Page 7 of Beautiful Beast

He smirked. “Then the guards may wait at the end of the hall, so our conversation will still be private.”

His tone unsettled me, but I had no good reason to refuse. I glanced to the side and inclined my head. The guards retreated and Andaros advanced. Here, his gait was different. Smoother and easier. Confident in a stronger way.

With his head tilted to the side, he assessed me, glancing to see that the guards were far enough away for his liking. “The reports of your beauty were not exaggerated,” he said again. “But it seems the reports of your spirited temperament were. I expected more…” he shrugged, “fire.”

I lifted my chin. “Given who you are and what you are known for, I did not think fire something you would want in a wife or woman.”

He laughed softly. “I knew it wouldn’t take much for it to appear. And despite my reputation for dousing flames, life would be rather cold without any fire at all, don’t you think?”

“There are other ways to keep warm.”

“Are you interested in those ways?” The grin on his face told me what he meant.

Huffing a breath, I crossed my arms, showing him the barest amount of disrespect. “I spoke of blankets, my lord. Or the sun. Not carnal pursuits.”

Andaros truly smiled then. “Perhaps my purpose here wasn’t entirely in vain.”

“I am unsure what you mean.”

“I mean that Craisos does not hold to the same… traditions that Gleira does. We do not hold that a woman must be entirely pure when she comes to the altar, provided it is with her intended. I do not care if it is me you’ve shed your purity with. As long as it is no one else.”

He meant?—

Fucking stars. No.

“You spoke truly in the throne room, Prince Andaros.”

“Call me Daros. Most people do. My wife should as well.”

Slick, cold dread slid down my spine. “You spoke truly, Daros. I have much to attend to this evening, as do you. And while Craisos does not hold to those traditions, I do not belong to Craisos.”

“Yet.” He was right, but I wasn’t going to agree with him. Taking one step closer to me, I took a step back. “I’ll make sure you enjoy it, Princess.”

I slid my hand into the pocket of my gown and retrieved the dagger at my thigh. The next step he took had the blade pressing against his throat. “The other thing we hold to in Gleira is a woman’s right to say no. No matter who it is.”

“Hmm.” Anger sparked in his gaze. “Seems we have much to learn about the other’s culture. Once we reach Craisos, you will not have that right. You will be my wife. In every way.”

It wasn’t like I didn’t know, but the way he said it now made me shudder. “Do you think that surprises me, Prince? You are known for your violence. Not once did I think you wouldn’t turn that violence on me.”

“Hence the knife?”

“Hence the knife.”

“You will not be allowed weapons when you are my wife.”

All I did was smile. Weapons were a convenience, but I didn’t need them. I might not be as strong as the men who surrounded me, but I knew enough. “Since I am not your wife yet, I will bid you goodnight, Daros.”

He lifted his hands, taking a step back from me. The anger in his gaze gave way to smug victory. “This is going to be so much fun, Princess.”

I very much doubted that.

It wasn’t until he’d disappeared out of the hallway that I turned and made my way back to my rooms. The guards had turned their backs—no wonder they hadn’t come to my aid when I drew my knife. Yet another example of the failure of palace security.

Then again, Prince Andaros was a hero here. In these halls, no one would consider that he might be a danger to me. To anyone.

Neither guard spoke as they followed me back to my chambers, and I managed to hide the shaking. Adrenaline pulsed in my veins, and the relief he hadn’t tried further made the sweat on my skin cold.

Helena looked up from her seat when I came in, where she mixed the shining gold ink for marking my skin. She noted my face. “What’s wrong?”

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