Page 37 of Beast of Blood and Roses (Dark Ever After Fairytales #1)
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Rosalie
I burst out of the house like a woman possessed, my feet barely touching the front steps as I launched myself into the daylight.
The blazing sun made me squint as I ran as fast as I could, my arms and legs pumping frantically, driven by pure desperation.
Every step brought me closer to the border where golden eyes gleamed even in the bright light—my father surrounded by a pack of wolves that looked restless and dangerous in the afternoon sun.
A tall, muscular man stepped through the pack with commanding presence.
Long brownish-blond hair caught the sunlight, and even from this distance I could see his piercing blue eyes—cold and calculating.
Trystan Hunter. He moved like a king among his subjects, radiating dangerous power that made my skin crawl.
Fear exploded in my chest as I saw Dad raise the Witch’s Heart, the dual-colored stone catching the light in his hands. He was about to hand it over to the creature who could destroy everything.
“Dad, no!” I screamed. The sound carried across the property in the clear daylight, causing several wolves to turn their golden eyes toward me.
But I was still too far away. I pushed my legs harder, ignoring the burning in my lungs as I raced against time to stop him from sealing Beast’s death warrant.
I was still running when he ignored my desperate plea and extended the amulet toward Trystan’s waiting hand. Time seemed to slow as I watched the exchange about to happen—Beast’s only protection about to be handed over to his enemy.
But just as their fingers were about to touch, a brilliant blue light suddenly erupted from the Witch’s Heart.
The magical energy shot out like lightning, striking both Dad and Trystan with enough force to send them flying backward.
They hit the ground hard, rolling across the grass as the wolves around them erupted into vicious snarls and snaps.
The amulet went spinning through the air, glinting in the sunlight. It flew out of Dad’s hands and landed somewhere in the grass between us.
I skidded to a halt, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
I was halfway between the house and where they’d fallen—too far from the amulet to reach it before they recovered.
Already, Dad was pushing himself up on his elbows, his eyes scanning frantically for where the Witch’s Heart had landed.
Maybe I could draw on my powers like I had before. Beast believed in me, trusted me to save him. Right now he was back at the house, bleeding and dying because of the spell Dad had cast. I had to try.
I held out my palms, closing my eyes and reaching deep inside myself for that fluttering sensation I’d felt before. Come to me, I commanded silently, focusing all my desperation and love for Beast into the magic.
Nothing happened at first. The air remained still, mocking my efforts. Frustration and fear warred inside me as I stared at my useless hands.
Dad spotted the amulet glinting in the grass and lunged for it, his fingers stretching toward the dual-colored stone.
But just as he was about to grab it, the Witch’s Heart suddenly skidded away from him across the ground as if it had a mind of its own.
The Witch’s Heart—it was free! I had to get it before Dad did.
He scrambled after it on his hands and knees, almost managing to close his fingers around it—but then the amulet glowed with that same blue light. It lifted off the ground, swirling through the air in lazy circles before suddenly shooting toward me like a comet.
I held out my shaking hand, and the Witch’s Heart landed squarely in my palm with a warm pulse of energy.
The moment it touched my skin, something powerful rippled through me—like ice and fire colliding in my veins.
This thing was incredibly powerful, powerful enough to restore Dad’s abilities that I never knew he possessed, powerful enough to curse Beast and tear him apart from the inside.
The amulet felt almost alive against my palm, thrumming with ancient magic that made my skin tingle and my magical abilities stir in response.
A loud, menacing snarl brought my attention snapping away from the amulet.
I looked up to see Dad scrambling to his feet, his face twisted with fury, while Trystan rose with silent menace beside him.
They were both racing toward me now, their legs pumping with inhuman speed.
Behind them, the pack of wolves fanned out in a perfect hunting formation, their golden eyes locked on me like I was prey.
I clutched the amulet against my chest, feeling its power pulse against my heart, then whirled around and ran back toward the house as fast as my legs could carry me. Every step felt like it wasn’t fast enough—I could practically feel their breath on my neck as they closed the distance between us.
Beast was dying, and now I was about to die too.
Colette stood at the door, motioning with her hand. “Hurry, hurry. They’re coming.”
I burst through the front door just as Colette slammed it shut behind me, the heavy wood reverberating through the house. My lungs burned as I gasped for air, adrenaline still coursing through my veins from the terrifying chase.
“Beast!” I called out desperately as I raced through the hallway toward the living room.
Beast was slumped over against the base of the couch, his massive frame looking somehow smaller and more fragile than I’d ever seen him.
Blood had soaked through his clothes in dark, spreading stains, and more blood trickled steadily down his chin, dripping onto his shirt.
His breathing was shallow and labored, each breath seeming like a struggle.
My chest tightened with panic. The spell was literally tearing him apart from the inside out.
Marcel knelt beside him with a bloodstained towel, gently trying to clean the worst of the blood from Beast’s face and neck. “I tried to help him move to the couch,” Marcel said without looking up. “But he’s too heavy for me to lift, and every time I tried to move him, he cried out in pain.”
“I have it,” I said breathlessly, falling to my knees beside Beast. My hands shook as I pulled the Witch’s Heart out of my pocket, its surface still warm and pulsing with power. “I have the Witch’s Heart back.”
Marcel gave me a sad look. “I just hope it’s not too late.”
I placed the necklace around Beast’s neck. I wasn’t sure it would help him, but a blue and white aura moved around him. Maybe, just maybe, this would work. Blood stopped slipping down his chin. His eyes fluttered open and he took a shuddering breath.
“Pain… has stopped,” he whispered.
Thank God. I held him close, my hands shaking as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “How did this happen? Was the amulet cursed?”
I pulled back slightly so I could see his face.
He focused on me. “I don’t know. Maybe Enzo might have had it bonded to me or it had to do with your father’s spell.”
“Let’s get him up,” Marcel said as he gently placed one of his arms around his shoulder.
I gritted my teeth and braced my legs to help lift him onto the couch. He had been so powerful earlier, but now he was panting and I wasn’t sure if he was still bleeding, I didn’t know what to do.
Bam Bam Bam
I jumped, then forced myself to focus back on getting him to the couch.
Snarls and angry shouts erupted from just beyond the front door, making the heavy wood shake on its hinges. The sounds of claws scraping against the door and fists pounding made it clear that our sanctuary wouldn’t hold them for long.
Beast’s bloodied hand shot out and he grabbed my arm with what little strength he had left. “You have to leave...” Each word was a struggle. “I can’t fight them anymore. Not strong enough.”
I looked into his pain-filled green eyes and felt my resolve harden like steel. I braced my shoulders and lifted my chin defiantly. “But I am.”
He shook his head weakly, fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “It’s too dangerous. I don’t want you to die defending me.” His grip on my arm tightened desperately. “I’ve caused enough death.”
“I won’t leave you. Not now, not ever.”
His eyes filled with something that looked like wonder mixed with grief. “You have to stay alive,” he said, his voice breaking. “You need to live the life you deserve. I...” He paused, gathering what might be his last breath. “I love you.”
Those three words stopped time itself. Around us, Marcel and Colette gasped, but all I could think was: I’d never imagined hearing them from the Beast’s lips. My heart soared and shattered at the same time.