Chapter 22: Over The Line

My grandfather rages at me, in private, at least. The small room behind the throne is the perfect place for my dressing down, in his eyes at least. I would prefer this didn't happen at all.

"Against my express orders," he finishes his stomping, pacing tirade, "stirring who knows what interference from the European High Council. What do you have to say for yourself?"

I scowl at him, doing my best to keep my temper. He doesn't yet know of the full extent of my transgressions and maybe, if I can turn him against Caine sufficiently, I can get the Californian leader banned before he can use Sage against me. Not that such a scenario is likely. There will be more yelling and possible repercussions I haven't thought of yet when Oleksander finds out about my relationship with a normal. But, for now, I need him to listen to me. It takes all the training I have, my mother's memory, to keep me from lashing out at my grandfather for not seeing the danger right in front of his eyes.

"I was protecting the Makosky family," I say in a cold voice. There will be time for apologies later. For some reason, however, I don't feel the guilt and shame I normally do when my grandfather's power presses down on me. Instead, the rebellion awakened a week ago makes a fresh appearance, freeing my tongue. "Perhaps you are fine with our allies being tormented by our enemies, but I am not so weak." I know, in the instant I've spoken, I've gone too far, stepped over the line with my last declaration. He will never forgive me for calling him weak.

I'm wrong. Oleksander sags, fury leaving him as he rushes to me and grips me in both of his hands, my upper arms locked in his grasp. He shakes me, ever so slightly, hands trembling.

"Sharlotta," he whispers, hoarse, broken. "You risk so much. And we must be cautious."

"We risk more with inaction," I say, emboldened by his lack of temper. "Don't you care Caine was in talks with Andre Dumont right under your nose? While the pair of them brought discord to the Makosky coven? And what about Caine and his people using Yutsk to spy on us?" I have no idea if I'm right, but what other explanation is there for the early appearance of the California pack? "Treating our friends with dishonor?"

Oleksander bobs a nod, releasing me. He seems so old in that moment, worn where he has always been strong, robust. I release my own anger, and the lingering fear I have for Sage. The anger my grandfather will aim at me, I can handle. As long as Sage is safe.

I stand by Oleksander's side as he pauses by the exit. I need to tell him, I can't wait any longer. My grandfather needs to know, before anyone can use the information against me. No matter the consequences of him finding out about my relationship with Sage, we need to be on the same side when it comes to Caine.

"Grandfather," I say. "We must stand up for our beliefs, even as we protect our way of life. But we cannot show weakness. Nor can we allow those who think they are better to oppress others. We have spent too long in that role ourselves to permit it to go on."

He turns to me, a small, sad smile on his face. "What a queen you will make," he says, before leaving me alone.

He's wrong about me. I will make a terrible queen. But I have no choice. And if I am to take the throne and lead the werenation, by the responsibility bequeathed to me, I'll do it and not apologize for kicking asses and taking names.

"There's something else I need to tell you." My words choke in my throat. But Oleksander shakes his head, turns from me, opening the door.

"First Caine," he says. "Then we will talk of other things."

I let him go. Why do I let him go? Yet another disaster waiting to rain trouble down on me. I feel like Syd, all of a sudden.

When I emerge from the room, slowly and nervously stepping around my grandfather's throne, I immediately lock gazes with Caine. He stands at the bottom of the dais stairs, his ever-present Roman and Viveca behind him. Oleksander stares down at him with his fists clenched. I feel another battle coming on, but this time Caine will be ready for my grandfather.

I'm wrong. Even as Oleksander opens his mouth to tear Caine apart verbally before he does so physically, the California pack leader holds up one hand.

"I know I broke the rules," he says, as if he doesn't care what my grandfather-his king-thinks. "I was only curious about the Dumonts, nothing more."

Oleksander growls. "You had your orders," he says.

"An interesting family," Caine says, like my grandfather isn't ready to kill him for his disobedience. "I understand you and our princess here," he grins at me, "have close, personal experiences with them."

I will kill him. And he will have no warning when I rip out his heart.

"Even more curious," Caine goes on, "is Charlotte's choice of companions." I freeze, my rage flashing to fear. Here it is, the moment of truth. And damn me, what was I thinking? I knew should have prepared my grandfather, stopped him and told him about Sage, instead of wasting my time insulting and hurting him instead. "Though, I suppose, being around witches and all," Caine laughed, "hanging out with normals isn't so far to fall."

My grandfather's tension worries me more than the way Caine looked at me. The pack leader I could take, would kill. But Oleksander's disappointment and fury? I wasn't so sure now I was about to face it head on.

Grandfather. I reach for him. I tried to tell you- I'm desperate to explain before Caine let out the truth, but he cuts me off.

What is this? He gestures to Caine. "Go on." Sharlotta, what have you done?

I flounder while Caine shrugs his broad shoulders. "Part of the reason we were in Yutsk," Caine says, "was to protect our princess's honor. I personally couldn't stand by as some normal," he flicks his gaze to me, "claimed to be friends with her."

He is a bastard and I can't stop him as he goes on.

"Imagine my surprise," he says, "to find her protecting the very same normal." He sniffs the air. "She even smells of him. Tell me, Your Highness. How did you get his scent on you?"

Oleksander's mind presses down on mine and I feel it when his wolf makes the connection between the scent of Sage from a week ago and the same aroma on me now. Is this what you've been doing? His anger is tempered by deep hurt that makes me flinch. Is this how you have been wasting your time? With normals? While your people needed you to step up and be their leader?

It's not like that. I feel like a little girl brought to task, for lying or cheating or stealing while my inner rebellion fights back. But all I've done is follow my heart. And yet, from the terrible pain in my grandfather's mind, I might as well have betrayed him to the Dumonts.

Screw that, my rebel traitor snarls.

Caine watches with a flush of eagerness, though neither my grandfather nor I show a hint of our mental conversation.

I am so ashamed, Oleksander says. I believed in you, trusted you to find your own way. Now I see how wrong I've been.

Why is it wrong? I throw the question at him in desperation while my need to fight back sneers at me. I love him.

YOU DID NOT USE THAT WORDABOUT A NORMAL. My grandfather's mental voice almost knocks me over. I sway, Caine grinning tighter as I do. He must know what's happening between us.

I DID. My anger feeds from Caine's smirk, from my fear for Sage, from my hatred of this box my grandfather has trapped me in. The seed of rebellion grows into a tsunami of rage and denial. I LOVE HIM.

You are Princess Sharlotta Moreau, heir to the werenation, my grandfather's crisp, icy words penetrate better than his shouting. You are destined to power and the glory of your people. Something you will never achieve in the arms of a normal. He turns from me, turns his shoulder to me as though dismissing me all together. For that reason, you will never see this normal again.



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