“I’m a friend of His Highness’s family,” I said, “we go way back, played together as children. I’ve come for a long overdue visit.” I held out a hand and slowly, Tess took it.
“Tess Pendragon,” she said gravely.
“Lovely to meet you. Have you been at the citadel long?”
“No, only a day, though it feels much longer. The place is a wonder.”
“That is generous of you to say,” Damon replied. “It is merely a pale imitation of the splendour of our former palace in the capital, but we do the best with what we have. Now, my Tess, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I must set her ladyship and her entourage up in one of the rooms. Can I come to yours afterwards and then we can take that walk?”
“Of course,” Tess said, “though if your ladyship permits, I’d love to call on her before then.”
“Oh, they’ll still be washing the dirt–” the prince said.
“I would love that,” I said.
“Then I’d best change into something more appropriate for walking. I’ll wait here for you, Your Highness?”
Damon blinked as if trying to keep it all straight in his head. “Yes, I will return to you as swiftly as possible.”
I fought the urge to giggle as Damon swept us up the stairs, gesturing for more deer-looking servers to carry our bags, much to Gabe’s disconcertion. “This is the Lily suite,” Damon said, opening the door on an airy set of rooms with pale-yellow walls and ornate white moulding. Fat candles sat in gilded sconces on the walls and an intricately-woven rug in purple, yellow, and white covered the floor. “I have to admit, this was not what I expected to see inside a citadel,” I said.
&nbs
p; “You like it? My grandmother was responsible for the renovation. She turned it from an old battlement to a summer home for when the city grew too oppressive. She would be appalled it was reverting back to its original use.”
“You’re preparing for war?”
“No, no,” he said, a little too quickly, “but it now houses all of my personal guard and those in the military still loyal to the throne. You are aware of the revolution?” I nodded. He sighed, “There was a time it was a place of pleasure, where those close to us could relax and enjoy.”
“Well, perhaps it can be a place of pleasure again?” Yeah, I said it. I figured laying on a bit of flirtation would keep him off balance and from observing us too closely. His eyes jerked to me and widened. Oh yeah, looks like someone has taken the bait.
“Allow me to say how much I appreciate your . . . tact in dealing with Lady Tess. She blundered into this world and was scooped up by Gump and sent here. You have seen how badly hoo-mans are treated here, what else could I do but offer her sanctuary?” Was that with or without salt and pepper? I thought.
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“But to have a lady of such obvious breeding and taste in my home . . .” OK, now I had to bite down on my cheek to stop myself from laughing. I had on an old pair of Converse with holes in them, faded jeans and a t-shirt with a stain on it. Yeah, I was all class. “You are correct, that truly is a pleasure.”
He had it all going on, which worried me deeply. The gaze boring into me, making sure I knew I was his entire focus, he moved into my personal space, so I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the good looks and the confidence: these were all pussy killers and I had to make sure he didn’t use them to kill my sister, literally. “I know you are a busy, important man, but if you have some time tomorrow?” I said.
“Of course, be assured I long to spend some time getting to know you better, milady. I will have the seating plan changed for dinner and have you by my side.”
“Is that wise?” I asked. “The other young lady, poor thing that she is, obviously feels entitled to some precedence. I am a patient woman and would not want to see another young lady languish on my account.”
“Well, milady, you are being most accommodating. I admit I was overcome by your beauty and failed to think of how Lady Pendragon would take this. If you are quite sure?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Well, then I will alert the lady that I will be indisposed tomorrow, catching up with childhood friends.” He looked like all of his Christmases had come at once, a red flush of pleasure spreading over his pale skin. He doesn’t really know how to smile like a human, I observed, if he practised in the mirror he’d look a whole lot less like a hungry wolf.
“What was that?” Gabe asked when the door closed behind the prince.
“It appears racking up debts against the hairy credit card works with furries just as well as human men,” I said. “What? I can’t just announce that Tess is my sister and I’m here to make sure he doesn’t eat her. I feel like a total bitch, making a play for him, but this is a matter of life and death.”
“You did alright with the snobby talk,” Flea said, eyeing me almost suspiciously.
“I don’t know if I did. My brain was desperately trawling through memories of the month long Jane Austen binge Tess and I went on a few years ago. All I remember is everyone was vicious while being exquisitely polite and women never made decisions, just suggested things to their menfolk to get what they wanted. It makes me want to punch people right in the chemise, but I don’t know what else we can do.”
“Not sure if she even saw me,” Flea said, dropping down on the bed. “She looked bloody happy to go walkies with dog boy there. What if she doesn’t want to see me?”