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)
Anxiousness takes over and my blood rushes in my ears. It’s so damn loud I can hardly hear anything else. Adrenaline surges through my veins.
If a single soul sees me and tries to attack, or if they only scream, the beast will kill them without hesitation. He’s practically salivating at the idea of conflict.
As my heart rages with every sharp pounding against the hard and unforgiving ground, I second-guess my decision. I gave him full control so he could lead us to my beauty. But now I’m worried that I’ve relented too much power. He’s surrounded by those he considers enemies and he’s more than willing to rip their throats out if challenged. One scream will lead to the next and the beast won’t resist the temptation. It’ll be a massacre until we’re forced to retreat. It’s a war we can’t win and one I’m uninterested in pursuing.
If any conflict occurred, I could try to fight him back and force us to run away from the village, behind the wall and into the enchanted forest, but that would mean leaving her behind. A prick runs down my spine as I grit my teeth, vying for control, as the beast releases a snarl. I may not want a bloodbath, but I’m willing to risk it for my own selfish desire to have her. If I see former foes I want to destroy, my anger will only fuel the beast’s rage, giving him more power to disregard my requests. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t want revenge as well. I’m not nearly as bloodthirsty as the beast though; it’s my only redeeming quality at this point. I only want to kill a select few— those who deserve to be slowly slaughtered by the beast for betrayal of the upmost kind.
Shoving the memories down in the depths of what’s left of me, the rage boils inside as we push through the field, ignoring the dim lights of the houses on the far right side of us. They’re only candles in the windows. Narrowing our gaze, we push forward with one thought in mind.
My beauty. Mine. Mine to take and mark as I wish.
Now is not the time for my bloodlust. I can’t afford to entice the beast with retaliation. I need to focus only on the temptation that’s led us to this endeavor. A warmth flows through my blood. My beauty. I concentrate on my plan and on her curves. The flowers in my inner pocket will keep her calm when I place them against her cheeks for her to inhale the intoxicating aroma. She’ll dream of the enchanted forest, the magic that lured her to me, and us—our touch and her pleasure.
The beast lets out a low growl of approval at the image I conjure. His thoughts obsess with her as well, biting her neck and claiming her under the moonlight. I despise that I shared my first touch of her soft curves with him, but without his desire for her, I’d never be able to have her. When she wakes after dreaming of us, she may imagine she came back to the castle of her own accord. Who am I to correct her? The beast grins wickedly and chortles. He’s in agreement with our plan. When we get her back to the castle we may be in disagreement, but for now, we’ll work together to capture our beauty.
Mine to tease and fuck, and his to claim.
It feels as if an eternity of torment has passed, but finally, we break through the field and the beast stalks around the first building. My heart pounds in anticipation and suspense. There’s no light inside, but I recognize the structure as the trader’s shop from long ago. He takes in a large breath and focuses his eyes across the dirt path to a smaller building and jogs to it, making far too much commotion, then circling it. Thank fuck it’s nearly midnight and there’s no one in sight. I focus on the structure and take in the smells with the beast. The bakery. Hmmm. Our little beauty is a baker?
The beast snarls and huffs. He scents her but she’s not here. My body heats with fear of not finding her, but the beast is unconcerned. She is marked and the hunt will be easy if his careful pace and unbothered steps are anything to go by.
With two firmly planted steps toward the village, the beast snarls and growls, baring his fangs. A spike of adrenaline cuts into my body as the fear of being discovered overwhelms me. I push forward, trying to calm the beast. Trying to remind him of our desire for her, but then I realize what he smelled, what he sensed that I couldn’t.
Crawe.
I can’t help the anger that envelops my very being. He was here. With her. What the fuck is he doing with her?