First Kiss Read online

  He gives me a look, “Your mother? Your mother is dead. You mean Baylor. You keep getting the facts confused.”

  “No. We have the wrong story.” I shake my head and begin the story where I think it started.

  Chapter Seventeen

  He hasn’t spoken to me in hours, but when we sneak into the cottage on the outskirts of the town I can see, he looks back at me. “We have an hour before nightfall. They will be back. We have to hurry. Farmers always work daylight hours.” He enters the far room and tosses clothes at me. I see a bucket of water and grab it. It’s freezing, but I strip to my underwear and bra and use my hands to wash the old bloody bits from my arms, legs, and face. He does the same, stripping completely naked. I turn away from him. “Dude, what the hell?”

  He chuckles, “We will be married; you will have to get used to the fact you are to be married to a man.”

  “Okay, you need to curb the whole self-confidence thing, a little. Cocky is cute in small doses.” I shake my red face, “Besides, we aren’t getting married—I told you. I did this to you. My family is cursed with the black blood.”

  He grabs my arm, turning me to face him. I stare into his chest but he tilts my face upward, “You did it—you can undo it.”

  I swallow. It doesn’t feel like a request. I nod, “I can try, but I will still be an evil witch.” I pull away from the heat of his chest pressed against mine and walk into the room to find clothes.

  “Lynnie, have you ever heard the saying ‘Evil is as evil does?’”

  I shake my head.

  He smiles, “What evil have you done? You apparently cursed me. But that might not be true. Every other action I have seen you do has been good. I don’t believe you have an evil bone in your body.”

  “Thank you.” My eyes water from what he has said. He is right. I have been a good person. I find boys clothes that fit me perfectly. I tuck my hair up into a bun that I tie with a strip of cloth and make myself appear less noticeable. I am in no way the witchy daughter of anyone important. I am a beggar or a street person. I am poor and cold. It’s perfect.

  Bash does the same when he is clean. He pulls on the crappy boots he finds and grabs my hand. He pulls me from the cottage, again not speaking. He walks fast towards the town. When we get closer, I see the reason everyone believed Sam was from Norland. The men are huge and the women are dressed almost the same as I am. They do not look pretty; they’re more rugged. The men are handsome though, in a way that makes you feel like they would protect you from anything. I glance at Bash and realize how beautiful he is, compared to them. The men in the south are beautiful and Bash is the most. His dark hair and striking grey eyes are impossible to dislike. His juicy lips make me weak in the knees and his shitty attitude makes him unbearably desirable.

  Girls are so weird and I think I am the weirdest.

  When we get to a building called The Lone Pony, Bash pulls me inside of it. It’s a dumpy bar or pub, but the smell of food makes my stomach rumble. I am starved. I look at Bash to ask about dinner, but he is busy, nodding at an older man I assume is the owner. He wipes his hands on a towel and rushes over to us, “Your Highness, I have not seen you here in ages. Are you well? What is your manner of dress? Were you robbed?”

  Bash nods, “We were. Highwaymen robbed my lady and me. Our horse ran and we had to find clothes at a neighboring cottage. We did not mean to come to Gale, but the men left us on the road nearby.”

  “Tell no one you didn’t mean to come here. The king is expecting you at the ball.” The man lowers his head, “The robbers and brigands have gotten far worse. The king of Norland doesn’t leave his castle anymore. The state of our countryside is dire. There are balls and parties, and everyone ventures to him, but he doesn’t leave the castle. He has no idea what is going on. Half his men are the brigands and robbers. You must have seen it out there?”

  Bash nods, “I did. My lady and I require a meal. I will stay a night at the castle here. Send word to the king that I am here at the pub and needing a carriage.”

  The man holds a hand out, “I am grateful for your patronage.” Bash drags me to the table the man points at. He pulls a chair for me and sits across from me. Drinks are brought, along with bread.

  I glance around the bar, noticing the way people stare at us both. “Do they know you?”

  He nods, “I assume they believe me to be Braden. That is fine, I will uncover any deceptions my brother has been party to, if I am him.”

  I scowl, “You think your brother is in on this?”

  He nods, “I do. Your mother cannot be alone in this. It is too great of a lie for my brother to not know your mother is the woman he loves. I assume he knew all along.”

  “He would do that to you?”

  “You and I have been tricked, by our families for some unknown reason.” He drinks a gulp from the mug of beer they called ale when they placed it down for him. It’s beer, I can tell. I drink my spiced wine; it is the same as what was at the mansion. Heidi’s is better by far but this is still good. He continues, “We have been tricked for a purpose. What or why that is, is beyond me. We are going to find answers, and I am afraid we will find some here.”

  A lady rushes to our table, “Your Grace, we have been expecting you for hours. The ball tonight is a mask in your honor. You are just in the nick of time.”

  “Forgive our delay. We were robbed en route.”

  She gasps, “Oh my. The king has sent his carriage and is excited to see you. He will no doubt want details of this so he might dispatch guards to the appropriate area. Please accompany me back to the castle.”

  Bash gives me a knowing look but nods at the lady. “Of course.” He smiles at the pub owner, “Thank you. I will have the king send you compensation for the meal and drink.”

  The man shakes his head, “No, thank you for the patronage.”

  Bash gives him a subtle bow and takes my hand again. I’m almost calm after all the adventures and weird crap that’s happened, but then the man leans in and whispers. “Your Grace, I know you’re not your bother. Your manner is very dissimilar and your lady couldn’t be more contradictory to his, regardless of being nearly identical to her. You will discover there are agreements being reached here between your brother and our king to unite the kingdoms. The king may distinguish you from your brother if he spends a lot of time with you. He may see the heir prince and not your brother when he looks at you. The ball tonight is a mask—get to your room and get ready. Don’t forget your brother is almost always impatient and in a hurry. His lady is self-important and petulant almost. Very altered from the way she behaves at his castle evidently.”

  Bash smiles, “I will remember your loyalty.”

  He shakes his head, “No, you will be a remarkable king, and I will be grateful for the trueness of your reign.”

  Bash nods his head once, “I will honor that gratitude with my actions.” He pulls me from the pub and to a carriage. The lady is inside. Bash helps me inside. The lady looks shocked, “My lady Baylor, are you unwell?”

  I swallow hard, shaking my head impatiently. “I am annoyed. I lost a very beautiful gown today and a horse I adored.”

  She scowls, “They took your clothes and your horse?”

  I sigh, “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

  Bash climbs in but shouts at the driver, “Let’s away.”

  The carriage moves instantly. The lady gives Bash the eye, but is watching me to see if I am actually paying attention to her giving my fiancé such a sexy look. I hate the lie of a life my mother and Braden live.

  I pretend not to see it. I glance out the window but watch in the glass as her hand slides along his leg. I feel him tense up. I turn my face back quickly. She pulls her hand back and fixes her hair. “You must be anxious for a hot bath and some clean clothes.”

  I nod once, sharply and stifle a fake yawn.

  “Will you be too tired for the mask tonight, after all of the excitement of the day?”

  I shake my he
ad, “I’m sure I will be rejuvenated once we are settled into the castle.”

  She smiles and I have half a mind to punch her in her fake-ass face. I look back out the window, hiding my savage annoyance at her touching Bash. I don’t even understand why I’m so annoyed, but I fear my nasty side. God knows if my magic works or not, but if it does, ignorance of her flirting is better.

  We arrive at the castle after a short ride through the town. The castle is smaller than Bash’s but it still amazing. The world feels so large here. The mountains are huge and the forests are dark and frightening. It looks like a fairy tale castle, one high in the mountains, atop a large cliff and surrounded by thick forests. The lake at the bottom of the mountain is icy blue and I would imagine it is freezing. There is a stream of houses and shops from the castle down to the water. It’s magical; Walt Disney couldn’t have come up with a better scene than this.

  Bash grabs my hand and pulls me from the carriage. He’s so pushy and cold at times, and I feel like murdering him. But then he’s sweet or protective and I can’t stop smiling when I think about him. His unpredictable behavior is confusing on my heart.

  We are greeted at the door by a lady, who’s equally annoying as the one escorting us inside and casually brushing her hand against Bastion’s. I feel him move closer to me, either in annoyance or fear. It makes me smile a little. He is a strong man, not even considering the beast that roams beneath the cool exterior. The sight of it would make the woman next to him cringe if she were to ever see it.

  I ignore the fact he is hugged up against me and try not to smile at the fact he is no doubt scared of her advances in a small way. He’s a gentleman in the true sense of the word. Even when he slept at my house in Lakeland, he was beyond sweet and polite.

  We are greeted in a grand hall with heads of dead animals and pelts lining the walls. I feel like Grendel is going to attack the hall at any moment as a man equal to her known slayer approaches us. He has a trimmed beard and rugged face. He’s a perfect specimen for Beowulf. He is massive, tall and thick. It really is no wonder Sam was so easily believed to be from here. The smile on the man’s face is broad and passionate. I almost have a crush, but currently feel as if my dance card is full.

  Dance card? God help me, I am becoming one of them. I can feel my thoughts sliding away from the addle brain of a twenty-first century girl and slowly becoming Jane Austen’s Emma. I don’t know if I should be excited or cry inside. I choose excitement and smile at the brawny beast of a man bowing at me. I nod my bow, I am his equal. I have to remember that. He sweeps my hand into his, encompassing it, and yet gripping so gently, I hardly know we are touching, apart from the heat. It’s searing off of him and scorching my flesh. He plants his lips firmly on the back of my hand, remaining far too long. I try to breathe, but I think I forget how. I just stare, feeling the spit building in my mouth. Oh my God.

  He is fine.

  His dark-blonde hair is loose around his face but not too long. Just long enough to make him look like Thor or any other Viking. He has the palest blue eyes and a devilish smile. I finally exhale, but it almost whistles out of my lips.

  What is this theme song? Oh my God, I’m becoming Lune.

  His mouth is moving and his eyes are darting back and forth from me and Bash, but I have no idea what’s happening. I’d blush with embarrassment but my cheeks are already aflame.

  His eyes narrow for a second, and then I think he realizes the affect he’s having on me. He smiles, but its devilish nature seems to worsen.

  “Milady, are you well?”

  I start to laugh of course, because why wouldn’t I?

  Bash gives me a weird look, “You must have hit your head harder than I thought when we were robbed.”

  “No. I need to rest for a moment.”

  The king runs his hand up my arm, “You seem like you are in a bit of shock perhaps.” He looks at the woman who brought us here. “Bring her to her room, please.”

  Bash grabs my hand, “I will escort her. We will prepare for the ball.”

  The king’s smile softens into something I imagine is real. There is nothing charming about it. It’s just a plain smile. “Yes, of course. We will discuss our business later.”

  The woman giggles at the king and leads us off, “We will just go over here to the guest wing.” I stumble along behind Bash but look back at the king.

  When we get into the room, Bash closes the door. I see something dark cross his face. It’s a look. One I have seen before. “You were throwing yourself at him.”

  “What?”

  He crosses the room, getting away from me maybe. “You were staring at him like you might just take your own dress off for him.”

  I smile wide, I can’t even fight it, and I don’t want to. “So when you were all phoning Sarah and texting her and I was the jealous asshole,” I want to hurt him and get a reaction from him. I look up into his face, “This is what that feels like. Nice, isn’t it?”

  I can almost see him vibrating. He swings his hand behind him, smashing a hole in the wall next to him. It makes me gasp, and somehow the smile doesn’t flee with the fear that follows the breaking of the wall. “What are you doing?”

  He lowers his face and I realize provoking him is a bad idea. Of course it’s too late when it dawns on me he isn’t normal. In my panic I jump him, grabbing his trembling face in my hands and press my lips against his. I feel one of his arms sweep around me, lifting me off of the ground and pulling me into him. He falls back into the wall, crunching the plaster slightly. He growls into the kiss, nipping at my lips a little. His kiss draws a bit of blood. I can taste it in our mouths.

  He pushes me off of him, tossing me onto the bed with a thud. I watch as his twitching skin rips from his body and he jumps out of the window half changed. I rush across the room, past the puddle of blood on the floor.

  I look down at it.

  It’s not red. I forget the wolf out the window and run to the table in the entrance of the room. I grab a letter opener and run back to the puddle.

  My breaths are leaving me in heaves.

  I slice the blade down my palm, watching as my black blood runs down my hand. Our blood matches. I drop to my knees, staring at the design it makes on the floor. His blood seeks mine out, forming half of a heart. Mine does the same and together they are a whole one.

  A black one.

  Chapter Eighteen

  He doesn’t come back, and once it’s dark I realize they will be coming for me. I dress in the gown that was left for me and pull on the mask. Stepping back to look in the mirror, I am stunned at what I see.

  The girl singing for money in the bar is so far from where and who I am. I don’t even know if I know her anymore.

  In front of me is a beautiful woman with shiny red hair and a flawless face. My cream gown and mask are stunning. They match with gold embroidery. The mask also has pink hues on the sides and a bright pink feather. It’s stunning. I am stunning.

  I wish someone who knew me, the old me, could see it. There is nothing worse than becoming something and no one knowing it.

  The door opens. I turn to see the lady who brought me here. She scowls from behind her mask, “Where is the prince?”

  I look at the window, “He went out. He will be back—needed some fresh air.” I look back at her, or rather the gold necklace in her hands. “The king asked me to bring this for you to wear. He assumed your jewels were also stolen.”

  I nod, “You are too kind.”

  “It wasn’t me, it was the king.”

  I almost laugh at how quickly she shot that from her mouth. She detests me, or well, Baylor. Of course Baylor isn’t Baylor. What a mess. I lift my hair so she can put it on. It’s cold when it touches my skin. She does the clasp up and looks at me in the mirror, “So beautiful.”

  I shake my head, “You are the beauty in the room. I adore that gown.”

  She looks down at it in the mirror, “This old thing?”

  I chuckle, “It’s
beautiful.”

  She offers me her arm in an awkward way, “Shall I escort you down then?” I laugh, “Please. I would hate for this gown to be wasted on the room. Is it yours?”

  She nods, “It is.” I can see in her look that it was her new gown for the evening. The king forced her to give it to me. I feel bad. Her dark hair would have looked stunning with it.

  I stop, realizing suddenly there used to be a queen here. I ask, “Where is the queen?”

  Her jaw drops. I know Baylor would know this and try to recover, “Her grave? Sorry. I meant where is she, to pay my respects.”

  “The cemetery, her ashes were placed in the ground with a white ash tree.”

  I try to act like I know all about it and smile, “I will have to pay my respects.”

  She doesn’t look convinced. I’ve blown it badly. I place a hand on my head, “I still feel so dizzy from being knocked out. I hope that goes away quickly.”

  Her bright eyes grow less suspicious. “Of course, your head injury. Perhaps you should wait for the prince to return.”

  I open the door for us both, “No, that’s fine. I’m confident he will be here soon.” Of course he’ll be a scarred mess. I need to find him. Considering I have never had a cell phone, I find it amusing the first place I desperately need one is here in Norland.

  We slip down the stairs and through the halls until we reach the ballroom. It’s disturbingly large. The king is standing off to the side, I would know him with or without his mask. He’s laughing and slapping a man on the back. He is jovial and bold and makes my knees weak. The lady on my arm leans into me, “He does that to me too.”

  I smile, “Am I so obvious?”

  Her eyes sparkle, “More so since your head injury. I dare say he will finally steal you from the prince tonight.”

  I laugh but cry inside. Of course. My mother in her Baylor suit has probably already had him. He is instantly less appealing. Sharing men with my mother is possibly the worst fate I could ever imagine.