Willow before she had a chance to plant another bomb.
And, Ruben thought grimly as he loped alongside his father toward the guard house, he’d send some soldiers to find that man in the woods. Just in case.
Again, Ruben realized he’d underestimated his wolf. Once allowed to take form, the beast resisted the necessary change back to human. Heart pounding, Ruben battled his inner animal, praying his father was sufficiently distracted and didn’t notice the savage fight.
Ruben won and forced the change back to human. Each time, it grew more and more difficult. He could easily foresee a day when the wolf would win and he’d remain in his lupine form forever. On that day, he knew he’d slide over the last slippery slope to madness.
What worried him was how badly he wanted to.
A few minutes later, human and fully clothed, King Leo and Ruben alerted the guards. Men were dispatched to the woods to search for the stranger, and the palace was quietly put on high alert. Willow would be caught and interrogated. Ruben hoped she wouldn’t resist. Despite everything, he didn’t want her hurt.
Yet.
Of course he’d already decided to question her himself. Though their association had been brief, he’d foolishly believed they’d connected on some visceral level. More proof that his mind was slowly unraveling, he supposed. Now, he wanted her to look him in the eye and explain.
Fuming, Tatiana put on her riding boots, trying to keep from scowling as she didn’t want to cause wrinkles. First her sister—whom she’d planned to pair with Prince Eric—had managed to disappear unnoticed, but now Prince Chad had begged off, claiming he had a headache. As if. And when she’d questioned him, he’d had the audacity to say he felt it better if she and her fiancé spend time alone. He’d grinned mockingly as he’d spoken, taunting her.
This not only infuriated her, but aroused her, as well. Tatiana had never met a man who wouldn’t let her have her way.
A challenge was exactly what she needed. But first … She stood, adjusting her ponytail. She had to deal with the buffoon she was supposed to marry.
Sparkles of Fairy dust. This was going to be a long afternoon.
Prince Eric waited, standing beside his mount. She noted he’d chosen the largest, flashiest horse in the royal stable, a cantankerous gelding appropriately nicknamed Trouble. She wondered if the stable hands had bothered to tell their visitor that he was indeed asking for … well, trouble. The only one Trouble would allow to remain on his back was King Puck. And that was only when the giant beast felt like it.
At the moment, he stood docilely, mouthing his bit while Prince Eric eyed her and preened. Since she knew he was waiting for her to compliment him and say how handsome he looked next to the magnificent steed, she kept her mouth shut and pretended not to notice. After all, he hadn’t bothered to comment on her appearance—and she knew she looked absolutely, freakin’ gorgeous—so why should she bother with his?
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