Depravity, A Beauty and the Beast Novel(45)

A few minutes later, we stepped into the kitchen.

“There is a tray on the block for you. Will you read more to me after you eat?” he asked impatiently.

“Yes,” I whispered, trying to emulate the sisters to help calm him.

“Then, I will return shortly,” he said, anger clipping his words.

“Wait,” I called before the mist left. “I would rather eat in the library if you don’t mind.”

I’d noticed the number of books that lined the walls of the library when I’d raced to grab a book earlier. I wanted a chance to explore that space.

“Of course.” The clicking quality was back in his voice.

I carried the tray in one hand while holding his tail in the other. He had barely stepped into the library when his tail tugged from my grasp. As he left, the candle flared to life so I could see. I sighed and set the tray down.

Curiously, I peeked out the window to see if the nymphs had resumed their frolic. To my surprise, the male remained frozen in the same position. The female sat at his feet, idly touching his root, which no longer stood out stiffly. I felt pity for her. Obviously, the interruption to their play had upset her partner.

As before, a black mist roiled in from the left, catching my attention. The female nymph stood slowly with a lingering sad touch on her partner before backing away a few steps. She didn’t look as eager this time as she bent forward.

The mist rolled over her. In its depths, I discerned the shadow of the beast as he reared back on his hind legs. He braced his hands on her back and thrust forward into the nymph. He drove into her tirelessly, and I wondered how she stayed upright, until I noticed her feet rooted into the ground.

Troubled, I let the curtain fall. The enchantments on this place were a puzzle to me, often not appearing to adhere to any rules, such as the food that grew outside the wall. Now, I wondered if there were rules to the creatures here. Why hadn’t the female nymph solidified into a tree to escape the beast? She hadn’t appeared to want the beast’s attention this time. Yet, instead of solidifying, she had rooted her feet in order to accommodate him. Why?

While I pondered possible reasons for what I’d witnessed, I went to my food and drink. Before the beast returned, I’d drunk my fill, eaten a bit of cheese, and then stored the rest of it in my bag to share with Father in the morning.

When the beast entered the room, I was exploring a small section of books.

“Continue,” he prompted me softly, again with barely a growl.

I cautiously returned to the lounge, noting from my peripheral that no shadowy mist followed him.

Pent energies, I thought as I began to read. The beast seemed to have a lot of them. I knew the basics of the act I’d seen performed—after all, I’d discovered Bryn doing the same—but some of the finer details I’d yet to puzzle out. For instance, why a woman would want to do that? Obviously, the male enjoyed it. I recalled Sara’s reaction to the baker and Bryn’s noises. Both women made those noises from what I thought came from enjoyment; but afterward, both had been sad.

I read for a while longer before closing the book softly. The beast’s fingers stilled in my hair.

I remained prone on the sofa, quietly thinking. He willingly traded my time for food, and he didn’t seem to care how I spent that time so long as it was in his manor. If he truly wanted it cleaned, he would not have asked for me to read. Likewise, if he wanted to hear another’s voice, he would have asked me to read from the beginning. Everything seemed to be on a whim with him, even his frolic with the nymph. Yet, each time I fulfilled my time obligation, he asked the same question and became agitated when I took my leave.

“Sir, why do you keep asking me to return?”

“That is my concern,” he growled.

“It seems my visits cause you more anger than peace. Perhaps I shouldn’t return,” I said softly.

“No,” he said with a harsh growl before sucking in a great breath. Slowly, the breath eased out. “I apologize for my anger. Return tomorrow, please.”

“Will I clean tomorrow?” I asked tentatively. “I enjoy reading, but would like to earn more food to take home with me.”

“You will leave with food today,” he snarled at me as the mist swirled into the room and extinguished the candle again.

His tail bumped my neck, and I stood with my hand wrapped lightly around it.

I didn’t understand his mercurial temper. Perhaps it was just his nature.

When we arrived in the kitchen, he stormed out the door without a word. On the block, I found a variety of cheeses and bread, which I stuffed into my bag.



The next morning, I waited until Father left before rising from bed. We hadn’t discussed where he worked, yet, or that I’d brought him breakfast twice. I decided I would do the same for him, again, since I hadn’t purchased oats with the coin I’d received in trade for a wheel of hard cheese. I had been given a full high silver. Twice the value of a blunt silver. I’d never held so much at once and honestly didn’t know what to do with it. I’d slept with it tucked into my bindings.