Breakfast the next morning passed in a blur. I was terrified someone was going to say something about Owen and me—or maybe try to feed me a bloody heart along with my oatmeal. But nothing happened. I sipped coffee and tried to look like I didn’t know what was coming.
When Dad made the announcement of the Test of Knowledge, Regan and I were tense and hopefully surprised-looking. It was strange to be so aligned with her for once.
“Shall we?” The sound of Owen’s voice made me jump and I found him standing expectantly beside my chair, his hand held out for mine.
Everyone else around me had already risen and begun to exit. I shoved back from my chair and dropped my napkin onto my still mostly full plate.
“Coming,” I said, following him from the table and out the door.
The gardens had been roped off with stakes and twine. The path to the lower level was clearly marked. The rest were dead ends, blockaded or otherwise protected from curious hands. Mrs. Rossi stood on the deck, a glass of something dark in her hands, glowering at the crowd as they passed her on the way. Her expression lightened as she caught sight of Owen. Then her eyes flicked to me and suspicion clouded her features.
“Your mother seems … pleasant,” I said and Owen laughed. A few people glanced our way, but he ignored them. He raised his arm to wave at her. She raised her hand and let it fall stiffly to her side again.
“She’s not a fan of change,” he said. “Or houseguests.”
“You seem close,” I said, finally giving voice to my own curiosity. Owen just laughed. “Close as any vampire mother and son can be, I guess.” At my frown, he went on. “Mother wasn’t thrilled when she found out Dad had made the treaty. Or to hear I wasn’t against the idea of getting closer with the werewolves.”
“She doesn’t want peace?” I asked.
“She’s afraid to want it, I think,” he said, slowing his steps as if lost in thought. He lowered his voice as we walked. “She was devastated when we were turned—destined to be frozen in time for eternity. She wants grandkids. A future. To move forward. But we don’t age and even so, progress has always resulted in betrayal and loss over the years. She’s skeptical, maybe to the point of bitter.”
“I’m sorry, that sounds … disappointing,” I murmured, distracted.
Owen caught my gaze and my cheeks flamed.
“You’re still stuck on the grandkids comment, aren’t you?” he asked and I could hear the teasing in his words. I swatted at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of voicing my question aloud. Owen laughed and danced away.
A vampire I didn’t recognize sped to match our pace. He had greasy hair and a pointed chin and he didn’t look happy at mine and Owen’s familiar behavior. “I see you’ve already chosen a favorite, Prince Owen.”
“Reddek,” Owen said coolly, “I see you haven’t lost your knack for offending upon first impression.”
The vampire’s mouth tightened and he fell back, a nasty curl to his mouth.
“Who was that guy?” I whispered when we’d put some distance between us.
“Vance Reddek. A member of my father’s council and an ass.”
“He’s on the council and you spoke to him that way?”
Owen lifted an eyebrow at me. “He spoke out of turn in front of a lady. I’m the prince. Why shouldn’t I remind him of his place?” He made it sound so simple. Having ultimate power over a kingdom must be nice—and kind of scary.
“It doesn’t work that way for us,” I said ruefully and thought of Brent. I wouldn’t mind telling him a thing or two but I knew without even trying it that Dad would not be happy.
“What way is that?”
“Saying whatever we want. I could never talk like that to a council member. Sheridan would have my head. It’s all about respect and political correctness.”
“And if that person disrespects you first? What then?”
I shrugged, because I wasn’t sure. From what little I’d seen, those at the top could do what they wanted, but everyone else? What sort of respect did they get, really? “I guess they let it go.”
“There’s nothing wrong with demanding to be heard,” he said. A smile played over his lips. “You’ll learn that once we’re ruling together.” His whisper was heated. He made it sound like a promise of so many wonderful things. But all I could think about was the danger we had to get through first.
I wanted to bury my face in his shoulder, inhale his musky scent. But I made myself keep walking.
We followed the trickle of people through an orchard of what looked like various fruit trees before emerging on the other side into what Mr. Rossi had called the lower gardens. The plants here were more like hedges, low-lying and trimmed to border pathways and fountains. Green on green dappled with tiny, white flowers as far as I could see. A purple tent stretched across the grass, with rows and rows of white chairs set up facing the center. A wooden podium had been erected on a low stage in the center.
Sheridan, Mr. Rossi, and my dad were there, standing just below the stage in a three-way huddle. My dad shook his head at something Sheridan said, his mouth pulled into a tight line.
“Dad?” I called as we neared. Anxiety pinged in my rib cage and I realized it was the first time I’d addressed him that way in public. But he rarely ever looked worried and it had me rattled.
The conversation halted and the three of them looked over at Owen and me, clearly not wanting us to hear whatever they’d been discussing.
Sheridan gave my dad a pointed look and then broke away from the huddle to put a manicured hand on my back and lead me to the other side of the dais. “Charlie, dear, we were just finalizing the order of events. I can’t allow you to hear it and gain any sort of advantage over your sister. If you’d be so kind as to wait here until we call for you.” She gestured to a chair at the end of the front row and pushed on my shoulder with sharp nails until I sank down.
“Owen.” She snapped her finger as she called him. I watched his brow raise, but he didn’t argue at being snapped at. I, however, wanted to poke her eyes out with her own nails. “Would you please sit with Charlotte? Keep her company until the test begins?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “You’re such a gracious host. Thank you.”
Owen sat next to me, leaving an open chair between us. I frowned at the space it left but didn’t protest. More people were arriving and taking their seats. It wouldn’t be good for them to see Owen and I cuddled up together.
“Owen, I—”
“Shh. It’s going to be fine. We’ll talk later,” he said. I knew he didn’t want me saying too much in front of listening ears.
Regan arrived with Carter and took a seat at the opposite end of our row. Sheridan and Mr. Rossi finally ended their huddle with Dad as Mrs. Rossi arrived. Dad wandered over to us while Sheridan greeted some of the other guests.
“Owen,” Dad said, nodding stiffly.
“Mr. Vuk.” Owen rose and stepped aside, gesturing for my dad to take his chair. “Miss Vuk, a pleasure, as always.” He nodded at me and then walked away, taking the open seat beside his mother.
I forced myself to focus on my dad instead of where Owen had gone or the hordes of people now assembled to watch the test.
“How are you feeling, Charlie?” Dad asked. I found him watching me, his mouth tipped into a severe frown. His eyes were shadowed with dark circles like he hadn’t slept. How much did he know about his late wife’s secrets? Did he know about Valentino? Or that someone from his own pack had arranged his wife’s murder?
“Um, okay,” I said. My mouth felt dry.
“Listen, I know things have been tough for you lately. The pack hasn’t made it easy or welcoming, but I want you to know…” His gaze shifted to Sheridan and then back again. He licked his lips. “I’m here for you.”
“Sure thing,” I said, unable to hide the false note in my words. This was so unlike my dad, or at least it had been until now. Had something happened between him and Mr. Rossi? Did he know something about the traitors in our midst?
“Right, well.” He rose and brushed his hands through his hair. “I’m going to say hello to your sister, but, uh, good luck today. You’re going to do great.” With that, he slid into the crowd.
I sat back in my chair and tried not to let the empty chairs on either side bother me. Across the tent, Dad huddled with Regan, Carter, and half the pack elders. They didn’t exactly look at ease in the midst of an entire coven of vampires, but they didn’t look worried. Not about the test, anyway. Behind me, Owen was bent close to his mother in quiet conversation. He didn’t look up at me. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared ahead until Mr. Rossi went to the podium and cleared his throat.
Everyone quieted.
“If everyone will take a seat we will begin the second test in the competition for the Vuk alpha, also known as the Test of Knowledge.” He paused to let the shuffling subside as everyone found a seat and fell silent. “Each young lady will be asked questions to test her knowledge of history, tradition, and customs. In light of the future joining of our two races, it has been decided these questions shall include knowledge of both werewolves and vampires.”
A murmur of voices went up, too loud to be ignored. I shot a look at the council but none of them looked surprised. Sylvia’s gaze slid to mine and her willowy shoulders snapped back as if the sight of me made her stiff. I looked away.
“Quiet, please,” Mr. Rossi said. There was something commanding about his polite tone. The crowd obeyed. “I will be delivering the questions, but please note they have all been approved by your pack alpha and beta as well as the entire council.” I looked over once more just in time to see Carter’s dad roll his eyes. “Girls. Please join me on stage.”
I could feel the stares boring into my back as I rose. Some of them vampire, some werewolf, none particularly friendly. Except maybe Owen. But even he was distant and cool, playing a role. It wasn’t an expression I particularly wanted to see so I kept my body facing forward and climbed the steps to the stage.
Regan joined me and the hum of voices turned to clapping and a couple hoots. She didn’t look at me. Her jaw was set and her fists clenched at her sides. I knew her well enough by now to know her rigidity was more than just the competition.
I followed her gaze out into the crowd, curious what had set her off. I knew she was still angry about Owen and me, but she seemed to be looking past that. To the edges of the gathering, the standing spectators beyond the chairs. Beyond the edge of the canopy.
Between pale faces and dark jackets I caught sight of a face and went still. It was the man I’d seen weeks ago, on the day of my hunt with Regan. He’d been the one watching me when Regan had gone after the deer. With everything else, I’d forgotten him. But here he was. This, I realized, must be Valentino.
But he was on our side. I knew Owen had spoken with him last night and intended to work with him to keep a close eye out while Regan and I were onstage. He was an ally. So if he hadn’t put the heart in my stage room, who had?