Beauty's Beast(85)

“Brave? Me?” She shook her head. “I’m so afraid of losing you.”

He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “In spite of everything else that has happened, I am glad of this last year we’ve shared.”

It had been the worst year of his life, and the best. Before Kristine, he’d had nothing to live for, had been resigned to his fate. And then he had found her, and she had turned his life upside down. The thought of losing her was tearing him apart, and yet he would not have missed the time they had spent together. Because of her, he had known love for the first time in his life. Because of her, he had an heir. Because of her, he would not be forgotten.

“It grows late,” he said at last. “You should get some sleep.”

“In all the time we have been together, you have never stayed the night with me, my lord husband. Do you not think it is time?”

“Past time, perhaps,” he replied, amazed anew that she did not find him repulsive, that she did not turn away from the sight of his face, from the horror that was spreading over his body.

He watched her disrobe, his gaze moving lovingly over her slender form, lingering on the swell of her belly. She was beautiful, so beautiful.

She slid into bed, waiting for him to join her. Crossing the floor, he extinguished the light beside his bed, then slipped out of his shirt and trousers.

She was watching him, waiting for him, her eyes shining with love and acceptance.

He had never thought to hold her close again. With a sigh, he slid into bed beside her and drew her into his arms. She cradled him to her breast as if he were a child, her hand stroking his hair.

There were no bad dreams that night.





Chapter Twenty-Six



Erik sought out Caddaric in the morning. He found the wizard in the tower rooms he had taken for his own.

“We have more comfortable chambers than this,” Erik remarked, glancing around.

Caddaric shrugged. “Surely you must know I can make this as comfortable as I wish.”

Erik nodded. At the moment, the room was furnished with only a large desk made of dark red wood and a matching chair. The white raven perched on the windowsill.

“Have you come to speak of my marriage to your mother?”

“No.”

“It does not displease you, then?”

“I think you will be good for her,” Erik replied. He regarded the wizard a moment. “And that she will be good for you.”

“She told me of her marriage to your father, that it was not a happy one. That he was, on occasion, unkind to her.”

“Unkind? He beat her when he was angry. And when he was young, he was often angry.”

“And yet you vowed to give him an heir.”

“It was his dying wish,” Erik said flatly. “I could not deny him.”

“So, what would you have of me this day?”

“When I am fully a beast, will Charmion still have power over me?”

Caddaric frowned. “I’m not sure I understand your question.”

“You said your magic would not work on me because I was under her power. Will I still be under her power when her spell is accomplished?”

“I cannot say for certain, but I would think that her power would be even stronger once the transformation is complete.”

“Is there nothing you can do to render me invulnerable to her dark magic?”

“Invulnerable?” The wizard stroked his beard, his expression thoughtful. “Why? Do you think she will decide to turn you into a toad?”

“I don’t know. I only know that Kristine and my child will not be safe so long as Charmion lives.”

“Ah.” Understanding sparkled in the wizard’s eyes. “Do you truly think you can destroy her?”

“I don’t know, but I intend to try.”

“It will not be easy. She rarely leaves Cimmerian Crag.”

“I will go to her.”

“And do what?”

“Become her pet, as she intended. I will crawl on my belly, and lick her feet, and do whatever else she asks of me.”

The wizard nodded slowly. “It is a plan so simple, so wise, it may very well work. And yet it is not without risk. Should you fail, her vengeance will most likely be swift and cruel.”

Erik lifted his left hand. “More cruel than this?”

“I shall see if I can conjure a spell that will offer you some measure of protection, but it is doubtful. And even should I find one, there would be no way to prove its effectiveness until you are face-to-face with Charmion, and then it will be too late.”

“It is a risk I am willing to take.”

To the wizard’s credit, he did not try to dissuade him. “I shall protect Kristine and your mother with my life. Do not fear for their safety.”