The Beast (15 page)

“Charles never was afraid to speak plainly. So if he intended to retake Vakre Fjell, why hasn’t he arrived at my gates yet?”

“The cursed. Some say he’s biding his time, letting the wolves eat themselves into starvation. Others say he’s just afraid of them.” Belle found a green, metal bench along a frosted window. She pulled out the pearl and gold skirts of her dress to sit. Each day a new gown was brought for her and they were all finer than anything she’d ever worn. “The only thing they seem to agree on is that King Charles would see any country coming to your aid as a threat to what he believes is his by rites. And no one wishes to go to war with Norway and Sweden.”

“Other countries aren’t worried about the potential Hell on Earth threat?” Aleksander fiddled absently with a wall-climbing vine. They were all over this area. Belle felt nearly surrounded by the leafy plants.

“They are. So they make sure the Catholic Church has all the resources it needs to keep the hounds contained.”

“Oh, of course. As long as it doesn’t become a direct threat, there are other things to worry about.” Aleksander nodded, accepting this terrible statement so easily. “What of the public? Do they have an opinion on the matter?”

“A very mixed opinion, actually.” Belle frowned. She didn’t like the path their conversation had taken. Every word she spoke made the world seem so cruel and uncaring. That wasn’t true for everyone—it wasn’t true for her. “Most believe the church, that the Vakreins were sinful and turned by the Devil. Some won’t even admit that they had family or friends living here because they’re afraid that they’ll be marked by it. Many in the scientific communities, however, believe there may be more to it.”

“Really?” Aleksander’s face lit up again, much the way it did when he asked about Henri’s inventions. He sat on the bench opposite her, tugging his vest and straightening his shoulders. “And what have they said about it?”

“Oh, many things…Many theories.” She wanted to keep the conversation here, in a place that lightened the Prince’s mood. “They petitioned the church incessantly in the beginning, but even now they still try to get consent. The church won’t agree though and in this situation, the church has all the power.”

“Consent? For what?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Belle fumbled, realizing she’d left out the most important part. “The church has received requests to autopsy some of the bodies and to capture a live hound for experiments.”

Aleksander sat back abruptly, his brows scrunched with a look of horror on his face. “Please, tell me, the church has denied every single request of that nature.”

Belle gulped down the sinking feeling in her stomach. “Every one.”

“Good.” He pushed off from his seat and walked over to the glass wall to stare out. It was an act Belle was beginning to recognize as something Aleksander did when his mind was troubled. Without turning, he said, “For once, I actually agree with the Catholic Church.”

Chewing her lip, Belle fought the urge to ask, knowing it might upset the Prince, but in the end it just wasn’t in her nature to keep quiet. “Giving consent could mean that the scientists learned something valuable. A cure perhaps.”

“A cure? You saw the norn, albeit through my memory, but tell me that does not convince you that this is beyond the control of man?” Glancing abruptly over his shoulder, his stern glare pinned her, preventing her from doing anything other than blink. “My people have suffered enough.” Sorrow swept into his eyes and he looked away. “I wish for them to rest in peace and I certainly don’t wish for those still living to be experimented on—even as evil as they may be now.”

Belle fidgeted quietly behind Aleksander’s turned back. How could she say those things to him? Twice now, she failed to see the hellhounds the way he did, as his cursed people. She chose instead to see them as everyone else did, as the wild man-killing devils that were presented on the surface. She hurt Aleksander every time she did this and showed herself to be as cruel as Bishop Sauvage. Unable to bear it, Belle pushed herself up and started to walk away.

She stopped unexpectedly and peered back to the Prince. “You must forgive me, your Royal Highness. For years, I’ve lived on the other side of this. We call ourselves Hunters, but we were the hunted ones. It’s hard, even with all I’ve learned, to see them through your eyes.”

“I suppose that’s true for both of us.” He looked at her and she watched as his deep inhale raised his chest. “Is that all of it then? Nothing more I should know about the outside world?”

“There are the raiders.” Belle bit her lip, not wanting to burden him further. Aleksander raised an eyebrow and waited for her to go on. “Every year a group comes along, usually some out-of-work mercenaries. They think your kingdom is ripe for the picking. They’re always arrogant, always certain that they’ll be the ones coming back with the crown jewels. And they always die.” Belle crossed her arms, half grinning as she remembered the last group. “Some raiders came through town recently and caused a bit of a dust up with my Hunters. I convinced them to at least wait until after my father left for Skjebne Port, so as not to endanger his journey any further. Since we haven’t seen them, I can only assume they went the way of all the others.”

Aleksander leaned into his hip, a mischievous smile curving his lips. “Imagine their surprise if they had reached the castle and found it full of armed soldiers.”

Picturing it, Belle giggled along with the Prince. She partially wished they really had been the first mercenaries to reach the castle.

“Oh look,” said Edvina as Laramie stepped through the door. “The Keeper of The Seals has decided to grace us with his presence.”

“How very droll of you, madame.” He frowned at her.

Belle chuckled. Laramie pretended that Edvina’s casual approach to decorum vexed him, but Belle suspected that it didn’t bother him as much as he put on. “We haven’t seen you for a couple days, monsieur. What brings you?”

His attention turned to Belle and his demeanor actually seemed to brighten. The lines of his face tilted upward and his shoulders drew back ever so slightly. The small light in his eyes even danced. “His Royal Highness has extended your castle privileges.”

Now it was Belle’s turn to brighten. She snapped her book shut and stuffed it behind her. “Really? To where?”

He smiled, his lips pressing into a thin line, and eyed her coyly. “The library, mademoiselle.”

Belle gasped and was out of her chair immediately. “The library? Truly?”

Edvina leaned over her chair’s arm, the curve of her bosom squeezing dangerously at the rim of her dress. “Child, all you do is read. Are you really that excited to see
more
books?”

“Oh, Edvina.” She was almost breathless with excitement. “You have no idea.”

“No, I really don’t.” Edvina turned back to her needlework, mumbling something about how that much reading couldn’t possibly be good for the mind.

“I’ll escort you.” Laramie held out his arm, encouraging Belle to come and she didn’t hesitate.

The two guards that continually manned Belle’s room followed a few feet behind as they traversed the very long hall. This time they’re pace was more leisurely and Belle took her time admiring the fine details of the castle. The immense windows allowed plenty of daylight to illuminate everything perfectly, leaving little in shadow.

“Laramie,” Belle said, pulling her eyes from a painting of warring angels. It reminded her of her Hunters. “When will I be permitted to go home?”

“Do you wish to leave?” He glanced curiously at her.

“Admittedly, not as much as one might think,” she said with a shrug. “I’d like to see my father, but I’m also learning a great deal here about the cursed. Some more research and we might find something to help us, maybe even reverse the curse.”

“I’d imagine spending so much time with the Crowned Prince is quite enjoyable as well.” Laramie looked at her through the corner of his eyes, not hiding his smirk.

Heat colored Belle’s cheeks and she smiled with embarrassment. “I do enjoy his company very much. I enjoy all of your company, of course.”

“Of course.” He said nothing more, but irritatingly continued to smile.

Though, if Belle were honest, she more than enjoyed spending time with Aleksander. As the week had gone by, she’d found a great deal of comfort in his presence and took pleasure in discussing their research together. However, after yesterday’s moon dream of the garden, Belle’s thoughts now strayed toward the unseemly. When she was supposed to be researching by the fire, she’d caught herself thinking about his soft smile and open blue eyes. A page later, it was his strong back and the next second had her imagining him with his hair loose and free around his shoulders.

What was coming over her? She’d never thought of Gastone this way. Sure, she’d imagined being married to him; tried to envision what it would be like. But this was more like she’d lost control of her mind—she wanted to focus on reading, but it wanted to think of Aleksander.

“So, you’re the one the castle has been buzzing about,” said a light, feminine voice.

A beautiful, young woman stood just ten paces away. She was tall and thin, dressed in pink satin with white lace trim. Her soft, blond hair was swept up in a complex design that allowed for only a few free tendrils. She was flanked by two guards of her own; they watched Belle with wariness.

Laramie stepped between the two women. “Your ladyship, allow me to introduce you to Mademoiselle Belle LeClair of Glace.” Belle gave her best curtsy, knowing this woman would see every mistake. When she finished, Laramie gestured to her ladyship. “Mademoiselle, this is Lady Liv Calland. Her father is one of the Five Lords of Vakre Fjell.”

“I do say, you’re as pretty as the men have been saying,” Lady Liv said, allowing for no more formality.

“Thank you,” Belle added quickly, not wanting to appear thrown. “You’re a vision as well.”

The Lady waved the compliment away.

“Yes, but you’re new.” She moved closer, ignoring the anxious guards. “Is it true that you kill the cursed?”

Belle pursed her lips at that wording, but judging by the easy expression on Liv’s face she hadn’t meant anything by it. “We call them hellhounds, but yes, I kill them to protect our town.”

“Fascinating.” She lifted and dropped a shoulder. “My father won’t let me near weapons. Since my older brother will inherit the estate, my only concern is to be pretty enough to marry well.”

Belle opened her mouth to reply, but a series of barks drew it shut. Her muscles tightened, her hand instinctively reaching for the revolvers that were not at her side, even as her mind recognized the barks as being that of average dogs. Still her heart quickened its pace and her gaze looked toward the sound.

Down the hall, near the royal apartments, came a troupe of five energetic dogs. They bounded around a young servant boy, who was attempting to guide them down the hall. One of the black and white beauties saw Belle and Liv, barked happily, and raced toward them. His pack mates excitedly chased after.

Belle crouched down as they approached. The lead dog shoved his face happily into her hands, panting as she scratched behind his ears. Two of the following dogs leapt up onto Laramie, nearly knocking him over. The servant boy rushed to pull the dogs off of him, apologizing profusely.

“And who are these gentlemen?” Belle laughed, standing up after giving the dog one last scratch.

“They are Prince Aleksander’s dogs.” Liv kept back, not interacting with the dogs jumping around her. “He raised them from infancy.”

The servant boy shooed the dogs away, encouraging them to follow him down the stairs.

“What breed are they?”

“Siberian Huskies.” Laramie brushed white fur from his coat. “They were a gift from the Russian Emperor on the Prince’s eighteenth birthday. His Royal Highness used to love riding through the woods with them.”

“Your Ladyship…” said one of Liv’s guards. He looked uneasy, his eyes glancing between her and Belle.

Liv sighed.

“Ever since you and the other outsider stumbled into our castle, my father has had guards posted at my side.” She raised a keen eyebrow at Belle. “As rumor has it, his Royal Highness enjoys your company very much; my father really should be quite comfortable with your presence by now.” Liv waited a breath for Belle to comment and shrugged her shoulder when she didn’t. “Alas, fathers will be fathers and I prefer to keep my disobedience to a minimum. Good day, mademoiselle.”

Belle gave a quick, slightly wobbly curtsy. “Your Ladyship.”

Liv walked past but stopped abruptly. “I do hope his Royal Highness loosens his chains on you soon. I think we would be fast friends.”

With that, she winked and continued her stroll down the hall.

“I can see you don’t really know what to make of that,” Laramie said, noticing the way Belle stared bewilderedly after the noblewoman.

“I’m afraid I don’t. As a Hunter, I don’t have much female companionship.” She turned and they started once again toward the library. “The only nobles I know are the Count and Countess of Contefées, and their son.”