Page 118 of Red's Beast

How am I supposed to find the beast and figure things out if he is driving me up the wall from his actions?

"I can help you with that, you know? You'd feel a lot better if you weren't so flustered," he admits. "Why not have a little fun while we hunt for the beast?"

"Because that's not our deal. You agreed to help me find him, and then I'd mate you, so do your part and stop this madness," I yell.

He shrugs as he accepts defeat. "Suit yourself."

Grandmother continues to pull book after book from her library and yet, we can’t find anything about the other realms.

As I open the book for the hundredth time, I trace my fingers over the notes about Logan and Lucian. Which one is the beast?

"Grandmother, what can you tell me about Logan and Lucian? Do you know anything other than what is in this book, like which one could he be?”

As our eyes meet, her face changes and I can tell she can't speak. At first, it's odd, but then I realize the deeper meaning behind it.

Corbin looks up, his eyes locking with mine briefly as he slams the book he's holding shut. He slumps in his chair and stares at me.

"Why are you both looking at me like that? You can’t tell me which one became the beast.”

As they continue to say nothing, the air leaves my lungs.

Grandmother shakes her head, clearly exasperated. "Child, I wish I could, but you have to figure this one out.”

Corbin looks guilty before he reaches for another book and averts his gaze.

"You know where he is, don't you?" I stand from the table, leaning over it and eyeing him closely. "Corbin, spill it."

"I never said I knew where he was, though I have ideas. The part you don't understand is the amount of magic it will take to get us there and we might be stranded after," he says as he looks at me over the top of the book. “What if I can’t get us back? It’s not like I’m a full-blooded witch. I’m more wolf than anything. My great grandmother was the witch and I don’t know how far back it goes on my father’s side.”

"But you can do it? You can take us there and save him.”.

He sighs and throws the book down on top of the table. "Little red, you do not know what you are asking. Do you know how many realms there are? If I take us to the wrong one and we're stranded, you won't be able to see him again. What part of this am I not making clear for you? The amount of magic is dangerous and I'm only a half-breed. My wolf shifter side is more dominant than the witch side I possess. I couldn’t even use magic until I was a goat and changed back. What you are asking for is possibly more than I can even do. If we end up in the wrong place and I can’t get us back, then you are stuck with me regardless, so why not mate now and just forget him?"

My heart sinks in my chest as I realize he's not lying. The magic in his blood is weak. If we choose the wrong realm, we might bestuck there for no telling how long until his magic returned, if he even had enough to begin with. There is no guarantee.

He notices my silence and continues, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you know I'm right. This mission is stupid and pointless. You don't know the realm she sent him to, nor do we know if I have enough magic to get us there or back. It's not like I've played with spells. Father didn't allow me around my false mother’s things, either, to even explore.”

I collapse into the chair, completely disheartened. "So, there is no chance of finding him?"

Grandmother scoffs. "Where there is a will, there is a way. Move over Corbin."

Grandmother scoots Corbin out of his chair and takes his place. "Now, what I believe he is trying to say is it's going to be difficult, but not impossible. Isn't that right, Corbin?"

He growls at her, looking down at her loathingly. "Woman, what are you trying to do? Get us both killed? You know if I take her to another realm, we're as good as dead if we are stuck there. Well, we can have some fun before that point, but still."

"Oh hush," she claims. "I know there has to be a way to bring the beast here. For your sake, I hope you fulfill your side of the bargain you made with Lillian. You think you know my granddaughter, but I know her better. You'll be gutted and laid out on the floor dying as she laughs during your last dying gasps covered in your blood. That is your fate if you can’t do your part."

My mind immediately paints the picture, and a smile comes to my face. The wolf in me relishes in the thought of slitting his throat and letting his blood pour out.

This is the first good thing I’ve heard in a while. Can we do it?

I catch Grandmother eyeing me and try to hide my smile. She scoffs and points at me. "See, she's thinking about it. If I were you, I'd become the help she can't get rid of instead of standing there being a pain in the tail."

Laughing, I shake my head in agreement. "My wolf wants to see you bleed. You tormented me for all these years and she won't have it any other way. Even if you save the beast, she's going to make your life a nightmare."

He looks between the two of us and shakes his head. "When you become my mate, she will fall over like an innocent lamb and beg for me. I'm not worried. The mate bond works very well and she’ll love me, even if she despises me now.”

Grandmother rolls her eyes as she opens the book in front of her, trying to not give in to his banter. We could sit here and argue all day at this rate. He definitely loves to argue, that much I can tell.

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