Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 74631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
He pushes me again, and a small laugh escapes me simply from his touch. It is the hand of a prince that gives me a gentle push, not the hand of the beast. Although the beast will return, I have taught him that the prince still lives, and he is mine. I love them both for what they are. Mine to love. Their fate.
The magic of this place, and of the curse, is powerful indeed. But love is more so.
The Witch
The prince seems to love her devoutly. His fated mate. The snow does not bother us as we watch, and Elle and Prince Henry do not give any sign that they know they are being observed.
They are in love. That is plain to see even without any magical ability. It is in the way he looks at her, and she at him. She doesn’t fear the beast when he returns either. This is a good sign. “There is hope after all,” my sister murmurs and I nod in agreement.
“What shall we call him?” I say to the closest of my sisters.
She watches with narrowed eyes, her quick mind working. The prince brings Elle to a stop and helps her to her feet. They continue their walk around the yard, staying close to one another.
“Werebeast?” my sister offers.
“Werewolf,” I suggest.
“Our first of many?” she asks.
“We must.” My expression may have been light, watching the prince and Elle, the first successful pairing from the magic, but it was not carefree. Now is not the time for losing track of what we must do. “There are dark forces brewing, and we must do what must be done. Time is not on our side,” I remind them.
There is no one else to do what must be done. So often, men and kings believe they are the people who will keep their kingdoms safe, but that is rarely the case. Most men—even kings—do not have the knowledge that is required to fight off forces like the ones that will soon descend on us. On all the world. For beasts in the night are plenty, and the sorcerers have conjured a darkness that sends the coldest of chills to wake me from the nightmares of what will be.
My sister chews at her bottom lip, thinking this over as she watches the prince and Elle. He has gathered snow in his hands to make a snowball, but when he throws it at her, she runs and he misses. She throws one back and it hits his arm. There is so little time left for games like these. They will live to have their happily ever after, as the time of mortals is so short. But their children’s children will see the terrors that have been foretold.
“We will need to see what becomes of their children,” I remind them.
“How many beasts will it take?”
I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “As many as we can. The prince was only the first werewolf. It will take centuries, my sister. Centuries of pain will fall before there will be peace.”
“Off to Shadow Falls then?” My sister questions, gathering her cloak, satisfied with what’s become of her making.
“All too ready to cast again?” I ask her and all of us smile wickedly. “To Shadow Falls,” I whisper in a hiss. And with the flick of my wrist, we leave The Prince and His Beauty…for now.