Belle's Quest (Fairytale Bureau Book 3) by Eve Langlais

Author:Eve Langlais [Langlais, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

10

I stared in horror at my bloody claws. Murdering paws. Even worse, I’d exulted while in the midst of battle.

I’m a monster.

Not according to the prince. “Now, now, don’t you dare get mopey on me. You were incredible.”

“I killed them with my bare hands,” I whispered, my voice the gruffer version of itself.

“You protected yourself.”

How to explain that, while it began that way, I’d felt a rush as I fought and won.

Gerome barked, “Out of this room in case there’s more coming.” As we hustled into the main hall, Gerome bellowed, “Hannah!”

She must have been nearby because she came skidding into view. Her eyes widened at the sight of me, and she muttered, “Holy shit. What the fuck happened?”

“Birds. Training room. Broke through the window.”

Clive arrived to hear the latter and uttered, “Impossible. The manor is…” His words trailed off and his eyes widened at the sight of me. “Where did this beast come from?”

“Hey, Clive. Don’t panic. It’s me, Belle.” I waved a furry paw.

“You were saying?” Killian redirected Clive’s attention.

“Uh, I was saying the manor is protected from incursion.”

“Is it? Or has it simply never been tested?” Killian spoke more seriously than I was used to hearing.

Clive’s mouth opened and shut before he shook his head. “Perhaps we assumed wrong.”

“I need somewhere safe to bring my wife that she might clean herself up. Preferably a bathroom with no window.” Killian made the demand, and Clive started to shake his head before grimacing.

“Only one room with running water and no windows. But it’s in the basement.”

“Perfect,” Killian exclaimed.

Clive’s lips pursed. “I should warn you, it’s not exactly nice.”

“We don’t need nice. We need safe. Show us.” Killian didn’t ask, he ordered, and Clive led the way.

In shock, I could do nothing but numbly follow, big hairy feet plodding, the socks I’d been wearing stretched to their new size. Clothes, too. Guess the beast thing would be a recurring part of my life now. I’d not even realized the day had gotten so late. I wonder how the bird fight would have ended had I not shifted. Possibly with me lacking eyes. I’d heard ravens liked to pluck them.

The stairs down from the main level to the basement were made of stone, worn in the middle to form a dip on each step. The lighting proved harsh, single bulbs hung on a wire at intervals in a space that would have been pitch-black without since, as promised, the basement lacked windows.

The chamber Clive led us to turned out to be a bathroom, one not used in a long time judging by the brown ring inside the toilet and the dust and cobwebs stretched across the chipped, claw foot tub. No shower, though.

“Thank you. Leave us alone.” Killian waved his hand. Clive left, but Gerome and Hannah stood just within the door, which led to my husband snapping, “A bit of privacy please.”

“We’ll be in the hall.” Hannah grabbed Gerome and yanked him out with her.

“Let’s get these clothes off you,” Killian murmured, which was when I finally reacted, slapping his hand.

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