None of us servant children were allowed to play with them, but they used to have a merry enough time together apparently. The prince never minded playing with his sister, even though she was four years younger. My older brother said he sometimes used to spy on them, and the prince always let his sister win when they played games together.
Only they stopped coming after a few years. And then His Highness grew old enough to come alone. As the years passed, he came more and more frequently, and he seemed more and more ill-tempered. She hesitated. I know it is none of my business, but I’ve always felt as if he came here to escape the capital. And whatever it was he wished to escape, it was having a bad influence on him. I’m glad I have never had to live in the capital.
The portrait of Dominic’s father loomed in my mind. I would have attempted to escape such a man, too. I only wished I knew what had happened to Princess Adelaide. I could no longer imagine Dominic would have done anything to harm her.
I wandered over to one of the chairs and sat. The last time I had spoken to my sister, Lily had called Dominic a monster. And I had even agreed with her—mostly. In the weeks since then I had started to question that assumption. But then something would happen to cause him to revert back to his beastly self—like he had the night before.
Each time it happened, I was forcefully reminded of the trials and terrors of the Princess Tourney, a competition shaped by his twisted nature. And of the way he had ordered me here alone, without the least consideration, and proceeded to treat me contemptuously.
And yet then I heard stories like this from the servants, which confirmed the picture of him I had started to build in my mind. A picture of a man who was more prince than monster. But was I fooling myself? What was the truth?
I wished desperately that I had some way to discern his true nature. I would have called my godmother and begged her to tell me, but she had yet to respond to either Lily or me in these lands. Apparently, the brief but earth-shattering appearance of the godmothers in Palinar had not opened a door to their return.
I had come to the conclusion that our godmother had already gifted us in preparation for these adventures, knowing she would not be able to reach us here. But, then, perhaps Lily had been more successful in Marin since I had left. After all, they had defeated the darkness there already, and done so with the assistance of a godmother.
If I could only discover why Dominic had been made into a beast. What evil had he committed to deserve such a fate?
Would you like to continue the tour? Tara’s question interrupted my musings, and I agreed to move on, knowing the answers I needed didn’t lie in my own head.
“What happens to you all when the prince travels to the capital?” I asked them as we made our way through a series of unused guest chambers. “Do most of you travel with him?”
Back to the capital? Tara sounded confused. The prince never travels back to the capital.
“Surely he does not stay here all year round? He must make at least short trips back now that he is the only remaining royal.”
But he cannot.
Tara! Lottie whispered, warningly.
I stopped. “What do you mean he cannot?” Both girls remained silent. “Tell me!”
Lottie sighed. Prince Dominic cannot leave the castle grounds, or he will die. It is part of the enchantment, and why he nearly died after he went out after you.
I leaned against a nearby wall, my head spinning. So that was why his injuries had resulted in such a severe illness, and why it had progressed so strangely. He had not merely responded to the attacking wolves in the heat of the moment. He had left his sanctuary alone to come find me, knowing there was a good chance he would die.
Chapter 20
I returned to my chamber before the evening meal, wanting a bit of space to process my thoughts. I asked the girls to be back in time to help me dress, but when they returned it was with a large tray. Steam drifted off the various plates of food, and my heart sank.
“Don’t tell me I’m free to eat on my own this evening?” I asked, pretending to them and myself that I was glad to eat alone.
His Highness must have been exhausted by his ride, said Lottie, but she sounded uncomfortable. Everyone knew the prince was back to full strength.
I looked away, hiding a flush. It stung a little to have a whole castle full of people witness my rejection. When I had regained my composure, I turned back to them with a smile. “I think I’ll take the opportunity to have an early night. If one of you can unlace me now, you can both take the rest of the evening off.”
But my early bedtime led to a disturbed night of fitful sleep. I kept dreaming I was back in the woods with the wolves and woke up countless times to the sound of howls.
When I got up in the morning, I felt tired and out of sorts. I missed my sister and the rest of my family, and the various activities that had made my life productive at home. And I was sick of invisible people and strange magic…and a beastly man who did nothing but confuse my emotions.
After being abandoned the day before, I had no intention of showing up for our usual garden stroll. But my decision to visit Chestnut led me through the entrance hall only twenty minutes later than our usual meeting time.
To my surprise, the prince waited there, one foot propped up on the stones in front of the fireplace as he stared blindly into the unlit cavity. At my entrance, he started and looked up.
You came. I had almost concluded there was no point waiting any longer.
I bit my lip; I felt too tired for a fight.
He cleared his throat, and I frowned at how uncomfortable he looked. I’m sorry for yesterday. I needed space and a chance to clear my head, but I should not have gone riding without first informing you of my change of plans.
I stared at him, temporarily robbed of words. Had the Beast just…apologized for something?
He grimaced, as if embarrassed by the justice of my shock. I would like to make it up to you, with a surprise of sorts.
“A surprise?”
He held out his arm. I promise it is a pleasant one—or at least I have tried to make it so.
I shook my head, still in shock, but placed my hand on his arm. Today had taken an unexpected turn, and my emotions were scrambling to catch up. As Dominic led us through the castle, he talked casually of his pleasure at riding again and of Spitfire’s excellent condition. Every now and then he glanced at me, concern lurking in his eyes, as if he feared I might take offense at the topic.
I responded as minimally as politeness would allow, trying to work out from our path where he might be taking me. But we seemed to be moving deeper into one of the few parts of the castle I had yet to explore.
Finally, he pulled me to a stop in front of a double wooden door, arched and carved with flowers and woodland animals. I eyed it. What lay behind such a door?