“Unless, what?” my father said.
“Unless one of your daughters agrees to stay with me,” the beast said.
I ceased my struggles, seeing what the beast meant to do, the sneaky son of a—
“No,” Blye wailed.
“It’s not yet your turn to answer,” the beast snapped harshly. “The eldest speaks first. It’s only right I offer her the opportunity. And, she should be grateful I consider her at all when she’s carrying a bastard child.”
Blye’s sniffles stopped, and she turned to stare at Bryn. We all did. Tears trickled down Bryn’s face, her shame evident. The food hoarding, the moods, and the request for a wagon made sense now. Pity welled up for her, and I glared at the beast.
“Come now. Your turn to answer. I offer you the refuge of the estate in return for your immediate and complete obedience in every command I issue. And your father’s life, of course.”
Bryn sobbed and shook her head. Had my mouth not been full of vine, it would have popped open. How could she not save Father? My eyes fell to her middle. Of course she couldn’t, and Father would never have wanted her to, knowing she carried his grandchild.
“Very well,” the beast growled with little menace. “Good sir, you should consider marrying her to the first offer you can manage before the soon-to-be husband discovers her state.”
Father paled further and would not look at Bryn.
“Now, the next oldest,” the beast said without compassion. “Your father stands to pay the price for trespassing for each of you. As you are aware, he will be thrown from the estate. Once for each of you. How do you suppose he will fair after the second toss? Or third? Do you honestly think there will be much left to throw the fourth time?”
Blye’s mewling cry won her no pity.
“Please grant us mercy,” she sobbed.
“I am by offering you this chance to save your father’s life. Agree to stay with me. You will have the finest silks you can imagine in return for your immediate and complete obedience in every command I issue.”
She wailed and begged for several long minutes before rejecting his offer. Through it all, Father said nothing, his eyes growing more despondent.
“Now,” the beast said. “For the youngest.”
The vines slipped from my mouth as he spoke, and I interrupted him before he could go any further.
“Release me so we may speak face to face. I will not speak my answer to your cursed mist.”
Immediately the vines flew from me, and I fell to the ground. Straightening, I looked at my sisters and Father. They all had fear in their eyes.
“Benella,” my father began. “Do not give up your life for—”
A vine slithered up from his chest to muffle his words.
Bracing myself for a confrontation, I walked straight into the mist and stopped when I felt a tug on my hair. My stomach gave an odd flip.
“What is your answer?” he rumbled softly as his fingers worked the braid free.
The heavy mist surrounding us muffled all sound, no doubt to keep my family from hearing. Though it also hid the beast from my view, I recalled every fang and claw in detail.
“Your terms are a bit steep for what you are gaining, and I would like to propose three revisions,” I said bravely.
“How can they be steep?” he asked. “You gain your father’s life.”
“Do I? How do I know? That is my first provision. I must be allowed one day every week to leave the estate. If I’m not allowed to see Father, it will be just as if he had died.”
The beast grunted in response. I felt him lean in to breathe the scented oil still clinging to my hair.
“What is your next provision?”
“I will ignore any command for my silence.”
He didn’t deny my provision.
“And the final?” he asked, instead.
“You may not touch me without permission.”
His growl started low and grew in fury.
“Unacceptable,” he roared. He fisted my hair and carefully pulled me against him so the fur from his jaw abraded my ear. “Why even keep you, then?”
I licked my lips.
“That’s something I have been asking myself for many weeks. You’ve asked me so many times and offered so many things. Each time, I’ve said no. If you can’t accept my terms, you will kill my father, I’m sure. Your temper will see to that. But you will lose any future chance of coercing an agreement from me. That I promise you.”
He grew completely silent. I held still, waiting for his reply. Faintly, I heard Blye’s continued sobs though Bryn tried to hush her, no doubt trying to hear what we said.
“A year,” he growled. “I will accept your provisions for a year.”