“Beast,” she whispered gravely. “I swear on…” she hesitated. “…On your life, Sir, that I will return within the week. I swear to it.”
He exhaled and let her hand go.
“I need… I need a moment to think, Belle.” He stood. “I’m going for a walk to clear my head. You will have your answer when I return.” The Beast took her hand in his, caressed it, and let it go. “Will you be waiting for me when I come back? Can I trust you?”
“Yes, Beast. I will be here.”
She couldn’t help the tears that flowed down her cheeks. If she didn’t stay, if she chose to escape without his blessing, he would never trust her again. And their relationship had grown to the point where losing his trust would break her very heart.
“I will be here, Beast. Go for your walk.” Belle rolled over, burying her face in the pillow, and sobbed.
She heard her bedroom door shut quietly behind the Beast.
***
The Beast ran out of the castle, bounding across the castle grounds on all fours, sweeping past the trees on the edge of the forest, and kept running through the woods until he was nearly out of breath.
He stopped, stood, and leaned against a tree, allowing it to support his massive weight.
Making love with Beauty had been the most intense, wonderful experience of his life. Not just in his life as the Beast, but in his entire life, including when he was still a Prince. Nothing else even came close.
He thought he’d loved Nadine, back then, and maybe he did. But sex with her was mere fucking. Sex with Belle was love. Pure love.
I’m in love with Belle, my little Beauty!
The thought struck the breath from him, and he gazed heavenward, wondering at the goodness of it all, and how wonderful life could be.
It was clear, though, that she didn’t love him back. Not yet. If she did, her kiss would have broken the curse, and he would be back in human form once more already. But he was still a Beast.
How could he love her, but keep her all to himself, away from her Papa in his time of need? If her father was convicted for her murder, while all the time the Beast was keeping her secreted away in his castle, she would be heartbroken. Miserable. And most likely, unable to ever see the Beast as anything but pure evil.
A delicate fawn crossed his path, ambling by so close he could almost touch her. She was so tiny, so fragile, so beautiful. The Beast could destroy that fawn immediately if he so desired. Mere months ago, he would have thought nothing of doing just that.
But now, he knelt on the forest floor, and waited patiently for the fawn to come closer. She looked at him with her big brown eyes and skitted forward, as though unsure whether or not to trust a Beast who wasn’t on the hunt.
“It’s all right, baby, you’re safe near me,” the Beast whispered.
The fawn came closer, and nudged his big hand with her warm, soft nose. The Beast smiled and ran his hand over her silky head, rubbing her ears. The fawn closed her eyes and nuzzled into his touch. Even though he was bigger, stronger, and dangerous, the fawn trusted him with her life, and took comfort from him.
Dear God… He had to let Belle go.
The Beast gave the fawn a final pat in the head, and headed back to the castle. Back up the stairs into Belle’s suite, back into her bedchamber.
She lay on her bed, her cheeks wet with tears, her eyes swollen from crying. Even in this state, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“Belle,” he whispered, and she looked up at him. “You may go see your Papa, with my blessing. Clear his name. But…if you don’t return in a week, I will die.”
“I promise, Beast, I will return. You have my word.”
With a heavy sigh, the Beast helped Belle up from the bed, and wiped away her tears. “Bring the looking glass with you, so you can see me, and not forget me.” He opened his palm and said to the castle air, “I need the ring.”
A thick, golden ring with a ruby the size of a grape glistening in its setting, as beautiful and crimson as a rose, appeared magically in his large hand. The air shimmered for a moment between them, then all was normal again.
“Take this ring with you, Beauty.” He pressed it into her small palm, and she wrapped her fingers around it to keep it safe. “When you are ready to return, simply put the ring on, and twist it around fully three times. You will be transported instantly back to the castle. Back to me.”
Belle nodded, clearly desperate to go save her father.
He took the ring from her hand and put it on her finger. Staring deep into her eyes, he turned the ring. Once, twice.
“Go now, Beauty, and Godspeed.”
Three times, and she was gone.
10: Home and Hearth