Chapter Eight

 

 

After talking with Lance late into the night, I went back to my bedroom and dreamed of him. He had softened the more I spoke to him and revealed that thinkers had depths to them which were worth the trouble of braving their melancholy. Lance had dreams for his kingdom that had been blossoming in his mind during his magical incarceration, but he was too much of a realist to give in to any hope that he might be able to fulfill them. It took me only two hours to change his mind and his mood.

Lancelot eagerly showed me the plans he'd been sketching for aqueducts to bring fresh water to the nearby village, and the thoughts he'd had for importing and exporting goods with the neighboring kingdoms. He had all sorts of ideas that both amazed and baffled me. Lancelot was not the man I had thought him to be. Not in the least.

I spent the next day with Audric, and then the next with Blaise. Then I went back to Lance. My days with the elder beast princes had begun with awkwardness, but they quickly warmed up to me. I found myself waking each morning with a smile and curiosity for what the day would bring.

We went through this routine for a few weeks, and I hated to admit it, but it seemed as if the falling in love part might truly be the easiest step in breaking the curse. Soon, I would need to tell the brothers about step two in my plan: the group date.

But not today. Today was Audric's day, and he had promised to show me the rose.

I went through my morning preparations quickly and was just finishing brushing my hair when Audric knocked. I hurried to the door and yanked it open.

“Eager, are we?” Audric purred.

His fur was darker than his brothers, a sleek sable, and it made him appear the most sinister. But his grayish-blue eyes were soft and always seemed to be full of thoughts that were more naughty than evil.

“I want to see the rose!” I declared.

“Yes, yes.” He laughed. “But first we must break our fast.”

“Breakfast can wait,” I insisted. “Take me to the rose.”

“Wasn't it a rose that got you into this mess?” Audric teased me.

I paused, realizing that I hadn't thought of my family, and what they must be going through without having any word from me. They were probably haunted by thoughts of what was happening to me.

“I'm sorry,” Audric said. “I didn't mean to put that look on your face.”

“No, it's fine.” I waved away his concern. “I just realized that my family is probably worried about me.”

“Oh.” Audric blinked. “Well, you haven't been a prisoner since the first few hours of your stay. If you'd like to go home, you can, Sylvie.”

“Really?”

“We may look like monsters, but we're not,” Audric huffed.

“You were holding my father prisoner,” I pointed out.

“That was just Lance.” Audric rolled his eyes. “He believes that you can't let people take advantage of you, and so thievery must be punished. But he would have let your father go eventually. As far as you, we just wanted to see if you were the one. When you offered to help us, we assumed that you were doing so of your own free will.”

“I was,” I agreed. “I just thought I was also being held for the theft.”

“You were never the criminal.” Audric shrugged. “And we never intended for you to feel like you were being punished.”

“So, all this time, I thought I was paying off my father's debt, when I was really just a guest?” I growled.

“Well, yes.” He stammered. “I thought you knew. How could we expect you to fall in love with us if we were holding you hostage? That's twisted.”

I laughed. I laughed and laughed until Audric joined me in my laughter.

“I guess I'm twisted then,” I finally said. “Because I care very much for the three of you.”

“You do?” Audric asked, his eyes going hopeful. “We lo– um, I mean, we care about you too.”

I smiled brightly and kissed his furry cheek.

“Take me to the rose, Prince Audric,” I commanded. “And then I shall go home for a visit.”

“Will you return, Sylvie?” Audric asked softly, all of his usual confidence gone.

“Of course, I'll return,” I whispered. “You know I will.”

“All right then,” he declared. “Let's go look at a cursed flower.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” I muttered.

But we laughed our way downstairs, and then smiled our way up another set of winding steps. The rose had its own tower, and it wasn't as bright as the rest of the castle. In fact, it was downright creepy. The invisible maids didn't bother with dusting it, and there were cobwebs clinging to the ceilings. But the stairwell opened onto a spacious room that was spotless. In the center of it stood a gold and glass cabinet with only one glass shelf in its middle. On the shelf was a crystal vase, and in the vase was a dying rose. Petals littered the shelf around the rose, blackened with decay. They looked like ash, like the barest breath would disintegrate them. But the petals on the rose were a brilliant crimson, as healthy as a brand new bud. All except for one. One of the four remaining petals drooped, looking as if it might fall at any moment.

I stepped softly across the stone floor, afraid that the vibration of my feet might jar the petal loose. Audric walked more firmly beside me. He took my hand and led my up to the glass, and then pressed my palm to the cabinet.

“Nothing can affect the rose,” he said. “Not for good or ill. Don't worry about disturbing it.”

“A magic rose,” I whispered. “It's poignant, isn't it?”

“Quite,” he agreed. “Especially for us.”

“You're not the men I read about.” I turned to face him. “The book portrayed you as horrible people.”

“Time and pain have changed us.” Audric looked away from me. “We were... different then. We deserved this curse. Looking back, I am ashamed to have tarnished our parents' memories with my behavior.”

“Then maybe this wasn't a curse, after all.” I laid my hand on his soft cheek and turned his face to mine. “What would you give to make your parents proud?”

“Anything,” he whispered, his eyes shining with tears. “My parents were the best king and queen this kingdom has ever known. Even their servants loved them. In fact, I think the servants stayed out of love for my parents and not because we paid them. If I could be even half the man my father was, I'd consider my life worthwhile.”

“Then this curse is actually a blessing,” I said, “because you have become a man your parents could be proud of.”

“I am not a man, Sylvie.”

“Yes, you are,” I insisted. “Fur and teeth don't change your heart. And it's a good heart, Audric. Whether we break the curse or not, you've earned that for yourself.”

“And what of your heart?” He whispered. “Could you find some room in it for me?”

“I think that maybe I could.”

Audric's lips pressed to mine, gently at first, then his arms went to my waist and he pulled me against his chest. I felt his precious heart beating against mine, and I couldn't resist its pull. I opened my mouth to him as I opened my heart, and made some space inside it for Audric.