Page 9 of Beast

I snort, an inelegant sound. That’s the pot calling thekettle black. “I don’t know why not. You were certainly going to, or have youforgotten a frigid filly named Maris? Are you trying to tell me it was youridea to bond with her?”

Before the civil war, Beck and Cian’s father arranged theirbonding with no thought to love. I remember Maris. She was a highborn bondmate.She was also one of the coldest women I ever met. Cian couldn’t stand her. Manynights, I listened to my cousin bemoan his fate.

“That was different,” Cian replies.

A wave of rising irritation nips at my patience. “Sure, cos.It was different because it was your father threatening you and yourinheritance at stake. I remember how much you hated that woman, and you wouldhave married her if fate hadn’t stepped in. I’m sure you would have stood upfor yourself in the end. You would have told your father and Beck to go to hellbecause you wanted to marry for love.”

“That’s not fair.” Cian frowns.

“None of it is,” I shoot back.

“And it was different. There was a kingdom atstake. I’m not trying to say I’m better than you. I don’t think that at all.I’m trying to point out that you have choices. You have more freedom than Beckand I had.”

Naturally I have it better off. I shouldn’t have even triedto talk to him about this. He’ll never understand. “Stay out of it. I’m goingto do what I need to do, and that’s that. My father has always complained thatI wasn’t willing to do what it takes. Well, I’ll show him.”

I hurry along, leaving my cousin with the perfect wife andhappy life behind. I don’t need a lecture from Cian. Cian is married. He hashis brother to depend on. My sister treats me like I’m still five years old.Come to think of it, everyone treats me like a child. I’m thirty. I run abusiness. Well, I run an arm of the family business. Of course, I have amanager who does most of the daily work, but everyone has help. Not everyone isas efficient and organized as my sister. Not everyone wants each minute of theday planned out to model efficient time management.

What does Cian expect me to do? Should I tell my father togo straight to the Hell plane and righteously pack my bags? Where would I live?How would I survive? I’ve never gone without a day in my life. I like beingrich, and I’m good at it.

A long wail splits the air around the market, and I stop atthe sound. It’s the howl of an animal in pain.

“What the hell was that?” Cian asks with a hitch in hisbreath.

“I think that’s our guest,” Beck replies.

Beck breaks into a run, his long legs eating the distance tothe tent. Meg struggles to keep up with him. While Beck runs ahead, Cian takestheir wife’s hand and hurries her along. I jog, easily catching up and matchingBeck’s stride.

There’s a crowd outside the large tent, though I notice theygive the place a wide berth, as though what’s inside is too terrible for themto get too close to. It’s easy for me to push my way to the front.

All around me, the people and creatures whisper in hushedtones. They talk about the animal in her cage and wonder if the bars are enoughto keep her from their children. Savage, one calls her. Brutal. Some speak ofher attempting to eat the gnomes assigned to care for her.

Maybe I should rethink the whole getting-married plan. MaybeReeve has another, less hostile consort I can buy. I don’t need to die to provethis point to my father. A quiet, homely, uneducated rube will do nicely. Iwant her to shock my father, not cannibalize him.

“Reeve, what’s going on now?” Beck asks.

A small man with a pointy red hat moves toward Beck andCian, who has taken his place beside his brother. I feel Meg move at my side,but I’m watching the gnome. Reeve of the Gentle Hills, who served the Finnfamily for decades, bows deeply.

“Your Highness,” the gnome says, nodding to each of the Faeroyals. “I am sorry to have bothered you, sir. I simply do not know what to dowith the lass. She’s completely feral. The demon gave us a potion to keep herweak. We’ve given it to her every day, hiding it in the water she drinks, but Ifear it doesn’t work. She wouldn’t eat for the first three days she was hereuntil Cara had the idea to give her raw flesh. She is an animal, sire. Though Iam loath to do it, I must ask you to put her out of her misery.”

“No,” Meg argues instantly. She rushes past me to herhusbands.

I hold my tongue. The sounds coming out of the tent make methink that maybe Reeve is right. There’s a long, loud howl. I’m not sure how asound like that comes from a thinking being. It’s primal. The sound is purerage.

“Meggie, calm down,” Beck commands, his voice dropping to alow, dark bark. Meg’s head drops immediately.

“Yes, sir,” she says quietly.

Beck’s hand comes out to lift her face up. The harsh linesleave his brow, and he kisses her forehead. “I’ll do what I can, Meggie mine.Trust me.”

She smiles up at him, though I can see tears unshed in hereyes. “Always, baby.”

Beck turns his attention back to the gnome. He pulls hissword off the scabbard on his back and holds it at his side. “Let’s see her,then.”

The flap of the tent is pulled back, and I follow my cousininside.

To my heightened senses, the room is quite pungent. Whoa.I check my gag reflex.

“I am sorry, sire,” Reeve apologizes, his face reddening.“We have not been able to clean her. She is filthy. When we attempt to getclose, she tries to bite and scratch. She growls like an animal. It is the onlylanguage she seems to know.”