Is he…is he dead?
I swallowed hard. I don’t know. He just collapsed.
Well he’ll die if he remains there in the snow for long enough.
Her words jolted me into action, and I slid down from Chestnut’s back. Slowly I picked my way toward the Beast, trying to avoid fallen bodies and splashes of red. The stallion snorted behind me, and Chestnut huffed quietly in response.
Sophie, wait. Lily’s soft projection made me pause. I could tell she had more to say, so I waited silently. If…if he dies, you’ll be free. And maybe Palinar with you.
We don’t know that. But I bit my lip, a shiver coursing through me. Free. Free to return home, no longer cut off and alone. My eyes strayed back to his still form, stark against the white snow. I could get back on Chestnut and lead the stallion back to the castle. I could walk away now, and no one but Lily would ever know. If I took his carriage, I could be back in Marin within three days.
He hadn’t shown any consideration when he pulled me from my life; I owed him nothing. But still I hesitated. Because the scattered bodies of the wolves told me otherwise. An image of him, standing on the rearing stallion’s back as he launched himself at the attacking wolf, filled my mind. He had not hesitated for me.
I drew a deep breath. I can’t do that, Lily.
He’s a monster, Sophie. You were there with me in the Tourney. And just look at his face now.
I sighed and projected again the mental image of the forest around me. He may be a monster, but he also saved me. And you can only see the shape of his jaw, not his eyes. My projection dropped to a whisper. They’re so human, Lily.
I could tell she had started crying again. But you could come home to me, right now.
You know I couldn’t, not really. I would never be able to live with myself. And neither would you, if you were here. A realization hit me. For the first time in my life I was having experiences my twin was not a part of and could not understand. I would have to trust in my own judgment. I have to try to help him.
She sighed softly. You were always a better person than me, Sophie.
I shook my head. Not better, Lily. Just different.
Well, you know I’m here for you, no matter what you decide.
I know. But, right now, I’m the one who needs to give help, not receive it. I can do this, Lily. All of it. Only I don’t think I can risk coming out to talk to you again. Not until I’ve found a way to break the curse.
I understand. I love you, Sophie.
I love you, too.
For some reason, when the connection faded, I didn’t feel the same sense of being alone and adrift that I had felt when I first arrived at the Beast’s castle and discovered myself cut off from Lily. I straightened my shoulders and hurried over to drop to my knees beside the Beast.
I tried to put an arm under his shoulders, but couldn’t even reach all the way across, let alone lift them. I bit my lip.
“Wake up, Beas…” I stopped myself and tried again. “Wake up, Dominic. You’ll freeze if you lie here in the snow, but I cannot possibly lift you.”
He stirred, his eyes fluttering partially open before closing again.
I tried more forcefully. “Wake up! Now!”
His eyes snapped open. Sophie. Wonder sounded in his mental voice, but I didn’t stop to analyze the situation.
“I need you to get up. Can you do that?”
He groaned and tried to rise before falling back into the snow. I looked at the height of his mount’s back and realized there was no way he was getting up there. I frowned, wondering if it would take too long for me to go and fetch help. What if more wolves came while I was gone? Or a new snowstorm? What if I couldn’t find my way back?
I crossed over to the stallion who snorted and danced but, when I crooned softly, let me approach. I found a coil of rope attached to his saddle. Working as swiftly as I could, I led the horse over to his master and then looped the rope under the Beast’s arms. I attached the other end to the Stallion’s saddle, apologizing to the Beast as I did so.
“I’m sorry, but it’s the only way. The snow will cushion you, and your cloak will protect you a little. But I need to get you inside to the warmth.”
He groaned again but made no protest, so I hurried ahead with my plan. Walking in the front, leading both horses, I attempted to pick the smoothest course through the trees, avoiding any rocks that broke through the snow. I kept glancing at the dark shape dragging behind us and wincing. I would never have attempted such a plan if I could think of any other option.
It seemed an interminably long journey, far longer than seemed possible given my short trip away from the castle. When I caught sight of the gardens in the distance, my knees wobbled, and I had to force a final burst of strength into them. As I closed the distance, I remembered the only other time I had tried to leave the grounds. Only now did I realize the motivation behind the Beast’s actions in spooking Chestnut. Not that he had needed to be so imperious in his note forbidding me to leave. A little explanation would have been appreciated.
When we actually crossed into the grounds, I almost went limp with relief. But the Beast wasn’t safe yet, the cold and blood loss were as great a danger to him at this point as a further attack.
“Help!” I screamed as loudly as I could. “Help!”
Your Highness? The unknown voice sounded confused. Are you hurt in some way? A tiny pause. Why do you have His Highness’ stallion?
“It’s not me who is injured, it’s your prince.” I pointed behind the horses to where he lay on the ground. “He’s been mauled by a wolf. Call for the castle doctor, and gather some others, too—we need to get him inside as quickly as possible.”
The man, whoever he was, launched into action, calling loudly for a great number of people. We were soon joined by a crowd of voices. I stopped trying to pick out the individual words and let myself be swept along, glad to hand over the responsibility to someone more qualified.
The horses pulled away from me, led toward the stables by a lead line that floated, taut, in the air. A particularly loud cacophony preceded the Beast lurching from the ground. I trailed behind him, trying to leave enough of a wide berth that I wouldn’t run into anyone.
Princess! Princess! A familiar voice penetrated through the fog.
“Tara?”
Yes, I’m here. What has happened? There’s the most terrible story going around—oh! From the shocked tone of her exclamation, I assumed she had just seen the state of the Beast. Her voice dropped to a hushed whisper I had to strain to hear. So, it’s true, then. You were both outside the grounds.