Page 66 of Beau and the Beast

Beau nodded. "They're like clockwork, Wolf. It would be stranger if Ihadn'tdreamed about the fire at least once since I got here. But it's worse waking up and not knowing where my brother is, not having anyone to talk to. It sounds self-pitying, but I've never felt as alone as I did the night that I woke up from that nightmare here in the penthouse."

"You should come get me," Wolfram said without thinking.

Beau laughed. "Like a little kid, come to tell you I had a bad dream?"

Wolfram frowned. It was probably stepping over a boundary to offer Beau comfort after a nightmare, but he'd already extended the invitation, unable to fight the impulse. Wolfram wasn't about to take it back now.

"If there was something someone could do to help me through those nights of sleepwalking, I would want them to," Wolfram said. "And from what you've just said, thereissomething I can do when you have a nightmare. I can help by not allowing you to be alone."

Beau looked at him as if he were considering it. He wasn't going to brush Wolfram off, and that was certainly saying something.

"So next time it happens, I want you to come to my door and let me know what happened. You need not spend a moment of your time here alone and afraid."

A smile slipped across Beau's face slowly like the rainbow sheen of oil across water.

"Ok," he said, nodding. "But you've got to promise not to be mad at me when I show up one night at three a.m., upset and demanding companionship and a cup of tea."

"I would like nothing more than to prove a good companion at three a.m.," Wolfram said, knowing that he meant it. He dropped his tail and let it swing behind himself.

"I think that's enough on dour topics today," he said. "Would you like to break for lunch?"

* * *

"Violet, just the woman I was looking for."

Violet spun on her heel to find Beau with a cheerful smile and two plates in his hands.

"Would you like to have lunch with me? I jumped the gun and I’ve already made you a sandwich."

She smiled easily at him. "Of course. I was about to break for lunch anyway."

"Great," he said. "I thought we could eat on the balcony. Get some sunshine."

Violet avoided the balcony for the most part. They all did. It was tempting to go out, but what would happen if someone spotted them and started asking questions?

She almost told him that they shouldn't, that it would be too dangerous—but wouldn't it be ok to be out there, just this once, just for a little while? If someone were to spot them, they'd just be two friends on the penthouse balcony enjoying lunch.

She nodded and followed his lead out to the little platform.

The New Whitby skyline was beautiful at midday, all blue skies and the river in the distance. 330 West was the tallest building in the immediate vicinity and it was pleasant to look out over the other rooftops, to see the way the different architecture played together toward the horizon. The sounds, too, were dazzling—so loud in comparison to the inside of the penthouse. Many stories below, Violet could hear the sounds of the midday traffic, impatient cab drivers honking their horns, a siren in the distance. She used to love the sounds that so many others found grating because they reminded her of the fact that she was alive, a living part of the vibrant city.

She stripped out of her blazer, happy in that moment that she had a sleeveless shell on underneath—more skin to offer up to the sun for the little time that they would be outside. Beau followed her lead, setting down the sandwiches before stripping off his sweater and undoing the top buttons of his shirt. They settled into the lounge chairs that had been used so infrequently and Violet savored the first bite of the sandwich Beau had made for her.

"This was a good idea," she said after a few minutes in smiling silence. "I think part of why I never come out here is because it makes me feel too guilty."

"Guilty? Over what?"

"Because Wolfram can't come out," she admitted. "I feel like it's wrong to enjoy something like this when he can't."

Beau shrugged. "I'm sure he'd rather you enjoy yourself in any way you can. You've known him longer than me, of course, but he doesn't seem like the type who would want someone to suffer just to make things fair."

"I've known him longer, sure, but I'd be willing to wager at this point that you know himbetter."

"Really? This fast?"

It was Violet's turn to shrug. "I've never seen him take to someone like he has with you. That first week or so, when you said he kicked you out and fought with you... that's more in line with what the person I've known Wolfram to be. A good person, essentially, but not always easy to get along with."

"Hm. Maybe he needed someone to stand up to him. Or maybe he's changed and everyone was too afraid of him to find out."

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