Beauty’s Beast(65)
Author: Amanda Ashley

“I cannot believe you made this decision without consulting us,” Edith said.

“I’m sorry.”

“How long ago did you send the letter?”

“I sent Brandt early this morning.”

Caddaric grunted softly. “I think we must lock Erik up.”

“What? How can you even suggest such a thing?”

“It’s for his own good,” Caddaric explained. “He spends most of his time outside. Brandt will have arrived at Cimmerian Crag by now. Charmion could arrive here at any moment. I do not think it would be wise for wolf and witch to confront each other.”

Kristine shook her head. “I cannot. I cannot lock him up.”

“I will take care of it. Call him.”

Kristine left the room and went out the back door. Was there no end to this nightmare? Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called Erik’s name.

Several minutes passed, and then she saw him running toward her. She forced a smile as he rubbed against her legs.

“Come,” she said, “Caddaric wishes to see you.”

The wolf looked up at her, a question in his dark gray eyes. It was disconcerting, seeing Erik’s eyes in the face of the wolf.

“I don’t know what he wants.” Fighting back tears, she laid her hand on his head. “I love you.”

Whining softly, he licked her hand.

Caddaric was waiting for them in the library. He closed the door once Erik and Kristine were inside.

Erik stared up at Kristine.

“It’s all right,” she said.

“Erik, look at me,” Caddaric said, his voice soft, hypnotic.

The wolf looked at the sorcerer, his eyes filled with suspicion.

“Erik, you must trust me,” Caddaric said. “Listen to my voice.”

The wolf shook his head, his hackles rising.

“Erik, it will be all right.” Kristine knelt beside him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Please, you must do as he says.”

The wolf looked at her, a look of such love, such trust, she thought her heart would break.

She heard the wizard’s voice, speaking in a language she did not understand, felt his power coalesce, felt it brush against her skin. There was a gentle whooshing sound, and Erik was gone.

She looked up at Caddaric, her eyes wide with panic. “What have you done?”

“Nothing, my lady. I have only sent him to the dungeon. It is the only place I could think of where he cannot escape. We dare not keep him in one of the rooms. One of the maids might accidentally open the door, or he might leap through a window.”

“The dungeon,” Kristine said, her voice tinged with despair.

“He will be comfortable there. There are furs for him to rest on. Fresh meat. Water. Clean straw on the floor.”

“But to lock him up . . .”

“Kristine, it is for his own good. I had promised not to tell you this, but now I fear I must. It was Erik’s intent to go to Charmion, to become her pet, to let her think he was fully her creature, and then try to destroy her. He had asked me if I could find a spell to protect him from her.” Caddaric shrugged. “I found one that might have worked, but there is no way to be sure.”

“What kind of wizard are you, anyway?” Kristine cried.

Caddaric drew himself up to his full height. “I do the best I can, Lady Trevayne, but the truth is, Charmion is the most powerful witch I have ever known.”

Erik paced the cell, his anger growing, spreading, until he thought he would vomit it up. So she had decided he was nothing but an animal after all, to be locked away in a cage.

He howled his fury until the cold stone walls echoed with his rage, all the while remembering another dungeon, one filled with mirrors.

He had to get out of here, had to find Charmion, had to destroy her before the child was born.

He heard the sound of the dungeon door opening, footsteps on the cold stones. Her footsteps.

“Erik?” Kristine knelt at the door, her beautiful green eyes glistening with tears. “I’m sorry, so very sorry.”

She reached through the bars.

And he growled at her. Growled his anger, his frustration, his helplessness.

She jerked her hand back, her eyes wide and afraid. “Erik?”

Dropping to his belly, he crawled toward her, whining softly.

“Oh, Erik,” she breathed. “Caddaric told me you were going to try to destroy Charmion. That’s why we locked you up.” It was not fully a lie, she thought, nor fully the truth. “We couldn’t let you go. Please forgive me, but I cannot bear to lose you.”

He stared up at her, the need to speak clawing at his throat. So much to tell her. I love you. I love you. . . .

“Caddaric said he thought he had found a spell to protect you from her evil, but he said there was no way to be sure it would work. You understand, don’t you? I couldn’t let you go. I just couldn’t.”

She reached through the bars again, and he licked her hand. Kristine, Kristine, know that I will always love you. . . .

“Kristine? Are you down here?”

“Yes, Caddaric.”

He was at her side in minutes, his face flushed. “I think I may have found the solution.” He glanced at Erik, then tapped her on the shoulder. “Come upstairs, we need to talk.”

Kristine glanced at Erik. “All right,” she said, but when she started to rise, the wolf took her hand in his mouth and tugged softly. “I don’t think he wants us to go.”

Caddaric looked at the wolf, disconcerted, as always, to see human eyes in the wolf’s face. “I think we should discuss this upstairs.”

Erik growled low in his throat.

“All right,” Kristine said. “We’ll stay.”

“Kristine . . .”

“This involves Erik, too. He has a right to know.”

“Very well. Brandt returned moments ago with a message from . . .” Caddaric glanced at the wolf. Erik still held Kristine’s hand in his mouth. “Charmion has agreed to your terms.”

Erik tugged on Kristine’s hand, a growl that sounded very much like a question rising in his throat.

“I sent Charmion a note,” Kristine explained. “I told her I would . . . I would give her our baby if she would revoke the curse.”

Erik shook his head, a sharp growl of protest rumbling deep in his throat.

“Erik, it’s the only way,” Kristine said. “Do you think this is easy for me? Do you think I want that witch to have my child? Our child?” She sniffed back her tears. “You can hate me if you wish, I don’t care! I don’t care. I have to do this. Please understand.”