That got a rise out of the otherwise calm attorney. “Of course, not. I’m an attorney, Lincoln, not the Hillside Strangler.”
Taking another step forward, Lincoln grasped the edges of his hood and slowly pushed it back away from his beastly face. A flicker of fear entered Templeton’s eyes, but it left so fast, Lincoln wondered if he’d imagined it. “The chances of me being anything other than what I am now died with Charles Atwood.”
Templeton studied Lincoln’s face. “You can’t know that for sure.”
“My father told me of the curse years ago, Templeton. The only person that had the ability to reverse it was Charles Atwood.”
“That can’t be true,” Templeton stressed, his hands going to his hips. “Charles may have been the only one who could reverse the spell, but he couldn’t possibly be the only one who could break it. There has to be another way.”
Rage boiled the Beast’s blood. He peeled his lips away from his sharp teeth and leaned down close to Templeton’s now pale face. “I may as well be asked to raise the dead, you fool! I am to be cursed for the rest of my life.”
Templeton backed up a step. “We will figure something out. I—”
“You’ll what?” the Beast sneered, turning away and snatching open a drawer to the bedside table. He yanked out a folded scrap of paper that had seen better days and handed it to the now frightened attorney. It had come with the rose beneath that glass. “Read it.”
Taking an unsteady breath, Templeton pulled a pair of glasses from his shirt pocket, slipped them onto his hawk-like nose, and unfolded the paper. “It’s addressed to the child of Stanford Barone.”
The Beast nodded toward the paper. “Go on. Read it.”
Templeton ran a hand through his thinning hair and turned the paper toward the light. “Only true love will set you free, from an innocent it must be. You must learn to love that which you hate, or your thirtieth birthday will seal your fate. When the last petal falls it will be too late.”
“So, you see,” the Beast rumbled, barely able to speak the words, “I am to be this for the remainder of my days.”
Templeton appeared uncomfortable. He glanced at the glass housing the nearly bare rose. “Your thirtieth birthday is less than a month away. You are expected to love someone you hate and have that love returned by an innocent in the next twenty-nine days?”
“Exactly.”
“How come your father never told me about the riddle?”
Lincoln shrugged a giant shoulder. “Maybe he knew it would do no good.”
“Where the hell are you expected to find a virgin in the twenty-first century?” Templeton asked, apparently still in shock.
The Beast returned his hood to his head. “You’re missing the point. Virgin or not, no one could ever love a beast, any more than I could love someone I hate. Finding a grain of salt amidst the sands of the beach would be an easier feat.”
“I am sorry, Lincoln.”
“I don’t want your pity,” the Beast snarled, spinning around and stalking back to the window. “I want revenge.”
The sound of Templeton’s shoes clicking on the floor told Lincoln he’d moved to the side table by the bed. He slid the drawer open, obviously returning the paper to its proper place. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
“For starters, I want to own Ruby Atwood.”
Templeton remained silent for a moment. “And the boy?”
Lincoln thought about Charles Atwood’s son. Though the beast inside him demanded revenge, he knew he’d get no satisfaction from harming a child. He must have some humanity in him after all, he decided. Small as it was. “Leave him be. I may revisit him at a later time. I derive no pleasure from hurting children.”
“I’ll get right on this.” Templeton strode toward the door.
“Templeton?”
“Yes?” the attorney quietly answered.
“See that Ruby doesn’t find a way to retain that house. I want to own everything she’s ever cared about, right down to her favorite pair of shoes. Do you understand? No matter how small or insignificant you think it is.”
“I understand.” Templeton opened the door, closing it softly behind him.
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About Ditter
Ditter Kellen has been in love with romance for over thirty years. Her eBook reader is an extension of her and holds many of her fantasies and secrets. It's filled with dragons, shifters, vampires, ghosts and many more jaw-dropping characters who keep her entertained on a daily basis.
Ditter's love of paranormal and outrageous imagination have conspired to bring her where she is today...sitting in front of her computer allowing them free rein. I hope you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she loves spinning them.
Ditter resides in Florida with her husband and many unique farm animals. She adores French fries and her phone is permanently attached to her ear. You can contact Ditter by email: [email protected]
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Thrasher: Science Fiction Romance (Enigma Series Book 9) Page 16