Page 32 of The Beast Between Us

And yet…

The moment his hand touched her, my Beast surged like I hadn’t felt in years.

Not out of hunger. Not even simply out of rage.

Out ofneed.The need to get to her. To save her. To destroy the one who thought they could touch her.

She calms him.

Even now, the storm in my veins slows with her scent still lingering in the hall.

And somehow… somehow, she drives me mad.

I run a clawed hand through my hair and sink into the chair by the fire.

I don’t understand it. Not fully.

But I know one thing with absolute certainty.

If Byron had laid claim to her… Harmed her in even the smallest way.

I would’ve stopped being merciful.

I’m not sure how long I’m lost in thought when I hear her soft, bare footsteps enter my study.

Even now, I can tell that she’s favoring one side over the other. Subtle, but not enough to escape me.

She tries to hide it.

But I hear it.

Ifeelit.

I already have a strong suspicion about who hurt her.

What I need now is thehow.

So I can kindly repay the debt.

With interest.

“Lord Evermere,” she says softly from the doorway. “May I enter your study?”

“What did I tell you to call me, Ella?” I reply, still watching the fire.

“Your given name,” she murmurs. “But… I must say, it doesn’t feel proper. I feel as if I’m being disrespectful.”

“How can it be improper,” I ask, voice low, “ifI’mthe one asking?”

The fire crackles.

I still don’t look at her.

Because if I do, I might forget why I asked her here in the first place.

“Because you’re more than just a man,” she says gently. “You’re a Manor Lord. You’re Lord of Brackenford Valley. I can’t simply call you by your first name.”

I finally turn my head, just enough to glance at her.