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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.
