Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 74631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
It’s dark enough that my cloaked body mostly blends in with the night, but I’m all too aware that the mist surrounding me would give away my identity if my presence is noticed. Even though the night is cold, heat covers every inch of me as I slowly make my way around the last few trees obstructing my view of the dirt road. My calloused hands brush along the rough bark as I quietly step beyond the enchanted woods. The first step since I took refuge in the castle. I still my body and close my eyes to heighten my hearing. There’s a faint chirping of crickets that inhabit the creek and the splashing of water most likely from toads and fish coming to the surface. The night life surrounds me, but I concentrate toward the village in the distance. Tilting my head in an attempt to hear better, I faintly hear a dog bark but after a moment everything is silent. Not a thing to hear from the sleeping village. It’s roughly two miles ahead and the path is speckled with light from fireplaces and candles in the windows of some homes. There are darkened buildings set before the cottages and I know those surround the market. They should be vacant, but even still, I will be careful.
I cannot fail. She is my reward and I’ve waited far too long as it is.
My blunt nails dig into my palm as I clench my hand to form a fist. A very large part of me craves vengeance. I crave the taste of Gavin’s blood. He could’ve saved me but instead he condemned me. A snarl rips through my chest as the beast fights for command. My step back is heavy and reckless as I attempt to contain him. I regret my thoughts of revenge. Now is not the time to tempt the beast.
I hold him back and concentrate on the object of our conquest. Her curves, her soft moans. The beast paces within me. He’s impatient for her touch as well. I relax my shoulders and calm myself by picturing her lips on mine. I’ll let the beast take over to find her, my beauty, but I need to concentrate on the desire to have her in order to distract the beast and control him. He can’t wander. His lust for blood would lead to a massacre. And I’m not certain we would survive it.
It doesn’t escape me that I am risking my life to steal her away.
With a deep breath, I slacken my massive body, feeling the beast’s desire to come forward. He brushes against my chest and I don’t push back. I feel my lip curl and my eyes focus. He violently breathes in the air, taking in the scents that surround us although he only seeks out one. There’s no way he could scent her from here. I push forward toward the village. The beast happily obliges as an asymmetrical grin pulls at my lips. I know this is dangerous, but the risk is worth the reward. My heart pumps loudly in my chest, not in fear but from a rush of adrenaline.
Tonight we will find our beauty.
We will take her back to castle.
She will be ours.
THE PRINCE AND THE BEAST
It’s a rare day I give up so much control. It’s unsettling to say the least. The beast has us barreling with an unstoppable speed through the barren field with only our beauty in mind, and he’s loud as fuck. Anger bristles with his recklessness, but I don’t dare take over. He’s far faster than I could ever be.
There are no shadows to hide in, no place to seek shelter. Only a large open field of dead, dried-up wheat that separates the dirt road and the village. The beast decided to sprint through as fast as he could, not giving a damn about the noise and not caring about my desire to be cautious. Gritting my teeth, I bite down the protest, eager to move as quickly as possible. Late into the night, the village sleeps, and we hunt down our sole desire.
He’s fast and the black cloak aids in blending us into the dark night. The mist that surrounds us will give away our identity if we’re seen. But the beast doesn’t seem to give a single thought to what would transpire if we’re seen. I pound my fist against him, gripping onto the fur I’ve loathed for years, urging the beast to go faster and to seek cover behind the buildings in the market as soon as possible. He snarls his protest, and I resist the urge to fight for control or to make even less of a disturbance.
The animal side of me, driven by primitive need, truly doesn’t give a fuck. His desire to reach our beauty is the only thing he can focus on. The image of her, just as she was, is a steady focus for me as well. I’m desperate to get her in our grasp, but we can’t risk being discovered. I don’t hunger for bloodshed…I only hunger for her beneath me. Wanting and writhing for more.