For the first time, I had remembered to close my curtains, so I slept late the next morning. When I woke, the room looked exactly as I had left it the night before. Obviously, someone had heard my demand to be left alone and had taken me seriously. I sat up in bed and hugged my knees. While I was grateful to see they had respected my order, I couldn’t help feeling a tingle of discomfort to know there had previously been invisible people in my bedchamber.

I slid out of bed, wrapped myself in a robe I found draped over the back of a chair and padded to the door. Leaning out into the corridor, I opened my mind to hear the servants. Silence. Another difference between listening to the servants and to Lily—apparently distance made a difference. In truth, I felt grateful. I couldn’t imagine having to sort through the conversations of everyone in the castle at once.

Looking around the room, I found a bell tucked away on a high shelf. Leaning out into the corridor, I rang it for several seconds. I then left the door open and retreated into the room to wait.

I had no way to hear the small incidental noises of the servants such as the sound of footsteps, so for a while I was straining my mind to nothing but silence. When a voice finally did sound, I jumped.

Your Highness? A girl, possibly around my own age. Did…did you ring?

“Yes, I did. Thank you for coming.”

Of…of course.

“What’s your name?” Admittedly I didn’t know the names of every servant back at home in our palace in Arcadia, but without the ability to see any of the Palinarans, I found myself looking for something to attach to them.

The girl didn’t respond at first. Had I surprised her with the request? It’s Lottie, Your Highness.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lottie. You sound a little nervous. Is anything wrong?” I hoped the Beast hadn’t been rampaging around the castle while I slept punishing the servants for feeding me.

Oh, no, Your Highness. I’ve just never spoken to royalty before. I’m only a chambermaid. But everyone in the castle has heard about how you can hear us after all, and there was no one else around, and I thought…

“Yes, indeed. You’ve quite saved me.” I smiled, trying to put her at ease. “It’s a little hard to find anyone when everyone is invisible.”

It must be very strange. She sounded fascinated. I can’t imagine such a thing.

“It is a little odd, yes,” I said, wryly noting my instinct toward understatement. “But I’m slowly getting used to it.” I paused, considering. “You said you’ve never spoken to royalty before…I understand this is the Beast’s own castle.”

It is Prince Dominic’s castle, yes. Her slow words clearly communicated her unease at my manner of referring to the castle’s master. I couldn’t help but smile a little, although it was probably childish of me. Every time I called him the Beast, it felt like a small defiance.

“Do none of his family or other nobility live here with him? What about before the curse?”

Oh, no, Princess Sophie. Prince Dominic rarely invites others here. Even Princess Adelaide hasn’t been here for over six years.

“Princess Adelaide?” I jumped on her mention of the Beast’s younger sister. “Do you know where she is now?”

I…I couldn’t say, Your Highness.

I sighed. What did that mean? That she didn’t know? That something was preventing her from saying? Or that she had been instructed not to give me any information on the curse and the missing royals? I changed direction, not wanting to discomfort her.

“So, there are no invisible members of court wandering around? It’s just the Beast and the staff?”

We are isolated here at the heir’s castle. And Prince Dominic doesn’t like for any of us to leave the protection of the grounds. Wastelands have sprung up across the kingdom, and the animals which roam it keep us in as well as others out. Rumor says that some of the court wanted to brave the danger and attempt to seek help from the other kingdoms. But Prince Dominic warned them not to challenge the boundaries put in place by the ancient laws, lest we brought more darkness on ourselves. The court has disbanded and the nobility have all returned to their own lands, to protect their people as well as they might.

I must have looked concerned because she rushed to reassure me. Don’t worry, we are safe here, Your Highness. The godmother has placed a special boundary around the castle grounds.

Another mention of how this godmother had helped the Beast. Only it seemed a strange kind of helping to me. If only I knew the whole story. I chewed a strand of hair thoughtfully. She had already been more communicative than most of the staff in the kitchen. And I suspected I was more likely to convince her to confide in me than I was a more senior staff member. I made a sudden decision.

“Are you one of the maids who has been cleaning my chamber, Lottie?”

Yes, Princess Sophie. Is it not to your liking?

“No, no, everything has been lovely.” I paused, then leaned forward. “Lottie, in truth, it is a little unnerving to me to think of having someone in my bedchamber who I cannot see. I would like to requisition you for a special role.”

Me, Your Highness? Are you sure?

“Yes, of course. It will not be so very different from your present role, although I hope you will be willing to assist me with dressing and such things.”

Me—a lady’s maid? She sounded more astonished than displeased, so I continued.

“Well, I will need the room cleaned as well. What I would like, Lottie, is if you would become my personal maid, and I will give orders that no other servants are to enter my chamber at any time.” I considered. “And you must promise me that you will inform me whenever you enter or exit the room while I am present. I would like to always know if you are here or not. Can you do that?”

Certainly, Your Highness. She sounded a little breathless. It would be an honor.

I smiled. Lottie might not have experience as a lady’s maid, but I already preferred her to whoever had attempted to dress me up for the Beast earlier. Hopefully, I would be able to ease her out of some of her deference. I was pretty sure I had heard my title more times in our few minutes of conversation than in the whole of the last week. It was a little exhausting.

A very different sort of personality sprung into my mind, and a grin spread across my face. “I wouldn’t wish you to be exhausted, and of course you must have the chance to have a break from guarding my room. I will request a second maid. I met one yesterday, in fact. Tara, I believe her name was.”

Tara…the serving maid? Apparently, I had shocked her enough to drop my title. I tried to suppress my earlier grin but didn’t quite succeed.

“She seemed like a lovely girl,” I said gravely.

I suppose so, Your Highness. Her disapproval was patent, but I ignored it.

“I haven’t actually met the steward or housekeeper yet, so could you ask them to attend me here as soon as possible? I will convey my new orders regarding my chamber and request yours and Tara’s services.”

Certainly, Princess Sophie. I’m certain they will come immediately.

“Thank you.”

There was a moment of silence, and then, I am exiting the room, Princess Sophie.

“Thank you, Lottie.” It seemed my instinct had been right. Lottie would be a diligent personal maid.

A pang of hunger made me hurry to my feet and rush to the now closed door. Flinging it open, I called into the apparently empty corridor. “And please have a meal sent up as soon as possible!”

Certainly, Your Highness. Lottie sounded more distant than she had before. I sighed with relief at having caught her before she traveled out of earshot. I hadn’t gotten to finish my meal the night before. In fact, far too many of my meals since I had arrived had been missed or interrupted.

I thought uneasily of the meal I had promised to eat with the Beast that night. Hopefully we would be able to keep our conflict in check long enough for me to eat my fill. But perhaps I should order some afternoon refreshments from Lottie or Tara, just in case.

* * *

The steward and housekeeper were respectful and obliging. If they found my requests odd or inconvenient, they hid it well. Not surprising, perhaps, if they were used to the Beast’s fits and tempers.

I brooded darkly on his overweening sense of authority as I made my way down to the dining hall around sunset. I found it insufferable enough, and I was free to defy it. I couldn’t imagine being one of his servants, forced to accept his ill temper without demur.

The table had been laid out in the same manner as previously, the Beast once again rising to his feet at my entrance. He seemed to have taken a little more care in his clothing, but the fine clothes still looked odd and out of place on his strangely bulky frame. I carefully avoided meeting his eyes, unwilling to deal with whatever intense emotion might be lurking there.

I took my place with a nodded greeting and waited politely for him to be reseated before beginning to eat. For the first couple of minutes neither of us spoke, and I was reminded of our first meal together. Except that this time I strained my mind beneath my calm exterior, forcing myself into a receptive state at odds with the tension I felt at his presence. My only purpose for being here was to gain information, and I didn’t want to miss anything he might say.

I hear you are already ordering my servants as you see fit, he said at last.

“Do you have a problem with that?” I asked, finally looking his way.

Certainly not. He paused. As it pertains to your own care.

I drew a steadying breath, not wanting to start a conflict so quickly. “I am striving to make myself at home.”

An admirable goal. Although once we are married, we will unfortunately have to relocate to the capital.

I ignored his reference to our wedding. “You do not like the capital?”

I prefer my solitude.

I refrained from retorting that I was sure everyone else preferred it that way too, and took the opening he had provided. “I have heard you disbanded the court. There cannot be many left living in the capital now.”

He shrugged, an awkward gesture on his broad shoulders. We are unable to trade with the other kingdoms which means much of our commerce and production has halted. And all of our diplomacy as well, of course. I could not guarantee my ability to feed the people if large numbers remained in the city. Plus, the estates needed their leaders in this uncertain time. Until the curse is released, we are all of us trapped, our kingdom unable to move forward.

I blinked twice. I hadn’t expected such a reasonable response. Emboldened, I pressed him further. “What is the curse, exactly? I couldn’t get an answer from your servants.”

The Beast had turned his gaze to the opposite wall as he spoke, and he made no response to my question. I waited silently. At last he turned his head to look at me, piercing me with his gaze.

How is it that you can hear me? Can hear the servants?

For a long moment we both sat frozen, our eyes locked. He was the last person I would ever tell about Lily and my connection. And, somehow, he knew it. Knew that I had secrets of my own. I ground my teeth together before breaking the stare.

I lifted another forkful to my mouth, only to change my mind and put it back down on the plate. “Why did you call the Princess Tourney?” I looked up at him, but he had already looked away.

Another long silence stretched out, and I sighed. Did he intend to tell me anything?

I am the heir to Palinar.

He hadn’t turned to look at me this time, and I frowned at his profile. “That is one thing I already know. You haven’t answered my question.”

He glanced toward me. Isn’t it obvious? I am the heir. I need a royal bride, and I had no other way to find one.

One of my hands tightened around my glass. “And now that I’m here, what do you intend to do next?”

He laughed, the sound unexpected and rough, as if from disuse. Why, marry my betrothed, of course. I can arrange the ceremony for tomorrow morning, if only you will consent.

“I have said it before, I will say it again: I will not marry you without my sister.”

He gave another laugh, but this one lacked even the faintest trace of humor. Then we will wait.

“For what?”

For the curse to be broken—I believe that’s what you said last night, is it not?

I stood to my feet, struggling to keep my voice calm. “That is all you have to say? You brought me here knowing you were cursed, knowing I would be trapped here like the rest of your kingdom. And now we are merely to sit around, both of us prisoners to this castle?”

The Beast leaped up, his chair clattering loudly against the stone floor as it fell behind him. Not by my choice.

“Well not a single part of this has been by my choice!” My hands balled into fists, my whole body trembling.

The Beast and I stood facing each other, so close I could feel the anger radiating from him.

“You have destroyed my life, Beast!”

He raised his lip, his fangs glistening in the firelight. I took a shaky step backwards, and he growled low as he had after our confrontation in front of the castle. But this time the sound rose in volume until it turned into a roar.

I stood my ground, shaking still, but determined not to run this time. Abruptly he fell silent, only to turn and stride from the room. I remained in place until my tremors stilled, staring at the door he had slammed behind him. Had I just won a victory? If so, it felt far less satisfying than I had imagined.