Page 14 of The Beast Between Us
The sheets are soft. Too soft. The kind of luxury I’ve only ever seen in shop windows or read about in books. It feels wrong to be here. To be treated kindly. To have space to breathe.
I don’t know what Mr Evermere expects of me.
He says I’m here to repay a debt, to serve his House. But he hasn’t barked orders or dragged me into a kitchen or forced me to scrub floors. He looked at me like hesawme…not as property, not as a burden.
And that might be the most unsettling thing of all.
I clutch my arms around myself and stare into the fire.
Maybe he is a monster.
But maybe he’s not the worst one I’ve known.
A knock at the door startles me. I quickly pull the blanket over my bare legs and smooth my hair with trembling fingers.
“Enter,” I call once I’m covered.
Oswin steps in with a small nod, arms carefully cradling something wrapped in deep blue velvet.
“Sire has sent you an evening gown, my lady,” he says, laying the bundle gently on the bed. “It belonged to his mother. She sewn it herself before her untimely passing. Sire insisted you wear it.”
“Oh,” I breathe, eyes fixed on the gown as the velvet is drawn back.
The dress is a soft, radiant gold, the color of candlelight and faded memories. The fabric shimmers faintly in the firelight, not with glitter or embellishment, but with the kind of worn elegance only age can give. The bodice is fitted and structured, trimmed with delicate embroidery that curls like vines. Off-the-shoulder sleeves fall in soft layers, and the full skirt flows like liquid sunlight, pooling over the bed in elegant ripples.
It’s beautiful.
It’stoobeautiful.
“I can’t possibly wear this,” I whisper, shaking my head. “It’s not meant for someone like me.”
Oswin smiles kindly. “Forgive me, my Lady, but I believe it’s meant for youexactly.”
He’s older…his hair more silver than gray, combed neatly back to reveal a soft, lined face that carries the weight of many years and secrets. His uniform is simple but impeccably kept, and though he moves with care, there’s a steadiness to him. A quiet strength. The kind of man who stands his ground even when the world turns dark.
“Nonsense,” I say with a soft laugh, brushing my fingers along the golden fabric. “But I’ll care for it as if it were the most treasured possession a person could own.”
His smile deepens, crinkling the corners of his eyes.
And for a moment, the shadows in the room don’t feel quite so heavy.
***Thorne***
“What could possibly be causing her delay?” I grumble at Oswin.
“She fell asleep, Sire,” he replies calmly. “She was quite embarrassed and said she would dress quickly.”
I pace once, then again, jaw tight. “Asleep? At this hour?”
The beast snarls beneath my skin, restless and irritated. Hunger coils through me…not just for food, but for something I refuse to name.
“She’s been here long enough to learn the rhythm of this house. We do not keep the table waiting.”
All right, she’s been here less than a day, but that’s more than enough time to learn the rules. Oswin assured me he warned her that we areneverlate for dinner.
He says nothing, which somehow infuriates me more.
“She thinks herself above the rules already?” I snap. “Or perhaps she enjoys testing how far she can bend them.”
