Page 5 of The Beast Between Us (Once Upon A Forever #2)

Ella

“You’re giving me to the Beast?” I ask, stunned. “But… Father, have I misbehaved?”

“Misbehaved?” He barks a laugh. “Listen to yourself, Ella. You’re as old as your mother was when you killed her.”

The words land like a slap. Cold. Familiar.

“You are no child,” he continues. “I’ve spent years keeping you fed, clothed, under my roof. Now it’s your turn to take care of me . You’ll go live with the Beast until my debt is paid.”

“For how long?” I whisper, my voice barely my own. I don’t even know if I’m upset… or relieved. Leaving Father…trading one monster for another…what kind of choice is that?

“Forever, child. Now, let’s go.”

He grabs my arm in a bruising grip and drags me toward the door.

“My things!” I cry, stumbling to keep up. “Please…my things!”

“Things?” He snorts. “You have no things, Ella.”

“My clothes,” I plead. “My books…Father, please.”

He doesn’t stop.

He doesn’t even look at me.

The thought of leaving Father to live with the Beast doesn’t scare me.

But leaving my books?

The only things in this world that ever gave me comfort. A taste of freedom.

My worlds. My escape.

I can’t bear the thought.

I stop short, yanking my hand from his grip, and spin toward the shelf…grabbing for the nearest books, for the dresses I tucked away so carefully.

But I don’t get far.

A rough hand clamps around my arm, halting me mid-reach.

“I see you require one last lesson in obedience before you leave,” he sneers, shoving me to the floor.

“I hope you realize, daughter,” he kicks me hard in the side where no one can see. Always where no one can see. “The Beast will not be nearly as kind as I’ve been.”

I roll, trying to scramble away, but his boot finds my lower back. The pain rips through me like fire.

I know better than to cry out.

But it hurts. Oh, it hurts.

“Unfortunately,” he says with a huff, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking me to my feet, “that’s all the time we have.”

He steps aside, letting go.

“Now… shall we try this again?”

I nod. Numb.

And I walk.

Out of my room.

Out of the house.

My heart breaking with every step.

However will I survive the solitary life with the Beast… without my books?