Page 58 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

“We all know to stay inside. You would have rushed out there with him!” She took my hand, but I jerked it away, shaking my head.

“Just leave me alone,” I started, then fled to the library, where I knew no one would be.

As soon as I came inside, I growled angrily and sat in the window seat, peering out the pane to see if Gil was around. I saw Eugenia below, talking with Edgar as he shoveled fresh snow over the blood stains on the path.

My throat bobbed as I swallowed, pain swelling there from tears that rose in my eyes. I pushed my palms against them, willing them away. I was so angry at Mary—no, Gil—for locking me away, as if I would go out and potentially harm myself. I knew Gil would have much more control over such a situation. I would have stayed back if he trusted me.

But he doesn’t. That’s why he locked me away. He still doesn’t trust me, after all the time we’ve spent together.

The sky was growing dark. Gil had been gone for a while now. But I waited, finally calming down enough to feel guilty about how harsh I was with Mary. Leaving the library, I went out to find her, but I found only Annie and Natalie downstairs in the sitting room, both of them sipping tea from the looks of it.

When I approached, Annie gave me a stern look, and I wondered what I had done this time to upset her.

“If you’re looking for Gil, he’s still out,” Natalie said.

“I was actually looking for Mary,” I replied. “Have you seen her?”

“She went up to her room already. You hurt her feelings.”

My shoulders fell. “I didn’t mean to. I wanted to apologize.”

Annie sighed and nodded at the chair. “Why don’t you just sit for a while instead? Drink some tea. It’s been a long evening.”

Despite her deadpan expression, I sat down in a chair with them and took the cup of tea she poured for me. From the smell of it, it was cherry. I had seldom seen them drink tea, and I was curious.

“Did someone make the tea?” I asked.

“Well, we certainly didn’t find it lying around in Ashwood,” Natalie snorted.

I sighed. “Iknowthat. But I didn’t see any in the garden before.”

“I grow them in my room, dear,” Annie said.

“Oh.” I remembered seeing the plants in there before.

“We usually only have it when we’re distressed,” Natalie added. Sighing, she curled her feet up on the chaise and looked out the window.

The fire crackled in the hearth nearby, and I looked around the room, marveling at how cozy it was with the cushioned furniture, paintings of landscapes on the walls, and end tables full of books. It seemed most everyone here enjoyed reading. I suppose they didn’t have a choice, as sheer boredom was enough to bring even me to such things before, even when I couldn’t read.

“Is it the barrier breaking?” I asked, finally leaning back in my chair and sipping the tea, which warmed me.

“Yes,” Annie said softly. “It’s held up for nearly fifteen years, but it’s withering.”

“Why?”

“Because of the curse.” Natalie looked at me seriously. “Year fifteen will be on Spring Tide, and by then, the barrier will vanish completely.”

I shook my head. “Why fifteen?”

“We don’t know.” There was an edge of aggravation in Annie’s voice. “But if you can’t manage to woo Gil by then, I fear we’re all done for.”

“Annie—” Natalie started.

“I’ll not continue to coat this situation with more sugar!” Annie glared at her, then she cut her eyes to me. “I understand these things take time, Cale, but you and Gil have become close, so close that he locked you in your room because he was worried that thing might get to you. What else do you call that besides. . .” She stopped, unable to say the word.

I let out a breath. Was that it? Was that why Gil had locked me in my room? He loved me?

Huffing, Annie went on, “If Spring Tide comes and the curse isn’t broken, we will all remain here. Gil has become so lost in his mind that it’ll only be a matter of time afterward until he can no longer come out of his beast state. And if he leaves us, we’ll have no defense.”

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