Page 120 of Red's Beast

I jump for a moment at how clear his voice comes through. It’s almost as if he is speaking to me, though his mouth never moves.

"Beast, tell me what realm Natalia sent you to or I'll never be able to bring you home."

Movement catches my attention in the house. My gaze drifts toward it, wondering what could be moving inside. Wasn't he alone here?

A man and woman step out, with another boy who looks about twenty, if that.

"Who are they?"

The beast looks back and lets out a huff. "My family. I’m not the only one she did something to. When you bring me back, they'll need to be brought back as well. They've been trapped here all these years."

I hear the woman say the name Logan as she speaks to the younger man, and everything clicks. "You're Lucian."

The beast looks at me with knowing eyes and nods his head. "You know my name.”

"Oh, Lucian." I throw my arms around his massive neck and let out a cry. "Corbin has magic, but he doesn't have much. I don't know how to do any of this or what realm you're in, but I need your help."

He stares at me for a moment and opens his mouth, but he's cut short. A blast of magic sizzles through the air, causing me to gasp.

"Well, what do we have here? A little girl, coming to play the hero. How charming."

When I glance behind Lucian, I finally see her. She's not a very intimidating looking woman, but the sneer on her face makes me wonder what she is up to.

Her long wavy light brown hair moves in the wind as her deep chocolate eyes land on me.

"Emmeline," Lucian growls.

"Emmeline? Who's Emmeline?" My mind draws a blank, and then I remember."You're her sister."

She smiles wickedly before muttering a few words to herself. As she straightens her posture, she sighs. "You're not supposed to be here and I don’t know how you got here, but you won’t be for long.”

Lucian

I dart toward Lily, hoping to reach her in time, but before I can do a single thing, magic swirls around her and she fades from view.

My heart breaks as I stare at where she just was, wishing she’d come back. Footsteps fill my ears as Logan stomps toward Emmeline.

She cackles as she runs toward the safety of the woods and disappears.

Ma comes forward, falling to her knees beside me. "Is that her? Is that the girl who is your mate?"

I nod my head, so she understands.

Her eyes narrow as she shakes her head. "That witch. I will murder her myself, even if it means retching that head of hers off her shoulders. How dare she take your mate away."

My eyes widen for a moment as I watch her stand, and she heads inside the house. Pa comes to stand beside me with a look on his face that I can’t even begin to describe. It’s a mixture of surprise and wonder, but also a look of regret. He then looks at the woods and at the house.

“Emmeline has crossed a line which will cost her dearly. I hope she can run fast.”

Something clings together in the house, which makes me jump. When I look at the door, Ma comes out with a giant knife clutched in her hand as she takes off like a streak of lightning into the woods.

“That’s my woman,” Pa says with a chuckle.

He may be amazed by his mate, but I’m completely horrified.

I quickly stand and begin whining as I look at the woods where she just disappeared. Anything just to get his attention. He looks down at me in confusion.

“What is it? She can handle herself.”