Beast by Lisa Jensen

Author:Lisa Jensen [Lisa Jensen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780763693664
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2018-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

Back inside, Beast returns me to my favorite perch in the window, but he is too agitated himself to take a seat.

“Are you all right?” he rumbles at me.

I am neither tarnished nor scratched. Yet it infuriates me that I was not able to do more on my own behalf.

“I hope you know that is not what I meant.” Beast’s paw trembles slightly on the sill beside me.

I know.

“I lost sight of him from the stairway,” says Beast. “I didn’t want him to see me, of course. So I didn’t realize what had happened until it was almost too late.”

So Beast was still hiding in the shadows, watching his guest.

You mean you didn’t leave me there to tempt him into his bargain?

Beast is shocked. “I would never risk your safety like that!” He pauses, then glances at me sideways. “Although — perhaps if I had thought of it . . .”

I wish I could laugh; it would be a relief after the events of this morning.

Scaring him out of his wits was scarcely the best way to win a companion, I observe instead.

Beast shrugs. “Perhaps not. But he had to be made to know how serious his crime was. What if he had succeeded? What would have become of you?”

What indeed? Suppose I had been handed over by the old merchant to pay off some creditor, passed along from one bill collector to another until I ended up locked away in some cupboard of forgotten things. Or perhaps even melted down, my essence squandered for rings or coins. And no one would ever even know. No one but Beast.

Thank you.

Beast responds with a brief but decisive nod of his shaggy head.

But you can’t really expect the old man to come back now?

“Perhaps not.” Beast sighs in agreement. “But you are safe. That is what matters.” He draws another breath and adds softly, “That is at least one thing I could do for you.”

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