Flower And The Beast 소설 & 이야기

Close enough to smell the hint of her perfume—warm, subtle, maddening. “You’re mine from nine to seven,” I murmured, low and dark. “What you do after hours… that’s your business. But don’t forget where your loyalty lies.” She stared at me. “If you wanted loyalty, maybe you should try earning it.” Moments later, the employee returned like a soldier delivering war spoils. The bouquet was absurd. Giant red roses, dramatic as hell, tied in a sleek black silk ribbon with little flecks of baby's breath for effect. Of course. Damon Volkov wouldn’t send anything less than a goddamn opera performance in flower form.

“And after? What happens when the beast wants to claim what's his?” He shrugged, his expression indifferent. “The king can do as he likes. We've fulfilled our part, we were asked to provide a bride and we did, whatever happens after the wedding is of no business to us, if the king decides to see it as a betrayal then Raven will be on his own." Like she was being controlled Mirabel spoke up. “Stop this,” she whispered fiercely, her knuckles white as she clenched her skirt. He sneered at her. “Would you rather take his place? I hear the beast adores virgins the most, the taste of something unripe and pure would appeal to him more.”

I heard Phelan in the forest before I saw him and that's something new for me. “Oh, Brandon was right, you're a Winter Wolf.” Flora steps back and drops to her knees; she bows herself forward so low that her chest presses into the concrete and her forehead scrapes across the ground. “Flora, what the hell are you doing?” I crouch down and reach out for her. I can’t quite reach her but she lifts her head to look me in the eyes. I have no words to describe the look on her face; I think it might be awe but that doesn’t feel quite right.

The sound cut through everything. Flora froze. Her smile faded instantly. Lily didn’t notice. “Wait…look at this one,” she said, reaching for another sample. But Flora wasn’t listening anymore. Her heart had already started racing. Slowly… carefully… She reached for her phone. Unknown number. Her stomach dropped. It was back. Her fingers felt cold as she opened the message. A picture loaded. Flora’s breath caught. It was an invitation card to The Binding Feast. Her grip tightened around the phone as Lily still kept talking

She selected one, her fingers tracing the intricate pattern of a coiled serpent. "I have a new task for you, Anya," she said, her voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial tone. "A task that requires a certain… delicacy." She opened the box. Inside, nestled on a bed of black velvet, was a single, dried flower. It was a small, unassuming thing, a pale blue blossom with delicate, star-shaped petals. But its scent was faintly sweet, with a subtle, cloying undertone that spoke of something unnatural.

“He’s not....” Alexander’s voice instantly turned sharp, dangerous. “I know.” The woman fell silent immediately, shrinking back. Alexander walked toward Aiden with deliberate steps. When he reached him, he placed a hand lightly on his shoulder, a clear, possessive gesture. Aiden looked up at him in surprise, but didn’t pull away. Alexander looked back at the two women, his expression unyielding. “The marriage contract has already been fulfilled. Aiden is my husband.” The stepsister’s face turned red with anger and jealousy. “But he’s nothing!” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

“I…I saw a wolf. Not the white one that you were looking for, but it is a black one—” Ajax places a hand over my mouth and quickly looks back. I was so concerned with discussing about the black wolf to Ajax that I did not notice the others are beginning to head towards us. “Ajax, have you found Belle?” A voice calls out. “I have. We’ll be heading back.” Ajax responds before moving close so only I can hear him whisper. “Don’t discuss about the black wolf here. That one is still a secret that only Indigo and I know of.” I shake off his hand covering my mouth so I can speak. “Does that mean that you will allow me to see Indigo first?”

I blurted instead, huffing forward at a much slower pace as the man trotted along behind me. This was what spending any time whatsoever around men did to me. I became a fucking kangaroo, braying for intimacy. A sharp tang of jasmine floated to my nose making me scrunch my nostrils closed. Get a hold of yourself Farthing child! Goddam it. “We're almost there Nola, follow me.” The Lycan King tutted, bending over the flower-lined arch of the white entryway that colored blue in the darkness until we were almost to the diamond-encrusted building that was usurped by gray-white clouds.

I didn’t care, but I didn’t want the locals trigger-happy and putting down innocent animals. The moon hung high and full overhead. Two women ran along the trail with LED running lights around their upper arms and they both gasped when I passed them. I hid my speed as much as I dared. Let them think what they wanted. Like I could be an Olympian runner. I didn’t care. I needed to find that omega. Her honeysuckle and light cinnamon scent drifted on the wind like a thread among the pollution of the city. I quickened my steps and I didn’t care who saw me. The urge to find her squeezed my chest until I felt like I couldn’t take in enough air.

After dinner, I joined Thomas on the back porch as our parents talked in the living room. "What happened to you at the lake? You suddenly disappeared." "Oh. I just decided to take a walk home." "By yourself?" "I just wanted some alone time." "Well I'm glad you're okay." "I actually want to talk to you about something." "What is it?" "I know that there is something..strange going on." "What do you mean?" "I'm talking about the beast." Thomas's expression turned serious. "Oh. That." "What is it?" "Things have changed since you left."