How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)

“I have to.” Luciana held a letter over the flame, then tossed the burning note into the fireplace.

“My poor Alberto,” Tatiana whispered. “How will he live without me?”

Luciana picked up another note, then hesitated when she saw a tear roll down her sister’s cheek. “I’m sorry. I can’t afford to make the Beast angry. He could kill Father. With that huge army, he could even destroy Vindemar.”

“Fine!” Tatiana waved a hand in the air. “Burn them! It doesn’t matter. Alberto’s love for me will never die.”

“That’s good.” Luciana lit the rest of the notes and tossed them into the fireplace.

There was a knock on the door, then Gabriella walked in with a tray of food. As Luciana returned the candlestick to the table, she noticed her guard was back at the door. And Tatiana had disappeared.

Her maid set the tray on the table, then drew a note from her pocket. “A letter from His Grace. I’ll be back for the tray in a little while.”

“Thank you.” As the maid left, Luciana broke the wax seal with her father’s insignia and unfolded the letter.

My beloved daughter, the note began, and Luciana smiled at the way her father avoided calling her by the wrong name.

I will be conferring with General Harden for the next few hours. There will be a banquet tonight and a celebratory mass tomorrow morning that you will need to attend. Please be sure to go to confession today.

All my love, Father.

Luciana sighed, then read the note again. Who was this General Harden? Captain Harden’s father, perhaps? Whoever he was, she would probably meet him at the banquet.

The thought of going to confession made her groan. So far, she’d avoided having anything to do with the priests who worshipped the Light. As she ate her soup, she recalled the lines her father had taught her to say. And his warning that she not confess anything serious.

With a sigh, she rose to her feet. There was no point in putting this off. She strode to the door of her bedchamber and found her guard standing outside.

“I’m going to the chapel,” she informed him.

He bowed. “I will accompany you, my lady.”

She started down the hall and wondered again what had happened to her new friend, Pirate. She slanted a look at her guard. If he was going to be her shadow, she might as well be friendly with him. “What is your name?”

He blushed. “Jensen, my lady.”

“Thank you for watching over me.”

They started down the stairs, but when they reached the landing, she spotted Captain Bougaire coming up the stairs.

He glared at her, then said, “Jensen, go have your meal. I’ll take over.”

“Aye, Captain.” Jensen dashed down the stairs and out the door.

Luciana started down the stairs, intending to ignore the captain, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her across the landing into a corner.

She gasped. “What are you doing?”

“What have you been doing?” he snarled. “Why aren’t you answering my letters?”

Luciana pulled her arm from his grip. This was the man her sister loved? Alberto’s dark eyes were angry, and his lips curled in a way that made her shudder. She jumped when he slammed his hands on the wall on either side of her.

“I’ve written to you four times,” he growled. “Twice I asked you to meet me in our secret place, and twice you left me there waiting.”

She steeled her nerves and looked him in the eye. “It is not safe for us to meet. My betrothed has arrived—”

“No, he hasn’t. He was delayed a few days.”

“What?” Luciana’s head spun. “The man who greeted my father is not my betrothed?”

“That was General Harden.” Alberto chuckled. “You thought you’d have to marry that old man?”

Luciana let out a deep breath. Oh, thank the goddesses!

Alberto suddenly grasped her by the shoulders. “The Beast will be here in a few days. We have to elope!”

She gasped. “Unhand me self. Someone could see—”

“Tomorrow night!” His grip tightened. “Meet me—”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“What?” His fingers dug painfully into her skin. “Don’t back out on me now. I love you. You know that.”

She gritted her teeth. “I am betrothed to another.”

“You love me! You—Ack!” His face contorted with pain, and he jumped back, releasing her.

Pirate growled, his jaws clamped onto Alberto’s leg.

“Get off me!” Alberto yelled.

Luciana slipped by them. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

“What?” Alberto shook his leg, but Pirate held on.

“It’s over!” Luciana ran down the stairs, out the door, and into the courtyard.

She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. The man had unnerved her to the point that her accent had slipped. Thankfully, he hadn’t seemed to notice.

With a shudder, she started toward the western gate. She would probably have bruises on her arms. What had Tatiana seen in that man?

In front of the chapel, she heard a bark behind her. She turned to find Pirate loping toward her.

With a laugh, she knelt down and held out her arms. “My hero!” When he trotted up to her, she gave him a hug, then rubbed his ears. “Good boy. Thank you.”

Pirate sat in front of her, grinning.

“Poor thing.” She cupped his sweet face in her hands. “I bet that ugly oaf tasted awful.” When Pirate whimpered, she laughed and gave him another hug. “Now you wait out here. I have to go inside for confession.”

He gave her a forlorn look.

“I know.” She eyed the chapel. “I’d rather stay out here with you, but this is something I have to do.”

She opened the door and stepped inside. The entrance was dark with stone walls and a smooth stone floor. Candles flickered on a wide table, surrounded by vases filled with sunflowers. The scent of roses hovered in the cool air.