The She-Wolf in Fae Clothes

Chapter 3

Skin prickled with goosebumps, Melody chewed on the inside of her cheek as she wondered how to respond to the king.

"I don't understand what you're talking about, your Highness. I am simply a fae, nothing more." What in all the realms was Sullivan going on about? How was she a werewolf? She had wings, not a tail or whatever they had. Realizing she had to maintain her proper appearance, the fae pulled the veil back over her face and let her wings fall back to their resting position, not wanting to feel vulnerable in front of the foreign ruler. Melody needed to regain her composure and control over the situation, not allow him to unsettle her. After all, every interaction between them would be telling of her competence as the future queen of the fae. Breathing in deep through her nose, she softly released it through barely parted lips. But as soon as he spoke again, agitation filled her once more. Just his voice was enough to get under her skin, somehow.

"That hair. Your face. You look exactly like a deceased member of the palace that my people have mourned, for she was a valued member of my kingdom." Sullivan practically spat the words at her as if they were knives as he prowled closer to her, his eyes narrowed at her. He circled her slowly, with Melody standing her ground against the imposing male. She could feel the power in every movement, the restrained rage. Was that rage at her for looking like that pack member? As if she could control how she looked. She never asked once to be born with her strange white hair and wings- why judge her for it? Melody needed to handle this carefully, with diplomacy.

"Thank you for the high praise, your Majesty. You honor me with such words, although I am sure I am no match for your packmate. I cannot begin to imagine the pain I must have caused by showing my face so carelessly. Please forgive my transgression." She bowed her head and looked at the ground with half lidded eyes, waiting for his response. Lycans were known for their aggression, and Melody was not taking any chances with being attacked. Her healing worked on others, but not herself. Besides- she didn't want any tension between kingdoms so soon before the wedding and entering back into the court of the realms. A ghostly breeze, as if a hand brushed past her skin, caressed Melody's arm. Tensing ever so slightly, she attempted to calm her breathing and relax. Many of the more animalistic kingdoms had heightened senses, and she was sure from her lessons she remembered the werewolves and dragons were the worst of them- able to smell their mates from miles away to being able to sense the change in heart rate in someone.

"You are hers. I know you are. You smell exactly like that pup I saw that day she passed." His lips were at level with the back of her neck, and she could feel the warm breath of white hot anger on her exposed nape. The sound of him sniffing the scent of her in the crook of her neck caused her to slowly realize she was in a bit more danger than first realization. Would he listen to reason? It would be worth it to keep him talking until a guard or Lirael appeared.

"Do I? Are you sure it isn't my perfume? It's quite popular among the other young ladies in my kingdom. It's supposed to be lavender, lilac, and jasmine with just a small hint of vanilla. I know his Majesty, Lirael, does love when I wear it." Mentioning her betrothed, she hoped it would jog the memory of the king to make him regain his composure. Her wings trembled somewhat with anxiety and her body continued to tense despite her best efforts. Never being in a position of imminent mortal danger before, she recalled her lessons of lycans and continued to stand her ground. No matter what, her professors warned, always stand up to an aggressive werewolf- for if you show and assert your dominance, the human side surely will have to respect that and eventually make them back off.

"No. You're not wearing some tacky scent, I know that is your scent. I also know you don't belong with that frilly princeling. Shall I prove it to you?" A cold, rough hand with long fingers traced up her spine to wrap around the back of Melody's neck. The touch was... much gentler than she would have imagined. Tingling sessions ran through her skin again, like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. Like a sip of water after exerting oneself and the immense and unsatiable thirst that ensued. She yearned more for this feeling... this strange satisfaction of being touched by the lycan. Was he performing magic? Only certain werewolves had powers, and she had heard the lycan king had none. Was this some kind of charm?

"Thank you for keeping our princess company on her walk through the garden, King Black. I am here now, though, so go enjoy the feast if you will, there is plenty that the cooks are still making." Lirael's voice rang through the garden and Melody snapped out of her trance, standing up a bit straighter as Lirael approached the pair. The hand had left her neck as quickly as it had appeared, she noticed.

"Of course, your Majesty. I hope you don't let her walk alone at night anymore, it could be dangerous for her with drunken dragons in your palace tonight." Sullivan chuckled as he and Lirael shared a tense staring contest of sorts. It occured to Melody how different the two looked from each other- with Lirael standing well above Sullivan but with a slightly slimmer build, one of a swordfighter or caster. Meanwhile, Sullivan was about half a foot or more shorter than Lirael, but with the muscle mass and build of a warrior. She vaguely wondered who would win in a fight between them- both having different strengths that challenged the other.

"Enjoy the festivities, Sullivan." Lirael left the man alone to gently take Melody's hand, guiding her away from the lycan. As they walked further away, she couldn't help but feel Black's eyes piercing a hole into her back. Her body still on edge, she intertwined her fingers with Lirael's and leaned her head on his arm. Still staring. He was definitely still watching- he hadn't left. Not with the way her body burned with paranoia. Flinching and snapping her head to look back, she saw nothing but the empty courtyard where Sullivan had stood a moment prior. Eyes flicking to the shadows, Melody squinted at them and tried to make out any of the shadows to see if the king still dared to spy on her and Lirael. She could have sworn she saw those gold and red ruby eyes peeking through the leaves, but she must have been mistaken... Yes, mistaken... He had to have left. He must be gone. He must.