Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 63709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
I pull the cloak tighter around my shoulders and hurry out of my study and through the Queen’s lush gardens. The waterfall crashes in the distance as I exit the gallery and march down the corridor, my cloak streaming out behind me. Orbs light up as I pass.
The door to Bestian’s study is closed. I’ve tried not to disturb him, even though he’s obviously avoiding me, but right now, I don’t give a fuck if I’m intruding.
“Open,” I bark, and the door glides open like I’ve said the magic words.
Bestian is standing bent over his table, studying something, his back to me. Need rushes through me at the sight of him. I suck in deep gulps of his scent, but reach for my rage.
“Just when exactly were you going to tell me the Red Death is spreading again?”
Bestian straightens, but keeps his back to me. Tension radiates from the lines of his body. “Rose,” he snarls.
“Yep. I’m surprised you remember me.” I cross my arms over my chest. “It’s been so long since you’ve seen me.”
“I am busy. I do not wish to be disturbed.”
“Too damn bad. Look, I’m not so fussed that you’ve retreated from me. After all, that’s what you do, isn’t it? Hide away? But I don’t have time for your cowardice.”
“Cowardice?” he whispers, his voice vibrating with menace.
“You heard me. A little wind just told me the Red Death is spreading again. If that’s true, why haven’t I been informed?”
“It is none of your concern!”
“Not my concern?” A pang of guilt hits me, mingling sickeningly with my outrage. Ma. I should have been paying more attention, been more diligent about making sure she was okay. This is what happens when you get swept up in some stupid fairytale romance. “Maybe you want to hide up here and pretend everything’s great, but some of us don't spend our entire lives running from our responsibilities.”
His head turns slightly, but he still doesn’t look at me. “You think I’m running?”
“Yes.” I cross the room to him and speak directly to his broad, rigid back. “Running and hiding like you always do.”
“Get out.” His voice is low. Dangerous.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He stiffens and for a moment I think he’s going to roar, to rock the room with his unearthly, spell-ridden command. But instead he slowly and deliberately swivels to face me, revealing his ruined features in all their naked glory. The left side of his jaw and part of his cheek are smooth, showing a princely mien. The rest is ravaged, the skin pitted and melted like it was held over flames.
“Is this what you wanted to see?” he snarls, his emerald eyes blazing in his monstrous face. “Are you happy?”
I want to speak but my voice has deserted me. I lick my lips. There’s such rage in his twisted expression. Rage, and pain.
“Is this what you wanted to prove?” He prowls towards me and seizes my upper arms. “How revolting I am? How unworthy I am of your love? Is this what you want me to admit?” He releases me to gesture to his face. “It is cowardice to keep this from you? To hide the fact that you have committed yourself to a beast?”
“Bestian,” I croak. My hand hovers in the space between us, inches from the acid-ravaged skin.
He turns away. “Go. Just go. Leave me.”
Finally, I find my voice. “Is that what you want?”
“It is what you prefer. I see it in your face.”
The door behind me creaks. Rogue is there, waiting, holding its breath.
“You don’t know me, Bestian. And it’s obvious you don’t know yourself. Maybe one day, you will see yourself as I see you. I can only hope so.” Without giving him a chance to respond, I whirl and stalk out through the open door.
I leave the beast in his lair.
TWENTY
Rose
I stride through the palace, the breeze whipping the cloak around my heels. “He wants me to go?” I mutter to myself. “Fine. I’ll go. But I won’t abandon him.”
I pause in the gallery, under Bestian’s parents’ portrait. “Your son is an idiot,” I tell them. “But it's okay. I know just the thing to snap him out of this. I’ll go check on Ma, and give him some space to get over his…” I wave a hand, “whatever that was.”
An orb floats over to me from the alcove. Its surface reflects a view of Ma’s cottage.
“No.” I wave a hand and it halts. “I’m going to go see her myself. In person. I’ll need a satchel or something. A waterskin, and some food—something hearty for the hike down. Sweet cakes.” I stop to chew my lip. “I guess you can help me get whatever else Ma needs, right?”
Rogue flurries around my hair, reworking my elaborate, bejeweled hairdo into sensible braids. It replaces the crown but I pull it off and hold it out. “Take this. Keep it somewhere safe. I’ll be back.”