Ilona's Wolf: (Steamy Fantasy Romance) Read online

  Val looked at her oddly, no doubt wondering how she knew, before he turned back to Rolf. “I had to tell him something, so I said you’d been called to Klosterlupe unexpectedly, and I was to join you there. Then I set out to look for you. ’Twas four months ago.”

  Rolf ran a hand down his face and sighed. “That long? I lose all sense of time when I shift. I’m glad you found Orion.”

  “That wasn’t all.” Val removed something from the pocket of his tunic and handed it to Rolf. “I found your ring, too.”

  Rolf took it from him. “Thank you, Val. I’d have hated to lose it.”

  Dagmar held out her hand. “May I see it? Holding it may help me to focus on your past.”

  Rolf gave it to her, and Ilona leaned closer to see a large man’s ring of gold with a wolf’s head etched into the top. “All the brothers of the wolf have similar rings,” he added.

  Dagmar closed her hand around the ring and stared into the scrying bowl. “Ah, yes, I see it now.”

  *

  The wolf loped through the forest, sensing for prey and enjoying his freedom. The cool spring wind in his face, the soft ground under his paws, the lack of human restrictions, all called to the wildness in his nature. The moon, just past full, shone through the bare branches silhouetted against the sky.

  The glow of a fire appeared in the distance, drawing his curiosity. He slowed and crept up on it. Inside a clearing stood a dark-haired man, black-hearted man. The wolf recognized him from his other life, scenting the evil in his soul.

  As the wolf watched, the wizard threw off his cloak and, despite the cold, walked naked to the center of the clearing where he cast a backwards circle, left to right. He began to chant, weaving his dark magic under the waning moon.

  Slowly the wolf changed shape until a naked Rolf hunched on the edge of the clearing, shivering, as Bruno of Grimmdorn cast his spell, binding the affections of the king and queen to Bruno’s ambitions.

  Rolf must have made a sound because the wizard suddenly turned and strode toward him. “Who goes there?”

  Rolf froze, hoping to remain hidden, but Bruno spotted him.

  The wizard moved toward him. “Sir Rolf of Klosterlupe, as I live and breathe. Who sent you to spy on me?”

  Rolf stood to confront the other man, but naked and unarmed, he was at a disadvantage. He shifted back to wolf form and prepared to attack.

  Pointing with his athame, Bruno chanted,

  “A wolf you are and

  A wolf you will bide.

  Go into the forest,

  Go there and hide.

  A wolf you are and

  A wolf you will stay

  Till the blood of a royal

  You taste one day.”

  A jolt of power hit the wolf, sending him racing into the forest, frightened as he’d never been before.

  *

  The old woman stopped chanting, lifted her head from the scrying bowl and stared blankly at Rolf. She seemed drained after pulling forth the memory of that awful night. Silently she handed him his ring and he slipped it onto his finger.

  No one spoke; no doubt they were as shocked as he was. The blood of a royal.

  In a sudden insight, he realized who the red-haired maiden was, and how the curse had been lifted. Relief flooded through him; then came the guilt at what he’d done that afternoon. Had he known who she was, he’d never have seduced her.

  He looked at Ilona in wonder. “You are Princess Ilona, aren’t you? That’s why I shifted after I licked the blood off your face.”

  “Yes.” She wrapped her arms around herself as if chilled, her eyes wide in her pale face. “I suspected Bruno held my parents in thrall, but knew not how. They kept insisting I marry him, even though I suspected him of having something to do with my husband’s death. I sensed danger from him, not to me, but to my son.”

  “So you set the boat adrift in the lake?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I had little choice. Father had me officially betrothed to Bruno, despite my repeated refusals. Dagmar and Antal, my groom, helped us escape. Making it appear we were dead seemed the only way to escape completely. Bruno still searched for us, but not for long.”

  Rolf’s head was spinning. ’Twas like a fairy story or an old myth. “Why did Bruno want to marry you?”

  “He claimed to be enamored of me, but I knew he was lying. Bruno of Grimmdorn loves no one but himself. I think he wanted to be part of the royal family.”

  “He wants power, that much I know,” Rolf said. “Since you left, Crown Prince Leo has sickened and may not live, and Prince Otto had a falling out with your father and was banished. Bruno’s work, perhaps?”

  “My gods,” Ilona said, a stricken expression on her face.

  “And just last month Bruno became betrothed to Princess Mila,” Val added.

  Ilona jumped to her feet, hands fisted at her sides. “Never,” she spat out. “I will not allow him to take advantage of her.” She turned to Rolf. “Will you take me home? I must stop the wedding.”

  “No, my lady, ’tis too dangerous!” Dagmar cried.

  Ilona’s face was pale but determined. “I have no choice. I will not stand by and let that brute marry my little sister, even if I must marry him myself.”

  “No,” Dagmar and Rolf shouted at once.

  Ilona stared them down quietly. “As the eldest daughter, it is my duty to protect my family. I will do what I must. We leave for the castle tomorrow.”

  “You’d best go quickly then,” said Val. “The ceremony is scheduled for the day of the new moon, seven days hence.”

  Ilona sank onto the bunk, as if defeated. “How can we possibly get there in time? ’Tis a two week journey to Novita.”

  “There is another way,” Val said, “but ’tis fraught with danger. We must traverse Aquilo Pass.”

  Aquilo Pass, the home of the North Wind.

  Rolf saw a shiver pass through Ilona’s slight frame and reached for her hands to warm them. “Aye, it might be possible.”

  She met his gaze. “Then we must do so.”

  Chapter Three

  Castle Novita

  He found his betrothed in the solar staring out the window at the sunset. The sky was awash in shades of pink and orange, and the walls of the town glowed yellow, casting its reflection on her slim silhouette. She was so young, her figure still girlish in her simple gown of yellow wool. When they were wed, he would dress her in silk, velvet, jewels and anything else her heart desired, for as long as she was happy, he would be powerful.

  “A beautiful sight,” he said.

  Young Princess Mila spun around, her hands clasped to her heart. “Bruno, you frightened me. I did not hear you approach.”

  “Forgive me, my dear. I had no wish to startle you.” He bowed, his manner a bit mocking, not that she noticed. Everything frightened young Mila…one of the reasons he found her company so tedious. If only she had half the spirit of her sister, a woman whose temperament was as fiery as her red hair. But for her untimely death, she’d have been a worthy consort for the most powerful wizard in all of Velosia.

  Mila turned again to stare out over the rampart. “The sunset is lovely, isn’t it?”

  “I wasn’t referring to the sunset,” he replied smoothly. “’Tis you who are beautiful tonight.”

  A blush brightened her pale cheeks. “Thank you,” she whispered, but she didn’t look at him.

  He turned her face to his and stared into her pale blue eyes. “Is something wrong, my dear?”

  She licked her lips and her blush intensified. “No, of course not,” she stammered.

  “Come now, Mila, surely you can tell your betrothed what troubles you.”

  She stepped back, as nervous as a skittish filly. “I dreamt of you last night.”

  He smiled broadly. “Should I be flattered? But then, why wouldn’t a young woman dream of her future husband?” Especially when he’d performed a dream-sending spell the night before.

  “It’s just that the dream
was so…”

  “Erotic?” he asked, making his voice low and husky.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “The things you did to me in my dream.”

  He drew her to him and lowered his head until his lips hovered over her. “Did I kiss you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, her blue eyes wide and startled.

  “Close your eyes, Mila.”

  She did as he commanded. Dominating this one would be so easy. Too easy.

  He caressed her lips with his, then nudged at her mouth with his tongue. With a gasp, she opened to him and he delved inside. She tasted of sweetness and innocence, qualities he’d abandoned long ago, but qualities from which he could draw power.

  After a few moments, he drew back. “Is this the way I kissed you in your dream?”

  She stared up at him, a dreamy look on her face. “Yes.”

  “And did I touch your breasts?”

  “Yes.”

  He cupped her small breast and ran his thumb over the nipple, and felt it harden through the fine wool and linen. Briefly, he thought of stripping her of her garments to touch her naked body, but decided the risk of being caught too great. That delight could wait until they were wed.

  Her breathing quickened as he continued to caress her bosom. Sitting in a chair, he pulled her into his lap and let her feel his hardened cock. He pulled up her skirt and ran his hand up her legs, past the stocking tied at the knee to the soft flesh of her thigh.

  “Bruno!”

  “You liked me touching you well enough in your dream, did you not?”

  A blush suffused her face. It was all the answer he needed. He continued his exploration of her female core, teasing gasps of need from her. She gripped his shoulders and moaned as he teased her softness, tracing her lower lips. When he located her pleasure bud, she let out a squeak.

  “Easy, love.” He kissed her neck as he continued to stroke her, feeling the sexual magic swirl inside him, replenishing his power, until she stiffened and convulsed in his arms. “You are so innocent, Mila, so sweet.”

  But not for long. Soon he’d take her innocence in full, not that she’d miss it. Once wed, she would give herself to him willingly, nay, eagerly. The joy he gave her would make her writhe in ecstasy and build his power at the same time. Once they were married, no one would be able to stop him.

  *

  After two long days of travel, Ilona and her companions arrived outside the walls of Klosterlupe. Built against the face of a cliff above a dark forest, it resembled a fortress more than an orphanage. Earlier they had ridden past fertile fields owned by the brothers and farmed by nearby villagers. A dark blue flag with a gold wolf’s head symbol, identical to the one on Rolf’s ring, swayed in the light breeze over the gatehouse.

  “Are you sure my son will be safe here?” Ilona asked.

  “Yes.” Rolf’s tone was firm. “Dagmar can stay with him. Brother Ulrich will see both are well cared for. There can be no safer place for him. The brothers are all sworn to protect the royal family.”

  It wasn’t the first time he’d reassured her, but she was still nervous about leaving Fritz behind. They hadn’t been apart for more than a day since he was born. Perhaps she babied him too much, but he was all she had left of her family, and she loved him with the ferocity of a mother bear.

  She glanced back to the wagon where he sat between Dagmar and Antal. Fritz waved at her and she reciprocated. He, at least, seemed to be enjoying the journey. Val rode next to the wagon, conversing with Antal who had been unusually chipper the last few days, not at all like his usual taciturn self. He and Val had apparently developed a friendship. His devotion to Rolf had been apparent from the beginning, and his initial wariness around Ilona had disappeared. She smiled to herself. No doubt Val had thought her beneath his knight until Rolf guessed her royal status.

  Rolf. What a surprise he’d been. Not just because he was a werewolf. After Werner’s death, she’d never expected to experience such passion again. But now she had. What was it about knights? She peeked at Rolf, drinking in his broad shoulders and powerful thighs. A powerful longing swept through her at the memory of her legs wrapped around his strong thighs as his huge rod pounded in and out of her, bringing her joy she’d not felt in years. She yearned for his touch just as she craved the power that flowed through her when they made love. Thank the goddess he’d found her when he had. There would be a temple at Klosterlupe, and she resolved to offer a prayer to Fortuna to bless their journey and aide in their cause.

  As they rode into the bailey, an older man with graying brown hair walked outside to greet them.

  “Brother Ulrich,” Rolf called out. “I bring news and visitors.”

  The older man raised one eyebrow and a smile teased his firm lips. “Yes, I’ve been expecting you.” He walked over to Ilona’s horse and gave a deep bow. “Welcome, Princess.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, not entirely surprised he knew who she was. No doubt he was a magician, too, probably a clairvoyant.

  Rolf dismounted and embraced Ulrich, the man who’d raised him. She knew Ulrich was the closest thing to a father Rolf had known, and she was glad to see the easy affection between them.

  Ulrich helped her dismount. She’d worn men’s breeches under her dress so she could ride astride. She shook her skirts, letting them drape over her legs. Val rode forward to take the reins of her palfrey and Rolf’s stallion.

  “Valten, well met,” Ulrich said. “I knew you’d find him.”

  “Yes, Brother Ulrich. As always, you were right. Please excuse me while I take care of the horses.”

  As Val and Antal headed for the stables with the horses and wagon, Dagmar and Fritz joined Ilona. She introduced them to Brother Ulrich, who led the group inside and through the Great Hall. A large table dominated the center of the room under a beamed ceiling. The outer wall was half-timbered, the others wood paneled. The huge fireplace provided some heat, but not enough to warm the entire hall.

  While a young brother led Dagmar and Fritz to a guest room, Ilona and Rolf followed Ulrich into his crowded study.

  Ulrich sat behind a table covered with account books and waved them to a bench in front of the fireplace. “What brings you here, my children?”

  Rolf filled in the details of what had happened at the castle in recent months, and Ilona talked about how she’d escaped marriage to Bruno by staging her death. “But now he is after my little sister, Princess Mila, and I’m the only one who can stop him.”

  “What are your plans?”

  “We have to get to the castle as quickly as possible to stop the wedding,” Ilona said.

  “The fastest route is through Aquilo Pass, but ’tis a hazardous journey. The wagon won’t make it, and Dagmar and Fritz are not good enough riders” Rolf explained. “May they stay here?”

  “Of course,” Ulrich said. Then he turned to Ilona with a frown. “Are you a strong enough rider, my lady? The pass is indeed a treacherous route.”

  “Good enough. I’ll wear men’s breeches and ride astride.”

  “Will it not be enough for Rolf and Valten to go and deliver the news you are still alive?”

  Rolf let out a sigh. “Would that it were. I’ve no wish to put the princess in danger, but Bruno knows I’m a werewolf. I doubt the king will take my word over his.”

  Ilona covered Rolf’s hand with hers. “Rolf is in more danger than I. And in any case, Mila is my sister. I’ll take no chances with her future. As long as I know my son is safe, I’m willing to take the risk.”

  “The young prince will be safe here,” Ulrich assured her. “Our order is sworn to protect the royal family.”

  “So Rolf has said.”

  “Very well,” Ulrich replied. “I shall meditate upon this plan and see what I see. Food will be brought to your quarters. Try to get some rest, and feel free make use of Klosterlupe’s bathing room. The next few days will be hazardous. May the gods protect you.”

  *

  Rolf and Val arrived at the bath
ing room just as Dagmar emerged leading Fritz by the hand. Ilona emerged next, wearing naught but a clean smock and a shawl.

  She stopped in front of Rolf and rose on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. “Leave your door unlatched.”

  His cock hardened at the invitation in her voice and the coy expression on her face. “As my lady commands.”

  She laughed and walked off, her hips swaying. Rolf watched her, tempted to follow her now, sweep her into his arms and carry her to his chamber.

  “Sir Rolf?”

  He tore his eyes from Ilona’s retreating form to look at Val.

  “’Tis our turn.”

  “Yes, of course.” Rolf followed Val through the door. A huge wooden tub lined with cloth sat in the center of the small, steamy room, beckoning to his tired body. He tore off his clothes and climbed in, sighing as the hot water rose around him.

  Val joined him and handed Rolf a bar of soap. They washed in silence for a few minutes before he spoke. “Sir Rolf, are you sure ’tis wise to become enamored of Princess Ilona?”

  Rolf let out a sigh. “Of course not. But allow me my folly, boy. How do you think this is going to end? With me becoming Prince Rolf?.”

  Val’s expression was full of compassion. “Why not? Only a handful of us know your secret, and you control when you shift. Most of the time, anyway. If she pushes you away, then she doesn’t care about you.”

  Rolf was troubled by the younger man’s words, but warmed by his loyalty. “She may not have much choice, Val. You heard her. She will marry Bruno to save her younger sister. But not while I still live.”

  Val appeared startled by his vehemence. “Do you love her so much that you would sacrifice yourself for her?”

  Rolf ran a hand through his hair. “I fear so.”

  “You deserve someone who loves you in return. Though she be a princess, I will not let her break your heart,” Val said fiercely.

  Rolf smiled at him, surprised by his squire’s vehemence. He knew well enough that Ilona was above his touch in the usual order of things. But fate had thrown them together and he’d lost his heart. “Easy, lad. You have no power to prevent it. Love knows little of reason or sense.”