“No, I was not,” he replied as he set the tray down before he held out the length of material. “There is a bathroom through that door. I suggest you hurry if you wish for the food to be warm.”
Lisa grabbed the material from him and stomped over to the narrow door in the corner of the room. Sure enough, there was a miniature bathroom on the other side when she opened the door. Stepping into it, she glanced at him with a pointed look.
“I’ll expect an explanation when I get out,” she told him through gritted teeth before shutting the door firmly behind her.
“I expect you will,” he muttered just loud enough for her to hear.
Lisa didn’t take long in the bathroom. She quickly stripped off all of her damp clothing and arranged them around the small room in the hopes they would dry before morning. She had to admit the bathroom looked like her closet had thrown up.
Turning on the shower, she stood under the spray. Still, as heavenly as it felt, she didn’t want to take a chance of missing out on a hot meal. Stepping out of the shower, she quickly dried off and pulled the billowing white fabric over her head. She looked like a virgin waiting for an offering, she thought with disgust. Picking up her tiny purse, she pulled her comb out of it and pulled it through her hair. She braided it to the side before shoving the comb back into her handbag and opening the door. Sharden was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fire, staring moodily at it.
“You look like your best friend just told you to take a hike and your dog died at the same time,” she commented, walking over to where he had placed their covered dishes. “So, tell me about the beast that you supposedly turn into.”
Sharden looked at her before turning his gaze to the fire. “Not supposedly,” he said with a slight shrug. “In two days time, you’ll discover that.”
Lisa sank down into the empty chair and studied his face. “I’m hoping to be home before that happens,” she replied in a light tone. “So, do you get all hairy or what?”
Sharden’s lips twitched at her curious look. She knew he was expecting her to be all freaked out, but Lisa loved anything supernatural. Halloween was her favorite time of year. She always dressed up in the most creative costumes and the house was decorated to the max. The Haunted House at the theme parks had nothing on her.
“Yes, I get hairy,” he said.
Lisa nodded, reaching for the cover of the dish closest to her. “I once saw this guy at the beach that was covered in hair. I swear he had more on him than Bigfoot, who by the way is absolutely scrumptious if you ask me. The guy could totally call me for a date on Friday night and I’d go,” she said with a wave of the fork she had picked up. “This doesn’t taste half bad.”
“I don’t believe I know this Bigfoot,” Sharden replied, leaning forward to lift the cover over his plate. “He is someone you care about?”
Lisa’s fork paused halfway to her mouth before she shook her head and took a bite. “We only went out on one date in seventh grade. His cousin is the Abominable Snowman,” she added with a twinkle in her eye.
Sharden looked at her suspiciously. “You are teasing me,” he said in a slightly surprised tone.
“Actually, he’s a mythical creature that lives in the forest of the northwest,” Lisa remarked with a grin. “You looked like you could use it. So, what do you look like when you become this beast? Do you become like this werewolf with big fangs and a bushy tail?”
Sharden paused in disbelief. “You have seen one before?” He asked, leaning toward her. “You know about them? Can you cure me of the curse?”
Lisa’s smile died. “No,” she murmured with an apologetic look. “I’m still trying to figure out if this is all a dream.”
Lisa watched as Sharden set his fork down and sat back in his chair. He stared moodily at the fire, lost in thought. For the first time since this crazy adventure started hours ago, she felt a ping of unease.
“The witch swore that the one that came through the doorway would break the curse,” he said in a barely audible voice.
“I don’t know if there is anything I can do to help you, but if there is, I’ll try,” Lisa replied, gently laying her hand on his right arm.
Sharden just nodded. She felt bad there wasn’t anything else she could tell him. She didn’t know why the witch would have thought she of all people could help someone who turned into a werewolf. Heck, she couldn’t even figure out what she wanted to do with her life!
Not as though that was a problem now, she thought as she sat back with an exhausted sigh. What major I was planning on changing to is nothing compared to figuring out how to get back home or dealing with being in a weird new universe.
Chapter 6
“Lisa, wake,” Sharden whispered.
A reluctant smile curved his lips when she groaned, rolled over, and pulled the pillow over her head. It was obvious their late night before made her loath to wake. Still, he had no choice if they were to return to the palace tonight. He had only one day left before the full moon and wouldn’t risk being outside the confines of the walls during his change.
“Go away,” she ordered in a muffled voice. “It’s still dark out.”
This time he didn’t bother to hide his chuckle of amusement. Pulling the covers back, he had to step swiftly to the side to miss the foot that kicked out. Unfortunately, he didn’t dodge the pillow in time. The moment he let go of the covers to grab it, Lisa pulled them back over her with a muted growl.
“Lisa, we have a long way to travel today, we must leave soon. I thought you might like to have something to eat before we left,” Sharden said patiently, trying to pull the covers off her again.
He paused when she pulled the covers off of her head and glared at him. “It isn’t that far back to the door,” she scowled.
“We are not traveling back to the doorway,” Sharden replied in a calm voice. “We are going to the palace.”
“Why?” She demanded, sitting up. “Did you sleep the whole night on the floor?” She asked suspiciously when she saw the blanket she had given him hours earlier on the bed next to her.
“Of course not,” he retorted in exasperation. “The floor is hard and not very clean. Why would I sleep there when there is a perfectly comfortable bed with a nice warm body in it?” He watched as she pushed her hair out of her eyes and stared at him in silence. He couldn’t resist reaching out and touching one rosy cheek. Leaning forward, he hesitated for a brief moment before he bent to press a tender kiss to her slightly parted lips. “You were shivering, if it helps. I could hardly let you freeze or become sick, could I?”
A twinkle of amusement came into his eyes at her dark scowl and the delectable pout to her lower lip. With a snort, she shoved him aside and slipped out of the warm bed. A grumble of displeasure burst from her lips when her feet touched the cold floor.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” she muttered.
“I will have breakfast delivered,” he said.
Lisa just nodded and headed for the bathroom. He rose and walked to the door. Opening it, he saw the girl from last night. He ignored her look of fear and instructed her to have fresh fruit, warm bread, and hard-boiled eggs delivered to their room along with a kettle of hot tea.
Closing the door, he leaned back against it and stared moodily toward the bathroom. Last night had been… nice. Actually, it had been more than nice. He had enjoyed talking with Lisa. She had an unusual sense of humor, was totally unconcerned that he was a prince, and instead of looking at him with fear when she learned of the curse placed upon him, she appeared curious and excited by it. He also liked that she didn’t put on airs with him that many of the women who came to the palace seeking his attention did.
He had to admit he had been more than a little surprised when she had tossed the top comforter at him and told him that he could sleep on the floor near the fire before climbing in the bed and pulling the thin sheet over her shoulders. He knew his mouth was hanging open when she turned her back to him and promptly fell asleep. He’d
stood gazing down at her for a good ten minutes before muttering a silent curse. Deciding he would deal with the consequences in the morning, he kicked off his boots before lying down beside Lisa and covering them both with thick cover. He was glad when he felt her shivering. Almost immediately, she snuggled back against him. With a sigh, he wrapped his arm around her and fell into a deep sleep.
He jerked away from the door when he heard a soft knock. Opening it, he retrieved the tray from the innkeeper with a short nod and a brief instruction to have his mount readied for his departure. He closed the door just as Lisa came out of the bathroom. She was wearing her outfit from yesterday and was braiding her hair once again.
“The day appears to be clear of rain,” he said with a smile. “I hope you are hungry.”
He watched as a grimace crossed her face and she ran her hands down over her hips. “Always, if you couldn’t tell,” she said with a sigh. “I love food and food loves me.”
Sharden’s eyes ran down over Lisa’s curvy figure. A slightly crooked grin curved his lips as his eyes lit with pleasure. Personally, he liked what he was seeing and he definitely liked what he had been holding all night. It was refreshing to find a woman that he could wrap his arms around without fear of breaking.
“I think you look fabulous,” he admitted before awkwardly holding up the tray. “Food.”
Lisa’s eyebrows rose in surprise at his statement before she nodded and walked over to the small table they had used the night before for dinner. He followed her and set it down. They ate in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Before long, breakfast was finished.
“It is still chilly outside,” Sharden said. “The innkeeper’s daughter brought a wrap that she made up for you.”
“Oh,” Lisa whispered, fingering the finely spun wool between her fingers as Sharden wrapped it around her shoulders. “Thank you. I hope you paid her for it. I mean, I would, but I don’t have any money that she could use here.”
“Of course, I did,” Sharden replied. “Come, we have a long journey, but should reach the palace by tonight.”
“Okay,” Lisa muttered, glancing at Sharden’s tight face. “You know, things will work out. My mom always told me that things happen for a reason. Sometimes you don’t know why, but they always work out for the best in the end. You just have to be patient.”
Sharden paused as he opened the door to their room and looked at her. “I wish I could believe that,” he replied in a quiet tone.
Lisa looked up at him with reassuring eyes. “You can,” she whispered.
“How do you know?” He asked in a voice filled with doubt.
“Because my mom told me,” she replied in a light voice. “Plus, she’s never been wrong. You’ll see. If the witch said I could help, some how, some way, I will. After all, a witch should know, shouldn’t she?”
Sharden stared at her with a bemused expression before he nodded. “Yes, I guess she would,” he said after a short pause.
Chapter 7
They left the inn just as the sun was beginning to rise over the distant hills. This time, Sharden placed Lisa in front of him. He told her it was to help keep her warm, but in truth, he enjoyed holding her.
The innkeeper’s wife had packed them a lunch of fruit, bread, and cheeses. They would stop midday to rest his mount and refresh themselves. Setting off at a steady pace, he kept one arm wrapped protectively around Lisa as they rode down the wide lane.
“Your family, tell me about them,” he instructed almost a half hour later.
Lisa shrugged. “I have my mom, dad, grandparents on both sides, and a ton of cousins, aunts, uncles, you name it,” she said. “My parents adopted me when I was about three. I don’t remember much before that. They already had five kids, but took me on as well. My great-grandmother supposedly found me wandering in her garden. My mom and dad were living near here at the time and were given custody of me until one or both of my parents were found. After a two years of searching for my biological parents and no one coming forward to claim me, they were able to adopt me. I was lucky, I had three big brothers and two older sisters who doted on me.”
“It sounds like an amazing family,” Sharden replied.
Lisa nodded. “Loud, noisy, always something going on,” she laughed. “Holidays and get-togethers can be dangerous for the unwary. What about you? Do you have a large family? How did you get cursed?”
“Nay, I am an only child,” Sharden said. “My parents were not so welcoming as yours. The kingdom was a dangerous place many years ago and my parents were untrusting of strangers. One stormy night, a young woman came to the palace asking for shelter. The guards took pity on her, but not my father. He ordered her to leave. When she begged my mother to intervene, to at least let her stay the night, she refused. In anger, the woman swore that they would pay for their selfishness. She curse that one day they would know what it was like to want to protect their child and be denied it as she was led outside the gates.”
“But, why blame a baby for something the parents did?” Lisa asked, glancing over her shoulder at him. “I mean, I can understand her being pissed at your parents, but you? You didn’t have anything to do with their decision.”
Sharden shrugged. “A parent wishes to protect their child,” he replied. “Perhaps since she felt they were threatening her babe by casting her out into the storm, she thought they should know what it felt like to be powerless. I don’t know, and I really don’t care. All I know is that for three days each month for the past ten years, I have been cursed to live in dungeons below the palace as a beast.”
He could feel Lisa’s sympathy. He wasn’t looking for pity. He received enough of that each month as his father locked him in the bowels below the castle, a single window and candles his only light for the duration of his change.
“Well, it could be worse,” she suddenly said.
Sharden raised an eyebrow in doubt. “How?” He asked.
“You could be sick with a terrible disease that there wasn’t a cure for or a million and one other horrible things,” she explained, leaning back against him and wrapping her hands over his. “Sure, you change, but only for a few days each month and you still have your parents and a palace and a whole host of other things to be grateful for.”
A low chuckle escaped him. He did not know anyone who had ever explained his situation in such a positive way. Bending forward, he pressed his lip against the side of her head.
“Thank you, Lisa,” he murmured next to her ear. “It will be interesting to see if you feel the same way tomorrow night.”
Chapter 8
It was almost nine that night before they arrived at the palace. Lisa was glad that Sharden had better night vision than her. Then again, she was glad she didn’t when she saw the dark shadows of animals cutting through the trees. She had ridden behind Sharden as it grew darker so he could hold onto the sword that was strapped to the saddle. He said that he would need both hands if it came to a fight.
Fortunately, it hadn’t. A tired, relieved sigh escaped Lisa as they rode through the entrance to the palace. Her butt was sore and the inside muscles of her thighs were screaming in protest. She was used to going horseback riding. It was one of her favorite pastimes. In fact, she went just about every weekend back home, but she had never spent the entire day on one.
“Thank you,” she muttered with a wince as Sharden helped her off the horse-like creature. “Ugh! I’m going to be sore tonight.”
“That is a shame,” Sharden whispered before straightening as an elegant looking man and woman came down the steps.
“Sharden, your journey was successful?” The man asked, looking at Lisa with a curious gaze.
“Father, mother, I would like to introduce Lisa…,” Sharden started to say before turning to look at her with a frown.
“Tootle,” Lisa responded to his questioning look. “Lisa Tootle. As you can imagine, I took a lot of ribbing from the kids at school with a last name like that.”
“Wel
come, Lady Tootle, to Castle Brighten,” the king replied.
“It’s nice,” Lisa responded awkwardly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Lisa is sore and weary after our journey,” Sharden said, wrapping his arm around her waist. “We are also hungry.”
“I will see her to her room,” his mother said, stepping forward. “Go clean up and I’ll have a meal prepared for you both.”
Sharden paused long enough to brush a kiss along his mother’s cheek. “Thank you, mother,” he whispered, smiling down when she looked up at him with an anxious expression. “All will be well.”
She briefly glanced at Lisa before returning Sharden’s smile with a tentative one of her own. “I will see that she is escorted to the family dining room when she has finished freshening up.”
Lisa sighed again when Sharden reluctantly released her to walk down a separate corridor from her own. Focusing on where she was walking, she studied the long hallway. Both sides were filled with portraits of men, women, and families. It reminded her of some of the museums back home. She couldn’t imagine growing up in a place like this. If her family played manhunt here, they would never find everyone!
“Where are you from, Lisa?” The queen asked in a quiet voice.
“Outside of Bath, England,” she said, staring at a display of armor. She jumped when it moved. “My dad is from America, though, the Boston area. Is there really someone in there?”
The queen glanced at the guard. “Yes,” she replied.
Lisa turned to look at the guard again. “Must make it a pain if you have to go to the bathroom in a hurry,” she mumbled.
The queen looked surprised and glanced over her shoulder at the guard. “Yes, I suppose it would,” she remarked with a small, amused smile. “Can you help my son?” She suddenly asked, pausing outside a large set of doors on the left side of the corridor.