Chapter Ten
There was nobody in Violet’s room when she got back there, which was just as well. She wanted to shower and change before anybody noticed that she smelled like sex and looked like she’d styled her hair with an electric mixer.
Once she’d freshened up and put on a pale-blue wraparound sundress that she’d brought with her from Earth, she went in search of Dorcas.
One of the metal serv-bots that glided through the palace led her to an outdoor area, where she found Dorcas sitting with a group of enraptured older Vulfans – teaching them how to play poker.
One of them, an older male with a scarred face, seemed particularly entranced as he showed Dorcas his cards.
The flowerbeds were laid out in geometric lines, almost like a maze, but instead of boxily shaped privet, they bloomed with a mad riot of exotic flowers and fat, juicy-looking fruits. Violet was tempted to reach out and pick one, the smell was so sweet and tart and delicious, but as she passed, she saw a plant snap at an insect, like a Venus flytrap. She pulled her fingers back quickly. She’d do well to remember she was on another planet and didn’t know which plants she could eat…or which might try to eat her.
Here and there along the paths were statues of Vulfans in both humanoid and animal form, cunningly wrought from twisted boughs of the red-black wood that was native to this world. Shiny serv-bots glided between them, looking charmingly out of place with their fluffy metal petticoats and shiny 1950s-style hairdos.
“Ahem,” Violet said loudly. When Dorcas held up a finger indicating that she should wait, she said more loudly, “No, now.”
“All right, you know the basics.” Dorcas winked at the older man. “Good job, Fife!” And then she grabbed her purse and let Violet lead her away.
Violet looked at Dorcas askance. “Where did you find playing cards?”
“They have this guy here who’s called a castle master – I guess he’s like a steward. Name of ZuraI. I had him print them out for me and round up some of the retired Vulfans so I could teach them how to play. Why did you pull me out of the game?” Dorcas asked with annoyance, holding her purse tightly against her chest with one arm wrapped around it.
“What are you hiding in your purse?” Violet demanded, reaching over, but Dorcas tightened her grip on it.
“I thought so. You cheated at poker and won a bunch of jewelry. I know you too well. Go give it back.”
“Spoilsport! And is it really cheating if I made up my own version of poker and therefore I’m following the rules and—” Dorcas pouted at Violet’s glare and headed over to the table where the Vulfans were still playing. She emptied her purse out on the table, then she and Violet resumed their walk.
“How did the training go?” Dorcas asked. “Are you a master of kung-fu now? Or whatever they do here? Wolf-fu?”
“In one session?” Violet laughed ruefully. “Martial arts experts train for years to get good. Decades. Also, remember this is me we’re talking about here.”
“Oh, right. Lovely, sweet, kind, annoyingly honest…clumsier than a drunken camel.”
“Thanks, I think.”
Dorcas looked at her closely. “You like him. Even though he gets under your skin.” It wasn’t a question.
Violet tried for a casual shrug. “Well, he does get under my skin, that’s for sure. He’s rude, bossy, a bully, obnoxious…and those are his good qualities.”
“Can you see any kind of future with him?”
“Honestly, all I can see is getting my heart broken. Best-case scenario, I’ll have a fun time doing it.”
It was the aftermath she was worried about. She’d definitely had a fun time last night – more than fun. Amazing. Delirious. Mind-blowing. But now she felt the ache of his absence.
They strolled for a few more minutes in silence. Vividly pink wisps of cloud streaked the lavender sky, and Violet took a moment to drink in the strange scents of the castle grounds. Would she ever get used to living on this alien world? Not that she’d have to, she quickly reminded herself. Despite his flaws – and she was keeping a list – Treffon had never deceived her. He’d made it quite clear from the start that she wasn’t his true mate.
She pushed down the lonely feeling that thought gave her and tried to enjoy the view as they strolled through the labyrinth of flowers and fruits. A gentle slope gave way to a steep valley, and in the distance, Donnelle sat on the horizon, low-slung, decrepit buildings downtown giving way to glittering spires of glass in the pricier districts on the other side of town. Hovercabs buzzed around the city like insects feeding on a lopsided flower.
“Don’t look now, but we’re being followed,” Dorcas said in a low voice. She tightened her grip on her cane. “And that’s why the thunderstick will come in handy.”
Violet felt a flare of panic. She kept the same pace as she had before, but casually glanced around. Someone was indeed following them as they walked between the riotous flowerbeds. They’d walked a little distance from the castle, and were completely alone now.
Should Violet scream for help? If anyone wanted to take her out, help wouldn’t get there in time. The assassin would almost certainly be killed before he or she got off the grounds, but that would be small comfort to Violet if she was dead.
“Let’s split up,” she whispered. “It’s me they’re after. I’ll lead them away.”
Dorcas glared at her. “No! Even if you are the world’s most annoying goody-two-shoes, you’re still my great-niece.”
