Page 3 of Cursed Beasts

The mention of my husband’s name, paired with the look in her eyes, made me nauseous. Speaking of said asshole, I needed to get home soon, so I didn’t run into him.

“Maybe,” I said, trying to smile at the thought that he got me something like a good wife would do. “I better get home so I can ask.”

“I’m sure he just wanted it to be delivered—.” She continued talking, but I tuned her out, knowing for a fact he didn’t buy me these. That second book had me wondering what the hell was in it and why they were sent here.

“Here you go,” she said, handing me a bag of the books.

“Great, what do I owe ya?” I asked, reaching for my purse.

“It’s been taken care of.”

I looked up at her, feeling even more suspicious.

What the fuck was happening?

“Serena paid for it?”

“Sure,” she said, looking like she was just placating me, walking around the register, giving me a hug. “I hope you like those books!”

She gave me a tight squeeze, holding on to me for a little longer than usual.

“Thanks, Daisy,” I said, pulling away, adding the bag to my other ones and putting the box under one arm. “I’ll see you later!”

“Take care, trust your gut!” I heard her say before the door shut.

People were acting strangely today. I shook off the weird feeling everyone was giving me, making my way back home. It was a gorgeous spring day that would be great for Beltane tomorrow.

The decorations for the festival were already going up, with wreaths and floral arrangements to signify renewal, fertility and the start of the warmer months.

Tomorrow we would gather with a big bonfire to celebrate a fruitful harvest and life.

Our house was only about a half a mile. The walk gave me a chance to go through my list of clients we were working with in the next few days, what we needed and a to-do list of what I needed to get done when I got home.

Coming up the driveway, I admired the enormous house. It was a mansion that the entire family lived in, which was annoying as hell most days. But I also enjoyed the chaos of all the kids running around.

I entered the house, seeing our butler, Gerard, waiting for me by the door.

“Good afternoon, Katarina, may I assist you?” He was an older man who had been with the family since before I was born. He had always been a fatherly figure to me, so I was very fond of Gerard.

“Can you take this to the library? I’m going to head to my room to freshen up so I can do a little work before dinner, please,” I said, giving him the bags my father had sent me for.

“Katarina, I could make you a snack, take it up to the library, and then you can freshen up afterwards,” he suggested.

“I feel like a bath might do me good right now. Thank you.” I walked up the stairs leading to the wing that Serena and I shared.

“Katarina, I urge you to work before you take a bath,” he pleaded.

I looked back at him and his face told me everything that I needed to know. Caston had his mistress here, probably fucking in my bed. My feet moved on their own accord as anger fueled my haste.

This was a dumb idea. I already knew this, but I was fucking tired of being disrespected in my own fucking home. The closer I got to our room, the louder the moans became.

I stopped outside of the door, frozen with shame, self-hate, and the memory of the starry-eyed girl who had hopes and dreams for this marriage. All I felt was failure. Before I could chicken out, I barged into the room.

Caston kept fucking her while he looked at me, his face morphed into anger. I looked down at her, wanting to hate her, but I knew there was no point. He dragged her back with promises of Goddess knows what.

“There are enough rooms in this house for you to fuck her, anywhere but in our fucking bedroom.” I walked right past them like they were nothing. I set my things down on a chair we had off to the side, and walked into the bathroom to get my bearings.

It was quiet in the bedroom, giving me the illusion that they had left. When I stepped out, he was still fucking her except he had his hand over her mouth, looking up at me. Moments like these, I wished I had a fraction of magic, so I could light his ass on fire.

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