More Blazing Bedtime Stories: Once Upon a Mattress (9 page)

“Time is different over here. The days are shorter. You’ll get used to…”

“Halt! Stop and pay the queen’s toll!”

Shocked to hear another voice out here in the woods at the break of dawn, Penny could only stare as a figure emerged from between two trees. A diminutive man wearing roughhewn clothes and a long cap sauntered closer. When he reached them, he hopped onto a stump and extended his hand, palm up, as if he expected it to be filled with money.

Lucas sneered. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Collecting the queen’s toll from every traveler,” the frowning man replied. Rising on tiptoe, he glared directly into Lucas’s face, which meant he had some major balls for one so small. “Now pay up or you won’t be allowed to trespass across Riverdale.”

Realizing they were indeed being asked to pay a toll by a grumpy dwarf, Penny could only stare, her mouth hanging open.

“Get out of my way. No Wolf pays a toll to a queen, especially one who isn’t the rightful ruler of Riverdale.”

“Wait! Are you the lawman?” The dwarf lifted a pair of thick spectacles to his eyes and peered through them owlishly. He studied Penny’s face, focusing on her eyes, then stumbled, almost falling off his perch. He put his fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle, then shrieked, “They’re here!”

A sudden pounding echoed. Before Penny had time to process that she was hearing the sound of men running, she saw several of them in dark uniforms appear from the treeline.

Lucas instantly went on the defensive, grabbing her by the arm and shoving her behind him. “That double-crossing bitch,” he snarled.

Penny realized they might be in real trouble. “The queen?”

“She might have decided it was easier to get rid of you! Damn, how could I have trusted her? I’m sorry, Princess.”

She gulped, wondering if there was any chance the border was still crossable, despite the sun rising in the western sky…
western?
But before she could make a dash for it, dragging Lucas with her, the dwarf hopped off the stump and dropped to one knee before her.

“May I be the first to welcome your highness to Elatyria?”

Lucas hesitated, though she still felt the tension in his rock-hard form. “What?” he asked.

The dwarf ignored him, staring only at Penny. “We’ve been expecting you. Welcome.”

“Uh, thanks,” Penny said, looking to Lucas for guidance.

He visibly relaxed. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I overreacted. It appears Queen Verona is welcoming you with open arms.”

Rather than swords and executioners. Check.

Before she could reply, the guards converged on them. Surrounding her, they pushed between her and her escort.

“Your majesty!” the one in front said, bowing deeply. “Queen Verona sends her fondest welcome and is greatly looking forward to meeting you.”

“Yeah, well, we’ll get there,” Lucas said.

“Please come with me, your majesty,” the lead guard said, taking Penny by the arm. “We have a carriage ready for you and have been instructed to bring you to the palace immediately.”

“Damn it,” Lucas muttered.

Penny blinked, shaking her head, still a little dazed from the rough border crossing. And from the unexpected welcoming party.

From the way Lucas had talked, she’d expected to have another day or two alone with him: Taking their time making their way to the palace. Stopping to explore, touch, have wild, lovely, delicious sex. Even time to deal with the feelings they seemed to be rousing in each other so suddenly, so unexpectedly.

She didn’t believe in love at first sight, despite what Lucas had told her about her parents. But something was there, something solid, sure. And growing. She wanted time to deal with it, to nurture it, before confronting the rest of her new life.

Lucas had seemed to desire the same thing. He’d told her he wanted to explain everything in more detail, prepare her for what was to come. Discuss the future.

Now, though, as she was being firmly escorted toward a gleaming carriage standing behind six white horses, she saw that fantasy slip away. Lucas was disappearing behind her, surrounded by a trio of guards, all of them looking belligerent and ready to stop him if he came after her. Indeed, when he stepped forward, he was grabbed by each arm.

Hell, if she ever needed to play the princess card, it was now. “Halt! Unhand my escort,” she shouted, wondering how
she’d found the words when what she’d really wanted to say was, “Dudes, hands off the merchandise.”

The guards immediately dropped their arms, but didn’t move out of Lucas’s way so he could join her at the steps of the carriage. He stared at her from yards away, his brown eyes glowing with anger, frustration. Emotion.

“Your majesty,” said the head guard, his voice low and urgent, “I know you felt secure in the company of the…Wolf. However, you are now in our custody. You’re safe, I assure you.”

She gritted her teeth, furious on Lucas’s behalf about the inherent racism. “He’s with me.”

“He will be well-paid for his service. But, majesty, you must see that he cannot accompany you to the palace.”

“Why the hell not?”

The guard seemed startled by her language. “Well, uh…because word that you’ve been traveling alone with a…man…would not make the best impression on the people, majesty. And it will almost certainly displease your future mother-in-law, the queen.”

Penny froze, staring at him, trying to figure out if he’d really said what it had sounded like he’d said.

“Penny!” Lucas called.

He was still blocked by the guards, one of whom snapped, “She’s your majesty to
you
, Wolf!”

“Now we must hurry,” said the guard. “Your fiancé, Prince Ruprecht, has been so anxious to meet you.”

Okay. He
had
said what it had sounded like he’d said.

“Wait,” she whispered. “Just wait one damn minute.”

She stayed still, her hand on the side of the beautiful gold-trimmed carriage, a few feet from the white horses who pawed the ground in anticipation.

She was a world apart from everything she’d ever known. Separated from everyone she’d ever held dear. Except one person. The person she had entrusted to bring her here.

He stood across the clearing, watching her, saying nothing. Penny stared at him, silently demanding the truth.
His jaw clenched and his eyes closed briefly. That was all the truth she needed.

The son of a bitch really had brought her here to marry another man.

N
OT HAVING
the luxury of a horse-drawn carriage, Lucas arrived at the castle one day after Penny did. In that time she had already started the entire court talking. The whispers were thick, every person having something to say about the long-lost princess.

That hair! The clothes! Those rings on her ears! But the prince—he’s enamored, can you believe it? He can’t take his eyes off her
.

Those
rumors he could have done without.

If he’d had any idea he and Penny would be separated as soon as they reached Elatyria, Lucas would have told her everything she needed to know before they’d crossed over. He’d never dreamed Queen Verona would recognize Penny as the princess without even meeting her. Was she so desperate to marry Ruprecht off that she’d accept Penelope Mayfair sight unseen?

Of course she is
.

He’d been stupid, careless. And now, he might pay the ultimate price for that stupidity. Because the look of betrayal on Penny’s face before the guards had tucked her into the carriage and driven her away had stabbed him right through the heart.

She might never forgive him. God, she might actually marry Ruprecht.

“No,” he mumbled as he made his way through the throne room, thick with sycophants who wanted to get in the good graces of the princess they were so gleefully gossiping about.

He spotted her immediately. Penny had been changed out of her regular clothes and put into a formal gown that looked
stiff and uncomfortable. It covered her up from neck to toe, revealing not a hint of ink on her skin, much less the bump of two silver hoops on her perfect nipples.

Beside her, sitting stoic and rigid on her throne, was Queen Verona. The queen’s famed ivory skin now verged on puce and she looked ready to choke on her own tongue.

And the reason was obvious; Prince Ruprecht looked utterly besotted. He sat beside Penny, their hands entwined, their heads together as they whispered and laughed.

Lucas’s heart pounded in his chest and his fingers curled into fists. He had never considered the prince any kind of competition, but now, Ruprecht and Penny looked like a happy, engaged couple.

How could she?

The thought quickly shifted.
How could
you,
fool?
Because the whole thing was entirely his fault for not telling her everything from the start.

“Lucas Wolf! The Huntsman!” a courtier announced.

Penny stiffened; he saw the way her spine went straight and her hand stilled. But she didn’t acknowledge him at all.

Queen Verona, however, did. She jerked up from her throne, breaking all protocol by marching toward him. Ignoring everyone around them, she snapped, “You’re sure
that
is the girl?”

“Quite sure, majesty,” he said, knowing Queen Verona hated Penny already.

The queen closed her eyes and groaned softly. “My God, what have you led me to, Wolf?”

“Nothing but what you asked for,” he replied evenly. “And I expect to be paid the agreed-upon price for doing my job.”

Not that he really wanted the money or the land…not for himself at least. But if this whole situation was going to leave him alone for the rest of his life, having lost the woman he should have spent it with, the very least he could do was fulfill his promise to his father.

“My son can’t marry
her
.”

Lucas frowned as Penny and Ruprecht laughed together over some shared joke. “I think he might argue that.”

The queen’s lip trembled. “She
can’t
be the princess.”

“She is, any test would prove it, I’m sure. Now, my purse?”

The queen froze, staring at him searchingly. “A test…”

Hell. “Majesty, there is no doubt. One need only look at her eyes…”

The woman waved a heavily ringed hand. “Coincidence.” Then a crafty smile widened her lips and she turned in a broad circle to look at her son and his chosen princess. “My dear,” she said, her voice ringing across the court, “there is one
minor
formality we must complete before we can proceed.”

Penny finally looked up and Lucas would swear she intentionally avoided meeting his stare. But her smile was tight, her slim shoulders stiff as she raised an inquiring brow. “Yes?”

Queen Verona cast a knowing, conspiratorial smile at her courtiers. “We, of course, have to satisfy all the traditional requirements. Which means, my dear, that we must put you to the test.”

A
FRIGGING PRINCESS
test? Who ever heard of
that?
For the first time ever, Penny found herself wishing she’d actually read a fairy tale once in her life. Not because she wanted to pass the test. Hell, no. Because she wanted to make sure she
didn’t
.

She could fool a lot of people…but she could never fool herself. From the minute the carriage had pulled away from Lucas the previous morning, all she had been able to think about was getting back to him. First, to kick his butt for being so sneaky about his real motivation for coming to find her. Second, to find out how he really felt about her.

And third, to make sure he didn’t get away.

She wanted him. More, she didn’t want to ever be
without
him. If that equaled love at first sight, or love within twenty-four hours, then so be it. She’d call it love. She didn’t need to put a name on it, she just knew she had to have the man in her life.

He felt the same way. No, he’d made no effort to approach
her this afternoon, but he’d burned her with a succession of fierce, possessive glances.
Claiming
her.

He might have been sent to bring her back for Ruprecht. But there was no doubt in her mind that Lucas Wolf wanted her for himself.

“You’re looking pale, my dear Penelope. Are you sure you can go through with this?”

She looked at Prince Ruprecht, who was charming, if a bit dim. He was leading her to the royal ballroom, where the big princess test was to be conducted. Wondering how on earth the dude hadn’t yet figured out what he
really
wanted, she replied, “Yeah, I’m sure. It’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

“I
am
worried,” he insisted. “What if you pass the test?”

Prince Ruprecht was on board with Penny’s plan to throw the contest. He didn’t want to marry her any more than she wanted to marry him, even though they had immediately hit it off. He was funny, had a cutting sense of humor, and did a great impression of his bitchy mother. The perfect guy friend, actually.

As so many gay men were.

Not that he actually
knew
that about himself yet.

“Well, you still don’t
have
to marry me. You can refuse me.”

“But she’ll only complain I’m too picky,” he said with a sigh. “I don’t understand why I simply can’t fall in love. But I
like
you better than anyone I’ve ever met. So maybe we should get married.”

“I don’t think so, Princey.” Patting him on his arm, she said, “Don’t let her bully you. You should go live your life for yourself rather than doing what your mother wants you to do.”

His eyes widened and he stopped short of the closed ballroom doors. “What else is there for me to do?”

“Oh, you might be surprised. I know of a place where you could find everything your heart desires. It’s a beautiful city on a glimmering sea, with a golden bridge.”

He looked fascinated. “A bridge of gold?”

“Well, no, it’s not
really
gold, it’s red. But they call it the Golden Gate.” She waved her hand in the air, drawing a word
picture for him. “And in this city, there is a great love of rainbows. They have a whole parade to celebrate their rainbow pride, and I guaran-damn-tee you, Ruprecht, if you go to it, you will absolutely find your heart’s true desire.”

He nodded, appearing fascinated. “I wish to hear more about this city on the morrow.”

“It’s a deal,” she said.

Though, if she had her way, she wouldn’t be here “on the morrow.” Once she got this test business over with, and gained her freedom from any engagement, she intended to go after that stubborn Wolf. Once she’d straightened his butt out and got him to admit he couldn’t live without her, they could figure out what she wanted to do about her kingdom.

Test or no test, if she decided she wanted to claim Riverdale, Queen Verona was in for one knock-down, drag-out bitch-slapping fight.

Penny had proof of her claim—her father’s letter, which she had finally opened the previous night in the quiet of her castle chambers. She’d cried for hours after reading his words, which confirmed everything she’d learned about her past, her life, her history. She didn’t want to share the note with anyone, least of all Queen Verona, but if it came down to a battle, she knew her father would want her to do whatever she had to. And he’d be cheering her on as she did it.

Penny was smiling at the thought as they neared the closed doors to the ballroom. Verona’s castle was old and drafty, with thick stone walls and damp floors. If the concept of electricity had made it over here, it hadn’t hit the royal digs yet.

From what Ruprecht had told her, the smaller palace at Riverdale was much better. Newer, more modern. Probably her father’s doing, she thought, smiling.

She almost felt him here with her, and her mother, too.

“Here we go,” the prince said as they reached the entrance and waited for the immense doors to be opened. Announced as a couple, they took a few steps inside, but then halted, both spying the monstrosity in the middle of the ballroom floor.

Mattresses. A veritable mountain of them.

“Oooh, I know this one!” Ruprecht hissed, clutching her arm.

But before he could fill her in, Penny was grabbed by Queen Verona, who dragged her forward and waved for silence. “Here is our precious Penelope, ready to begin her test.” She gestured toward a tall ladder, which stood against the cloud-high bed. “Up you go, my dear!”

That was when Penny realized she was supposed to
sleep
on the damn thing. “You want me to climb up there?”

“Yes, indeed,” the queen said, pushing her forcibly toward the ladder.

Okay, what was she supposed to do…prove she could float down as light as a feather or something princessy? Be able to dress in a ball gown while her head touched the ceiling? Be all gracious and royal about getting the shittiest guest bed in the castle? What the heck were princesses good for, anyway?

She didn’t know, and there was nobody she could ask.

Absolutely nobody on her side. A quick look around the room confirmed it. Lucas wasn’t here.

He wouldn’t want to watch this. She knew him well enough to know that. But had he left for good? Gone back to his homeland, to his people?

Drat the man for making this difficult. She was the wronged party—he should be here all prostrate with grief. Or at least glaring at her and ordering her to forgive him or something.

Maybe he doesn’t want your forgiveness.

Maybe he doesn’t want
you.

“Not worrying about that now,” she mumbled. She had enough to think about, figuring out this test.

The entire court watched in titillated silence as the queen nudged Penny up the ladder. The only one who looked the least bit sympathetic was Ruprecht, who was mouthing something. He appeared to be asking her if she needed to go for a pee-break before bed.

Oh, yeah, that’d be real classy.

Finally, Penny reached the very top of the ladder, and
clambered onto the top mattress. It swayed only a little. And she had to admit, it was about the most comfortable surface she’d ever been on. If she actually intended to get some sleep tonight, she could think of worse places to do it.

“All right up there?” the queen shouted from below.

Penny peered over the side, gave the woman a thumbs-up, winked at Ruprecht and called, “Goodnight!”

Now get outta here so I can figure this thing out
.

Fortunately, this test didn’t involve an audience. Because Penny got her wish. The ballroom began to empty. Everyone drifted out, heads together in whispers, giddy laughter floating up to the ceiling.

The queen had Ruprecht by the arm and was tugging him with her, not about to let him stay and influence the competition. What, did Verona think he wanted Penny to
pass?
Because she had no doubt the queen wanted her to fail. If that hadn’t been loathing in her eyes when she’d first set eyes on Penny’s spiked hair and tattoos, it had come pretty close.

Just before sweeping out with a swish of her obnoxiously fussy gown, the queen paused to speak to a couple of those rough-looking guards. Two of them were stationed outside the doors, keeping everybody else out. And her in.

Then those doors slammed shut. She was alone.

She waited in silence, counting to a hundred. There was no rush—she had all night to go on the prowl for an answer to the test. Finally, when a few minutes had passed and she felt confident she wouldn’t be interrupted, Penny sat up and pushed back the covers to climb down.

Then she suddenly realized she couldn’t. Because a quick glance confirmed something she hadn’t even considered.

The ladder was gone. The sneaky bastards had whisked it away while she’d been waving goodnight.

“Oh, great, now what am I gonna do?”

The question had been a rhetorical one. And yet, someone answered.

“Well, Princess, I’d say you should make very good use of this comfortable pile of mattresses.”

Penny’s heart raced as it flooded with excitement. Her body reacted to his voice, his scent, his aura, even before she saw him end his climb up the mattress mountain and emerge on the side of the bed.

“Lucas,” she whispered.

Want and hunger and sweet emotion washed over her and she acknowledged that everything was going to be all right. Because he hadn’t left. He was here. Ready to fight for her.

To claim her.

But she didn’t intend to make it easy. The moment he clambered up onto the top mattress and knelt beside her, she fisted her hand and punched him in the shoulder. “You jerk!”