Page 98 of Beauty's Beast

“Lady Kristine?”

She opened the door to Caddaric. His gaze searched her face. “It’s happened, hasn’t it?”

She nodded and stepped back so he could enter the room.

Caddaric drew a sharp breath as Erik stood up. “Have you tried talking to him?” the wizard asked. “Does he understand you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Erik, bark once if you understand me.”

The wolf barked once, his gray eyes filled with frustration and anger.

“I cannot bear it,” Kristine said softly. “Is there nothing you can do?”

“I’m afraid not.”

There was another knock at the door. Kristine blinked back her tears as she crossed the floor to admit Nan. The maid’s eyes grew wide when she saw the wolf standing beside the bed.

“It’s all right, Nan,” Kristine said, taking the tray from the girl’s hands. “Thank you.”

Nan pointed at the wolf with a hand that trembled. “Where did that come from?”

“He is my pet,” Caddaric said smoothly. “You needn’t be afraid. He won’t harm you.”

“Your pet? I’ve never in all my life seen a wolf that big! Why, he’s as big as a pony. How did he get here?”

Caddaric raised one brow. “I conjured him, of course. I am, after all, a wizard.”

Nan glanced at Kristine, at the wolf, at Caddaric, then hurried out of the room.

“Do you intend to tell the staff about this?” Caddaric asked.

Kristine shook her head. “No. I shall tell them that Erik was called away on business.”

“Yes, perhaps that would be best,” the wizard agreed. He let out a heavy sigh. “I do not look forward to telling Edith.”

Kristine nodded, glad she would not have to tell Erik’s mother that the transformation was complete.

She set the tray on the table and removed the lid. The sight of the roast beef somehow made it all real. She put the plate on the floor and stepped back.

The wolf looked at it, then looked up at her. With a shake of his head, he ran out of the room.

Moments later, there was a scream from the kitchen followed by the crash of crockery.

Caddaric and Kristine hurried downstairs to find Erik scratching at the back door. Mrs. Grainger stood with her hack to the wall, her face as white as her apron.

“It’s all right, Mrs. Grainger,” Kristine said. She opened the door and the wolf ran outside. “He’s harmless.”

“Harmless! I’ve never in all my life seen a wolf as big as that one. However did the beast get into the house?”

“He belongs to Caddaric. Didn’t Nan tell you?”

Mrs. Grainger shook her head. “Will it be staying here, in the house?”

“Yes.”

Mrs. Grainger sank down onto one of the kitchen chairs. A moment later, Yvette came bursting into the room. “There’s a huge black wolf in the yard!”

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