by Blue Saffire
She looks up at me and smiles, her eyes sparkling. “I guess you’re kind of cool.”
I quirk a brow. “Ratniks are always cool.”
Her laughter fills the air and my heart lightens. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Ratnik Radu, it would seem you have some explaining to do.”
I feel my spine stiffen as I face the one person that could put the fear of the gods in me.
“Mother?”
Deci follows my line of sight. A gasp spills from her lips as she realizes who I’ve addressed. The Elder Disik glares at me with her arms crossed.
“You’re his mother?”
Giving me a knowing look, she replies to Decima, “I am elder before I am his mother, but yes, I am his mother. He has failed to inform me that he has taken a human as mate.”
“Radu,” Deci growls and places her hands on her hips. She glares at me as her nostrils flare. I look to my mother to find a mirrored expression on her face.
Seeing as things are heating quickly, I search for an exit. I turn to Anaes who’s currently dragging Kraken toward the main building that’s stills standing. “Do you need assistance, brother?”
“Radu?”
“Ratnik Radu?”
I’ve already crossed the yard. I grab up Kraken’s other arm as if unable to hear my name being snapped at me.
“Coward,” Anaes mutters under his breath. I hiss at him. My brother laughs at me as we quickly walk away with an unconscious Kraken between us.
Epilogue
Kitten’s Happiness
Deci
“Are you still reading it?” I ask as I enter the bedroom of Radu’s apartment, just returning from a meeting with Dennell. We’ve finally put together the money to take the kids to Florida thanks to Disik’s generosity.
Luckily, the dorm for the Ratniks survived the attack. The single-family houses sustained more damage. Because of the barrier that covered the entire estate, no humans had been harmed or made aware of anything amiss.
Two months have already gone by and everything seems to be going back to normal. Or as normal as life can be while living on an estate full of Drakin.
He looks up from the book in his hand. “Yes, I cannot understand how this is seen as a fairy tale.” His purple eyes are troubled as he lifts the book toward me. “The man has no honor, taking advantage of a sleeping female.”
I laugh as I saunter over to him. “Well, if you don’t like that version, you really wouldn’t like the original one.”
He frowns. “Why? Does he accost her with his lips in that one as well?”
I sigh. “You need to stop asking Kraken for books.”
Ever since Kraken came to and was acquitted of his crimes, he’s been keeping to himself. He can either be found in the library or… nowhere. He disappears for weeks at a time.
I get glimpses of him in passing. The man looks haunted though he only ever seems kind to me. It’s hard to compare who he is now to the man who killed Craig.
However, from the book in Radu’s hand, Kraken has come back bearing gifts. For some reason, Radu had become obsessed with Sleeping Beauty and has taken to reading every version of it.
Reaching out, I snatch the book up. I frown at him. “Why don’t you forget this?” Letting the book drop so it thuds against the floor, I straddle his hips. “And focus on something a little more thrilling.”
The heat in his eyes immediately matches my own as he leisurely appraises my body. “Does my mate desire her great Ratnik?” he asks with a cocky grin.
“Does my Ratnik desire his mate?”
He cups my bottom pulling me close. “Can’t you feel the proof of my hunger.” He thrusts up just in case I don’t feel his obvious hardness.
Biting my bottom lip, I moan. His nostrils flare right before he dips his head and takes my lips. I love the way our lips fit together and move against each other’s. My soul is fulfilled whenever he touches me. But when we kiss, it’s like my spirit is lit from inside out. He draws back with a smirk, knowing he has me floating.
“How about focusing on our happy ending and not the ones about a fake princess,” I whisper against his lips.
He laughs. “Yes, my kitten.” He stands and turns so that we fall into our bed. I revel in the feel of him and the pleasure of finally having love and peace. Claiming one’s destiny isn’t all that bad.
Now this is a great way to end a story.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my mom for supporting me, and for Blue Saffire for giving me this opportunity, and dealing with my fast pace brain. I want to shout out my partners in crime, KT. Adler and Tiya Rayne. The two are the funniest, and most supportive writing sisters I could ask for. And to the readers who support and enjoy my work.
I can’t to give you more stories to enjoy and I can’t wait to begin this journey with everyone.
Love Ivy Harper.
About the Author
Ivy Harper is an avid coffee drinker and storyteller. When not being a complete addict to either of these obsessions, she is binging Chinese historical dramas with the family or coming up with new ways to prank her sister.
Living as a virtual night owl, she has made it a hobby to live on the dark side of the moon. From highlighting the delicious gothic love her characters experience, to thoroughly immersing her readers in a book they will surely shiver from. Ivy hopes to bring her readers along with her on the twisted, winding path of romance and sensuality that you’ll find yourself craving more than a hot black, cup of coffee.
Thank You
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Beautiful Beast
Blue Saffire
Beautiful Beast
Wicked Prince Charming
Blue Saffire
Perceptive Illusions Publishing, Inc.
Bay Shore, New York
Copyright © 2019 by Blue Saffire.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
Blue Saffire/Perceptive Illusions Publishing, Inc.
P.O. BOX 5253
Bay Shore, New York 11706
www.BlueSaffire.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Ordering Information:
Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the “Special Sales Department” at the address above.
Beautiful Beast/ Blue Saffire. -- 1st ed.
Words From Blue
Magic is the happy place of the imagination.
-Blue Saffire
Beautiful Beast
> Retelling of Beauty and The Beast
Blaise
Each petal that falls turns to ashes. The last flaming petal will be my last chance at shedding this beast I’ve become. We’ve been banished from our home realm and in order to go back, I have to fall in love and be loved in return. It’s impossible. As powerful as I am, I am powerless. Until he arrives and changes it all.
Argon
A rose. She has imprisoned my father for a rose. I will take his place. If it’s the price that must be paid, I will pay it. As powerful as she may be, I have power of my own. It will only be a matter of time before I return home where I belong. I have a throne to claim, or at least that’s what I thought.
Can he see beyond the beast to the woman within?
Will I lose all sense of who I am and fall for a beast?
Or maybe, just maybe, we will find that we are not so different at all and love can come in any form.
Chapter 1
Take His Place
Argon
I step through to the realm my father’s essence has led me to. His presence reaches out to me the moment my feet land on solid ground. I can also sense the enchantment of my surroundings.
Looking up at the old castle, I narrow my eyes. I take a step forward and a wall of flames rises to block my path. I frown and lift my palm to extinguish the fire. I continue forward through the smoke that begins to rise from the doused flames.
Stepping over the scorched ground, I make my way up the front steps to the large castle-like structure. The castles in my home are vaster and more ornate. This looks more like one of the old structures my people left behind as they fled lands like these so long ago.
I’ve only seen holograms from those times. Most warn those are days to be forgotten. From a boy, I’ve always wondered why.
I lift a hand to knock at the large wooden entryway but unclench my fist and wave my palm instead. The doors burst open before me, slamming against the wall from the force of my strength—all be it just a small measure. I move into the foyer.
I come to a halt the moment I cross over the threshold. There’s power here. Power unlike the simple enchantment I encountered outside.
Within these walls, there is a presence that could match my own, or dare I say, a power that may rival mine. It’s almost oppressive as it seeps from the walls.
A chill runs through me. My muscles coil for battle as an unseen threat lurks somewhere within this place. I can feel it in my bones.
“What have you gotten yourself into, father?” I mutter the words to myself.
A rumble fills the air, causing me to look around the large foyer. A voice sounds, echoing through the halls, but the words it speaks aren’t clear. It’s like the voice reverberates through the castle.
“Reveal yourself,” I command.
A laugh fills the air. Not a masculine one, but that of a woman. Something about the sound raises the hairs on the back of my neck. Not in fear, it’s… I’m not sure what to name the feeling that fills me.
“You dare enter my home and make demands.”
A figure appears at the top of the balcony, overlooking the double staircase. A hood shrouds their face as a long robe covers their body. Even from here, I can tell this being is smaller than I am. Although the men from my world would be considered giants to some.
“Hand over my father and we will be gone.”
“Your father?” From the movement I assume their head tilts to the side beneath the hood. “You mean the thief?”
“My father has no reason to steal.”
“And yet he has. Your kind has no respect for other people’s personal space or property. Your father will pay the price for his intrusion.”
“Where is he?” My voice booms off the walls. My own power pulsing along with my temper.
The being reaches out a hand and an orb of light appears. I turn my attention to the ball of illumination and an image of my father behind bars appears. He looks weak and sickly. A vision of my father I’ve never seen before.
I bare my teeth and growl. “Release him.”
“He will pay for his transgression. He remains here. It’s the price he will pay for trying to take that which isn’t his,” her voice vibrates with a shrewdness.
“I will pay his debt. Tell me the price,” I reply.
“Some prices are greater than one is willing to pay. This I am sure will be the case for you. Leave and don’t return.”
“There is no price too great. Name your bounty. It will be given,” I say, my voice rumbling through the foyer.
The orb disappears as quickly as it appeared. The being moves swiftly and leaps over the balcony railing. Landing on its feet, its dark blue and black robe billows out as they land.
Lifting to their full height, it’s confirmed that I tower over this robed figure. However, the power that’s coming forth from their presence is staggering. I proceed with caution.
It lifts a hand to point at me, revealing a slender finger from beneath the long sleeve of its heavy garment. The flesh revealed is a deep brown. The same color as the oracles and noble women of my plane and their families.
“You’re willing to pay the price of that which he stole. Is this what you’re saying?”
“Yes,” I bite out in frustration. My fingers tingle as magic builds within, resting just on the surface, ready for me to attack.
“You will take his place—here, with me? This is your promise?”
“Yes, I will take his place.”
“Argon, no.” My father appears, falling into my arms.
“Father. What have you done?”
“I wanted to bring you a rose of fire to give to your betrothed.”
“A rose that didn’t belong to you. A rose that has a price greater than your life,” the cloaked being says coldly.
“Allow me to get him home. He is weak. I will return to you as soon as I have him safe and mended.”
“No,” it says firmly. “You will stay in his place. My chariot will get him to your world safely.”
The figure moves past us to the front doors that are still open from my entrance. Its power brushes my skin in passing, like a familiar caress. It’s unnerving, but I don’t cower to it.
I wrap my father’s arm around my neck to support him. Turning, I guide him out, following our capturer. He’s moving slowly. So unlike the man I know. I bite back my worry. This shouldn’t be possible.
A chariot with two horses—each with flaming manes—sits before us at the foot of the entryway steps. They both lift onto their hind legs, flames curling around their heads and smoke pouring from their nostrils.
The chariot is made of gold and studded with clear gems. Diamonds are what they call them on the many planes. It’s fit for royalty where I’m from, making me question who this being is.
“Say your goodbyes and get him inside. His passage will be made safely. You have my word.”
I can’t help but wonder what hides beneath that robe. My instincts tell me not to engage it before getting my father back to our world safely. I will be able to feel him in his travels and once he has arrived home.
“You go. I will stay here. Our people need you. Your bride will be waiting for you,” my father says.
“Our people will want you to return well. I will get you home and return as soon as I can.”
“Argon. You cannot do this,” my father pleads.
“Father, I must. You are weak.”
“You’re young. Don’t do this. She’s a beast. You haven’t seen her,” he whispers and shivers.
“Enough,” the robed woman says. I believe I detect hurt in her voice. “It’s time. I will not hold the portal open long. I don’t want any more of your kind entering. Once you leave, you cannot return.”
“You can’t take my son,” my father says in protest.
“I have taken nothing. He has offered to take your place. Go before I change my mind.”
Without waiting, she turns and heads back into the castle. I help
my father toward the waiting vessel. Getting him inside and settling him. I’m torn.
“Come with me. While she has turned the other way, we must go quickly,” father urges.
“I have given my word. I will not go back on that. You know I can’t go back on that.”
“You owe her nothing. This isn’t our world.”
“But it is our way to honor everything we say. I will stay in your place. It will be fine,” I reassure him.
“Don’t do this to get out of your marriage, Argon. This is a sacrifice you don’t have to make. I know you have been displeased with having to marry. This is my fault… I should never have made that blood decree, but we can make this right. Perhaps another year before the wedding will be enough,” he says.
I look into the eyes of my father. They’re so much like mine. A blue and gray color that looks like the storm clouds in the earth realm. At the moment his gaze his troubled.
I am his only son. I will be taking over the throne when he steps down. He’s been grooming me to take power soon.
The oracles have advised this should be so. Once I’m married, it’s only a matter of time before the throne becomes mine. I’ve dreaded the day for so long.
Because of a broken heart my father has unwittingly cursed me. To marry is to seal my fate. I will be bound to the life of my wife. When she dies, so will I.
It was the blood decree my father set forth after losing my mother. The nobles assured him it was the right thing to do. I wouldn’t mind this if my betrothed were… stronger.