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“Beast, stop! We’ve talked about this,” a musical feminine voice scolded.
My muscles shook as I forced myself to stand, then held out my arms for Miko, only, she stayed where she was, feet firmly planted a bit apart and arms crossed. I twisted toward her, the motion sending agony ricocheting through my injuries. “Honphebe,” I paused, spitting out a mouthful of blood and staining the pristine white snow underfoot an exquisite cobalt blue, “cm t me.”
My tail tapped against my chin, confusion causing my eyebrows to furrow. Instead of the fear I expected Miko to exhibit, I found an impressive scow-stink-eye-snarl, her teeth bared as she looked between the furry, monstrous male and something that must’ve been hidden by my distorted sight.
I blinked a few times, hoping it would remove the black spots edging my vision.
“Don't touch him again,” Miko demanded. “Once more, and I fear this is becoming my tag line, we've had a shit day.” She huffed. “Another shit day that's entirely out of our fucking control, and your first instinct is to beat My Grotesque bloody?”
The beastie bristled. “You’re both on my property,” he snarled, yet his shoulders curved forward.
I moved to push Miko behind me, but she held up a hand. As if that tiny movement carried a weighted command, I halted. But I couldn’t stop my tail from twining around her waist just in case; I was the one who usually took the fool-hardy risks, not her.
“Yes, I believe we’re all aware that they appeared in our courtyard,” that same feminine voice from earlier said with a giggle, dragging my attention to her. I studied the woman, noting her slender, willowy frame, snow dusted chestnut brown hair, styled into a low ponytail with a sky-blue ribbon, and gentle featured, smiling face.
“What do you mean?” Miko asked, her voice steady.
I lifted my gaze, then bellowed a laugh, my tail yanking Miko to my chest as if I startled it. At some point, the world around us dissolved, only to be replaced by some kind of statue garden, glittering frost highlighting the many details carved by an exceptional artist’s hand.
Damn, I wish my creator, the great faye bastard, had as much forethought in my design.
“Why would anyone waste their time and effort on you?” Freddy sneered.
I gritted my teeth, hoping the sound of grinding stone would be enough to drown out the demon. My eyes drifted down the length of my muscular, furry granite arm crossed over Honeybee’s chest to the long four fingered hand clasping the space between her biceps and shoulder, my thumb rhythmically smoothing over her skin.
Alas, I remained a mishmash of parts, as if my creator chose animals randomly while wearing a blindfold.
“Hm, so we are. Our mistake, we'll just get out of your hair. You wouldn't happen to know of a portal out of here, would you?” I asked the brown-haired female. She scampered closer to my attacker and I surveyed the numerous thick bushes exploding with vibrant, healthy roses despite the icicles dripping from every crimson petal, wicked thorn adorned brambles weaving throughout.
She smiled brightly, a rosy flush decorating the apples of her cheeks. “Oh, yes! There's—"
“Belle,” the beast implored, cutting her off.
“It sounds like they want to leave, Sweety,” she rationalized and aimed heavy side-eye in his direction. “Which is exactly what you want, isn’t it? No one interfering with our alone time?”
What did she call him? Ah yes, The Beast. Very fitting.
Marv hissed with laughter. “Not The Beast, numbskull. Just, Beast.”
Forcing my lips into a smirk, I rejected his input, watching as Beast nuzzled Belle’s neck, his words muffled by her loose, curly locks. “You know how I feel about trespassers.”
His woman slapped the flat of a book I hadn't realized she was carrying against the arsehole’s barrel chest. “It's not that big of a deal, Love. Just let them go. I’ll never understand why you continually make more work for yourself, thus cutting into our alone time you say you crave.” She sighed. “It was probably just the forest playing tricks again; it’s been acting up ever since our land merged with the Snow Queen’s.”
Beast grumbled something too low to hear, pressing a kiss to the top of Belle’s head. “Be that as it may, I will not risk your safety, Flower.” She opened her mouth to speak. “No, I won't hear another word of it,” he declared.
I started to object but an instinctual growl gargled my words as Beast moved faster than my eyes could track, gripped me by the scruff of my neck like a kitten, and clamped a paw the size of a ham onto Miko’s shoulder, separating us. She stilled beneath his touch, not saying a word or wriggling in his hold.
Brain exploding with thoughts and urges far from lucid, I thrashed, snapping my teeth at any part of him I could reach.
CHAPTER 18
Captor or Voyer
BANE
Our shiny new captor marched us through the entrance of their home, gargantuan double doors slamming shut behind us.
Belle skidded to a stop before our party of three, blocking a closed door housed beneath the set of gently curved, elegant marble staircases flanking the foyer. I smirked as she crossed her arms over her heaving chest, eyes shooting daggers at her monster. “This is absurd, Beast. Stop this foolishness. Right. This. Instant,” Belle demanded, punctuating her words with a cute but no less infuriated stomp. Our would-be jailer released a behemoth half-sigh, half-growl, then dropped his unforgiving hold on my scruff, ripping out a few pieces of granite fur in the process.
