Page 52 of Beast

“I don’t know how wonderful it’s going to be. I’m worriedthat she won’t fit in.” It was the chief thing to recommend her in thebeginning. I wanted to find a consort who would send my father running for thelawyers, but now I can’t stand the idea that my father won’t like her.

“I think you’ll be surprised,” Meg says. “I think she’ssmart and adaptable. And, if you’re worried about your family accepting her, Iwouldn’t. She’s different, but there’s a sweetness to Kaja that I think yourfamily is going to find irresistible.”

The idea plays around in my brain. What if it could work?The thought of loving Kaja terrifies me, but the idea of not having her aroundcauses my heart to knot. I’m a mess. I want her. I simply need to accept it.

I can’t help the smile that has my lips curling up. Meg isright. Kaja is sweet, and she tries so hard. Perhaps it will make up for herlack of proper manners. It can work.

My mother will view Kaja as a challenge, a sweet baby birdto take under her wing. Susan always appreciates the odd creatures of theplanes. Despite her ridiculous adherence to parliamentary procedure in theboardroom, my sister is actually quite open-minded.

But the rest of society will be hard on my wife. The presswill freak when they find out Kaja spends time on four legs.

How am I going to protect her?

“Don’t worry,” Meg says. “It really will work out. And itwill work out for me and Beck and Ci, too. I have to have faith.”

I hope faith is all we need.

ChapterNineteen

Kaja

I come awake slowly, brushing away the small bug thatseems to be intent on biting me. My nose tickles. I wriggle it, trying to holdon to sleep. I am warm and happy. With Dante wrapped around my body, I sleepbetter than I have my whole life. My dreams are sweet. I do not wish to leavethem.

But the small buzzing creature is insistent, and it seemsthat it has brought some friends.

I open my eyes and focus on the small thing that lands on mynose.

Bright blue wings flutter, and I’m shocked to find it has aface. My first instinct is to eat the little thing. It will not be much of ameal, but it might be tasty. And then I remember Dante’s words. I cannot eatthings that talk back.

“Hello,” I say, hoping the bug will not talk back.

Its tiny hands fly up, and I swear that the thing looksgrateful. Its mouth opens and a rush of beeps and light, tinkling words rushfrom its mouth.

No meal for Kaja.

I force myself to sit up. The creature takes flight brieflybefore landing on my knee. The winged insect once again begins speaking.

“Slowly, little one,” I say, remembering what Dante told meabout the magic.

The insect shakes its head, words spewing from her mouth,but I am beginning to catch pieces of them now. “Save…family…bad Fae…eat.”

I look around. I am alone, but Dante’s shirt is foldedbeside me on the ground we slept on. I breathe deeply. I can smell Dante andMeg. They are not far away, and they seem to be speaking quietly.

“Please to help. My babies. The pixies will be gratefulalways.”

I cannot turn that request down. There is a family in need,a mother who could lose her pups. I nod at the blue creature, the pixie. “Whereare your babies?”

The pixie takes off, her wings flapping faster than my eyescan track. She darts away from the camp. I think briefly about finding Dante,but if I do I will lose the pixie and the pixie babies could be eaten. I raceto follow the flying pixie as she moves through the forest. In and out of treesand bushes, the pixie darts. I leap and feint around a bramble brush. I canfeel my feet being cut, but I fear the pixie will not allow me to help if Ishow her my wolf.

Then she stops. There it is. It is soft at first. If I wasnot listening for it, I would think that it was only the play of the wind onthe trees. A mewling cry, so soft. I move forward, keeping my steps light. I donot even worry about the fact that I am naked. Clothes are something I was onlyrecently introduced to, and Dante seems to shed his often enough.

The pixie lands on my shoulder. “There. There.”

I carefully push back a branch and take in the sight infront of me. Strange green men stand around a big, black cooking pot. The waterappears to be just beginning to boil. There are two of the creatures, both withsquat bodies covered in corded muscle. Very little hair covers their heads.What they have is black and wiry, and these men do not smell at all good.

One stands by the fire. “Almost ready now.”

The second grins, showing sharp teeth. “Yes, I can tell thatit is. These pretties will make an excellent soup. Sorry we didn’t catch themum. She was a nice, fat one.”