fact that I had men picked out for me when Candace informed me that, in fact, I didn’t have time to process it at all.
“Today?” I yelled. That was my maid’s attempt at getting me to calm down? I’d intended to take the day and run as my wolf, but since I was no longer in charge of anything down to when I shifted or what kind of panties I wore, I wasn’t surprised. “Are you…” I took a breath before I said something I would regret. “This is ridiculous. Tell him I have plans.”
Candace snorted but then schooled her face. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but he has ridden here a long way, a four-day ride, in fact. This has been planned and postponed for several months with the mix-up with you and Jillian. He will be here in a few hours.”
“Oh, so because he’s ridden for four days…maybe he needs a week’s rest. His ass must be thoroughly chapped by now.”
Candace dropped the dress she was holding and put her hands on her knees to double over and laugh. The thing was, I wasn’t joking, not in the least.
“Your Majesty, you can’t do that to me. I almost peed. From what I’ve heard, he’s very eager to meet you.”
I scoffed and threw myself onto the bed. “Meaning, he’s horny.”
Her laughing doubled. “No…I mean, I’m sure he is. But knowing a shifter, he’s occupied that urge in other ways.”
“Wait, you know what? Let’s meet him as soon as possible. The sooner the better, actually. Then he can be on his way. Easy, peasy.” I swished my hands together, already hypothetically washing them of the situation.
“What changed your mind?” she asked, wiping tears from her face and picking up the dress she’d dropped. As far as I was concerned, she could leave it on the floor. It was a mustard-colored thing so ugly I wanted to toss it out the window, but it also made me crave a burger. Maybe I could ask the cook to cook some tonight or tomorrow, or as soon as I dealt with this person. Jillian’s mates had built a big brick barbecue while they were here and taught me the delights of charcoal grilling
“As soon as he meets me and finds out I’m deaf, he will run for the hills. Done deal.”
She flitted through the closet some more and then pulled out an equally hideous powder blue one, turning to face me again. “Leif didn’t run for the hills.”
I rolled my eyes. “He has issues. And he’s bossy. And he thinks he knows everything. He’s so aggravating and frustrating.”
“And hot as hell and heaven together. Admit it.”
