Page 114 of Beau and the Beast

“You’re naïve, Beau—Iknowthat to be true.”

The pulse of anger and disappointment had made Wolfram cruel, and even as he spoke the words he knew that he was being childish.

Beau’s posture changed in that odd way that told Wolfram he was about to lose an argument.

“Maybe you think so, but I know my brother better than anyone in the world. He always trusts me. And it’s fucked up that there’s something you could do to help me feel better and youwon’t. All you have to do is say it’s ok to pick up the phone.”

“I. Can’t,” Wolfram said through gritted teeth. “He blackmailed me. What would make this time any different?”

Beau stood up from the floor and smoothed his shirt.

“Where are you going?” Wolfram demanded.

“I’m going to say goodnight and go back to my room,” Beau said.

“What—is that some sort of punishment? I don’t let you make a phone call and you’re done with me for the night?”

When Beau looked down, his eyes were flashing.

“Noteverythingis about you, Wolf,” Beau spat. “I’m angry right now and if I don’t excuse myself, I’m probably going to start saying things that I don’t mean.”

The words stung considering it was exactly what Wolfram had been doing.

Twenty years my junior and still lifetimes more mature,Wolfram thought.

“I don’t want to say a bunch of careless things to you. Last night was wonderful—todaywas wonderful—and I want to be able to remember it without thinking of some terrifically dumb fight. So, I’m going to tell you goodnight, Wolf, and I’ll speak to you tomorrow when I’m not upset.”

Wolfram crossed his arms but didn’t protest, watching coolly as Beau made his way to the door. He turned at the last minute, the expression on his face softening.

“We’re okay, you know,” he said. “You and me. Don’t go sleepwalking over this.”

“You don’t have to be kind to me just because you’re afraid I’m going to wreck another room.”

“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m being kind to you because I care about you,” Beau said. “That’s what people do when they care about each other.”

“I don’t need to be lectured by you about kindness,” Wolfram snarled.

Beau just sighed. “Goodnight, Wolf.”

As the door shut with a click, Wolfram felt tremendously hollow.

The anger drained out of him instantaneously and he was left with his own bullish words echoing in his head.

He’d been given so many chances to grow up and here he was, acting like a selfish teenager. Beau had put his life into Wolfram’s hands, had trusted him. What would it take for Wolfram to do the same?

Chapter Twenty-One

“Are you up? Tea?”

The email from Wolfram came through a few minutes after midnight. Violet was awake because she had started watching service dog videos on YouTube and had gotten sucked into an emotional series of dog and owner reunion videos, not realizing how late it was. She snorted when she saw the email from Wolfram pop up on her laptop.

It had been a long time since Wolfram had offered her a cup of tea, and usually it came as a peace offering after he’d been pigheaded and stubborn.

Violet threw on a robe and made her way over to his wing, letting herself into the study. He already had tea steeping in a pot when she arrived and she crossed to the middle table where he sat.

“What’s got you feeling repentant in the middle of the night?” she asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “How do you know how I’m feeling?”

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