THE BEAST'S BELOVED

The castle was burning. Eira could smell smoke beneath the scent of roses. Somewhere beyond the enormous doors, soldiers were screaming. Metal struck metal. The kingdom was falling. And Rivan.. Her Rivan was nowhere to be found. "Eira." She turned. Lucan stood at the end of the corridor. The man who had once been her first love. The man who had once made her believe in forever. His golden crown was crooked. Blood stained his white coat. But Eira barely noticed. Because behind him stood a dozen armed soldiers. And every single sword was pointed toward her. "Come with me," Lucan said. Eira laughed. It came out broken. "After all these years?" His jaw tightened. "I'm trying to save you." "No." She stepped backward. "You are trying to save the woman you think I still am." "Eira ..." "You should have learned my name a long time ago." A roar shook the castle. Everyone froze. Even Lucan. The candles went out. One by one. Darkness swallowed the corridor. Then came the sound. Footsteps. Slow. Heavy. Unmistakable. Eira's heart stopped. She knew those footsteps. She knew the man who walked with them. A shadow appeared at the end of the corridor. Two silver eyes opened in the darkness. Someone whispered "The Beast." Rivan stepped into the moonlight. Blood covered his black armor. His hair was disheveled. The curse markings beneath his skin glowed like dying embers. He looked nothing like the man who used to steal strawberries from her plate just to annoy her. Nothing like the man who slept with his head in her lap while she read. Nothing like the man who once whispered against her forehead, "If the world calls me a monster, let it." "As long as you know who I am." His eyes found hers. And everything else disappeared. "Eira." Just her name. Broken. Desperate. Home. She took one step toward him. Lucan grabbed her wrist. "Don't." Eira looked down at his hand. Then at him. And quietly pulled herself free. Lucan's face fell. Rivan's eyes softened. He reached for her. But before Eira could take his hand a blade pierced through Rivan's chest... Her scream tore through the castle. Loved this? Show some love by adding this story to your library so you don't miss it.😉