The beast went still, holding her firmly.
Isa struggled to breathe. Her toes were barely on the ground, and her center of gravity was currently where his firm grip was clamped around her lungs. His rough fur was also digging into the side of her face. She could still feel the pressure of the claws on her wrist, though they did not break through her skin.
On the other hand, she could feel every deep breath the animal made. It sounded winded.
“I apologize for causing you alarm,” it rumbled, not without some exasperation, “but I would appreciate not being slaughtered for the offense.”
Isa kept her body as still as possible while she tried to calculate her next move.
“Your husband is quite the brave one,” it continued, gesturing toward the now-empty doorway with its wolflike head. “He should be commended for his act of courage.”
“He’s not my...” Isa started to protest, but then snapped her mouth shut. She was not going to play mind games with some sort of sentient animal when she still had no idea what it was.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I have no intention of harming you, so you will have plenty of time to berate him about it later.”
Isa could not agree more. Macklin would surely get a mouthful about this if she lived to see him again. The thought of thoroughly chewing him out in the future gave her a renewed resolve to get out of her current situation.
She eyed her opponent warily.
The beast seemed to be considering a similar objective, as he glanced around the room and cautiously sniffed the air.
Without warning, he lifted her from the ground with the single arm around her waist and leaped for the door, slamming it closed.
Surprised, she pushed away from him as hard as she could.
At the same time, he let go of her waist and wrist, and the momentum of her own propulsion caused her to stumble away from him back into the center of the room.
“I do apologize for that,” it rumbled, “but I have no idea when your gutless husband will return and I, too, want to make it out of this situation alive.”
Reaching up, he tugged the knife loose from his shoulder without even wincing. He held it out to Isa as though he meant to return it.
Isa tentatively reached out for it, afraid the animal was somehow about to trick her. She did notice that the blade did not even have a single drop of blood on it. She was not sure if she should feel disappointment that her attack had been so weak or if she was relieved that she had not viciously harmed another living being, no matter how scary it was. “It didn’t even break through the thick fur,” she commented, more to herself than to it.
He yanked his hand back, slipping the knife into a belt at his waistcoat. “No. But it will be a lovely bruise by tomorrow, thanks to you,” he said, rubbing his shoulder.
Her mind heard his words, but she did not fully comprehend them. For the first time during this entire bizarre scenario, Isa realized the beast was wearing a waistcoat.
It was almost comical. She was looking at a talking wolf-bear who spoke and dressed like a nobleman.
“What are you?” she asked.
The animal stiffened, straightening back to its full height but keeping its weight against the closed door. “I prefer who,” it replied. “Whoare you? See, it sounds much better that way.”
Isa waited for the answer. When none was forthcoming, she realized the animal was waiting for her to ask the question properly. Apparently, she had offended him.
She did not stoop to playing mind games with it. But it was thrice her weight, had pointy claws, and was blocking the exit.
She sighed.
“Who are you?”
“I...” it said, dipping its head in a dignified bow and inhaling slowly as though to make a point, “am Aden Sirilian, Prince of Iseldis and third in line for the throne.”
She was dealing with a madman. Mad...beast? “I saw no beast when I was at the—”
“To skip all the awkward questioning,” he continued, cutting her off, “I was cursed by a Majis to have the form of a beast. I intend to leave this house alive, so if you will call off your husband and whatever servants are currently dashing toward us down the hallway, I will leave you in peace.”
“Milady,” Luca called from the hallway as he threw himself against the closed door, “we are coming in to save you!”
