Brotherhood

Chapter 17

Tugging on the hem of the silver embroidered doublet he wore, Geric couldn't remember the last time he had worn anything this fancy. During the war years he had always worn the dark brown garb of a soldier and then afterward he had dressed as a peasant in order to blend in. He rubbed his right hand where his signet ring should have been, wondering if he and Amy could really pull this off.

As though answering his question, a soft knock sounded on the door behind him and Geric turned around to see Amy peering into the room. She wore a gown that accentuated her slender figure perfectly, the fabric such a light blue it was almost silver. A simple tiara was set back against the dark curls piled on top of her head, making her look even more regal than usual.

"I can't get used to this outfit," Geric grimaced teasingly, tugging on his doublet again. "I had forgotten how uncomfortable finery can be."

Amy giggled, smoothing her hands over his chest. "Well, you look very kingly."

Catching her hands with his own, Geric dipped his head to Amy's, kissing her tenderly until the palace seemed to melt away around them.

"What was that for?" Amy asked when they broke the kiss, putting a hand on his chest to steady herself. Geric grinned, giving her another quick kiss.

"Because you're my betrothed now, or you will be soon. Besides, I really enjoy kissing you."
Amy laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "So do I. We better enjoy it while we can because I doubt my father will like us being alone very much."

"I don't blame him," Geric teased, lowering his voice menacingly. "He doesn't want his daughter consorting with a dangerous werewolf."

Amy gave him a playful shove, her smile turning flirtatious. "I don't mind a little danger."

Geric gazed into her eyes for a moment, feeling incredibly lucky to be here with Amy. Tracing his fingers around her jaw line, he tilted her chin up so that their lips met again. At that moment, the door opened again and a red faced page, who was so small he looked as though he couldn't be more than twelve years old, entered the room.

"I—I'm sorry, sir, Crown Princess," he stammered. "But the king requests your presence in the dining hall for this evening's meal."

Geric grinned as Amy thanked the page kindly, offering her his arm. They followed behind the small boy toward the great hall, Amy giving Geric's arm an encouraging squeeze as they walked.

"It's strange how little the palace has changed in the last hundred years," Geric whispered to Amy as they passed a suit of armor that his great grandfather had worn in battle almost three hundred years ago. "I used to scare my little brothers spitless with that suit of armor. I'd hide behind it and make it reach out and touch them as they passed. I had them convinced that it was haunted for a whole summer before my mother found out."

Amy laughed softly, her eyes shining with amusement. "Your mother must have had a good sense of humor raising three boys."

"She did. Even when we hid fish heads in a fruit platter that was served at a state dinner."

"You didn't!" Amy gasped, her eyes widening with horror even as her smile expanded.

"We did," Geric laughed. "The Countess of Breton shrieked so loudly that it broke three crystal goblets. My mother scolded us, but even the guests could tell she was trying not to laugh."

Amy's laughter was cut short as the tall oak doors that led to the dining hall opened and they saw who was assembled around the table—King Merek, Queen Cristiana, and Charles.

"Welcome," the king said coldly. "Please take your seats."

Geric frowned as he realized that he had been placed kitty corner to Amy, who had been seated next to Charles, making Amy's parents' dislike for him very clear.

Amy gave his hand another squeeze as she reluctantly took her place next to Charles. Geric took his place next to Amy's mother, who looked like an older version of her daughter with silver in her dark curls and the same heart shaped face. Servants entered through a side door, filling their goblets with wine. Geric noticed that most of the servants were careful to keep some distance between them as though they were afraid that he might attack them at any moment.

"Father, the dinner looks wonderful this evening," Amy said, sampling the soup that another line of servants brought for them. "Louisa is really outdoing herself."

"That she is," her father replied, tasting his own food before turning his attention on Geric.

"Tell me, Geric," he said acidly. "What kind of man courts a woman behind her father's back?"

Geric set his goblet down, a flash of anger cutting through him like a dagger. He caught Amy's horrified gaze briefly before replying, "Only the ones who are hunted because of what they are, Your Majesty."

"Please," Charles snorted derisively. "You're as savage as the rest of them. Your Majesty, I advise you to lock your doors tonight or he will kill us all in our sleep."

Geric rolled his eyes, trying to keep his temper in check. "Believe me, Charles. If I wanted to kill you—you'd be dead. Locks or no locks."

No one moved or spoke for so long, Geric almost wondered if everyone had suddenly been turned to stone. He cast a glance at Amy who tried to hide her smile behind her hand. Geric smothered a laugh as Charles inched his chair slightly away from him even though he was all the way across the wide, food laden table. The arrogant idiot had it coming.

The rest of the meal was painfully silent except for the occasional remark from Amy about the weather or the latest news from Breton in an attempt to smooth away the tension. Charles kept casting wary glances at him across the table which Geric ignored and King Merek had such a tight grip on his goblet it looked as though he was trying to crush it between his fingers.

After the dessert had been served, the king said, "I'd like to speak to Geric alone if you don't mind."

Everyone stood up to leave and as she passed him, Amy whispered, "Meet me in my chambers when you're done here."

Geric nodded and she caressed his shoulder with her fingers as she left the room.

"I'm warning you now, wolf," the king snarled. "Your attitude is doing nothing to help your case with me."

Geric nodded stonily, his gaze never wavering from the king's. "I understand, Your Majesty."

"So consider this your final warning," King Merek snarled. "If you make a move I don't like, if you say something I don't want you to, it won't be banishment this time. It will be a silver sword through your heart."