Page 181 of Beau and the Beast

Though Wolfram had a natural aversion to curses, there was something fitting about this one.

And now, fourteen months after the end of his imprisonment in the penthouse, Wolfram seemed to be getting the hang of life again. He kept busy, working as the face of the Non-Human People Advocacy Association that Beau and Violet founded along with Ferryn and a handful of the other NHPs that had stepped to the front of the movement.

But while Ferryn split her time equally between the NHPAA resource center in New Whitby and her time lobbying and speaking in D.C., Wolfram stayed by Beau’s side.

* * *

New Whitbyin June was picturesque and unreal.

Wolfram had met Beau back at the NHPAA offices after the live morning show, surprising him and whisking him off to the park for lunch. He spread a blanket out for them and then revealed the bottle of wine he’d packed, the cheese sandwiches for Beau and container of rare roast beef for himself. They ate in near silence, appreciating the noise of the park, Beau still decompressing from his TV appearance.

“I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to host a dinner party on the same day as that stupid show,” Beau said, laying down and placing his head in Wolfram’s lap.

“Because your fabulous new book came out yesterday and you wanted to celebrate with your friends,” Wolfram reminded him.

“Because I hate myself and wanted to be as stressed out as possible,” Beau said, frowning.

Wolfram played a hand gently through his hair. “Don’t be stressed. You were great this morning, and now you have the rest of the day to cook.”

Beau loved entertaining—threw bashes with a frequency that Wolfram would’ve found vaguely exhausting if it weren’t clear that Beau loved it. But he’d been planning this party for weeks and was uncharacteristically nervous about it.

“You didn’twatchme this morning, did you?” Beau asked after a long lull in conversation.

“Of course I did,” Wolfram said. “In fact, I’m thinking of leaving you for Daphne.”

“Don’t even joke,” Beau said, frowning.

Wolfram snorted and then moved, wanting to lie down, too. As he stretched out, the sunshine warmed every plane of his body, his face. He’d missed the sunshine more than he realized—and all of the scents of the outdoors were so different, now.

Plenty of New Whitby residents were out with them in the park that day, enjoying the warm weather, and their scents played over his palate in the same way that their sounds registered in the back of his mind.

He was free. The whole wide world surrounded him and thanks to Beau, he could go anywhere he wanted.

Beau rolled over, laying a warm hand on Wolfram’s chest.

“What are you doing for the rest of the day? Can you come home with me?” Beau asked.

“I’m supposed to teach an investment workshop back at the center at two, and then there’s a meeting with the board at five.”

“Ugh, seriously?” Beau asked. “Noah didn’t tell me ya’ll were meeting so late.”

“I don’t think it’ll be long,” Wolfram reassured him. “If it goes longer than an hour, I’ll pull Noah and myself out so that we won’t be late for the party.”

“You’d better,” Beau said, frowning.

Wolfram tutted and pulled Beau in for a kiss.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

* * *

Wolfram and Beauwere still getting settled in their new home, despite the fact that they’d moved in the minute the contractors were done a month ago, before the dust had even settled.

330 East was the world’s first condominium complex designed for complete accessibility for humans with handicaps as well as the unique needs of NHPs. It had been a revolutionary project, and before the last touches were put on the building, there were architecture firms around the world copying the plans they’d made there in New Whitby.

Wolfram had, of course, bought them the biggest and best unit in the building, two floors down from the unit where Noah and Lincoln would move in next week.

Beau had been surprised by the whirlwind romance between his brother and ex-boyfriend, but at no point had he felt even the slightest bitterness or jealousy. Lincoln had been wonderful—just not the man for him—and his heart overflowed with joy at the thought that Lincoln and Noah had found love with one another. He’d never seen Lincoln so tender around someone, or Noah so confident.

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