“No, you couldn’t have. I was the worst one between us, after all.” Beast smiles and gives him a side hug. “I see you have our father’s crown now, though…”
“And I intend to keep it.”
“Of course, you do.”
“You can keep your previous title as a prince,” Gabriel says to him. “But the king’s crown, the throne, and the site of the Eighth Kingdom will become part of the Ninth as it used to be. And it will all belong to me.”
Beast rolls his eyes, but he extends his hand. “Fair enough, brother.” Then he looks at me. “Take care of him for me.”
“I will. What about Izzie?”
“Izzie left me,” he says. “She only wanted a prince. If she really loved me, the curse would have been broken. She was only pretending.”
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'm sure I can do better." He motions for me and Gabriel to follow him to the edge of the tower.
Izzie and my father are stuffing silver and expensive wares into their bags.
“We need to get the hell out of here and fast,” Izzie says. “There’s no happily ever after for me here.”
“I think we have more than enough to make bargains until we reach someplace nicer.” My father holds up a golden clock. “Are you sure the Beast is dead?”
“Saw him get struck by lightning and bleed out with my own eyes.” She doesn’t even shed a tear. “I was so close, Daddy. So close.”
“I know.” He pats her shoulder. “The next one will be the charm.”
“Belle is still up there,” she says. “If you want to say goodbye.”
“Ha! Good one.” He mounts his horse, and she follows suit.
The two of them ride down the steps and to the causeway, straight into the woods, never once looking back.
“Like I was saying…” Beast shakes his head and walks away. “I think I can do better.”
“Lafayette?” Gabriel calls.
“Yes, Boss?” He moves forward, juggling a child on his hip. “What do you need?”
“Don’t let Isabelle Arwyn and her father get too far,” he says. “Have them brought to me for punishment.”
“Two steps ahead of you. Four troops are waiting for them in the woods.”
He nods. “Thank you.”
“Punishment?” I look up at him. “What are you planning to do?”
“Make them pay you back for all the shit they put you through,” he says, his voice flat. “Or they can pay their debt back to me with day labor by building me a new bridge by themselves. I’ll let them choose.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I say. “They’re bound to hurt the wrong person eventually and get in trouble.”
“They already did.” He narrows his eyes. “You, and that hurts me.”
“But Gabriel—”
“Shhh.” He kisses me. “I’ve wasted enough of our time together on your sister. It’s time for us to focus on our own happily ever after…”
Tale as Old as Time
The End
BELLE
Eight weeks later
The space behind the grand ballroom is full of bright red roses that are waiting to be plucked and hung for this morning’s wedding ceremony.
Staff move in and out of the room, fluffing the tendrils of my hair, powdering my face, and massaging my shoulders to relax me.
The growing roar from the crowd outside is causing knots in my stomach, and I’ve done everything in my power to drag out my first appearance.
I’m not ready to be a queen…
“Do you think you could tighten my corset a bit more, Sola?” I move in front of the floor-length mirror.
“If I pull the strings any tighter, you’ll pass out and miss the ceremony.”
“Does that mean you won’t do it?”
She laughs and moves behind me, adjusting the diamonds around my neck. “You look stunning, Belle. It’s like you were always meant to be right where you are.”
“Do you think Gabriel will be upset that I chose not to wear a white dress?” I ask. “I can still change into another one if you think red is inappropriate.”
“Red suits you very well.” She smooths my curls with her hands. “I think he’d be surprised if you wore white.”
“I would be.” His deep voice is suddenly behind me.
“See?” Sola presses a quick kiss against my cheek before walking away.
Gabriel’s eyes meet mine in the mirror, and he strolls over to me, placing his hands on my waist.
“You’re not supposed to see the bride before the wedding,” I say. “I heard that somewhere.”
“You didn’t mention that this morning when we were in bed.” He smiles. “And you’ve never followed the rules a day in your life.”
Unsure of what to say to that, I stare into his eyes.
“I wanted to make sure you weren’t attempting to get out of this,” he says, kissing my shoulder. “I’m sure you’re tempted to run away.”
“I would never.”
“You would.” He trails his finger along the back of my corset. “Are you reconsidering marrying me?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”