Ilona's Wolf: (Steamy Fantasy Romance) Page 6
Her mother had aged noticeably, her brown hair streaked with white and her body thinner than Ilona remembered. Her father looked much the same, but for more gray in his dark blond hair and more wrinkles in his brow. The last five years had not been kind to either of them. She fought down a pang of guilt, knowing her disappearance was at least partly to blame. If only she’d been able to explain, but it was imperative Bruno think her dead.
The bridegroom stood beside them, wearing a tunic and breeches of deep red that complemented his dark coloring. But Ilona knew his heart was as black as the hair on his head. How he’d managed to bewitch her parents was still a mystery. Ilona shivered and stepped closer to Rolf. He wrapped an arm around her for comfort.
There was a stir in the crowd as the bride arrived, looking impossibly young, pale and fragile in her white gown.
“Oh, Mila,” Ilona whispered as tears sprang to her eyes.
The priestess hushed the crowd. “We have come today to celebrate the wedding of our beloved Princess Mila to Bruno of Grimmdorn. If there be any here who know why they should not be joined, speak now.”
Heart pounding in trepidation, Ilona stepped forward and pushed back her veil. “There is one reason. Bruno of Grimmdorn is betrothed to me, Princess Ilona.”
Mila cried out and crumpled to the floor as the crowd all began talking at once.
The priestess clapped her hands for silence. “Be quiet, all!” She turned to Bruno. “Is this true?”
He walked toward Ilona, his movements predatory. “My, my, Princess Ilona has returned to us. Back from the dead, as it were.”
His oily voice whispered over her skin, sending shivers through her. Sensing the evil within him, she took a step backward. “Not from the dead, obviously.”
She glanced at her parents. Her mother was clinging to her father’s arm and weeping. “Mother, Father, forgive me, but I had my reasons for what I did.”
Bruno towered over her, his face an icy mask. “And what would those reasons be, my lady? Am I so beneath you that you’d pretend to die rather than wed me?”
“You are beneath contempt,” she spat out. “I know you have bewitched my parents and sister, and I believe you caused the death of my husband.”
Bruno froze as her father stood. “What is this accusation, daughter? We all know Werner died in a hunting accident, thrown by his horse.”
She looked at her father. “A very strange accident, indeed. A thorn was found under his saddle afterwards.” She reached into her pocket and drew out a stone tied to a ribbon. “And I found this, his protective amulet, last night. In Bruno of Grimmdorn’s chamber.”
“I found the amulet,” Bruno exclaimed.
“You stole it from my husband, so you could get him out of the way.”
The crowd grew noisy, and once again, the priestess called for quiet. “These are serious allegations, my lady. What proof do you have of bewitchment?”
Rolf stepped forward then. “I have seen it with my own eyes.”
“You!” Bruno exclaimed. “Rolf of Klosterlupe.”
“Yes, me,” Rolf said. “Four months ago, I witnessed him performing a spell to bewitch the young princess.”
“Why did you not come forward sooner?” King Helmut demanded.
“I could not. I, too, was placed under a spell.”
“What say you, Bruno?” Helmut asked.
Bruno turned to the king. “I caught this fellow spying on me one night, that much is true. When he realized he’d been caught, he changed form.” He turned to point at Rolf. His voice rang with contempt. “Will you take the word of this werewolf over mine?”
People standing near Rolf backed away from him, making the sign of the evil eye, but no one fled. No, ’twas too good a spectacle, Ilona thought bitterly.
“Is that true?” the priestess asked Rolf.
“Yes,” he admitted. “Werewolf I may be, but I am no liar. I saw him sending a dream spell to the young princess.”
Mila struggled to her feet. “I did dream of him,” she stammered. “Strange, troubling, dreams.”
Bruno raised one black brow. “Surely ’tis not unusual for a young girl to dream of her bridegroom.”
“But not such dreams as I had,” Mila whispered. “I dreamt things of which I knew naught.”
“This is nonsense,” Bruno blustered. He turned to the king. “Your Majesty, surely you do not believe such ridiculous charges.”
King Helmut frowned. “I know not what to believe.”
“There may be more,” Ilona said. “Squire Valten, tell us what you witnessed last night.”
Val stepped forward, his shoulders squared. “Last evening I chanced to be in the corridor outside Prince Leopold’s chamber. I saw Bruno slip into his room. I pushed open the door enough to see Bruno a pour a vial of liquid into the prince’s food.”
All eyes turned to Bruno, who suddenly seemed less sure of himself. “I was trying a new remedy to cure the poor young man.”
“Or are your cures the reason he lies sick abed?” Ilona asked.
“This is a serious accusation, daughter,” her father said. “Guards, clear the temple.”
When the wedding guests had been herded out, Ilona turned to her parents. “Mother, Father, think about it. How convenient for Bruno that one prince became ill, and the other was banished from the palace just as Bruno was about to marry the only remaining princess.”
“Ambition is not against the law,” Bruno said, a sneer on his lips.
“No, but the attempted murder of a prince—”
“I repeat, I was trying to cure him.”
Ilona raised her hand. “I never knew hemlock to cure anything. For that is one ingredient I found in your chamber.”
Bruno pulled his athame out of his belt and pointed it at Ilona, but she summoned her powers to knock it out of his hands. At the same time, Rolf changed form and jumped on Bruno. He fell onto the floor, the wolf standing over him, snarling.
“Get it off me!”
Ilona picked up his knife and stood over Bruno, who lay unmoving, obviously afraid of the wolf’s wrath. “Not until you confess your ill deeds.”
The wolf bared its teeth and growled a threat.
“Yes, yes, very well,” Bruno admitted, haltingly. “I did it, all of it.”
The wolf moved to one side, but never took its eyes off Bruno.
“But, why?” asked a bewildered Mila.
He sat up and glared at her. “For the power, you silly girl. And so my son could be king.”
When Rolf shifted back into human form, Val rushed forward with his clothing, and he quickly dressed.
“You should not have been able to shift,” Bruno said. “My spell was unbreakable, or should have been.”
“Ah, but he met me,” Ilona explained. “And tasted the blood of the one royal you thought was dead.”
Helmut called his guards to take Bruno into custody. Roughly, they hauled him to his feet and dragged him out of the temple, his threats of revenge echoing in the stillness.
Ilona felt the tension drain from her body. Thank the gods, ’twas over.
*
Rolf lingered at the door of the temple watching Ilona surrounded by her family. They took turns embracing her, the women weeping. She’d been magnificent today, like an avenging fury. Gods, how he loved her.
“Where now?” Val asked him.
Rolf turned to look at his squire. “Back to Klosterlupe. I’m sure Brother Ulrich can find something for me to do there. I won’t be welcome here any longer. Not now that all know me as werewolf.”
“You knew what would happen when you shifted,” Val pointed out.
Rolf turned and walked outside. “Aye, but I couldn’t let him hurt her. Not again.”
Val fell into step beside him. “What you did was noble.”
Rolf let out a heavy sigh. “Perhaps. At least ’tis over. Bruno will do no harm again. You’d best go to town and let Antal know what happened. He can bring the horses here. I’ll pack my things and mee
t you both in the stables.”
Val nodded and left.
Rolf continued to the barracks, aware of people staring and whispering. He held his head high, proud of what he’d done. He’d stayed true to his vows as a knight, protected a princess, and vanquished a villain. But Ilona could never be his princess. No, one curse had been lifted, but the other remained. The curse he’d had to endure since birth.
He looked up when a richly dressed nobleman stepped into his path. “Excuse me, Sir Rolf, but I’d like to talk to you.”
Rolf stopped and studied the man. He was older, with gray streaks in his brown hair and wrinkles ringing his deep brown eyes. Rolf tensed, but saw no aversion in the man’s expression. “Do I know you, sire?”
The man smiled. “I am Tancred von Arnwalt. Your father.”
Rolf gaped at him. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’m your father.”
Rolf sucked in a deep breath. His father. “But why now, when everyone knows what I am?”
Tancred smiled at him. “I’ve never seen such a brave and unselfish act. I was proud of you today.”
Rolf’s eyes misted over. “Thank you, sire, but I think your gesture in speaking to me is equally brave.”
“Father,” Tancred corrected.
“I know not what to say.”
“Say you’ll come home,” Tancred urged.
“He is going nowhere.”
Rolf spun around to see Ilona smiling at him. He made her a formal bow. “I am yours to command, my lady.”
She took him by the arm. “Please excuse us,” she said to Tancred, who bowed and walked away after giving Rolf a wink.
“He’s my father,” Rolf whispered. “He wants me to go home with him.”
She stopped to stare at him in alarm. “It’s marvelous you found your family, but I need you here.”
Anguish pierced his heart. “How can I possibly stay, Ilona? Everyone knows what I am.”
“I have good news,” she said, a gleam in her eye. “I had a little talk with my father just now. He’s going to issue a proclamation that henceforth all werewolves are under royal protection. It will take time, but eventually the people will accept you.”
“Brother Ulrich will be gratified to hear that,” Rolf said.
She stamped her foot. “I didn’t do it for Brother Ulrich, you clod. I love you. I told Father I was going to wed you, and he’d better find a way to make sure you agreed.”
Rolf stared at his beautiful princess who’d just said she loved him. “You want to marry me?”
She took his head in her hands and kissed his lips. “Yes, my love. I know not what the future will bring, but one thing is certain. One day, the minstrels will sing the tale of Ilona’s Wolf.”
About the Author
Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of romance author Linda McLaughlin. Writing sexy stories gives her a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of her books! She has written several full-length novels plus numerous short stories and novellas, ranging from historical to futuristic. She believes that love is unending and universal, and enjoys transporting her readers into a different world where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward.
Connect online:
Website: http://lindalyndi.com/
Blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LyndiLamont
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LyndiLamont
Twitter: @LyndiLamont
Coming Soon: the Sequel to Ilona’s Wolf
Tova’s Dragon
by Lyndi Lamont
Steamy Fantasy Romance
Seek help of the Lord of Drakkenberg. Only he can aid you. You must fly with the dragon.
Tova Svensdottir is an earth mage, attuned to the vibrations of the natural world. When she senses something amiss, she learns that Bruno of Grimmdorn, an evil sorceror who once controlled the kingdom, is returning at the head of an army. To save the land Tova loves, she must seek the help of the mysterious Lord of Drakkenberg. She heads for his mountain castle when a storm appears. Fleeing the lightning that follows her, she hears a voice that guides her to seek shelter in a cave. How is she to know the handsome half-naked man she encounters is not only an outlaw, but a dragonshifter? Her magical powers low, she asks him to make love to her.
Kane, a dragon shifter, is now the Lord of Drakkenberg and a condemned murderer returned to Velosia to clear his name after being framed by Bruno. Kane has always loved Velosian women and their sex magic. Tova’s warmth stirs his passions, but he dreads telling her of his true nature, certain she will recoil. After hearing of her quest, he offers to help her, knowing what is required. Time is short and there is but one way to warn to stop the invasion. He must shift into dragon form and fly Tova to warn the king.
Together, Kane and Tova have the power to save Velosia, but if they survive the upcoming battle, can an earth mage find happiness with a dragonshifter? In a land where sex and magic are intertwined, anything may be possible.
For more information, go to: http://lindalyndi.com/lyndibooks/tovas-dragon/
If you enjoy Historical Fantasy, you might like:
Marooned
by Lyndi Lamont
Steamy Pirate Romance
Heather Parnell is traveling from England to her home in Jamaica with her new husband, Roger, a man she detests. She performs a banishing spell with unintended consequences. When their ship is attacked by pirates, Roger is killed. Heather, disguised as a boy, joins the pirate crew.
Pirate captain Adam Langworth suspects there is something odd about the new lad. When he discovers she is a woman, she begs him to keep her secret, a violation of the ships’ articles. When her identity is discovered, Adam and Heather find themselves marooned on a deserted island with nothing to do for the rest of their lives but make love.
Disclaimer: This is a 12,000 word steamy romantic short story, not a full-length novel. Previously published by Amber Quill Press. Contains a sexy pirate, a naughty witch, cussing and fornicating.
For more information, go to: http://lindalyndi.com/lyndibooks/marooned/
If you enjoy steamy Historical Romance, you might like:
How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride
by Lyndi Lamont
Romantic Historical Short Story
A marriage of convenience, nothing more…until darkly handsome Evan Channing and demure Lydia Blatchford meet. Yet the rules are simple for an arrangement such as theirs. There should be no misunderstanding, no illusions of anything more. But the rules are about to change.
Lydia Blatchford wants the kind of love and romance she reads about in books. Fortunately, she hasn’t specified which book, and Evan has a copy of Richard Burton’s new translation of the Kama Sutra, with its ancient wisdom on love and courtship.
Lydia is prepared to tolerate this man she’s been sold to, but his scorching kisses send her pulses racing. Can an arranged marriage lead to love?
(Previously published under the title Love… By the Book)
Disclaimer: This is a short 30 page romantic short story with bonus material. ** It is not a full-length novel.
For more information, go to: http://lindalyndi.com/lyndibooks/how-to-woo-a-reluctant-bride/