Chapter 21: My Worst Nightmare

Isabelle comes to a halt, turning back to meet my eyes. She and Sage stand trapped between the Dumont brothers and my little cluster of weres and witches. I'm frozen, not sure what to do. They are supposed to be gone, banished by my grandfather. I didn't give the Dumonts another thought, not after Oleksander told them to leave. What are they still doing here? The boys come closer, Jean Marc's cleverness obvious in the tiny smile on his face. He knows something is going on. Kristophe is just along for the ride, as usual, but it's only a matter of time before the second Dumont brother figures things out.

Nataliya stiffens beside me. "Those two," she spits in Ukrainian. "And their foul father. I would have them leave, as well. Perhaps Femke needs to be notified."

I nod, my wolf gaining a firm grip on my shock. "Good idea," I whisper as Jean Marc and Kristophe close in. Isabelle backs up, Sage with her, until we're all one group. Why doesn't she just take him out past the boys? This makes things appear even more suspicious.

"How lovely to see you, Charlotte." Jean Marc's husky voice stirs old memories I don't have time for right now. While the boys rarely partook of Andre's amusements, when they did, the older of the two was the most enthusiastic.

"Step aside." I hold his gaze. "Can't you see some guests are trying to leave?"

Jean Marc shrugs while Kristophe looks Sage up and down. "I don't see a problem."

"I do." Nataliya's anger is back. "I've had enough. You two pack your things. You are no longer welcome here." She chops her hands down as though cutting them off.

"Careful, old woman," Kristophe says with a terrible smile. "Our father warned you about your tone."

"And I warned him about how the two of you behave outside your own territory." Her accent is so thick in her rage even I almost miss her words. "Go! Now!"

They push past, roughly, though Jean Marc smiles down at me with his soullessness clear in his eyes. "Sorry, excuse us." One of his hands rises to touch my cheek. I wait for it, anticipate it, ready to liberate his arm from his body the moment he has the nerve to actually make contact.

I don't get the chance. Sage lunges for Jean Marc and slaps his hand away, fury and protectiveness radiating from him.

"Don't touch her." His green eyes darken like an angry sea.

Jean Marc's eyebrow rises as he stops and looks first to Sage, shaking in anger, then to me. I know my face must be white, but I can't help it. Not when understanding flashes on Jean Marc's face. He smiles wider, handsome face ugly with darkness.

"A normal, Charlotte, really." He tsks softly. "What would your grandfather say?"

My worst nightmare come true. One of my most hated enemies knows the truth and there is nothing I can do about it. Except get Sage out of here and somewhere safe.

But will he ever be safe again? As I look into Jean Marc's black eyes, I know he will make it his mission to find Sage and use him against me. Things could not possibly get any worse.

"Boys." Andre's voice echoes down the hall, the scent of werewolves reaching me and I know I'm wrong, so very wrong, and that things are about to reach disaster proportions.

Jean Marc looks up and meets his father's eyes as I writhe inside, not knowing what to do. Caine is watching, his grin back, eyes locked on Sage. I know he smells us together, because the scent is all over me, inside me. Andre gestures to his boys, the pair of them joining their father.

"You were told none of our people would serve you." I have to salvage this somehow, distract them from Sage. Andre shrugs in his expensive cashmere coat while Caine crosses his big arms over his tattooed chest.

"So your grandfather said." Andre's hand falls on Caine's shoulder. For a moment, the wereleader's face flashes disgust, but it's gone quickly. Still, I smell his annoyance and dislike and wonder what is really going on between these two. Roman and Viveca appear behind them, a few others of Caine's pack filling the hall, blocking the front exit. That only leaves the back way. Can I be optimistic and believe Caine doesn't have people watching the rear?

Don't be a fool, Charlotte. You know he does.

"You've pushed matters further than you should have." I ignore Andre in favor of Caine. If I can eliminate one problem, I can deal with the rest. My wolf calmly compartmentalizes my issues, helping me relax into my next move. "The Makosky family is our ally, not your plaything, nor will your claims of fighting back in self-defense get you anywhere with me or your king. We know them far better and trust them more than we ever will you." I gesture at Nataliya, doing my best to keep magic related language out of my conversation. "Considering Nataliya and Fedir have been kind enough not to summon the authorities to deal with you, I would think you would tread lightly, Caine."

He flashes his teeth at me, flexing his muscles as though to impress me. I'm not impressed, not even a little.

"I do what I want," he says. "Princess. You can tell your grandfather," he layers the word with derogatory bile, "the next time he comes after me, he'd better kill me."

"I wouldn't trouble him with taking out your brand of trash," I snarl. And stop, realizing I'm pushing things past where I want them to go. A fight here, now, would expose Sage to the truth. I have to shield him, if I can. His ignorance is his only means of complete escape. If anyone thought he knew who and what we really are... his mind-and possibly his life-would be wiped out.

I turn quickly to Maks, see his distress. Take Sage. I send the words as powerfully as I can. Maksym's magic isn't strong and he has trouble hearing me. But Isabelle's doesn't and she nods, grasping Maks by the arm, taking Sage's in the other. Caine watches them retreat, Sage struggling a little with Isabelle, hissing whispers at her. Keep him safe.

We'll do our best, Isabelle sends. But if I have to bite him...

Do it. I let them go, using my physical presence to block Caine and Andre from following. Not that they try, but both watch him leave and I know he won't be safe until he's far away from here. If then. I'll figure out a protection system for him once this is over, but for now, getting him some distance is the best choice.

"Slumming, Princess." Caine shakes his head. "Who would have thought." He releases his arms, stretching. "You need a solid bang from a real were to show you what you're missing."

"You're volunteering?" I snort. "I'm already unimpressed."

Caine's scowl proves he, like most males, lives by his ego. The hateful stare I receive from Viveca confirms what I've thought all along-she wants him and hates me for his interest.

"Don't waste your effort, my friend." Andre's hand falls from Caine's shoulder. "She was always low brow, no matter her breeding."

He can try to ruffle my fur, but my disgust is stronger than my need to fight back. Still, I'm willing to take them on, all of them. And from the way Nataliya flexes her magic beside me, I won't be alone in the fight.

A commotion at the back stairs breaks up the party before it can get started. I glance over my shoulder, see Maksym and a large group of weres coming toward us. When did he summon them? It must be Isabelle's doing. I almost wish he'd taken his time bringing reinforcements.

I turn and smile at Andre and Caine. "Coven Leader Dumont," I say. "I hereby declare you outcast from the territory of the werenation. My grandfather's warning stands. Your complete disregard for our laws," I gesture at Caine, "and the relationship we have built with the Makosky coven," Nataliya nods brusquely beside me, "has proven your only aim is to cause trouble for us and our allies." Andre doesn't try to argue, just smiles his horrible and familiar smile at me. "You will be escorted to our borders and if you are ever seen here again, you will be summarily executed."

"You don't have the power," Andre says, voice soft and challenging.

"I do," I say. "Or, I will, once I've filed a formal complaint with Femke Svennson and the European High Council."

"A complaint," Nataliya spits at him, "I shall echo. Now, leave my establishment-and my town-immediately."

I watch Andre shrug, turn. Jean Marc grumbles something, but his father shakes his head. It should be satisfying to step aside, watch the two Dumont brothers retreat to their room to pack. But it's not, not by a long shot, not with Caine still grinning at me.

"You," I say. "Return to the palace at once and face my grandfather's wrath for your disloyalty."

Caine barks a yipping laugh, more wolf than man, and leaves, his pack trailing behind him, sway of his shoulders and hips accentuating his arrogance. I've done nothing to knock down his ego. But hopefully Oleksander will listen to me now.

If he doesn't kill me when he finds out about Sage.

I turn to Nataliya, accept her hug. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." She releases me and steps back, magic crackling. "My coven will ensure they leave," she says. "I'll have my people escort them personally."

"A couple of Enforcers might be a good idea," I say. "Get in touch with Femke and let her handle it."

Nataliya nods and squeezes my hand. "Be well, Your Highness."

She and Fedir rush down the hall to the stairs. I just hope Femke can act and isn't stymied by coven law. If anyone can bypass the rules, it's Andre. But, I know Oleksander will back my ban and that's all we need to keep him out. Or kill him for intruding.

Maksym grasps my arm, his voice faint in my head.

Isabelle is watching your normal friend, he sends. I feel disappointment in him and snap him hard with my power. He retreats, head down. We might be friends, but I'm his superior. He doesn't have the right to judge me.

She'll keep him safe. I have to believe it. I'll worry about him later. Right now, we have to talk to my grandfather.



***