Page 81 of The Beauty and the Griffin

Or do both. At once.

I stiffened slightly, lowering my hands to my lap. Hoping to sound cool and collected, I observed, “It’s so dark, I can’t see anything! Is this some kind of curse?”

“Quite the opposite. The curse is breaking,” he replied, shifting his grasp to allow my small retreat. “You have guessed the truth, who I am. Are you disappointed?”

“With what?” My voice cracked.

I heard and felt him release a shuddering breath before he spoke. “You must know now what a villain I turned out to be. I adored you, but my obsession with power ruined everything.” A quivering sigh escaped him. “I . . . I can never thank you enough for caring enough to promise you would marry me as a beast. You broke the spell, and no one—certainly not I—could fairly blame you if you now choose not to tie yourself to a broken, traitorous old fool in a young man’s body.”

My heart seemed to crack in two. In my foolish pride, I’d hurt him profoundly.

“I said I would marry you, Othniel, and I will.” Realizing I sounded cross, I finally focused on him and his feelings, and words began to flow gently: “Today, if possible. I’ve loved you for years, and I want to be with you always, more than anything. You’ve repented and changed since those days. I know that your heart is kind and noble, and I love you so much it hurts!”

As if in response to my words, the darkness over the land lifted, stars instantly reappeared, and color streaked the sky. Startled, I hid my face on his shoulder. “Oh! That’s too bright—make it stop!”

Niel chuckled, gathering me closer. “Preventing dawn is not in my skill set.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing,” I admitted with a wan smile, squinting up at him. “I’m sorry for being ornery and slow on the uptake, even just now.”

His eyes glinted with unshed tears. “Beatrice, you are beautifully and wonderfully made. And your love for me, a dreadful beast, broke the curse.” His voice was tender. “I owe you my second chance at life.”

“You don’t owe me anything! As the Beast, you were kind and generous to me from the moment we met.”

His tender gaze melted me. “I intend to spend this gift of a second lifetime affirming your amazing qualities. Do you know that my magic is stronger . . . No, thatIam stronger and better when you are near?”

“And I feel more confident and capable when I’m with you,” I admitted.

“As if we were created for each other,” he mused with a humble expression I’d never seen on the face of the old Niel. He was now the ideal combination of the handsome, powerful young king I found so attractive and the selfless, honest friend I loved.

His gaze lowered to my mouth, and his thumb caressed my lower lip. “Do you promise not to vanish if I try to kiss you?”

My smile quivered, but I reached up one hand, pulled his head down, and kissed him. It started out as more of a peck, but with his hand cradling my cheek, he turned it into a kiss that melted me through and through. When our lips parted, he pressed his forehead to mine and said, “Not many people can honestly say this, but I’ve waited a lifetime for that kiss.”

My laugh was shaky, along with the rest of me, and I felt lit up from the inside with joy. The ruby on my right hand caught my eye, and I sucked in a quick breath, pulled the ring from my finger, and offered it to him. “Now that I’ve said yes . . .” I murmured shyly.

His fingers trembled as he accepted it from me and slid it into its proper place. “I can hardly believe this moment is happening.” Emotion roughened his voice. “So many years of hoping and longing . . .”

“Hmm. Are you hinting for another kiss?”

He blinked at me in surprise, and a beautiful smile lit up his face just before my lips touched his.

We were still sitting there, sharing kisses, memories, and hopes, when I heard both cinder-sprite squeaking and human voices calling “Your Majesty!” and “Beatrice!”

“We’re here!” Niel called back, adding quietly, “I was hoping for a few more minutes alone with you.”

“But this is good too!” I gave him one more quick kiss before he rose and pulled me to my feet and into a sweet embrace.

A moment later, cinder sprites swirled around our feet, squeaking, “You did it! You did it! You rescued the king!”

We stepped apart, and I greeted the little creatures: “Midnight! Comet! Frosti!”

People I didn’t know approached us, some running, others trotting and panting. Their old-fashioned uniforms identified them as palace servants.

“Your Majesty!” A sturdy-looking middle-aged man in a dress coat dropped to his knees before Niel, grasped his hands, and kissed them. “You are alive, Your Majesty! The curse is broken!”

“Yes, Desiderius,” Niel said, gently pulling the butler to his feet, then into a genuine embrace. “I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

“Sire, I simply did my duty.”

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