Page 77 of Once Upon an Enchanted Castle

He reached into his pocket and dropped a small coin purse onto the table. It jingled with the volume of coins inside. Payment for her translation, no doubt. Then he picked up his gloves, his hat, and the book she translated for him the night before. As he approached, she stepped aside to let him exit the room. She stiffened as he passed by her and headed for the front door. She hurried to get to it before he did.

She followed him out the door, pausing on the stoop as he stepped toward his carriage. A stiff breeze blew, and she scented it then—a feral smell that was all wolf.Saints help her.

He was nearby.

Her back straightened as she scanned the evening shadows looking for his beastly shape but saw nothing. It was a moment of distraction. She hadn’t realized Lord Vincent turned back to her and stopped inches from her.

“Are you in danger?” he asked, his voice low and quiet.

Her gaze flickered to him as she made a valiant effort to ignore the low muffled growl to her left.

“I can assure you, I am in no danger,” she said. “There is nothing for you to worry about.”

“If you were, would you tell me?” He clenched his jaw so hard, she saw the muscles flexing along the edge. Then he stepped closer and reached for her, placing a hand on her elbow.

The growl erupted next to her and, before she realized what was happening, the beast leapt from the shadows. Lord Vincent stumbled backward a step, his eyes wide with panic, as he released her instantly. The snarling beast placed himself between her and the nobleman.

“No, don’t!” Bella shouted. “He means no harm.”

The snarling beast turned his head and peered at her with those pale brown eyes she had come to love. But of the man, not the beast. She stepped closer, putting out her hand.

“Don’t hurt him, please,” she whispered.

“Bella—” Lord Vincent began.

The beast turned his head and snapped and snarled at the man. He shrank back against the carriage.

“No,” Bella said, her voice firm. “He is not a threat.”

She was close enough to touch him now. Her hand landed on his neck, her fingers sinking into the thick, coarse fur. His head swiveled to look at her, those wild eyes instantly taming to something softer, something warming. As though he recognized her.

“No threat,” she said again, her voice soft and soothing. She leaned her head toward him and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Go back to the shadows. Where it’s safe.”

They stared at each other for a long moment, her heart beating a wicked beat. She silently begged him to leave, to return, to be gone.

He reared back then, gave one last growl at Lord Vincent, and then melted into the shadows once more. The darkness concealed his form, but she knew he was still there, lurking. Protecting.

Finally, she turned back to Lord Vincent who cowered against the carriage.

“That beast is a menace,” he said, his voice as hard and cold as the steel in his eyes. “And I will see its end.”

The words hit her like a slap. For a heartbeat, she couldn’t breathe past the rush of fury and fear that crashed through her. Before she summoned a reply—before she could even find her voice—he turned, climbed into the carriage, and barked an order to the driver to make haste.

The wheels rattled against the gravel drive, carrying him away into the shrouded darkness, leaving her standing there with a storm gathering in her chest.

Chapter 32

Bellarushedinsidethemanor, closing the door with a snap behind her. She headed straight for the library with only one thing in mind—find the answer and break the curse. Shehadto because now time was of the essence.

Dread pounded through her. Dread at knowing Lord Vincent saw the beast. He must have followed her from the village to…where? Dickens seemed sure that no one would be able to penetrate the shroud around the castle unless they were wanted, welcomed.

If Lord Vincent followed her that morning, what would be to stop him from following her again tomorrow?

She closed the door to the library and hurried around the room lighting the candles. She paused a moment to light a fire in the hearth to ward off the chill of the room. Then she hurried to the desk and stopped short. She stared at the window. It was no longer boarded. In its place, a new pane of glass was there, letting the pale light of the evening slash through the casement. Her heart thumped as she gaped at it, uncertain when it was repaired.

Surely, Gerald would have mentioned it had someone come to replace the window.

She shoved away thoughts of the new window, trying to push it out of her mind and focus on the task at hand. Emmaline had left the books where she told her. She sat down hard in the chair and stared at the cursed book with its shimmering embossed rose on the cover. The book that was the bane of her existence. The pages were not so willing to give up their secrets, but she was determined.

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