Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance (29 page)

subside. She graciously accepted the cup of tea Blanca held

out to her.

"Thank you." Laura smiled.

Blanca settled down to the business at hand. "I have

drawn you a map of the holding cells beneath the palace."

The old woman handed Laura a paper with a crudely sketched

map.

Pointing to an area on the map, Blanca continued with her

instruction. "There is a tunnel connecting the slaughterhouse

to the cells beneath the palace."

Laura shuddered, imagining what the tunnel's purpose

could be.

Blanca smiled darkly, confirming the girl's fears. "Wait until

well after you have retired to your room before attempting

this. The slaughterhouse isn't watched at night, it's a back

way into the cells."

"But what about guards?" Laura interrupted.

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"There is only one guard to the palace from the tunnel.

Since there is little need for guards in
Coba
', they have grown

careless. The young man who works there at night is called

Javier. He is courting one of the chambermaids of the palace.

They often slip away to be alone after the palace has settled

in for the night." Blanca gave her a scheming smile.

"In this room," Blanca indicated on the map, "there is a

master key to the cells. Since your grandfather is the only

prisoner, he should not be hard to find."

"But then what?" Laura lifted her hands in a gesture of

helplessness.

"Just to the north of the palace is the Temple of Prophecy.

That is our gateway between worlds. Meet me there and I will

take you through."

"What if you are discovered to have aided in our escape?

What will they do to you?" Laura doubted the wisdom of

Blanca's plan.

"Believe me, it's the only way. In any case, I'm an old

woman and my time in this life is nearing its end. I might as

well do what I can to help my people with what time I have

left."

"But are you not defying your people by helping us?" Laura

was confused.

Blanca shook her head. "I'm only saving them from their

own self destruction. The spirits will never allow them to

defeat the Wolves, no matter their devious plan. If we are to

return to the Kingdom of Light, it must be with the blessing of

the spirits and a war will never accomplish this." Blanca shook

her head sadly.

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"Remember ... you must not let Dark Claw sense your

hope or he will be alerted to our plan," Blanca cautioned.

"How can I ever repay you for your kindness?"

"Your son will rule someday, it is almost a certainty. Teach

him that compassionate leaders are the strongest and wisest

leaders."

She left the old woman, promising to be at the temple

when the moon was in its zenith.

Laura took her time returning to the palace. She was

riddled with guilt that Blanca should have to take such a risk

for them, but the old woman was their only chance for

escape, and Laura desperately wanted to be free of Dark

Claw. The man was evil in its purest form. It was hard for her

to comprehend that he could be Blanca's grandson.

She had to consider the fact that Blanca could be setting

her up, but somehow Laura knew this was not the case. Even

if she had doubted Blanca, there really was no other

alternative. It was obvious they would need an ally to escape.

On pins and needles, Laura paced her bedchamber the rest

of the day, looking to the evening with a mixture of dread and

anticipation. She dreaded the ordeal that she would be forced

to endure tonight at her presentation, but once that was over,

she could prepare to leave.

Once again, Carlotta bathed her and brought her clothing.

Laura's eyes widened at the sight of the gown she was to

wear. The shimmering silver silk was like rippling moonlight

sewn with golden thread. The Roman style cut draped over

one shoulder and fell loosely to the floor. She was given

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matching silk slippers to go with the gown, and crowning her

head was a wreath of white flowers.

Laura had to admit that whatever these people were, they

did have a taste for luxury. There were no mirrors for her to

inspect Carlotta's work, but the young girl stepped back to

gaze at Laura in awe.

She was the image of exotic beauty—beauty that Laura

herself wouldn't have recognized even if there had been a

mirror to peer into.

Laura was then led to the opposite end of the palace, to

what she assumed was a large ballroom. The room was lit by

at least a hundred candles and decorated with an array of

tropical flower arrangements.

She was deposited next to Dark Claw and informed she

would stand in line with him to receive the guests. Repulsed

by his closeness, Laura was sure she would never be able to

tolerate his nearness long enough for all the people to arrive.

Laura struggled to bring a smile to her face as the people

took her hand and kissed it, some of them bowing as if she

were already royalty. Poor lost souls, Laura thought. They

would pay with their blood for Dark Claw's malevolent nature.

Finally it was done and a string quartet began playing a

soft melody. Dark Claw took her by the hand and led her out

into the midst of dancing couples.

"I trust my bride has had an adventurous couple of days."

His dark smile chilled Laura.

Had she been followed after all?

Did he know?

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"Yes, you have a very interesting city here." Laura

pretended to be caught up in the dance.

"Ah yes!
Coba
' is beautiful ... but
Coyopa
' is the very

essence of splendor." Dark Claw's eyes glowed with an

obsession that Laura could not begin to understand.

"You cannot really believe that it's any better than what

you already have?" Laura didn't bother to hide her doubt.

Dark Claw brought his fingers up to lace them through her

long hair. "On the contrary, dear princess ... it's only your

beauty that can compare to that of The Kingdom of Light, and

I shall possess both ... while Gray Eagle lies in his grave."

Laura's fury flashed in her eyes. "Is it only him that you

hate ... or all of them?"

"Mostly him." Dark Claw's grip tightened. "He was just

handed what should have been mine by birth."

Laura could no longer control her tongue. "It would seem

to me that he is the descendant of the original ruler. You are

a descendant of an exile."

Dark Cloud's face twisted in anger. "You know nothing," he

spit out. "One of those exiled was the king's eldest son, and

heir to the throne, but instead ... the kingdom passed to

Night Blossom's son. Well, I'm here to reclaim what rightfully

belongs to my family."

"So you are telling me this ancestor of yours committed

treason against his own father." Laura shook her head in

disgust.

Dark Claw leaned down until his lips were close to her

ears. "If I were you, little princess, I'd watch what I say. I can

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always have you executed after the birth of your child," he

whispered harshly.

Laura bit back the retort that had been lying on her

tongue. She must not lead him to think her behavior was too

suspicious.

After the dance ended, Dark Claw led her to a banquet

table. Though the thought of food sent waves of nausea to

her stomach, she forced down a few bites for the sake of her

child.

After they had dined, Laura found that she would be forced

to dance with several of the more influential men of the city.

She was quite surprised that they were not only civil, but

some of them were very charming. It was difficult for Laura to

cast them in the same light as the killers who had caused so

much chaos in Wyoming.

No matter what they appeared to be now, they were

responsible for Justin's death! Laura never let that thought

slip far from her mind.

She was required to endure another dance with Dark Claw

as the evening ended, but did so with a sigh of relief. Soon

she could put her plan into action.

Laura didn't have to pretend exhaustion when returning to

her chambers, but discovered that she was still too wound up

for rest. Instead, she found a shawl and made her way to the

palace gardens.

The night was quiet and the moon was gradually making

its ascent, though it would still be a few hours before she

dared proceed with her plan. Laura chose a path she knew

would take her to a bench surrounded by tall rosebushes.

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There, she could sit quietly and ponder her strategy without

fear of intrusion.

The slightest of breezes stirred the jungle, making its way

into the city. Laura wondered what the world—the world she

had grown up in—would think of all this—of the

Baalam
, the
Sungmanitu
, and the city of
Coba
'? Would

they descend on this city like vultures, dissecting these

people to see how they could possibly exist?

Laura shuddered, not even the Jaguar people deserved

that. It reminded her of the government's endeavors against

her own people. But it would happen if the world were to

discover what lay beyond the thin veil of the world's ancient

cities. If these kingdoms existed, what could be seen beyond

other ancient ruins, mountains, and seas?

A shuffling sound behind her gave her a start.

"I see that you very much enjoy our gardens." Dark Claw

stood next to the bench where Laura had been sitting.

"They are lovely." She tore her eyes from him to again

look at the moon, letting him know that she didn't wish to be

disturbed.

"Soon enough my little princess, you will share my bed.

Why not do so tonight?" He spoke softly, but each word was

tinted with savage lust.

Laura glared at him. "You have got to be out of your mind!

Do you think I will ever willingly go to your bed?"

He clasped his clawed hand around her arm, dragging her

up to him. "I know you will freely come to my bed, and you

will give your husband the satisfaction that is his due. If you

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ever fail me in this ... I will kill that old grandfather of yours,"

he hissed.

His mouth covered hers in a painful, searing kiss. One

hand reached up to caress her breast. Cringing, Laura tried to

pull away, but his hold was like steel.

A low, snarling growl caught his attention. The sound had

come from behind the roses. Releasing her, he peered down

at Laura as if somehow she had been the perpetrator. His

eyes strayed to the bushes in confusion, and he sniffed the

air. Deciding that whatever it had been posed no threat, Dark

Claw turned back to Laura.

"Have no fear, my love ... I will not force myself on you

this night. You will invite me into your yielding body when you

are truly mine." His words rang in her ears long after he had

stalked away angrily.

Laura said a silent prayer of thanks that Dark Claw had

arrogantly chosen to conquer her will, instead of her body.

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252

Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance

by Lorraine Kennedy

The small charter jet circled above an area of dense, green

foliage. Justin peered out the window at the little Mexican

village below them. Barely visible through the jungle was the

runway where they would land.

Their guide hadn't been wrong! Justin had little doubt of

what the runway's purpose was. At one time, the drug

trafficking out of this area of Mexico had been incredible. He

was thankful that these problems had been unable to reach

his own people.

A few moments later the plane began its descent, hitting

the coarse runway with a thud, causing Kenny to reach down

and rub his stomach with one hand, his face had turned a

pale green.

Laura's friend still had the appearance of someone who

was not sure if they were awake or dreaming.

Turning, Kenny spoke to their guide in fluent Spanish—this

being the main reason Justin had brought him along. He

would never have risked the other man's life if it hadn't been

absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, Justin didn't know a

word of Spanish. He had contemplated asking Kenny to stay

with the plane while he made the trek into the jungle, but

chances were the boy would not have listened.

It had already been arranged that a jeep would be waiting

to take them to
Coba
'. Their guide had been completely