The “Prince of Iseldis” had hunched forward, alert and defensive, as multiple fists pounded on the other side of the door. “Call them off,” he said, his voice intensely quiet. “I promise you no harm.”
His eyes were wide, wild in the flickering candlelight.
If this cursed animal opened that door, it would tear her servants to shreds.
Isa slowly shook her head. Her mother’s recent words rang through her head.“They can be trusted with our very lives.”The servants were under her protection, even if it cost her her life.
She locked eyes with the beast as the pounding on the door grew more frantic.
“Call them off,” he repeated.
“No.”
With a growl, the animal pushed itself away from the door and threw itself toward her.
Her mind screamed in terror, though no sound passed her lips.
Rather than in pain or unconscious, Isa found herself once again pressed to his side, held in place by a firm arm.
The door slammed open.
He whipped around to position Isa between himself and the two, armed men who stumbled into the room. Cam held a small sword while Luca brandished an ax from the stable.
“Kindly step out of the way,” the beast said, as though he were passing a pair of noblemen in a ballroom, “or I shall be forced to harm the lady.”
Isa frantically nodded her agreement. Her heart pounded. “Stand back,” she ordered, attempting to muster all the courage she had left. But to her own ears, her words sounded frightfully weak.
The two men backed out of the room, their weapons still pointed at the beast.
The “Prince of Iseldis” cautiously took a step toward the door, half-carrying and half-dragging Isa along with him.
He must have known where he was going, for he confidently turned to the left and proceeded down the hallway. He walked backward, keeping Isa between him and the two servants who followed him with weapons at the ready.
“You smell nice,” the beast rumbled in her ear. “Like leather and trees.”
Isa thought he might have been trying to compliment her, though his choice of scent was far from flattering.
“Thank you,” she heard herself saying. “I’ve been traveling for two days.” Her fingers gripped the fur on his powerful arm, which held her like a vice as she stumbled to keep up with his surprisingly graceful backward advance.
“Ah, the stairs might prove a touch tricky,” he muttered as they reached the end of the hallway. “Apologies, my lady.”
Lifting her completely, he leaped down the staircase in a fluid jump and landed at the bottom in a hunched stance to restore his balance.
For a moment, Isa could not breathe as her lungs shut down from the shock. But she was surprisingly unhurt.
A few moments later, they were standing at the large double doors of the great hall.
After fumbling with the handle, the beast stepped over the threshold so that he was standing outside while Isa was still covered by the doorframe.
“Again,” he said, “terribly sorry for the inconvenience.”
With that, he released his iron grip from Isa’s waist and leaped backward into the night.
Isa whipped around, grabbing the door handle to close the door and put a semblance of safety between her and the beast.
He stepped into the open courtyard, cautiously looking back over his shoulder, likely trying to ensure that the armed servants were not chasing after him.
The clouds had thickened, and a light wind whipped through the courtyard, smattering tiny droplets of rain across every surface.
