bChapter /bb194 /b

    E

    “Do you have service?” I asked the driver.

    He pulled out his phone, then cursed under his breath as the same realization hit him that had just hit me. He shook his head. “Nothing. We’re in a dead zone out here.”

    “Shit,” I said out loud.

    The driver took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “I can shift and run back to the mansion to get help. Do you mind waiting here? I’ll be as fast as I can. Thirty minutes or so.”

    Thirty minutes. That wasn’t enough time.

    “Now hold on.” I climbed out of the car, gathering my heavy skirts as best I could. “Let’s look at the engine first. Maybe it’s something simple we can fix ourselves.”

    The driver looked skeptical. “Are you sure, miss? I’m afraid I don’t know anything about engines…”

    “It won’t hurt just to look will it?” The coronation was starting in fifteen minutes. There wasn’t time to wait for him to run back to the house and return with help. “I know a little about cars, so perhaps if we put our heads together, we can figure it out.”

    That was a stretch. I knew practically nothing about cars. But I was too desperate not to try.

    With a reluctant nod, the driver popped the hood, and we both peered into the enginepartment. Everything looked foreign to me, but then the driver pointed toward something near the back.

    “There. I think that hose came loose.”

    I squinted at where he was pointing. There was definitely a disconnected hose hanging free, dripping some kind of fluid onto the ground below.

    “Can we reattach it?” I asked, hope sparking in my chest.

    b“/bMaybe. But I’ll have to reach pretty far back to get to it.” He rolled up his sleeves and leaned into thepartment. “You might want to stand back, Luna. This could get messy.”

    But before I had a chance to move, there was a hiss the second his hand touched the hose. Dark liquid spurted out of the hose, spraying across the poor driver’s face–and all over my dress.

    For a moment, neither of us moved or made a sound. The driver just froze, his face covered in ck oil, and I stood there with my arms syed out to the sides inplete shock.

    Finally, I looked down at myself in horror. The beautiful midnight blue fabric was now streaked with thick, ck oil. I didn’t know much about cars, but I knew one thing: oil did not wash out. Especially not

    in fifteen minutes on an empty country road with no washing machine in sight.

    The historical gown that every Luna Queen had worn for over a century was ruined. Because of me.

    “Luna, I’m so sorry,” the driver stammered, straightening. “I didn’t know that would happen-”

    “It’s not your fault.” I shakily reached into the pocket of my dress and withdrew a handkerchief, which I handed to the driver so he could clean himself up. “Are you alright?”

    He nodded and wiped his face. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about, miss. I think I should go get

    help now. Like I said, I think I can be back with another car in thirty minutes, maybe less if I hurry.”

    Thirty minutes. We’d already wasted nearly ten trying to decide what to do. That meant that the

    coronation would be nearly over by the time we made it.

    I wanted to be by Alexander’s side throughout the coronation. I hated the idea of not making it because of an engine failure.

    Suddenly, in the distance, I could hear the faint sound of a car engine. My heart leaped with renewed

    hope as headlights appeared around the bend in the road.

    I stepped out into the middle of the road, waving my arms frantically. “Help!” I called out. “Please stop!”

    The car was going fast, but surely they could see me. A woman in a fancy dress standing in the middle of

    the road next to a broken–down vehicle–it was pretty obvious we needed assistance.

    But the car flew past without even slowing down.

    I stood there in the road, watching the taillights disappear around the corner. The driver hadn’t even tapped on his brakes.

    Tears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them away. Crying wasn’t going to solve anything.

    “That’s it,” I said, turning back to the driver. “I’m not waiting.”

    “Luna?b” /b

    “I’m going to shift and run to the venue myself.” The stained dress would be a problem, but it was certainly better than not showing up at all. “It can’t be more than ten miles from here.”

    “But-”

    “Thank you for your help,” I said, forcing a smile, “but you should focus on getting help for the car. I’ll get myself to the venue.”

    The driver looked like he wanted to argue, but I was already beginning to shift. A momentter, I stood there in wolf form, feeling the wind rustle through my fur. I shot the driver onest look over my shoulder, and he nodded, and then I took off.

    Ten miles had never felt so long or so short. My pregnant body wasn’t quite as fast or as agile as thest time I shifted during the game of capture the g at the pic, but I still had little trouble running.

    Within fifteen minutes, I had arrived.

    Just barely enough time to spare.

    When I reached the cathedral, I could hear the ceremony already in progress. The sound of organ music and voices drifted out through the massive stone walls, but I was certain that the coronation had only just begun. It would likely start a bit of a stir when I walked inte, but it wouldn’t be too much trouble.

    I shifted back to human form behind a cluster of trees near the entrance, taking a deep breath to steady

    myself. Okay. I’d made it.

    But my heart sank as I looked down at my dress and saw what remained of it. The beautiful gown was now nothing more than strips of oil–stained fabric hanging off my body. The corset had splitpletely down the back, held together by only a few stubborn threads. The skirt was torn in multiple ces,

    revealing my legs.

    “Fuck,” I whispered, panic settling over me. I’d shifted carelessly and ruined the dress even more.

    I looked like I’d been in a fight with a pack of wild animals. I couldn’t go in there like this!

    But there was no time to find something else to wear. The ceremony was happening now, and Alexander

    needed me there. Even if I looked like a disaster, even if everyone stared and whispered, I had to be by his

    side.

    I pulled the remaining fabric around me as best I could and walked toward the main entrance of the cathedral with my head held high. The massive wooden doors of the cathedral were nked by security

    guards in dark suits.

    As I approached, both of them stepped forward, blocking my path.

    “Ceremony is closed to the publici,/ii” /ione said, hardly even looking at me like I was some kind of vagrant.” I’m going to have to ask you to leave, ma’am.”