Threw it across the room.
The Queen backed toward the throne.
“Kill it!”
More guards advanced.
Elara stepped between them.
“STOP!”
No one listened.
A guard grabbed her from behind.
Elara drove her heel into his boot.
He cursed.
She twisted free.
The Beast saw.
Its entire body changed.
Its roar shook chandeliers.
Then it crossed the distance in three enormous strides.
It shoved one armored man across the polished floor.
Caught another around the breastplate.
Lifted him.
Threw him sideways into a banquet table.
No claws pierced flesh.
No throat was torn.
Even furious, the creature restrained itself.
Elara noticed.
That mattered.
“STOP!”
This time the Beast heard.
Its head turned.
Amber eyes found her.
The entire throne hall vanished from Elara’s awareness.
The creature stared.
She stared back.
Something inside her chest tightened so hard it hurt.
Recognition without memory.
Grief without explanation.
The Beast lowered its hands.
Seraphine saw.
Her fear deepened.
Elara stepped forward.
The captain whispered, “My lady, don’t.”
She continued.
The Beast towered above her.
Rainwater dripped from its jaw.
Its nostrils flared.
One huge claw flexed.
Elara stopped close enough to feel heat radiating from its body.
The Beast lowered its head.
Their faces came closer.
Elara raised one hand.
The Beast flinched.
She froze.
“You don’t want me to?”
Its amber eyes widened slightly.
Then it lowered its cheek into her palm.
Elara touched coarse wet fur.
Warm skin beneath.
The creature closed its eyes.
The court whispered.
Elara felt tears rise unexpectedly.
“You found me.”
The Beast opened its eyes.
The Queen said, “Get away from it.”
Elara ignored her.
Seraphine shouted.
“ELARA!”
The Beast’s head snapped toward the throne.
A growl rolled through its chest.
The Queen pointed.
“Kill her.”
The hall went silent.
Even her own guards hesitated.
The captain turned.
“Majesty?”
“She brought that creature here.”
Seraphine’s voice shook.
“Kill the girl.”
The Beast roared.
The sound struck like wind.
Several candles extinguished.
Elara did not move.
The Beast stepped in front of her.
Protecting her.
Seraphine backed up one stair.
“No.”
The Beast moved closer.
Then something no one expected happened.
The monster knelt.
Not before Seraphine.
Before Elara.
Its enormous body lowered until one knee struck the floor.
The impact echoed.
Elara stared.
The Beast bowed its head.
Then it spoke.
The voice was deep.
Rough.
But unmistakably human.
“My Queen.”
Elara stopped breathing.
The words were meant for her.
Not Seraphine.
The Beast lifted its eyes.
Then pointed one claw toward the throne.
“The woman sitting there is the witch who cursed me.”
The court erupted.
Seraphine shouted, “LIAR!”
The Beast looked at her.
A terrible sadness entered its eyes.