A Light in the Dark (Banish the Dark Book 1)

by Miranda Sapphire

“A difficult thing is no less difficult just because something else might have been more difficult, once.”

Beast was terribly addicted to romance novels, and the raunchier the better.

He yearned to find someone who would prove that they cared for him and wanted to take care of him and would treat his heart like the fragile thing that it was. He wanted true love, soul-deep and powerful. He wanted a best friend who he could lavish with attention and pleasure. He knew he’d have a lot of learning to do, but he would be all too happy to learn, if his partner was fine with teaching.

“I’m only dangerous to people who are cruel to those I care about,” he rumbled, blushing and making her melt.

asked. His eyebrows shot up. “You’re really trying to take charge

He wasn’t sure how he could say that being ripped away from her would be more horrible than any of the two hundred years he’d spent stuck at this manor. That just the idea of never seeing her again made him feel like he was dying.

She sees you, my love. She sees you when no one else has been able to, and I think this is how she is able to help you. Something about her gets around the curse, or perhaps cuts through it. I’m not sure what it is, but she is not gifted, so it cannot be too many things.”

“And I do not think you are weak just because you are not a natural-born protector. Some people are not made to be a shield. Some people are made to be…like a cozy hearth. Warmth, comforting, a place of safety. Claire protected herself, yes? She did not need someone to protect her. She herself is all the shield she needs. But she did need someone to hold her through her tears, and that you did beautifully, my dear.”

“Does this bother you?” she asked, throat tight.

“It’s not a matter of deserving, Beast. I like you. I want you. And I need you to be comfortable.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him against her again. He hesitated for just a moment, then sank into her and tucked his face into her neck, his hot breath tickling her sensitive skin. “Sweet man,” she murmured, “always tell me what you need.” “I’ve never done this before,” he admitted softly.

very long time to think of myself as one way. It’s going to take time for me to change. But I promise I’ll try. I trust you. I…I love you, Claire.”

“Doesn’t matter what you see, you fool,” he spat, forcing his eyes to meet with his reflection’s. It was unexpectedly difficult. “She sees you, and she likes what she sees. So you’ll just have to accept it and try your gods-damned hardest to be the best version of yourself that you can be. You talk to her, you put her first, you treat yourself better so you can give her everything you’ve got.” He swallowed, shocked to find tears prickling in his eyes. “You can’t let the darkness win,” he whispered, his eyes boring into themselves through the glass with an intensity that had him feeling overfull. “She’s decided she wants you, and she deserves the best you’ve got.” And a small part inside him, so deeply tucked away he didn’t recognize it as a part of himself, wanted to shun the darkness for his own sake. It had held him in its jaws for so long, and he was tired of being its victim. The darkness was Beast—on some level, he knew that. And if the darkness came from himself, then surely he could do something to make it less powerful.

need more, Beast,”

hair, her front half curled forward, desperate for more, when

“Easy, I’ve got you. You’re doing so good,” she murmured between

“I want to see you come, Beast,” she murmured, nipping at his earlobe again, “can you do that for me?”

“That’s it baby, come for me. You’re doing so good.”

“I, Claire Odetima, claim the beast of the manor as my love, my fiancé…my mate. You will not sever this sacred bond. He is free from your curse, Naja, and you will release him to me. His punishment is over. He is free,”

“If you’re a good boy and eat and drink something I’ll suck your cock once we’re alone.”