Page 73 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

Ihadseenmanypeople buried after death. The worst one had been my father, and I remember my mother not shedding a tear until she was alone at home. Looking at Gil’s stone face as he piled the dirt onto Royce’s body in the courtyard reminded me of hers that day, as if he was wearing a mask as Royce was lowered into his grave.

We’d prepared everything for the past two days, and today, we’d gotten up early to begin digging—me, Gil, Edgar, and Eugenia. Mary and Natalie stayed inside with Annie. They brought us water when they weren’t consoling her, and at one point, when I began to feel sick, Mary had me sit down for a break. But I was back at it after we lowered his wrapped body into the hole and then packed the dirt over him.

When we were finished, Gil looked out past the gate, and I followed his eyes, wondering what he could see or feel that I couldn’t. It began to snow when we ushered Annie, Mary, and Natalie out, and I was at least thankful that it had held out long enough for us to dig. But regardless, the area around Royce’s grave was a mess, with a big dirt mound in the middle of the snow.

Gil left as we stood there, as Edgar gave his words of grief over Royce. When we were all done saying our piece, we went inside, and I changed and washed before helping Mary and Natalie make meat pies. Every once in a while, I looked over, expecting Royce to be standing at the stove.

After we served supper, Edgar took over watch for Eugenia, having come inside after the burial and slept for a while.

The hour was late by the time I came upstairs with a plate of meat pie. I pushed the door of Gil’s tower open and made my way up carefully. Then I knocked on the door at the top.

“Gil?” I started. “I brought you some food.”

At first, I thought he wouldn’t answer, and I turned away, but then the door opened. I looked back, my heart skipping a beat when he appeared in the doorway. But when I saw how sullen he looked, my chest fell.

I came into the room, and he shut the door behind me, locking it.

He trusts me.

I set the plate down as he sat at his desk, ignoring me as he wrote something down on some paper.

Sitting on his bed, I petted Dyna as she came up to me, rubbing her face against me. I held her close, needing the comfort. I watched Gil’s back, seeing how he stretched every once in a while. He looked like he could use a back rub, but I didn’t want to disturb him. Instead, I pulled off my boots and laid down on my side, petting Dyna as she curled up next to me. I didn’t want to fall asleep, but my eyes grew heavy, and I couldn’t help but close them.

I woke up briefly after dozing and opened my eyes to see Gil climbing into the bed beside me. He’d started a fire, and Dyna moved to the end of the bed as he nestled in beside me.

With a tired sigh, he drew me against him, into his warm, strong arms, and I molded into him, happy now.

“Gil . . .” I whispered, still half asleep. “I love you.”

His hold on me tightened, but he was silent. I didn’t expect him to say anything back. I only wanted to tell him how I felt. But he didn’t let go of me, so it must have been fine to say. I drifted off to sleep, and when I woke again, it was morning.

Gil sat on the edge of the bed, his back to me as he pulled his boots on.

“Where are you going?” I asked him. Sitting up, I put my hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

He flinched and pulled away, and I sat back, hurt.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Those creatures come after me,” he got out. “I don’t just hunt for food in the woods. I hunt whatever wants to bring me down, to destroy the manor and utilize the curse. They don’t like us here. Never have.”

“I don’t under—”

“I’ll be going into the woods,” Gil said. “The being that did this to Royce could do it to any of you.” He shook his head. “It’s better if I’m not here. If I can get the monsters out there to focus on me, you could all thrive here, even when the barrier falls. You could even leave the manor grounds if you wanted to.”

“Why are you saying that? There’s no way any of us could thrive without you. We need you.Ineed you. Not just to live. Gil . . . I love you.”

“Enough, Cale.” He jumped to his feet and glared at me. “You’ve known me for two seasons. There’s no way you can feel that way so quickly.”

“But you—”

“You don’t understand what it is.” His voice was harsh, and I looked away, at a loss for words. “What we had was good, but I’ve outgrown you.” He grabbed up his cloak.

Heat rimmed my eyes. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do. Now get out.”

I got to my feet, and Dyna put her paws up on me, as if trying to get my attention. “If you go into the woods and stay, then what?”

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