I slept long and deeply, exhausted on every possible level. I woke to several new aches and a couple of bruises and immediately thought of the Beast. What was his state this morning?

When I slipped out of bed, a sleepy voice greeted me.

Good morning, Princess Sophie.

“Lottie?” A sudden suspicion entered my mind. “Did you spend the whole night in my armchair?”

I wanted to be here in case you needed anything in the night. You might have become ill after your ordeal.

“That is very considerate of you, but now you need to go to your bed. Just, on your way out, if you could please let Tara know to bring me some food?”

I couldn’t possibly sleep during the day, Your Highness. Let me fetch your morning meal myself.

I shook my head. “Absolutely not. You need your sleep and Tara can look after me well enough without you. That’s why I have the two of you, remember.”

Very well—if you wish it. I could tell from her tone that she doubted my assertion that Tara could manage on her own, but I pretended not to notice anything unusual in her demeanor.

I paced the room while I waited for Tara to arrive, alternating between staring out the window at the gardens and sitting on my bed chewing my hair. The previous morning, when I had been planning how to sneak into the Beast’s chambers, felt like another lifetime. So much had happened since then. It was hard to process it all.

Tara must have arrived at a run because I was sitting down to a hot meal within minutes. I had planned to ask her what the kitchen gossip had to say about the Beast’s condition, but she didn’t need any prompting to start sharing.

I’m so glad to see you well this morning, Princess Sophie. You gave me and Lottie a fright last night. I would have insisted on staying with you, except that Lottie assured me she preferred to take the night shift, and I didn’t like to make her uncomfortable.

It was the first sign I had seen of any such consideration, but I refrained from comment.

And I think it turned out for the best anyway, since Lottie’s absolutely hopeless at ferreting out news of any kind. This airy conclusion made me snort and reminded me why I had asked for Tara in the first place. The ex-serving maid didn’t feel the need to temper her view of reality.

The doctor popped down for a bite to eat around sunrise, poor man. He looked exhausted and, of course, the kitchen staff all mobbed him. We’d already guessed from various requests sent down for supplies that His Highness must have a high fever, but…

“So, the Beast is alive still?” I asked, unable to wait through her meandering story for that crucial piece of information.

Oh, yes, certainly. We have an excellent doctor. It’s the prince himself who’s the problem.

“What do you mean?”

He’s a terrible patient, he always has been. He can still barely stand but is apparently insisting on going out to check on his horse.

I put down my fork and rose to my feet. “Where is he now? In his bedchamber?”

Yes, for the moment at least.

I threw a robe around my shoulders and headed for the door. Pausing in the doorway, I looked back into the empty air of the room. “You’re not going to protest? Or try to stop me?”

Well, I feel sure Lottie would tell me that I ought to do so. Tara giggled. Especially since you’re wearing your nightgown. But to tell you the truth, I’m just planning to follow you and see what happens.

I laughed. “I applaud your honesty and your spirit of adventure.”

Hurrying down the corridor, I made my way to the Beast’s chambers as I had done such an astonishingly short number of hours before. I had never had the same interest in healing as Lily, but I had tagged along for enough of her sessions with our castle doctors to know a few basics. For instance, that someone with a raging fever and significant blood loss shouldn’t be stumbling around in the snow.

When I reached his corridor, I slowed and then came to a complete stop in the open doorway of his bedchamber. The sound of voices told me that the room must be full of people, but my view of the Beast was unobstructed. I assessed his appearance, hoping that, for him, a servant blocked his view of my rude stare.

He was naked from the waist up, white bandages covering the deep cuts on his arm and shoulder. I bit my lip at the sight of his bare chest, covered with a thick layer of hair, and then forced myself to look up to his face. He had propped himself up on one arm and was arguing with someone about getting up. His eyes looked glassy and strange, and his face flushed.

A low growl silenced the rest of the voices. I am getting up, and there is nothing any of you can say to prevent me. So get out of my way.

“Absolutely not,” I said loudly.

The silence seemed somehow to grow deeper, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up from the certainty that an unknown number of invisible eyes were trained on me. But I maintained a calm facade as I moved forward into the room.

“It is quite apparent, even without the assurances of your doctor, that you are extremely ill. You will remain in bed until such time as he gives you leave to rise.”

Still silence reigned, and I received the distinct impression that a large number of people were holding their breath.

Princess Sophie. The Beast remained propped half up in the bed, but he also made no further move to get up. I must check on my horse.

“Do not be ridiculous.” I reached his bedside, trying to ignore the way his eyes stayed fixed on me, dressed as I was in only my nightgown and robe. “You have, I can only assume, a great number of grooms and stable hands, not to mention a highly competent stable master. You would only be in the way, as well as inflaming your wounds and your fever to no purpose.”

Indeed. A mature, weary voice I hadn’t heard before leaped in to back me up. It is just as the princess says. You must listen to Her Highness, Prince Dominic, if you will not listen to me.

I turned toward the sound. “I assume you must be the castle doctor. It is very nice to meet you, sir.”

Oh, no, I assure you the pleasure is all mine. I am Doctor Henshaw, and if you can convince His Highness to remain in his bed long enough to heal, you will be doing him and all of us a great favor.

“Certainly, Doctor Henshaw. There can be no question of his getting up. Perhaps you can give me a brief description of your preferred care regime.”

As the doctor eagerly outlined his recommended diet and wound care, a series of strange noises came from the bed. I ignored them.

When the doctor finished speaking, a final rumble sounded from the bed. I turned to face the Beast. “Yes? Did you wish to say something?”

The Beast was glaring at me. My horse just fought a pack of wolves at my request. I will not rest until I have checked on him.

An unexpected wave of shame washed over me. The Beast showed more care for his horse than I had done for Chestnut on my first night. The thought unsettled me, and confirmed my determination not to allow him to further injure himself.

I rapidly considered the best way to subdue him and then drew myself up to my full height, assuming an outraged expression. “Are you trying to insult me?”

Some of the anger dropped from his face to be replaced by confusion. Insult you?

“I was the one who walked your horse back to the castle and handed him over to your stable. I have just told you that he is unharmed and in good hands. Are you calling me a liar?”

A stifled snort of laughter came from beside me, and the Beast turned wrathful eyes on his doctor. I intervened quickly. “If everyone could please clear the room, His Highness needs the chance to rest. I will remain here with him and will call one of you if need be.” I turned in the direction of the doctor. “Please have the kitchen send up a meal as you have described.”

I’m not eating that. The Beast sounded more sulky than angry, and I knew I had won. I kept the triumphant smile from my face.

“I will ensure he eats it.”

I’m sure you will, Your Highness. We can all be grateful you’re here.

I felt a pang as the last of the servants made their way from the room, talking in whispers. If I hadn’t been here, the Beast wouldn’t be injured at all.

I turned back around to find him glaring at me, but most of the heat had gone from his expression. Do you really mean to keep me prisoner here?

I arched an eyebrow at him, and he actually had the decency to look ashamed, his eyes dropping away from mine. With a sigh, he lowered himself back onto the pillow.

“Would you like another pillow?” I asked, as I pottered around his bed, rearranging the tangled blankets. When he didn’t answer, I looked at him with both eyebrows raised and discovered he was staring at me with fascination.

“What?”

Are you always like this?

“Like what? Right?”

He actually barked a laugh. I grinned back at him. “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’ve spent a lot of time with my three-year-old nephew. I know all about looking after sulky children.”

He shook his head, but a smile lingered on his face, the first I had ever seen from him. You seem different.

I shrugged and continued pottering around the room. I could hardly tell him the truth. Something had changed; it had changed when I had stared down at him, dying in the snow and considered leaving him there. Before I had felt powerless—trapped, angry and afraid. But when I had chosen to save him, I had changed the balance of power. Even if he didn’t know it.

I remembered now that I would never be powerless over my own actions, and choices. I was no longer here as his prisoner. I had chosen to be here because I believed—had always believed—that I had the ability to save others. And not only my sister and the younger girls of the Tourney, but also the people of Palinar who were caught in the curse. And last night, as the Beast had saved me from the wolves, it had occurred to me for the first time, that maybe Prince Dominic needed saving, too.

Now I just had to believe I was strong enough to do it. When I had lost Lily, I had temporarily lost my way, forgetting that I had been the one to win the Tourney despite her best efforts to stop me. Together we were something of an unstoppable force, but that didn’t mean I was weak on my own. And last night I had shown it, making the decision I knew was right, despite every temptation.

This morning I found that the Beast’s fitful temper didn’t have the same effect on me as it had previously. He was simply another of the many puzzles I had to solve.

Several hours later, while attempting to force him into eating a second bowl of soup, I found my new positivity wearing thin. He had slept most of the morning, waking in a foul mood when he was still greeted with only soup. So, my morning had alternated between boredom and bouts of his disagreeable mood. It had taken all of my willpower not to pull back the curtain and ask the mirror to show me Lily while he slept. Only the fear that it would wake him had stopped me, but the exercise in self-control had put me in nearly as irritable a mood as him.

At last I snapped. “Stop! You are a grown man and a prince. You appear to have no consideration for anyone but your horse, and it is time you learned to think of others, and to act with restraint.” We glared at each other, my chest heaving from my own loss of control. “You will eat the food the doctor sends and stay in bed until he gives you permission to leave. And I do not want to hear another word about it!”

I expected him to shout back at me, but the anger in his eyes slowly faded away. Very well, Sophie.

I eyed him suspiciously. “That’s it?”

Were you looking for some other response?

I narrowed my eyes, still wary of his capitulation.

Perhaps you would be willing to read to me?

“Read?”

He barked another laugh. Yes, you know. Books. Words. Stories.

“You like to read?”

Don’t sound so surprised. I lost my ability to talk, not to read.

I glanced at him, surprised at his light-hearted mention of the curse. How would he react if I asked him about it? Reluctantly I decided not to test it. I didn’t want to ruin the first moment of almost-rapport we’d had.

“What would you like to read?”

There’s a book in the drawer of that table next to my bed. You can start back at the beginning, if you like.

I pulled it out and examined the cover. “Large Scale Economics?” I groaned. “Mathematics—my favorite.”

You’re a princess, aren’t you? Aren’t these sorts of things compulsory in Arcadia?

I sighed and sat again. “Yes, unfortunately. That’s the problem.” I opened to the first page and then looked back up at him. “I’ll read you this one if you promise that you’ll find me a volume of fairy tales to read next.”

Fairy tales?

I raised an eyebrow, and he shook his head. Fine. You can choose the next one.

And despite the boring topic, reading turned out to be an inspirational move. It gave us both something to focus on other than our frustrations, and the Beast even ate his simple evening meal with minimal complaint. As had happened earlier when we discussed his nobles, the Beast surprised me with his intelligence and balanced perspective on governance.

I had never forgotten that he had once been a regular prince—his arrogant attitude made such a thing impossible—but I hadn’t considered that he had been a prince trained to rule the largest of these kingdoms. Apparently, his lessons had included more than just ordering his subjects around.

The sour note of the evening came just before the doctor arrived to relieve me. I had stood up, ready to leave, when the Beast reached out from the bed and grabbed my hand. I stilled, realizing his intention a second before he spoke.

Will you marry me in the morning, Sophie?

I ripped my hand away and hurried from the room without speaking. Obviously, I had been foolish to think that anything had changed between us. But in the doorway, I paused and looked back. “Can I recommend that next time you go with ‘Thank you, Sophie’? You might find it’s better received.” I didn’t wait to see his response.