Page 15 of Beautiful Beast

Better for us. We won’t have to avoid hitting him.

We were to kill the girl. Not her father. The alliance must be stopped, but no one wanted upheaval. If Gleira was suddenly without a leader, how easy would it be for Craisos to step into place, giving them territory inside the Bowl with their infernal weapons?

There, I said.

Near the palace, I spotted our prey. She, too, was dressed in blue, gold glinting off her skin like a coin. The shine drew my gaze, the desire to investigate what glittered and steal it away rising hard and fast. Keep it safe and protected.

I rolled my eyes at the long-buried instinct. The three of us had no hoard, nor did I desire one. That didn’t erase the pull which remained buried in my bones, however inconvenient.

Sirrus, Endre said, pulling his power back. Draw their attention.

With his blue coloring, he would blend into the sky the best and be spotted at the last possible second. Endre would follow, making sure whatever protection swarmed to the royalty was gone. And I would go for the kill.

I would make it quick.

She began her walk down the aisle toward the prince, no joy on her face.

Sirrus launched himself over the summit of his mountain and flew with the speed of an arrow, wings tucked in, speed growing until the last possible second?—

Screams tore the air. Endre went next, and I took one final second to watch before I lifted my wings and flew.

CHAPTER SEVEN

________

KATALENA

Faint strings floated through the air, the tinkle of delicate music as everyone waited for me. They were ready. All I had to do was wait until the bells rang. But nerves twisted in my gut, Varí pulsing hot against my skin like he could feel my reluctance.

Even the dagger on my thigh couldn’t save me from this.

It’s all right, I told myself. It’s fine. Once he realizes you’re worthless, he’ll leave you alone. You’ll be able to live a normal life.

And that traitorous piece of my mind that couldn’t do anything but speak the truth spoke back to me.

If he doesn’t kill you first.

He couldn’t kill me. Not for a while, at least. I was the key to the alliance, and if I turned up dead a month after the wedding, even my father, callous as he was, would call foul play.

Small favors. I knew there were worse fates than death, and lives that made it look peaceful. But focusing on those wouldn’t get me through today, or however long I needed to. At least I was safe against the thing I feared most.

The bell in the tower chimed, followed by the melodious echoes of all the bells in the city. I loved the music of it, every tone layering over the other until the entire city rang with sound.

I forced myself to take a step forward into the open archway. Allow people to see me. Helena stood at my back, an encouraging presence as Prince Andaros looked at me and smiled. The whole court looked at me then too. My father. His father. Everyone.

There was no smiling back.

I couldn’t.

But I managed to take a step.

The sun warmed my skin, causing the gold to glitter and shine in the sun. It truly was a beautiful day, with the warmth and clear skies. This, I could be grateful for.

My eyes skimmed over the few wispy clouds and I startled at movement.

Just like this morning when Varí had scuttled beneath my skirt, I almost missed it. But no. I hadn’t. There was something in the sky headed straight toward us.

I had stopped walking, and suddenly the rest of the court followed my gaze. Wings flared, a darker blue against the sky, and someone screamed.

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