“Karin.”I spin around to see Ansel, still pale and sickly-looking, treading slowly after me. It’s late morning and he was well enough to come down to breakfast - and ignore me through it - but I’m shocked to see him walking around outside in his condition.“Suddenly, you can speak?” I cross my arms as he approaches me.He narrows his eyes at me. “I don’t know why I’m bothering, frankly.”“I don’t know why you are, either.” I shrug my shoulders and start to turn back around.“Wait,” he says. “Fine.”I purse my lips and stare at him in my best, ‘I’m waiting,’ expression.“I’ve been informed that you’re - “ He stops to cough. “That you’re going into town today.”“Is that okay, or am I a prisoner again?”“You’re not a prisoner,” he says. “But I want Maggie to go with you.”“I know all about your little arrangement with Maggie,” I say. “And Maggie’s a wonderful friend, but I already told her I want to go by myself.”“Why?” He peers at me with a laser focus.‘To spite you,’ I want to say.
Ansel groaned. The groan turned into a coughing fit.He was propped up in his office chair, already miserable, when Henry delivered the news that half of the pack’s children were now expected to arrive tomorrow for Karin’s dance class.Ansel’s breathing was still ragged, even without a coughing jag. It took him a minute to speak again.“Obviously, we have to call this off,” Ansel said, his voice hoarse.“The gamma I spoke with said the news is all over the pack, and there’s a great deal of excitement that the children are being invited to tour your manor - ““Tour the manor,” Ansel shouted.Henry nodded.“Did she promise them ice cream, too? College scholarships?” Ansel threw his head back. “I’m going to kill her.”“Look, I don’t know what was originally said, but I get the feeling a lot of this has grown as it’s spread through the grapevine.” Henry sat down in the chair across from Ansel’s desk.“The staff may - okay - they will - hate us for all the last-minute work that’s about to
When he returned, Doc tried to talk to him about his health. Ansel refused and left.As if to prove Doc wrong, he went out to train. Henry had gathered up the gammas to go over security for the tour and class. Ansel weighed in strategically, and when their meeting wrapped up, he led a training session, sparring with several of the gammas.By the time Ansel was done, he felt almost as sick as he did before. He cursed himself for ruining his own progress and wearily changed into one of his suits.“You ready,” Henry said, knocking on his door.Ansel opened it.“Are you okay,” Henry asked, his eyes wide.“I just overdid it a little,” Ansel said.“Maybe we should cancel this. They’ll book you again.”“We’re not canceling,” Ansel barked. “I’m not pulling out at the last second.” No way was he going to let illness get in the way. Not now, and not ever again. He wasn’t going to relive the past.He dragged himself into his office for a video call with news anchor, Beta Jack Myers. They were do
“Where’s the newspaper?”I’m eating breakfast downstairs. Or trying to, anyway. I can barely stomach it. Ansel’s rage-a-holic behavior has everyone jumpy.“Um, I’m not sure, sir.”I watch as Charles edges the paper further behind his back. The rest of the staff has gone silent.Ansel whips forward and yanks for the paper Charles is clutching, jerking him almost off balance.“Hey,” I shout, standing up. Charles is trembling. I rush to check on him, feeling sick inside.“Stay out of it,” Ansel warns, his eyes a menacing yellow.Even Ada pulses with fury. My fingers become sharpened claws, and she’s ready to make a move, but Ansel’s staring at the newspaper in shock. I turn to Charles and hug him tightly.“I’m okay,” he whispers.I’m not okay.Charles and the rest of the servants leave. Ansel’s sitting down, seemingly oblivious to me. I watch him as he reads. His face takes on a defeated, crushed expression. He puts the paper down and walks out. I get up to look at it.Prince Ansel: Fit
Neither Ada nor I recognize his smell. In a second’s passing, I’ve tagged Ada in. She growls and launches herself at the man, sending him tumbling onto his back. She’s standing on his chest and then she freezes.“It’s me! Karin, it’s me.”Ethan.I shift back, shaking my head, pulling my body off of his.He stands and pulls a hand through his tousled hair, and then smooths the clothes I’ve helped dishevel.“Ethan,” I say. “What in heaven’s name?” Then I say the second thing that’s bothering me - and Ada. “You don’t smell right.”Ethan pulls a sachet of dried twigs out of his pocket. “Little gift from a witchdoctor who owes me. It’s a disguise.”Ethan swallows and then he rushes towards me. “Karin, I’ve been worried about you. Especially after everything that’s come out in the news, but even before. Prince Ansel severed our connection. I haven’t been able to check on you.”He puts his arms on my shoulders. “I shouldn’t have given you the ring. I’m well-aware of his reputation. I knew he
“Tell me how that makes you feel.”Ansel folded his arms across his chest. “Very funny. Which part, Aron? The part where I almost strangled Edwin to death? Where I lost all of my father’s support? Coughed up a lung on live television? Or threatened to maim multiple journalists?”“Yes, yes, yes, and yes.” Aron kicked his feet up onto his desk.“I’m going to need more than our hour together, then.”“Try me,” Aron said, putting his arms behind his head.“Okay.” Ansel sighed. He counted them out with his fingers. “Edwin - not sorry. My father - not sorry. The reporters - I also don’t give a shit.”“And the TV interview?”Ansel paused. “Humiliated. Beyond humiliated.”“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” Aron said. He looked down to scribble a note.Ansel leaned away to cough into his shoulder. Then he covered his face in his hands and groaned, exasperated.“You’re not going to get me sick, are you?” Aron eyed him suspiciously.“No,” Ansel said. “It’s my own fucked up lungs and immune syst
The door opens and Ethan and I jerk apart. My heart is racing. I turn to see it’s Ansel and my stomach lurches.He stares for a moment, like he can’t believe his own eyes, and then I see the strangled pain come over his face. In the next second, his face is twisted with rage.“Ansel - I - ” I fumble for words.Ethan is standing frozen next to me, like a deer caught in headlights.Ansel growls and his body shifts almost instantaneously to become his yellow wolf. He stares straight at Ethan and bares his fangs, snarling. His ears pointed up and his hackles are raised.“Wait,” I say. “Let me explain - “But Jeff tears towards Ethan, who braces for impact, shielding his head and face instinctively.Jeff lunges at Ethan, knocking him to the ground.“Stop,” I scream, but Jeff’s focus is on Ethan.The rest happens in a blur. I see Jeff make a move to attack and I rush to stop him. Ethan cries out as Jeff sinks his teeth into Ethan’s shoulder.I don’t know what to do. I find that I’m not able
“Before they could reach him, his car flew over a guardrail into the river. They’re searching for him now, but it doesn’t look good.”I’m hit with panic. “You’re talking about Ethan?”He looks from Ansel to me. He catches sight of my arm and pauses. Then he nods.Ansel watches me, almost helplessly, as I take off out of the room. I shove my way past Henry and race down the corridor.I fly into the chauffeur's office. By luck, he’s nowhere in sight. The light’s on and there’s a full mug of tea, like he just stepped out. I rummage in the drawer where he handed me the car key from for my trip into town. I grab a random one, and then run through the hall to one of the side doors.The gravel crunches under my feet as I make my way to the line-up of cars. I hit “unlock” and bolt to the one that lights up.I drive like a bat out of hell until I come to the road that runs along the river. My heart is in my stomach.Ada? Can you tell anything? Ansel may have severed my link with Ethan, but I