He’d grown darker, and pulled away from all social and public functions, retreating to his castle for the most part. No more golden smiles for the press, no more newspaper shots of him strutting across some tropical beach looking gorgeous. No more tabloid scandals involving some movie star or socialite.
The devastatingly handsome, beautiful prince had disappeared four years ago. But here he was standing in my father’s ballroom.
Darker.
Somewhat broken looking.
Fiercer.
I shivered as I thought of what the tabloids called him now. “The Beast.” Prone to rage and anger — prone to not controlling himself on the rare chances he was seen outside his castle.
I shivered again.
“Isla, seriously, why is he even here?” Adele asked, her face still whiter than usual, her teeth gnawing at her lip.
Slowly shaking my head, I turned back to look at him again, as if to solidify that he was actually here. I turned my head over my shoulder, my eyes moving through the crowed…
And then I froze. I froze and I shivered, a little tremor rattling through my whole body.
…Because those eyes were locked right on me. Those fierce, glowing, animalistic eyes positively burned right through me, nailing me to the spot. I gasped, my heart jumping, and something wicked pulsing between my legs before I yanked my head back around, clutching at my gown as if to still my own hands.
What had that been?
I shivered at the illicit feeling I’d just had for this— this— beast of a man, and shook my head. Maybe I needed something to drink.
Imogen shook her had, answering for me. “Who knows why he’s here. Dad invited everyone I guess.”
“But he showed?”
They all glanced at each other before nervously glancing over my shoulders again.
“What's the big deal?”
I knew what the big deal was. I knew Prince Logan hadn’t been seen in at least a year and a half, and him standing at a courting ball was serious news.
But I still asked
Adele balked at me. “The big deal besides him going crazy and murdering everyone here?”
I laughed, nervously. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Ilana shook her head, her eyes worried. “Isla, he would—”
“I wouldn’t do what?”
I squeaked.
I actually squeaked, like a squirrel or something at the deep, resonating, gravelly baritone voice behind me. I whirled, and suddenly, everything else faded away. Because towering in front of me, was Prince Logan.
He enveloped me, this beast of a man easily two and half times my size. His sheer size had me shivering, towering above me like that. And those eyes — my goodness those eyes! I could feel the heat creep into my face. I could feel that naughty, totally inappropriate pulse again between my legs.
I swallowed thickly, my eyes locked on his.
“Tell me, Princess,” he growled, those eyes burning into mine. I gasped quietly as he reached down, a single thick finger tilting my chin up as his eyes captured mine.
“What wouldn’t I do?”
Chapter 4
Logan
“I— I mean we were just—”
“You’re wondering if the rumors are true.” I said evenly, watching her eyes get big.
She shook her head.
“Of course you are.”
They all were.
“You want to know if I’m going to turn into a wolf or a bear or something and eat someone.” I growled out that last part, finding a sort of glee when her two friends squeaked and jumped back a step.
She didn’t though.
Her — the one who’d caught my eye the second I walked in. I’d stepped into that ballroom ready to walk back out. I’d taken a breath and steeled myself for misery. But then I’d seen her, and it was like for the first time in four fucking years, light had come into my life again.
For the first time in four goddamn years, it was like the clouds parted and sunlight had hit my face again like a long lost friend. And right then, I knew what I’d said to Cade was wrong.
That whole thing about tonight “not being a problem”? Yeah, I’d been very wrong.
Very, very wrong.
Because one look at this gorgeous, innocent creature, and I knew everything was going to change. I knew she was going to be a very big problem.
“What’s your name, Princess?” I husked, feeling my pulse roar under my skin. I could feel the beast stirring inside. Fuck, I could smell the scent of her, could feel the heat from her skin, even though we were still about a foot apart.
I imagined shredding that dress from her lithe little body and devouring her. I lusted to taste her, to run my tongue over every goddamn inch of her.
I hadn’t had these thoughts in four years. Needless to say, my cock was fucking rock hard in seconds.