“Apologies, my prince,” Yassa said, only apologizing to Xander and not me.
“Don’t fear, Yassa. We will get a party together and search for the beast. We won’t stop until it’s found.”
“Thank you.” Yassa bobbed his head and turned, signaling for the coroner to take the wagon to town.
Xander ignored me as he addressed Gaven. “When? Where?”
“Early this morning. He was tracking the beast when he was killed. Found a half mile from the manor.”
“Footprints?”
“Only the young man’s,” Gaven answered.
Xander sighed and turned. Realizing I was within earshot, he cleared his throat and motioned for me to go inside the house. I disliked being dismissed with a nod and clenched my jaw in anger before meeting Gaven’s scrutiny.
He looked confused, glancing to the horse we had both rode in on, to the prince and back to me. He was about to say something, call out to me perhaps, but Prince Xander spoke up. “What?”
Gaven croaked out in disbelief as he regained his footing and looked up at me in awe. “It’s you,” he whispered. “You’re her.” I knew what was coming next. As if I had dreamed this nightmare over and over. “You’re the witch.”
“Not here, Gaven,” Xander corrected.
“But that’s—”
“I know who it is. It’s my wife,” Xander snapped before turning and rushing toward me. He gripped my right elbow painfully as he dragged me up the steps after him into the main house.
I hissed between my teeth as he torqued my shoulder. I could feel fresh blood begin to pool from the wound he had recently bandaged.
“Stop!” I demanded once we crossed the threshold. When he didn’t let up, I felt dizzy as the wound stretched.
He was breathing heavily, his eyes wild.
“Xander,” I cried. “Please!”
My use of his first name snapped him out of whatever spell he was under. He saw the fresh red blood leaking through the bandage and dropped my arm in horror, eyes wide and mouth agape as he backed away from me.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I forgot you’re injured,” he gasped out. “I knew if I didn’t get you out of there, Gaven’s careless words might cause me to hurt him, but instead you bore the brunt of my anger.”
Breathing slowly, I waited for the room to stop spinning before I spoke. “Don’t touch me!”
Xander stood in front of me, his face pale. He shook his head roughly, as if he couldn’t believe he had so carelessly grabbed my injured arm. He was about to say something when I heard a clearing of the throat come from the stairs above.
Yasmin sauntered down the steps, her head held high, hair curled and impeccable.
“My prince,” she purred, her gaze locking on Xander, her hips dipping with each step, drawing his gaze. The woman knew how to appeal to a man’s senses, and she was using all of her power and charm. When she reached the bottom step, she curtsied, and I couldn’t help but notice how low cut her dress was. My lips pinched in distaste. The rash on her face was completely hidden beneath layers of powder, and she looked barely fazed by the curse that would wear off in the next few hours.
But the show hadn’t even started yet. Her eyelashes fluttered and her bottom lip quivered. “D-Did you hear? The beast is here.” She reached to clutch his jacket, pulling herself into his arms right in front of me. “You’ll protect me, Prince Xander? You’ll not let the beast get me?”
The force with which she threw herself into his arms made Xander stumble back, and he had to grasp her to keep from falling. She buried her head into his chest, and I was sickened by the display. I wasn’t even sure if she knew who I was, or cared.
A growl of discontent started in the pit of my stomach.
“My lady!” Pru called, rushing down the steps. “I’ve been so worried.” She halted abruptly when she saw my ruined dress. “What happened?”
“Your mistress needs tending to,” Xander ordered, his arms still wrapped around Yasmin, who looked to be completely at home. “See to her needs… or else.”
I was confused by his sudden change of heart in regards to my welfare. Was it because he felt guilty for how he treated me? It must have been. It wasn’t because he cared.
Keeping my back stiff, I let Pru lead me to my room and didn’t dare look back. But I still heard Yasmin’s contented sigh, and my stomach rolled in