Book Release - The Beast and I
Hey, guys. I’m excited to announce that The Beast and I, Vol. 1: The Man Behind the Beast is out next Friday the 23rd of November on Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.Pre-order The Beast and I, Vol. 1: The Man Behind the Beast
The blurb and excerpt are below.Dark. Magical. Powerful. Beastly.Aslan McTavish is the Magical Beast King who rules the Forbidden Forest, one of the nine kingdoms in the Aurora Realm.My name is Lilly, and I have lived in the basement of a manor all my life with my beloved mother, working away like a pair of slaves for the people who live in comfort upstairs. After my mother’s death, I am told that I am to be sacrificed to the magical beast who rules the Forbidden Forest, in return for the village’s protection, wealth, and prosperity.Refusing to resign myself to my fate, I plan to escape, only to be caught again by none other than the beast himself, whose demonic mask and beautiful green eyes both frighten and fascinate me.Now that there is no way out, I beg the beast to spare my life. When he easily agrees, I am pleased, but that is short-lived when he tells me, “I will not kill you, my sweet, but I will have your beautiful body to my every command. I will have your nectar whenever I desire.” It seems that now I am to be his cuddling companion.Thus, begins the story of the Beast and I.The Beast and Iis an alternative retelling of the beloved fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, set in the Aurora Realm, where paranormal creatures reside, magical power and technology go hand in hand, and love is a forever thing.* * *The BeastI was falling backward, and I thought I was going to die at that instant, but then I felt a pair of strong, muscular hands around my waist. Behind me, I felt a body enveloping me, embracing me. All around me was darkness, and the night air was cool on my skin as I kept falling into the abyss. To me, it seemed like forever, and I suddenly wondered if perhaps I was falling deep into the underworld where the devil himself resided.Just when I thought this was going to be endless, I suddenly felt the speed slow. It was as if I were floating now, as if I were being levitated in midair. Then I landed softly on the cool grass beneath me. Just as instantly, the warmth of a body and the arms around my waist disappeared, and replacing those were emptiness and cold air.I shivered and wanted the heat back. I wanted to be hugged and bask in the warmth of that muscular body which had felt so welcoming and comforting, like I had been embraced in Mother’s arms during the night.Feeling abandoned, I sat up, my heart starting to race as I darted my gaze from left to right, and then behind me, wondering where I was. Surely, I was in the Forbidden Forest, the home of the magical beast? Surely, I wasn’t in hell where the devil resided?I clutched the flimsy material of my garment about my middle, my body shivering from both the cold and fear.“Hello?” I managed to squeak out into the endless darkness that surrounded me. “Anyone here? Hello?”My own voice echoed back at me, which was followed by a complete and utter silence, which scared the living daylights out of me.I waited as I inhaled and exhaled deeply, my heart pounding fast and furious in my chest, and my body shaking like a leaf in the storm.“Hello?” I raised my voice this time, though it was very shaky. When there was no reply, I assumed no one was around, and I started walking.God, I had no idea which way I was going nor did I know what was in front of me, but I kept going, nonetheless.It wasn’t long before I saw the glittering of lights, like tiny dots of stars, a little distance in front of me. Feeling like there was hope, I started running toward it, and as I got closer, I realized that it was the aurora barrier separating this world from the village.Or was it the village on the other side?I didn’t know and I didn’t care, just as long as I could get myself out of this side and away from the beast that was expecting me.I started running, my bare feet cold on the grass and dirt. Oh, God, yes, I was getting closer. Soon, I’d be saved. Soon, I’d be able to escape, not only from the harsh treatment of the village people and its leader, my blood-relatives, but from the beast as well. Soon, I’d be free.My heart soared with a renewed sense of hope, and for the first time in a very long time, I smiled.In a few more steps, I’d reach the aurora barrier. In a few more steps, I’d reach my new world, my new life.But then…Then the sound of a deeply timbred voice came, echoing all around me. His chuckle of amusement made my body shiver in trepidation, and I found myself collapsing onto my knees right there on the dirty ground, with the barrier mere inches from me.Suddenly, I felt a strong, powerful presence behind me, getting closer. I couldn’t hear his footsteps, but I just knew he was right there, inches from me, watching me with his monster-like eyes.I felt so much fear within me that I was petrified. Oh, God, was he going to eat me now?“Hmm… What have we here? It seems my prize is trying to run away?”His voice echoed around me like some magical force that paralyzed me in my spot. He chuckled in amusement, as if he found my dire situation entertaining. “That won’t do.”Suddenly, I felt the wind swoosh around me. I held my breath as I felt his hand touching the strands of my hair.“Hmm? Silver?”I shut my eyes and prayed for courage. I knew I had to act fast if I didn’t want to be killed. Eaten.When I opened my eyes again, the beast was edging ever closer to me, my hair still in his hand. Then I acted. I leaped up and started running like the devil was chasing after me. Indeed, a beast was chasing after me.Despite the lack of sounds of his footsteps, I felt the movement of his powerful being behind me, and the echoing of his deep voice that seemed to be teasing me. He was chuckling again, his voice getting louder behind me, which told me that he was getting closer.Blindly I ran, my feet fast and light. God, I had no idea where I was going but I knew I had to escape this beast’s claws if I wanted to survive. If I wanted to live.I sprinted past bushes and trees, with only the moon and aurora light above me as guidance. I even did a twist and turn route to confuse him, but this only seemed to amuse him even more.Suddenly I tripped, and found myself tumbling, and then I fell.I. Just. Fell.Down the cliff—I knew I was going to die.How stupid could I get? I was falling down a cliff while trying to escape a beast. Perhaps it was meant to be that I was supposed to die tonight? If it wasn’t due to a beast eating me, then it would be falling down a cliff.As I fell, I screamed until I couldn’t scream anymore, until my voice died by itself. As tears burned in my eyes, I thought that at least now I would get to see Mother up in heaven.And then whop! A manly body caught me, his powerful arms around my small waist as he pulled me against him.God, I could feel the strength of him and his muscular body against me as I stared at this masked man before me.Instead of falling, I was floating up toward the sky, the male embracing me. As we got higher, the light from both the moon and the aurora was brighter, shining on us, on this person in front of me.I could only stare at him, both in fear and fascination. I noted that he had dark hair, and he was wearing a demonic mask that frightened me to my bones. And yet…Yet, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I decided then that it was his eyes, the color of a leaf I had seen in summer, that fascinated me, that held me mesmerized. Those eyes, they glinted and shone with amusement as they gazed at me.When I realized that I was so high up and that I might fall if he were to let me go, I hastily wrapped my arms around his neck, which only incited another chuckle of amusement from him.His skin beneath my touch was firm, toned, and warm, which suddenly made me feel self-conscious.Was he themagical beast of the Forbidden Forest? I wondered. The one I was supposed to be sacrificed to? But he had human form, and was certainly not ghastly terrifying, with a beastly wolf-body as I had imagined him to be. The villagers must be wrong, then? I mean, he looked just like any normal man. Well, except for that mask. The villagers certainly had that right. The word grotesquedidn’t even begin to describe the thing. Most would surely be terrified at seeing such a bloodcurdling mask of a face.I had to admit also, that he wasn’t just like any normal man. Yes, physically, he was big and very masculine, with strong arms and body, but deep within his being there was this powerful aura, like a sort of magic, that I could sense. I had no idea how I could have felt or known this, but I did.I licked my lower lip, my eyes still fixed on his demonic mask. I finally mustered the courage to speak and asked, “Are you the beast?”His gaze intent on my face, he nodded his head. “Yes, I am. The beast of the Forbidden Forest.”His deep voice made me shiver in an odd way that made my body warm.I swallowed hard at his answer. Then I said, “But you don’t look like a beast. You don’t even have the beastly body you’re supposed to have…like the villagers said.”I thought I heard a chuckle from him, but I could be wrong. I mean, I was rather busy being terrified, especially regarding the beast himself and the height at which we were currently at. We were high up in the sky, after all. If we were to fall? God, I just didn’t want to think about it.I tightened my arms around his shoulders and begged, “Please don’t kill me.”I noted that his eyes were still intent on my face. God, I wanted to know what his expression was. Then again, could I even tell what his expression was if he were to take off his mask? He was a beast, after all, and surely, a beast had no emotion? Let alone expression. But what about that amused tone? The amused laughter I had heard earlier?He released one arm from my waist and I panicked, gasping in fright. I tightened my arms around his neck again so that I wouldn’t fall.Suddenly, he touched my small chin with his free hand and tilted my face toward the light. He seemed to be staring at me for a while, and once again, I wanted to know what his expression was. More importantly, I wanted to know what his thoughts were.Was he now deciding how best to eat me? Was that why he was scrutinizing me so intensely?God, I didn’t want to be killed, and I swallowed hard at the very thought of my death. I pleaded again, my voice shaking in trepidation, “Please don’t kill me; I beg you. Spare my life.”He leaned his face toward me then, and asked, “Do you wish to live?”I nodded furiously. “Yes. Yes, I do wish to live. Will you spare my life?”He leaned his face even closer now and my heart pounded even harder in my chest. Suddenly, I was aware that his thumb was on my lip, pressing hard against it, rubbing it. I blinked, wondering what he was doing. Why was he touching my lips like that?Though it was quite painful with the way he applied pressure on my lips and poked his finger into my mouth, I held back the whimper and groan that was desperate to come out.“Very well,” he said at last, releasing my lips and mouth. “I will spare your life.”His wonderful words sang all around me like the warmth of the sunshine, and I smiled gratefully at him. Happy tears of joy welled in my eyes as I nodded my head. I couldn’t believe it. The beast was letting me go. He wasn’t going to kill me. He wasn’t going to eat me.“Thank you so much, my lord beast,” I said. “I…I don’t know how to thank you.”I was so happy that my mind started wandering off, thinking of my freedom, of the things that I didn’t have to do anymore, but more so of the things that I could do and accomplish. I could travel to another village or town, or even city and kingdom. I could meet new people and find work that didn’t require me to be locked up in a basement. I could do so many things.“However,” he said, which drew my attention to him again. “You are an offer made to me. I am a magical beast, sweetheart.”I blinked. Did the beast just refer to me as “sweetheart”? Only my mother called me that. Only she and no one else, so why was this beast calling me that?He continued, “I will not kill you, my sweet, but I will have your beautiful body at my every command. I will have your nectar whenever I desire.”I blinked again. He will have my body at his every command?What did that mean? Did he wish me to work for him?I didn’t know and I wanted it clarified for me. I licked my lips nervously and asked, “Will you lock me up in the basement?”He seemed amused at my question. “Basement?” he queried. Then he shook his head. “Not basement. Bedchamber, which is very tempting, but I will only do so if you agree to it,” he said.I sighed a breath of relief. “Then I do not agree to it. I do not like basements and I do not like being locked up.”“Very well, then,” he said. “It is unfortunate, but you will not be locked up.”“Will you beat me also?” I couldn’t help asking. “And make me work all day and all night?”“I will not beat you nor will you work, neither day nor night.” He moved his hand and touched my face. “You will do nothing but please me. All you have to do is offer yourself to me when I command you to.”I still didn’t believe him and said, “You really mean that? That I don’t have to work all day and night? That I won’t be locked up?”He simply stared at me and then I heard another chuckle escaping his lips. He must find me very amusing… Or rather, was it my bargaining with him for my freedom?Ignoring his thoughts of me, I was persistent and said, “You cross your heart and swear it on your life for that?”He seemed to be thinking for a moment as he was eyeing me. Or rather, he was staring at my lips. God, but I felt conscious of it.Finally, he nodded. “I swear on my life that I will not do anything you don’t agree to.”Only then did I sigh in relief and smile gratefully. I said, “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”I shut my eyes, thinking how fortunate this had turned out for me. Truly, I had thought that I’d die at this very moment by the hands of the beast, but who would have guessed that I was bargaining for my life, instead?I wouldn’t be locked up like I used to be, nor would I have to work all day and night. All I had to do was to offer myself to this beast when he commanded it…My eyes fluttered opened. Wait.I still didn’t understand what he meant, particularly that last part.I was about to ask when he said, “Will you offer yourself to me now?”I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. Why was I being hesitant? Hadn’t I just agreed to him that I would obey him and offer myself to him, moments ago?“You must understand that I have been waiting for a long time for someone like you to come along, sweetheart.” He sounded amused when he continued, “This is the first time in a thousand years that they offered me something this enticing, and dare I say that I can’t control myself much longer.”Lord, but I was even more confused with his words.“Now, darling, I wish to taste your nectar,” he said in a more urgent tone that both warmed my blood and scared me at the same time.His tone implied to me that he was desperate, like I was desperate to be free. And certainly, I knew how that felt.This beast wasn’t going to kill me. He wasn’t going to lock me up. And he wasn’t going to let me work all day and night until I was exhausted and fell sick like my mother, and I was thankful for that.Wanting to show my appreciation and share my gratitude, I nodded my head and said, “Yes, but—”I was cut short from finishing my query as we suddenly started falling. I hastily tightened my arms around his neck as I buried my face against his muscular chest. The strong gust of wind whooshed upward against us as we fell, my hair fluttering about in the air.Suddenly, he moved me in his arms and I was being carried. Then we flew and I found that we flicked in and out of places. I knew it was magic for sure, as we seemed to be skipping time and space itself, with bright lights and stars blazing around us.* * *Pre-Order The Beast and I
The blurb and excerpt are below.Dark. Magical. Powerful. Beastly.Aslan McTavish is the Magical Beast King who rules the Forbidden Forest, one of the nine kingdoms in the Aurora Realm.My name is Lilly, and I have lived in the basement of a manor all my life with my beloved mother, working away like a pair of slaves for the people who live in comfort upstairs. After my mother’s death, I am told that I am to be sacrificed to the magical beast who rules the Forbidden Forest, in return for the village’s protection, wealth, and prosperity.Refusing to resign myself to my fate, I plan to escape, only to be caught again by none other than the beast himself, whose demonic mask and beautiful green eyes both frighten and fascinate me.Now that there is no way out, I beg the beast to spare my life. When he easily agrees, I am pleased, but that is short-lived when he tells me, “I will not kill you, my sweet, but I will have your beautiful body to my every command. I will have your nectar whenever I desire.” It seems that now I am to be his cuddling companion.Thus, begins the story of the Beast and I.The Beast and Iis an alternative retelling of the beloved fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, set in the Aurora Realm, where paranormal creatures reside, magical power and technology go hand in hand, and love is a forever thing.* * *The BeastI was falling backward, and I thought I was going to die at that instant, but then I felt a pair of strong, muscular hands around my waist. Behind me, I felt a body enveloping me, embracing me. All around me was darkness, and the night air was cool on my skin as I kept falling into the abyss. To me, it seemed like forever, and I suddenly wondered if perhaps I was falling deep into the underworld where the devil himself resided.Just when I thought this was going to be endless, I suddenly felt the speed slow. It was as if I were floating now, as if I were being levitated in midair. Then I landed softly on the cool grass beneath me. Just as instantly, the warmth of a body and the arms around my waist disappeared, and replacing those were emptiness and cold air.I shivered and wanted the heat back. I wanted to be hugged and bask in the warmth of that muscular body which had felt so welcoming and comforting, like I had been embraced in Mother’s arms during the night.Feeling abandoned, I sat up, my heart starting to race as I darted my gaze from left to right, and then behind me, wondering where I was. Surely, I was in the Forbidden Forest, the home of the magical beast? Surely, I wasn’t in hell where the devil resided?I clutched the flimsy material of my garment about my middle, my body shivering from both the cold and fear.“Hello?” I managed to squeak out into the endless darkness that surrounded me. “Anyone here? Hello?”My own voice echoed back at me, which was followed by a complete and utter silence, which scared the living daylights out of me.I waited as I inhaled and exhaled deeply, my heart pounding fast and furious in my chest, and my body shaking like a leaf in the storm.“Hello?” I raised my voice this time, though it was very shaky. When there was no reply, I assumed no one was around, and I started walking.God, I had no idea which way I was going nor did I know what was in front of me, but I kept going, nonetheless.It wasn’t long before I saw the glittering of lights, like tiny dots of stars, a little distance in front of me. Feeling like there was hope, I started running toward it, and as I got closer, I realized that it was the aurora barrier separating this world from the village.Or was it the village on the other side?I didn’t know and I didn’t care, just as long as I could get myself out of this side and away from the beast that was expecting me.I started running, my bare feet cold on the grass and dirt. Oh, God, yes, I was getting closer. Soon, I’d be saved. Soon, I’d be able to escape, not only from the harsh treatment of the village people and its leader, my blood-relatives, but from the beast as well. Soon, I’d be free.My heart soared with a renewed sense of hope, and for the first time in a very long time, I smiled.In a few more steps, I’d reach the aurora barrier. In a few more steps, I’d reach my new world, my new life.But then…Then the sound of a deeply timbred voice came, echoing all around me. His chuckle of amusement made my body shiver in trepidation, and I found myself collapsing onto my knees right there on the dirty ground, with the barrier mere inches from me.Suddenly, I felt a strong, powerful presence behind me, getting closer. I couldn’t hear his footsteps, but I just knew he was right there, inches from me, watching me with his monster-like eyes.I felt so much fear within me that I was petrified. Oh, God, was he going to eat me now?“Hmm… What have we here? It seems my prize is trying to run away?”His voice echoed around me like some magical force that paralyzed me in my spot. He chuckled in amusement, as if he found my dire situation entertaining. “That won’t do.”Suddenly, I felt the wind swoosh around me. I held my breath as I felt his hand touching the strands of my hair.“Hmm? Silver?”I shut my eyes and prayed for courage. I knew I had to act fast if I didn’t want to be killed. Eaten.When I opened my eyes again, the beast was edging ever closer to me, my hair still in his hand. Then I acted. I leaped up and started running like the devil was chasing after me. Indeed, a beast was chasing after me.Despite the lack of sounds of his footsteps, I felt the movement of his powerful being behind me, and the echoing of his deep voice that seemed to be teasing me. He was chuckling again, his voice getting louder behind me, which told me that he was getting closer.Blindly I ran, my feet fast and light. God, I had no idea where I was going but I knew I had to escape this beast’s claws if I wanted to survive. If I wanted to live.I sprinted past bushes and trees, with only the moon and aurora light above me as guidance. I even did a twist and turn route to confuse him, but this only seemed to amuse him even more.Suddenly I tripped, and found myself tumbling, and then I fell.I. Just. Fell.Down the cliff—I knew I was going to die.How stupid could I get? I was falling down a cliff while trying to escape a beast. Perhaps it was meant to be that I was supposed to die tonight? If it wasn’t due to a beast eating me, then it would be falling down a cliff.As I fell, I screamed until I couldn’t scream anymore, until my voice died by itself. As tears burned in my eyes, I thought that at least now I would get to see Mother up in heaven.And then whop! A manly body caught me, his powerful arms around my small waist as he pulled me against him.God, I could feel the strength of him and his muscular body against me as I stared at this masked man before me.Instead of falling, I was floating up toward the sky, the male embracing me. As we got higher, the light from both the moon and the aurora was brighter, shining on us, on this person in front of me.I could only stare at him, both in fear and fascination. I noted that he had dark hair, and he was wearing a demonic mask that frightened me to my bones. And yet…Yet, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I decided then that it was his eyes, the color of a leaf I had seen in summer, that fascinated me, that held me mesmerized. Those eyes, they glinted and shone with amusement as they gazed at me.When I realized that I was so high up and that I might fall if he were to let me go, I hastily wrapped my arms around his neck, which only incited another chuckle of amusement from him.His skin beneath my touch was firm, toned, and warm, which suddenly made me feel self-conscious.Was he themagical beast of the Forbidden Forest? I wondered. The one I was supposed to be sacrificed to? But he had human form, and was certainly not ghastly terrifying, with a beastly wolf-body as I had imagined him to be. The villagers must be wrong, then? I mean, he looked just like any normal man. Well, except for that mask. The villagers certainly had that right. The word grotesquedidn’t even begin to describe the thing. Most would surely be terrified at seeing such a bloodcurdling mask of a face.I had to admit also, that he wasn’t just like any normal man. Yes, physically, he was big and very masculine, with strong arms and body, but deep within his being there was this powerful aura, like a sort of magic, that I could sense. I had no idea how I could have felt or known this, but I did.I licked my lower lip, my eyes still fixed on his demonic mask. I finally mustered the courage to speak and asked, “Are you the beast?”His gaze intent on my face, he nodded his head. “Yes, I am. The beast of the Forbidden Forest.”His deep voice made me shiver in an odd way that made my body warm.I swallowed hard at his answer. Then I said, “But you don’t look like a beast. You don’t even have the beastly body you’re supposed to have…like the villagers said.”I thought I heard a chuckle from him, but I could be wrong. I mean, I was rather busy being terrified, especially regarding the beast himself and the height at which we were currently at. We were high up in the sky, after all. If we were to fall? God, I just didn’t want to think about it.I tightened my arms around his shoulders and begged, “Please don’t kill me.”I noted that his eyes were still intent on my face. God, I wanted to know what his expression was. Then again, could I even tell what his expression was if he were to take off his mask? He was a beast, after all, and surely, a beast had no emotion? Let alone expression. But what about that amused tone? The amused laughter I had heard earlier?He released one arm from my waist and I panicked, gasping in fright. I tightened my arms around his neck again so that I wouldn’t fall.Suddenly, he touched my small chin with his free hand and tilted my face toward the light. He seemed to be staring at me for a while, and once again, I wanted to know what his expression was. More importantly, I wanted to know what his thoughts were.Was he now deciding how best to eat me? Was that why he was scrutinizing me so intensely?God, I didn’t want to be killed, and I swallowed hard at the very thought of my death. I pleaded again, my voice shaking in trepidation, “Please don’t kill me; I beg you. Spare my life.”He leaned his face toward me then, and asked, “Do you wish to live?”I nodded furiously. “Yes. Yes, I do wish to live. Will you spare my life?”He leaned his face even closer now and my heart pounded even harder in my chest. Suddenly, I was aware that his thumb was on my lip, pressing hard against it, rubbing it. I blinked, wondering what he was doing. Why was he touching my lips like that?Though it was quite painful with the way he applied pressure on my lips and poked his finger into my mouth, I held back the whimper and groan that was desperate to come out.“Very well,” he said at last, releasing my lips and mouth. “I will spare your life.”His wonderful words sang all around me like the warmth of the sunshine, and I smiled gratefully at him. Happy tears of joy welled in my eyes as I nodded my head. I couldn’t believe it. The beast was letting me go. He wasn’t going to kill me. He wasn’t going to eat me.“Thank you so much, my lord beast,” I said. “I…I don’t know how to thank you.”I was so happy that my mind started wandering off, thinking of my freedom, of the things that I didn’t have to do anymore, but more so of the things that I could do and accomplish. I could travel to another village or town, or even city and kingdom. I could meet new people and find work that didn’t require me to be locked up in a basement. I could do so many things.“However,” he said, which drew my attention to him again. “You are an offer made to me. I am a magical beast, sweetheart.”I blinked. Did the beast just refer to me as “sweetheart”? Only my mother called me that. Only she and no one else, so why was this beast calling me that?He continued, “I will not kill you, my sweet, but I will have your beautiful body at my every command. I will have your nectar whenever I desire.”I blinked again. He will have my body at his every command?What did that mean? Did he wish me to work for him?I didn’t know and I wanted it clarified for me. I licked my lips nervously and asked, “Will you lock me up in the basement?”He seemed amused at my question. “Basement?” he queried. Then he shook his head. “Not basement. Bedchamber, which is very tempting, but I will only do so if you agree to it,” he said.I sighed a breath of relief. “Then I do not agree to it. I do not like basements and I do not like being locked up.”“Very well, then,” he said. “It is unfortunate, but you will not be locked up.”“Will you beat me also?” I couldn’t help asking. “And make me work all day and all night?”“I will not beat you nor will you work, neither day nor night.” He moved his hand and touched my face. “You will do nothing but please me. All you have to do is offer yourself to me when I command you to.”I still didn’t believe him and said, “You really mean that? That I don’t have to work all day and night? That I won’t be locked up?”He simply stared at me and then I heard another chuckle escaping his lips. He must find me very amusing… Or rather, was it my bargaining with him for my freedom?Ignoring his thoughts of me, I was persistent and said, “You cross your heart and swear it on your life for that?”He seemed to be thinking for a moment as he was eyeing me. Or rather, he was staring at my lips. God, but I felt conscious of it.Finally, he nodded. “I swear on my life that I will not do anything you don’t agree to.”Only then did I sigh in relief and smile gratefully. I said, “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”I shut my eyes, thinking how fortunate this had turned out for me. Truly, I had thought that I’d die at this very moment by the hands of the beast, but who would have guessed that I was bargaining for my life, instead?I wouldn’t be locked up like I used to be, nor would I have to work all day and night. All I had to do was to offer myself to this beast when he commanded it…My eyes fluttered opened. Wait.I still didn’t understand what he meant, particularly that last part.I was about to ask when he said, “Will you offer yourself to me now?”I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. Why was I being hesitant? Hadn’t I just agreed to him that I would obey him and offer myself to him, moments ago?“You must understand that I have been waiting for a long time for someone like you to come along, sweetheart.” He sounded amused when he continued, “This is the first time in a thousand years that they offered me something this enticing, and dare I say that I can’t control myself much longer.”Lord, but I was even more confused with his words.“Now, darling, I wish to taste your nectar,” he said in a more urgent tone that both warmed my blood and scared me at the same time.His tone implied to me that he was desperate, like I was desperate to be free. And certainly, I knew how that felt.This beast wasn’t going to kill me. He wasn’t going to lock me up. And he wasn’t going to let me work all day and night until I was exhausted and fell sick like my mother, and I was thankful for that.Wanting to show my appreciation and share my gratitude, I nodded my head and said, “Yes, but—”I was cut short from finishing my query as we suddenly started falling. I hastily tightened my arms around his neck as I buried my face against his muscular chest. The strong gust of wind whooshed upward against us as we fell, my hair fluttering about in the air.Suddenly, he moved me in his arms and I was being carried. Then we flew and I found that we flicked in and out of places. I knew it was magic for sure, as we seemed to be skipping time and space itself, with bright lights and stars blazing around us.* * *Pre-Order The Beast and I
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