Page 59 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

I gritted my teeth. “But there’s nothing I can do to make him admit to me that he . . . cares about me.”

“He has to show you his beast side before it can be broken. Then it’ll be true.”

My head was aching hearing her talk about it, and I rubbed it. “I thought it would be easy, but it’s much more difficult than I thought. I care about Gil, but he has to admit it to me. He’s so afraid I’ll shun him if he shows me that other side of him.”

“We both know you wouldn’t,” Natalie said. “I can feel it. You won’t try to hurt him, but I do worry that you may not feel the same way about him afterwards.”

Closing my eyes, I brought the cup to my lips and downed the rest of the tea, then I set it aside and got to my feet. “Thank you for telling me about it.” When I glanced at Annie, she nodded at me, and they both went back to whatever it was they were doing before I interrupted them.

I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t raid the kitchen for food. My stomach was too queasy. Instead, I made my way up to my room and stood near the window. The night deepened, and with it came a snowstorm that felt heavy and dark. I didn’t like the feel of it.

When Dyna bounded up to my window, meowing to get in, I opened it, and she came inside. I closed it back quickly, searching for Gil through the panes, but it was too dark. My heart was growing frantic at the thought of him being out in such a freezing storm.

“Why does he worry me so?” I asked Dyna. I closed the curtains and moved away from the window. Kneeling down, I ran my hand over Dyna’s back, and she rubbed her head against my hand. That’s when I realized she had something in her mouth.

“What do you have there?”

She dropped a dead chipmunk on the floor, and I gasped. Then I sighed in relief. “Oh, Dyna. Thank you. I’d much rather you have it . . . perhaps outside.” I picked up the tiny animal by the tail and moved it to the window sill.

“I won’t be able to sleep until I know he’s back.” I picked Dyna up and placed her on the bed, sitting with her and letting her comfort me with her rubs and licks to my hand.

The hour was growing late, and each minute that went by sent me into more worry. I peeked outside my room every few minutes, and I only saw Annie going back to her room with a bowl of water. She didn’t seem to see me, and when she’d gone, I stared at Gil’s door, wondering if he’d snuck into his room when I was busy pacing instead.

Surely he’d come here first.

It was past the midnight hour, after the furious snowstorm had died down, when my door opened. I jumped up from the chair near the hearth, my heart pounding. When I saw Gil look at me from the crack, I let out a breath and rushed to him. Pulling open the door, I looked him over to see if he was injured.

“I didn’t think you’d still be awa—”

“Don’tyou do that to me!” I cried, my lip trembling.

“Cale,” He grabbed my arms, and I pushed him.

“Don’t you dare keep me wondering where you are like that!”

Gil pulled me close, and my fingers curled into his shirt as tears trailed down my cheeks. “I didn’t think you’d worry so. Aren’t you used to me staying out long?”

“Not when you lock me in my room and run off all day, only to return late in the night.”

Pulling away, Gil smiled crookedly. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

I made a face. “Why, because you think you can take care of yourself?”

He frowned but nodded. “Something like that.”

My hand curled in his. “When I saw that thing attack today, I wanted to help, but I knew you had it handled. You didn’t have to lock me away as if I’m some sort of prisoner.”

“I know.” Gil kissed my knuckles, and I noticed how cold his face was from being out in the snow. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I was afraid you’d run out, too.”

Nodding, I said, “You might as well stay here. The fire’s going, and you can sleep in my bed since it’s so late.”

To my surprise, he didn’t deny my request, even though I realized it sounded more like a demand, and it thrilled me that he did as I said.

He took off his boots with a grunt and hobbled to the bed.

“You look clean,” I said. “Did you already wash?”

“Yes. I was too filthy not to.”

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