Beyond the Four Kingdoms Box Set 1: Three Fairytale Retellings (Four Kingdoms and Beyond Box Sets Book 3) by Melanie Cellier

Author:Melanie Cellier [Cellier, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2019-03-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

I arrived at the Beast’s chambers to the sound of raised voices. I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment before stepping in through the door.

Oh, thank goodness, said Henshaw. You’ve arrived. He raised his voice. Everyone else out.

I frowned. Did he have some terrible news to impart to me? I looked over at the bed, afraid I would see the Beast had regressed. But he was sitting up in bed, glaring at me.

Well it’s about time. He sounded sour.

I raised both eyebrows at him, and he looked away.

“Being troublesome, is he?” I asked, not bothering to lower my voice. His shoulders twitched, but he didn’t look back around.

Henshaw’s quiet voice sounded in my ear. He hasn’t been what I would call pleasant, no. I’ve seen the magic you can work, so I’m hoping you can calm him if I just give you some space. But call me if you need. I won’t go far.

“I’ll do my best,” I promised, and he murmured a farewell.

Walking slowly over to the bedside, I glared at the Beast. His eyes skimmed the presumably now empty room and fixed on me. When I woke up, you were here, and old Henshaw told me you had hardly left my side. Where have you been?

“Excuse me?” I put as much icy outrage into the words as possible.

He frowned at me. I wanted to speak to you, but Henshaw refused to let anyone fetch you. He defied me—all of them did! My own servants, in my own castle, during a momentary weakness! He ground his teeth together.

“Well, good for them,” I snapped. “I didn’t know they had it in them.”

He growled quietly, so I picked up a heavy book from a small table beside him, lifted it over my head and let it drop back onto the table. It landed with a loud bang, and he fell instantly silent.

“If you act like a wild animal, Your Highness, I will treat you like one. If you wish to have me here, at your bedside, I will not endure roars, growls, or abuse of any kind. And I will also not listen to any insults toward your servants. For three full days and nights, we attended you tirelessly, nursing you through an illness that could have been deadly. And you dare to criticize me for finally resting once you are out of danger? Or them for placing the well-being of another person before your every whim? You are arrogant, entitled, and self-absorbed. They may put up with you as their employer and prince, but I can assure you that I will not.”

I stopped, sucking in huge breaths as I tried to calm myself. It was the second time I had exploded at the Beast, and it felt good to express my true feelings. I thought he might order me from the room, but he did not. I sank down into a chair, and for a moment we both sat in silence.

Eventually he spoke, his voice cold. I have a memory from when I was fevered.

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