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Rosalie shook her head impatiently. “If you hadn’t shown up, I would have convinced him that his men had grabbed the wrong person. They were looking for someone connected to the castle, and now they think that person is me.”

Dimitri’s brows snapped together. “Those men were after me?”

“No, I don’t think they wanted you. I think they wanted…” She grimaced, seeming to have trouble finishing the sentence. “They must have been monitoring the transformation of the castle grounds,” she said at last with a sigh. “They know you’re in residence, and they wanted leverage against you.”

Dimitri swallowed. “They wanted to use you against me?”

Rosalie shrugged. “I’m guessing that was their original plan. They intended to take you for whatever they could. But now he thinks the Legacy is pushing us together, and that if he lets it play out a little further, there will be a great deal more to take.”

She stopped just inside the tree line, turning to look at him. “Those men back there want you to become a Beast because then the Legacy will fill your castle with gold, jewels, and other valuables. They intend to take that wealth, and they don’t carewhat state they leave you in afterward. Is that clear enough for you? Before that little scene back there, there was someone who wanted to rob you. Now there’s someone who wants to see you cursed for life.”

“At least they’re not still holding you, though,” Dimitri said stubbornly.

Rosalie stared at him, mouth agape. “Are you determined to ignore all good sense?”

Yet again, Dimitri’s lips twitched up despite himself. Rosalie’s eyes flashed in response, and he quickly straightened his face.

“I can see I’m extremely deficient,” he said gravely. “May I suggest we discuss it further once we’ve reassured your friend of your safety?”

Rosalie seemed to accept his words, but the moment he stepped onto the road and turned northward, she called after him.

“Stop!” She marched to his side. “Where are you going? You can’t think I’m going with you to your castle! That’s the last place I intend to go. I’m going back home.”

“Daphne’s waiting for us at the manor,” Dimitri said apologetically. “She was exhausted from sprinting all the way to fetch me, so I left her to rest and recover and said I would bring you to her there. It’s closer than town, you see, and I wasn’t sure what state you’d be in.”

“You left her there alone?” Rosalie’s eyes widened. “Anything could have happened to her!”

“She was inside,” he offered. “I’m sure she won’t have picked any roses.”

Rosalie groaned. “Why did she run to you of all people?”

“She behaved very sensibly,” Dimitri said. “I was the closest source of help. I’m relieved she came to me.”

Rosalie narrowed her eyes. “You would be. Just think how all the girls in town will swoon.”

Dimitri frowned, but Rosalie had already turned in the direction of the castle with an air of resignation.

“I’m going to fetch Daphne and that’s all. Once I know she’s safe, we’re going home. We’ve both suffered enough from the Legacy today.”

Chapter 7

Rosalie

Rosalie walked as quickly as she could toward the castle. She didn’t want to admit it to Dimitri, but the events of the day were catching up with her. Her legs trembled from a combination of exhaustion and weakness after the stress of her capture.

She couldn’t slow down, though. Daphne—who hated running—had apparently sprinted all the way to the castle to get help for Rosalie. And she was currently sitting alone, probably terrified for Rosalie—not to mention shaken from her own attempted abduction. With the Legacy running amok at the castle, Rosalie couldn’t just abandon her friend. For the sake of Daphne, Rosalie could manage to get in and out of the castle once without touching a rose.

Dimitri wisely remained silent for the short walk, and the distance passed quickly. But at the edge of the manor grounds, Rosalie stopped. Despite the recent dramatic events, it had only been a short time since she had last stood in the same spot. And yet the garden had already changed. Before, the beautiful, glowing roses had all been a rich scarlet. Now the deep red was interspersed with gold. Not yellow or a light peach, but actual gold.

Rosalie gulped. She had seen every possible natural hue of rose, but she had never seen golden roses before. What had prompted the fresh burst of power from the Legacy?

Dimitri stopped beside her. “Are you really that worried about the roses? You don’t seem the type to be entranced.”

Rosalie glared up at him. “And you are? You nearly picked one the first day yourself, remember! And you’re the last person the Legacy wants to target. So just think how strong it’s going to be for me!” The last words were almost a wail.

Dimitri moved suddenly, sweeping Rosalie into his arms and cradling her against his chest. Rosalie gasped in shock, instinctively throwing her arms around his neck to anchor herself in place.

He grinned down at her. “If you’re so worried, I’ll help you. I’ll carry you into the manor, and you won’t have to set foot in the grounds. I’ll be sure to keep a tight hold and not let you lunge for any of the roses we pass.”