32. Chapter 31

Chapter 31

My head was pounding, but something was licking my face. I swiped at it before forcing my eyes open. Red eyes met mine. ‘Ivy!' I blurted as my brain started to fire.

The unicorn licked me again. I looked towards the window and swore at the lightening of the sky. ‘Shit. I'd better get a move on or I'll be declared dead.'

Just like all the others, the house agreed. You'll like the circus. The others all did. It gave them a new place to call home, albeit without magic.

Why restore my memories if you're simply going to wipe them all over again? I demanded, suddenly feeling sick to the pit of my stomach.

I wouldn't clear your childhood memories! she protested. I'm not a barbarian. Just the recent ones that led you to me.

If you wipe my recent memories, I won't be able to find the orb and restore your connection to the Great Pack. You won't be able to speak to the other wolves because none of the others are pipers like me. You'll be lonely again.

That's true, the house said slowly, considering my point.

I pressed home my advantage. The Great Pack has named me Queen . If you, as the seat of power, recognise me then I can help you not just with the orb but with your hunger, too. I can reinstate the practice of bringing our dead here.

Hmm, the house said. I could imagine the small dryad girl I'd seen in the trees' vision tapping a finger against her lips in thought. I suppose you can speak to me, she mused . If I let you go, do you promise to come back?

Of course I will, I vowed. And I'll bring you some dead werewolves ASAP, so you're not starving anymore.

It was the last bit that did it. I'm really very hungry, she admitted. I'll let you go if you promise to feed me.

I promise, I said, almost giddy with relief. I paused. One more thing. Vampyrs can heal, right? I have a terrible headache. If I have to go and fight, a clear head would really help.

Vampyr spit heals but I have no spittle to offer you, she said regretfully . But you could shift.

Of course I could! I can't believe you didn't think of that, I muttered to Esme.

Our head hurts, she whimpered. Worse than anything, even the cramps when you bleed. Let's shift now, she urged.

I rapidly stripped off my gorgeous red ball gown and my underwear and left them in a heap. In a second, we shifted onto four and into our fur. The pain started to recede almost immediately as our shift kickstarted the healing process.

Ivy tottered to her feet in panic at the sudden appearance of a large werewolf. Her eyes were wide with fear and she pressed as far back against the walls as she could. Her neigh of fear slayed me.

It's okay, I said to her. It's still me. I showed Ivy the image of me shifting back and forth several times then sent her a wave of calm affection, the feeling I had for all animals. I was an animal lover to the core, and knowing and loving Ares helped. I would never harm Ivy and I sent that feeling to her.

Finally, I felt curiosity; her fear had receded though not disappeared entirely. She remained standing and eyeing us cautiously. Smart foal.

Shift back, I said to Esme. I don't want to scare her. I felt Esme's assent and we shifted back to two.

I suppose you'll be needing Terrance, the house muttered. I could almost feel her grimace .

Above us the ceiling retracted and something plummeted towards me. I caught the object in my hands; it was a golden circlet.

I say Nina, a posh, disgruntled male voice said. You didn't need to throw me quite so hard!

I dropped the crown. As it clanged onto the wooden floor, I heard a muffled curse.

The house – Nina – huffed and a small shudder ran through her walls. I didn't throw you that hard. Lucy caught you, didn't she?

Until she dropped me again, Terrance groused.

I hastily picked up the crown. ‘Sorry. I was startled by a crown talking to me.'

Understandable, of course. I am one of a kind.

‘The Crown of Torr, I presume?'

Torrance Hargreave at your service.

‘Torrance, not Terrance?'

Nina giggled. Torrance sounds so stuffy. We wanted him to sound friendly so we renamed him Terrance, didn't we, Terry?

I tell you, madam, I will bear the name Terrance proudly – but if you call me Terry, I will not be held responsible for my actions!

I looked again at the window and bit my lip. ‘I would truly love to talk more and learn your story, but there is the small matter of me needing to present myself by daybreak or I'll be declared dead and forfeit my title as Queen.'

A Queen! Finally! I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty . Terrance almost squealed with delight . Finally someone that Nina accepted. By all means, let the niceties wait. Place me upon your head and we shall set off for our first adventure together. Tally ho!

He was entirely too excited for my liking. ‘You're not going to do anything bad when I place you on my head, right?' I asked dubiously.

Good God, no! I'm a gentleman, ma'am. Rest assured, I have nothing but your very best interests at heart.

I wished, not for the first time, that I had Jess's lie-detecting radar. ‘Okay.' He did sound genuine and I needed a crown. Fuck it; I didn't have time to be picky. The prophecy said that I'd be a Queen, right? Surely fate wouldn't be fickle enough to give me a cursed crown.

I placed the circlet on my head and held my breath. Nothing happened: no freaky bond, no magic third eye appearing, nothing. Thank fuck. I exhaled sharply.

Lucy Barrett, Terrance said in wonder. My honour to assist you, from now, until this day forward.

‘Great, um, thank you. Okay, this is good. I have a crown, I'm not dead and the seat of power isn't nearly as murderous as everyone thinks. '

Oh, please don't ruin my reputation. From her voice, I could tell that Nina was pouting. I've worked so hard to get it. It wasn't easy sending all those folks to the underground circus, you know, especially without them being seen. You wouldn't believe the tunnels I've built.

I didn't have time to unpick that. ‘I've got to go,' I paused. ‘Nina, can I take Ivy with me? She's not happy here, honey. She wants to see the sky and feel the grass between her claws.'

The house gave a more pronounced tremble. Will you strip me of everyone and everything I hold dear? Terrance and Ivy? She sounded sulky but I heard the tears there, too.

Terrance spoke before I could. Being removed from your walls will not stop my great admiration for you, Lady Nina. I will visit as often as my new Queen allows, and I'm sure that Ivy will also return.

We'll send a wolf to keep you company, Esme promised. Lucy can make it so that you can talk to them. She's done it before when the wolves and their humans couldn't speak.

For fuck's sake, another freaking promise! Will you quit it? I snarled at her.

What? She deserves it! You can do it, so what's the issue? She was genuinely perplexed at my reaction.

We have to survive the next few days first. Let's focus on that, shall we? I resisted the urge to tap my toe, but only just.

Esme sniffed. Of course we will survive. That was never in doubt.

It feels a little in doubt, I countered.

Well, it's not. And in any case, it is not sufficient merely to survive. We shall thrive.

I blew out a harsh breath and hoped that she was right. I pulled on my underwear and the ball gown, ready to present myself. No way in hell was I striding naked out of the seat of power – it would send entirely the wrong message. But the blood-red gown … that sent the right message: it was a warning to those smart enough to recognise it.

Dressed, and with the cool metal of Terrance pressed against my head, I assessed my physical state. The headache was still there but thanks to the shift it wasn't so overwhelming.

I was okay; I could absolutely manage to kill people like this.