Aven cleared his throat.
“Back up,” Simon ordered. “You’re under arrest, in the name of the king.”
“She just passed out,” Aven told him. “The witch threw her against the tree several times. I was only watching out for her.”
“I don’t believe you. Step back and keep your hands where I can see them,” Simon commanded.
“Cassie?” He whispered again. He hoped he wasn't too late.
Guards appeared around them. Two held onto Aven and locked his arms behind his back. The young man didn’t fight them off. He was silent as they apprehended him.
Gathering her to his chest, Simon hugged her close. That's when he spotted her shoe. Lying a few feet away from them, was a glass slipper. It seemed oddly out of place. He tucked Cassie under his chin as his parents approached.
“Simon!” his mother’s voice called out to him. She drew close to him with her arm linked around his father’s.
“How did you know what to do, Simon?” his father asked.
“The book. It was right after all, and I figured out why Cassie was the key.” He looked down at her. “She won’t wake up.”
“Cassie?” he whispered. “Wake up, Cassie.” He bent close to her ear and tried once more.
“I still don’t understand,” his father started but stopped when Cassie made a noise.
“Cassie?” Simon leaned close.
Her eyes opened, and he contemplated their green depths.
“Simon?” she coughed.
“Present,” he smiled.
She smiled and took in a deep breath. Simon heard his mother call for a glass of water and felt, more than saw, her kneel beside him.
Queen Arlyn leaned forward with her handkerchief and began to wipe the soot and dirt from Cassie's face. He helped Cassie sit up so his mother could reach her more easily. A guard reappeared with a glass of water and handed it to the queen. Simon watched his mother hold the glass and help Cassie take a drink. Cassie drank deeply until it was all gone.
“Are you okay to stand?” he asked.
She nodded, and he helped her to her feet.
“Did you see?” he wanted to know.
“Yes, I did. I could talk to him. In my mind. He didn’t think he could do it, but he did. Father saved us.”
“I heard you call out to him,” he whispered. “I knew you would convince him to do it.”
“I don’t know how,” she admitted.
“The important point is that you did. I knew Alasdair wouldn’t let the witch kill us.”
“He seemed to take a bit of convincing,” Cassie looked around the exposed earth.
Soldiers were rushing around to put out the fires. Miriam and Petunia were being hauled away. She didn’t say a word as she watched them go.
Movement to her left had her turning to see Aven being dragged away as well.
“Wait!” she called out.
“Hold on,” Simon added his voice, and the guards stopped. “Cassie,” he faced her. “Aven was part of the plot. He has to be punished.”
“He saved my life,” Cassie denied. “He stayed with me and helped me wake up. Aven encouraged me to stop my father. He helped me.”
“Not at the beginning. He pushed you down your cellar. He’s with them.” Titling his head back and to the right, he indicated her stepmother and stepsister as they disappeared around the castle.
“I don’t think he is,” Cassie contradicted. “I’m sorry, but he isn’t on their side. He’s on mine.”
“Is this true?” Simon let go of Cassie and approached Aven. “Did you switch sides?”
Swallowing, Aven nodded.
“Lock him in the east wing,” Simon charged. “We’ll hear what he has to say later. Post double the guards and don’t let him out.”
They nodded and escorted Aven away.
“Thank you,” Cassie came to his side and took his hand in her own.
He squeezed it and gazed down at her. “I want to make sure first. You forget I’ve seen another side to him.”
She nodded and blushed as she took in her dirty gown. “This has seen better days,” she whispered and brushed the dirt from the front of her gown.
“You look fine,” Simon’s lips quirked up. “In fact, it reminds me of when I first met you. I think you have an affinity for dirt.”
“Thanks,” she grumbled, playfully hitting him in the arm.
He grabbed it and held it in his own. Squeezing it, he smiled. Shrugging, Cassie smiled up at him. They stood there staring at one another.
The king and queen cleared their throats.
Cassie jerked backward and caught everyone’s gaze on them. Simon faced his parents and smiled. The king and queen stood staring at them. Guards surrounded them and had their backs turned.
“So, I take it this is the infamous Cassie Alasdair,” his father commented with a grin.
“Yes, father. Mother, this is Cassie.”
Both stepped forward. Queen Arlyn pulled her close and hugged her tight. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m so happy you’re safe.”
“Thank you,” Cassie murmured as the queen released her and before being pulled into a hug by the king.
“Cassie, I think I need to introduce you to my parents. Cassie, may I introduce Queen Arlyn, my mother, and King Tritium, my father.” Simon waited until his father let her go.
“I'm pleased to know you, Cassie. I suspect we will have much to talk about.” The King's face was solemn, but a twinkle stood out in his eyes.
Cassie knew what he meant. The dragon. Her arrival with the witch. She knew she would have much to say. She nodded at his subtle request.
“I would love to. It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’m honored.” She curtsied with one hand.
Simon had seized one of her hands as soon as his father had let her go. “I think we all have a lot to discuss, but for now, can we celebrate beating the witch?”
King Tritium nodded. “For now, I agree. Everyone, let's go inside and celebrate. The Legend has been defeated, and the witch is dead! We have great cause for jubilee!” The king raised his voice and shouted to the masses.
Hands clapped, and shouts echoed his proclamation. All who had come outside during the entrance of the dragon now found themselves being ushered inside once more. The music started to play again. Happiness poured from the open doorways into the night as they all climbed the yard.
“Oh wait!” Simon said, halted, and ran back to pick something up off the ground.
Cassie noticed what it was right away. She hadn't even paid attention to the fact that it had been on the ground near her. When they'd all started walking back to the castle, she had limped along with her one shoe. Surprised she still had them, Cassie waited for Simon.
When he reached her side, Simon knelt in front of her and held the sparkling shoe out. She slipped her foot into it and held up her hem to see the pair glisten in the moonlight.
“Midnight has come and gone, and my fairy godmother is dead,” Cassie whispered into the wind.
“What?” Simon looked up at her once more. They paused, and light from the incandescent moon glowed around them.
“I'm surprised these shoes are still intact,” Cassie told him instead.
“Are they not yours?” Simon asked, his brows lowered, perplexed.
“No, they were Kemyss's creation,” she said. Looking down at her feet, Cassie couldn't believe they were still there even after the spells had been broken.
“Perhaps they are where they are meant to be,” Simon offered.
“Perhaps,” Cassie allowed as they continued walking. “We beat the Legend.”
“We did. Your father did the right thing. I was surprised he even recognized us.”
“I don't understand any of it either,” Cassie whispered, still looking down. “I'm glad he did it though. It hurts to lose him again. I didn't really get the chance to say goodbye properly.”
“He knew, Cassie. He did it for you. I saw him look at you, and he looked right i
n my direction, as though he could see me through the slit in the shields surrounding me. He knew what he was doing. I think he was saying goodbye.”
Cassie nodded but didn't look up.
“Cassie?” Simon put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up. Their eyes met, her cheeks red, eyes filled, and he smiled. “I'm sorry about your father. He was my friend.”
Smiling, Cassie nodded. “He liked you, Simon. I could tell.”
“Even though he didn't realize I was the prince?”
“Because he knew you. Not your title,” Cassie told him.
A throat clearing ahead of them recalled Simon to his surroundings. The guards were waiting for them to catch up. They reached the castle steps in silence. Her arm was wrapped through Simon's, and his hand rested on top of where her own laid.
Feeling a bit unsure of herself now that the dragon was gone, and finding her friend to be Prince Charming, Cassie didn't know quite what to say. They paused outside the large double doors of the castle entrance. Guards glanced back and away, taking their posts once more, and averting their eyes from the prince and his companion.
The king and queen paused for a moment and looked back. Nodding at Simon and Cassie, they continued inside and disappeared from view. Light, music, and laughter resonated from within and sounded strange to her ears. After what they had just been through, laughter seemed misplaced. Unsure how to proceed, Cassie tried to release her arm from his.
“I have to remember you’re Prince Simon,” she spoke.
“I am just Simon first,” he responded and held her arm and hand tightly within his own.
His refusal to let her go had her looking up at him and asking the one question she felt desperate to have answered.
“Then, you’re still my friend?”
“Absolutely. Why would that change?”
Cassie shrugged and pulled at her arm entangled within his own. “My family destroyed your lawn and attempted to kill you and your parents. I’d have to say such a feat might be hard to overlook in any relationship.”
“Did you want us dead?”
“What?” Cassie was startled. “No! How can you think that?”
“See, you weren’t in it with them. This wasn’t your plan, or your father’s plan. Both of you were dragged into it against your will.”
“Still, I was their key. It wouldn’t have happened without me.”
“I won’t hear any more about it, Cassie,” he stated in a firm voice. “You weren’t the cause of any of this. In fact, it was my father who started it all. Technically, he ticked off the witch and caused her to exact revenge. You and your father are absolved of all guilt.”
“Simon, it won’t be that easy.”
“Yes, it will. My father and mother will agree.”
“You are very stubborn.”
“Yes, I am. When I want something, I can be a bit bullheaded. Now, can we agree to let this topic go? I don’t blame you or your father. My parents won’t either, and they’ll make sure the kingdom knows it. They’re already in there celebrating the end of the Legend.”
“I could be persuaded,” Cassie said.
“Really?”
“About Aven,” she started.
“Cassie, no. He deserves to be punished for his involvement. Aven wasn’t an innocent bystander.”
“I’m agreeing with you,” Cassie faced him and took his other hand in her own. “I just want him to have a chance at forgiveness. He did turn it around in the end. Plus, he never shoved me down the cellar stairs.”
“He didn’t?”
“No,” she shook her head and added, “he didn’t. I believe him. Petunia wouldn’t budge when I talked to her about stopping all of this. Aven did the right thing in the end. We can show him leniency as a result, right?”
“The judgement will come from my father and the councilmen. I’ll talk to him though. I promise.”
Cassie beamed and squeezed his hands. He squeezed back.
“Can we talk about us?”
“Wh-what do you mean?” Cassie asked in surprise.
“We’re friends, right?”
“If you want to be?”
“What if I want more, if you agree?”
“Agree to what?” Cassie felt her cheeks turn red once more.
She knew she looked like a beggar in her clothing, standing before him. His beauty made her hesitate to agree to anything.
What more did he want from her? What did she have to offer?
“Agree to be my wife,” she heard him say, “I don't think I could withstand another dragon attack without you.”
She caught his playful smile in the moonbeams.
“Well, I suppose you do need someone to save you if it comes to that,” she joked.
Somehow, even amidst her worries and insecurity and loss, he made her feel safe and wanted.
“Indeed. And perhaps I will save you as well?” He leaned closer until they were nose to nose.
“You already did,” Cassie whispered.
Just a Reminder
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Second Kingdom
A Beauty and the Beast Retelling
Legal Notice:
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Second Kingdom
ASIN: B01JFV1GUW
Copyright © 2016, 2018 by Rebecca Reddell
Publication Date: July 31, 2016
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All rights reserved. This book or any portion of this book thereof may not be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage or retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without the express written permission of the author, except for brief quotations in passages for review purposes.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. This story is the manifestation of the wide awake imagination of the author and was written to entertain you.
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Copyright © 2016 Cover Design by Cynthia Vreeland
Copyright © 2016 art design by iStock Getty Images
Created with Vellum
Description
Their only chance of survival is to kill the Beast King.
Decades have cost the people of First Kingdom too much. Their welfare is at stake, and they can't seek any help from the Second Kingdom thanks to their illustrious, invisible king. If only they could actually see him, they might be able to kill him and end their suffering. Out of desperation, the people of First Kingdom devise a plan, and for a full decade, they resolve to train assassins.
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Their children become the answer.
Roz is part of a team that knows how to wield a knife, shoot a gun, and take down a man with their bare hands. She grew up knowing what her mission is and has no qualms about killing the creature who caused her whole community's suffering. When another loved one begins to show signs of the sickness, Roz hopes their only plan will succeed.
Betrayal leads to an inconceivable alliance.
Double-crossed, Roz is left face to face with the Beast King. He isn't at all what she expected, and he isn't as easy to kill as she'd hoped. No matter what she does, he's always one step ahead of her. As time goes on, Roz gets to know the myth and begins to see the Beast King as more than a curse.
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Now, Roz has to make a decisio
n: kill him and set her people free, or let him live.
A Sneak Peek
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Chapter One
Farview Country
“Caaaasssiiidyyy!”
The screech reminded her of a dying cat. Not that Cassie Alasdair had ever witnessed such an occurrence, but she felt certain that this sound would be an exact replica.
Sighing deeply, Cassie set down her spade on the soft dirt and leaned back on her heels. The sun was high upon her and sweat trickled down her back and forehead. Pulling off her gloves, she wiped a hand across her forehead.
The Four Tales Page 21