Page 135 of Red's Beast

Corbin scarfs the first one down, and reaches for another, but pauses. The woman smiles at him and nods for him to take more.

"Come on. You should eat too. Didn't you travel a long way here?" She glances over at me cautiously before grabbing a muffin for herself. "I promise nothing will happen to you if you eat one."

As she takes a bite, she moans about how good it is and I walk closer to the counter to grab one. I reach for it and grab the one closest to me. It's plump and fills the palm of my hand with how large it is. Little bits of strawberries adorn the top and the smell of it wafts toward my nose.

It's heavenly.

I unwrap the bottom, taking a bite from the top as I do. No wonder Corbin is on his second one. This is wonderful and possibly the best muffin I've ever eaten.

It's gone in a flash and I'm tempted to take another. As I reach for one, she laughs. "Told you they were good. I make them all the time for a family that lives here and they just love them. Sometimes I make blueberry ones too.”

My hand lands on the muffin, and I pause. What am I doing? I'm standing here, eating, like I don't have a care in the world. I'm here to get Lucian and shouldn't be wasting my time stuffing my face.

"What did you say your name was?" I ask, glancing up at her.

She cuts me a look, then runs her tongue across her teeth. "I didn't say. My name is Emmeline.”

My eyes widen as she confirms her name. Part of me says I shouldn’t utter my name in case she has heard of me, but that is quickly spoiled.

"I'm Corbin and this is Lillian.”

Her brows raise, and then she straightens her composure. "Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm sure you have business here to take care of while you're here. This world is just full of surprises."

"We need to go." I glance over at Corbin as he finishes his second muffin. He looks a little full and a weird expression crosses his features.

"What are in these muffins?" He looks at me and bats his eyes like he's dazed. "Lillian, they're laced with something."

While he falls to the floor, I'm completely unphased by whatever was in the muffins so far. She glares at me. "Well, aren't you just a peach? You've taken all our fun."

"What is it you hoped would happen?"

My hand shakes and I stick it behind my back, trying not to draw attention to it. It doesn't work and she notices.

"Not the reaction I hoped for, but you are affected. Natalia will be pleased." Her mouth spreads wide into a mischievous grin. "She's eager to see you again. I’m not sure how you found this realm, but you won’t be leaving here."

"But she's dead. We killed her. What are you talking about?” I don’t pay any attention to anything else she has said because hearing Natalia is alive is enough to hold my focus.

"Oh, sister. I have a new pet for us," Natalia calls from outside and I turn slowly toward her voice.

"No, this can’t be.”

Corbin gasps for air and fights the effects as he reaches out with one hand. "Run, save yourself."

The door swings open, revealing Natalia on the other side with a very large, furry wolf right beside her. She glances over at me, her smile turning into a smirk. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here. We've been dying to see you again."

"What have you done?" As my gaze moves to the wolf's, there is no recognition there. Lucian doesn't recognize me.

He steps forward, shielding her and growling as he lowers his head at me. My heart thuds loudly in my chest as he takes another step, fully placing himself between me and her. The beast I once knew is long gone.

“Lucian.”

He cuts his eyes toward me, growling and showing his teeth.

“Oh, you poor thing. He’s not the same Lucian you once knew.” Natalia reaches down, petting his head. “He’s mine now, just as I always wanted. It seems the news of you possibly taking Corbin as your mate left him feeling a little defeated and like he didn’t have any other choice. When you realize that your time is up and the only way to free your family is to sacrifice yourself, well, you do what must be done.”

“No,” I whisper. “What have you done to him?

Corbin reaches for the counter and pulls up, looking a little wobbly. “Lillian, he’s lost to us. We need to go home and forget this place.”

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