“Good morning,” he said, standing up as she walked over to her seat.
“Good morning.” She was well aware that her voice was more cautious than usual, even when she spoke to him. She couldn’t be sure what he was seeing as he looked at her—whether or not he would be obvious in his disapproval. Maybe he wouldn’t. He was a prince, after all; and it was possible that he wasn’t familiar with the split skirts, wouldn’t know what they meant until she swung up onto her horse.
Maybe he wouldn’t notice. She could ride sidesaddle, couldn’t she? Sure, she usually ended up losing her balance and tipping off when she tried—or worse, trying to push her horse faster and then remembering that she couldn’t, only to end up with a choppy ride that was uncomfortable for both of them—but she could manage it today, couldn’t she?
Griffin took his seat and toyed with a piece of bacon, not quite looking at her. “I meant to ask,” he said cautiously. “Do you ride sidesaddle, or astride? So that I can send word down to the stables and have a horse and saddle chosen for you, I mean.”
Callista blushed immediately. Clearly, he had guessed and was trying to let her out of it gracefully—or maybe reminding her of how a lady was supposed to behave. She was so bad at this! There ought to be some instruction book on how to be a lady; but no, she’d never gotten one, and her sisters seemed to just take to it instinctively, without any need for anyone to explain it to them.
It wasn’t fair.
“Callista?” She was fairly sure there was a frown on the furred face, and he wasn’t lifting the bacon to his lips. That was way too much of his attention for her, especially right now.
“I—astride,” she mumbled, sweeping into her seat. “I mean, I can probably manage to ride sidesaddle, if—if that’s what you’d prefer. I know it’s not very ladylike, but—”
“Oh, thank goodness.” He looked up at her for the first time, and there was actually something like a smile on his face. “I prefer an actual ride, you see,” he admitted. “Not just ambling around at a walk on top of a horse. What’s the point in that?”
“Exactly!” Callista clasped her hands together, relief flooding through her. “I know ladies aren’t supposed to ride astride, but—”
Griffin snorted. Coming from his beastly form, that was a very interesting sound; it took plenty of effort not to giggle. “I’d rather you ride astride and be able to keep your seat at more than a polite trot,” he informed her. “So—let’s get breakfast out of the way so we can get out of here, shall we?”
Callista tucked into her breakfast with a great deal more enthusiasm than she had thought she’d be able to summon only moments before. Okay. That’s one obstacle over with. He likes to really ride—none of that refined nonsense. And it seems like he really doesn’t mind that I don’t ride like a lady.
And within the hour, Griffin proceeded to prove it. Both of them were careful of their horses. They didn’t push them too hard—not even the brute of a horse who was, Callista was sure, twice the size of a normal mount just so that he could hold Griffin’s bulk. They did, however, push them fast; and the brute was fully capable of hitting the same speeds as her mare even with Griffin on his back, letting them race across the fields with enthusiasm as the wind blew back her hair. It was the first time since she’d come to the castle that she’d felt free.
“Did you get him before the curse, or after?” she asked curiously, looking over at Griffin’s horse as they slowed down.
“Before.” He pulled his horse over a bit closer to her. “I’ve always liked big horses. The fact that he can still support my weight is just a bonus.”
“He’s beautiful.” Standing still, the big horse looked a little bulky. It was easy to let his size take over the full vision, making it difficult to see the gorgeous lines, the grace hidden alongside the strength. Watching him run, however, that elegance was on full display.
“He knows.” Griffin laughed as his horse preened under Callista’s gaze.
“What’s his name?” she asked curiously, still studying him. Her mare had been named Sunshine—the perfect name for the beautiful palomino. She wasn’t sure, however, what name had been deemed appropriate for horse.
“Goliath.” Griffin watched her—waiting, she knew, to see whether or not she understand the reference.
“Well, he is quite the giant—but I hope he isn’t so easily felled by a stone,” Callista teased.
“Oh, he has been a time or two,” Griffin admitted. “But he’s a tough guy. He can handle a little stone or two along the way.”
She giggled.
“Would you like to take him around the field?”
Callista’s jaw dropped. “Really?” she demanded. “I thought—” She gestured down to Sunshine—who was, while a perfectly good horse, a patient and easygoing ride.
“I think you can handle him.” Griffin flashed that smile again. She was glad that he’d abandoned the mask. He’d worn it while they were close to the town, and it was tucked into his jacket pocket, where he could have it on quickly if they noticed anyone; but he had pulled it off as soon as they’d reached the freedom of the open fields, where no one could see them. “I’ve been watching your seat—Sunshine’s not that easy for everyone, and she would have let me know if she hadn’t been pleased with you.”
“Then yes. Yes, I’d love to!” She gave him a sunny smile.
He dismounted in one elegant movement. It was impressive, she thought, how he made it look so easy. She knew he was tall—she would have guessed seven and a half feet or so, thanks to the curse—but he moved that big body without making it look like it took any effort at all.
Of course, what he made look easy, she had to struggle a lot harder for. She got her foot in Goliath’s stirrup easily enough, but she couldn’t come up with enough lift to get herself into the saddle.
Her cheeks were hot again, and she buried her face in Goliath’s side for a moment, humiliated. She’d known he was big. She hadn’t realized just how big until she’d tried to get up on him.
Griffin, standing a reasonable distance away from her, cleared his throat softly. “I didn’t think,” he admitted. “He is rather a beast of a horse, isn’t he?”
She appreciated him trying to spare her the embarrassment, but she wasn’t sure whether or not it was helping. Yes, he was a beast; and she was a little wimp of a girl who couldn’t manage to get up on his back without a mounting block.
And, of course, they were in the middle of a field: there were no convenient stumps or logs that she could use as a mounting block, either.
Griffin was still watching her. She wondered whether she could get away with burying her face in Goliath’s side again or she needed to go back to Sunshine—who she could at least manage to get on.
“I, ah…” Griffin cleared his throat again. This time, it sounded like he was the one who was uncomfortable—and that, at least, was enough to get her attention. “I could give you a hand, if you like.”
“All right,” she agreed cautiously. She’d noticed that he avoided touching her unless she was the one to initiate the contact. She’d wondered if there was a reason for it—well, a reason beyond beastly paws and fur, which she supposed it might be very uncomfortable to touch someone with. She didn’t want to put him in a position where he felt he had to beak his own personal preferences just to get her on the back of a horse; but if he didn’t mind…
He came cautiously over to her. His hands rested at her waist for just an instant—that was all it took, and then she was up on the back of the horse as easily as if she’d weighed no more than a child.
Callista gasped, surprised. That kind of strength—none of her brothers had ever been able to lift her that effortlessly, not since she’d been out of diapers.
Griffin took a fast step back. He’d been holding Goliath’s head, waiting for her to gather her reins, but…was that a faint hint of color that she could see on his cheeks, even through the fur?
It reassured her enough for her to give hi
m a smile. She wasn’t sure the smile wasn’t still a little rattled, but at least she could give him one.
She gathered up Goliath’s reins and cued him to walk, then trot. He was an unfamiliar horse; she wanted to get a feel for him before she really let him run.
Once around the field even at Goliath’s walk was fast. Griffin really had been holding him back, to keep up with Sunshine.
His canter was faster. His gallop…Callista lowered herself over his neck and laughed as tears stung her cheeks from the wind and her hair flew wildly around her.It would surely be hopelessly tangled before she got back to the castle, and she didn’t care, even a little bit.
She’d gone around the field three times before she remembered Griffin, patiently waiting for her. He’d never be able to ride Sunshine; the little mare was nowhere near adequate to his weight.
She walked Goliath around one more time to let him cool down a little, then brought him back to Griffin’s side.
“That was so much fun!” she proclaimed, moving to dismount.
He caught her around the waist and helped her down, making her feel as light as a feather.
She turned her smile on him. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
“I wouldn’t want you to fall,” Griffin told her gruffly. “The two of you—you looked nice together.”
Goliath turned, nuzzling her shoulder with his nose.
Callista laughed, turning to pat him. “He’s wonderful,” she said quietly, leaning her head in to rest it against Goliath’s. “Thank you for letting me ride him.”
“If you can handle him like that, next time, you can ride him,” Griffin informed her.
“Oh, but—” she began.
“Unless you think—I mean, he’s a lot of horse,” Griffin said quickly.
“No, I—what about you?” There was no polite way to phrase it, or if there was, Callista neither knew it nor cared.
“Oh. Oh!” Griffin grinned. She was coming to recognize the expressions on that beastly face, and even to look forward to those smiles. “I’ll ride one of his brothers—there half a dozen horses in the stables that are up to my weight even now.”
“Half a dozen? Really?” She couldn’t help the way her eyes sparkled at the thought. She’d always thought her father had good horses, but these were absolutely incredible. “What are their names?”
“Well, there’s Samson.” That got her a chuckle. “Archangel—we played with lots of names for him, but he’s about the size of Goliath here and white, so…” He shrugged eloquently.
Callista reclaimed Sunshine; Griffin wrapped Goliath’s reins around his hand, and the two of them began to walk together. “What about the others?”
“Well, Samson, Goliath, and Archangel are my favorites,” Griffin confessed. “They’re sweet as can be, and patient enough to not be frustrated by what should smell of ‘predator’ to them.”
“Do you smell like a predator?” She blushed as soon as the question was out. “Sorry,” she muttered. “That wasn’t very polite.”
“No, it’s a fair question.” Griffin considered it. “I haven’t actually had the opportunity to test it. Those three horses don’t seem particularly bothered, and the other three—Canyon, Hercules, and Reaper—could just as easily be put off by my face.” He bared his teeth at her.
Callista giggled, relieved. They walked in silence for a few beats.
“Callista…” Griffin stopped suddenly, considering her.
“Yes?”
“Don’t stop asking questions, all right?” he requested quietly.
She frowned at him. “All right…”
“It’s refreshing.” He tried for a smile that was, to her eyes, a bit rougher around the edges than usual. “I am a beast,” he said flatly. She wondered how much emotion he was suppressing in order to get those words out without rage or sadness in them. “There’s no taking that back, at least until the curse has run its course. If you have questions, I’d much rather you ask them than have to wonder—or, ah, come up with your own opinions.”
“Have some of the others done that?” He’d given her permission to ask, right? That meant that she could be at least a little curious.
“Some of them.” He sighed. “I’ll tell you—well, nearly anything you want to know.” That earned him a smile, too. “And I’d much rather know that you’ve gotten the truth than that you’re missing something.”
“Thank you.” She took a few more steps without speaking. Then, “Would you give me the same courtesy?” she wanted to know.
Griffin frowned. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Well—you’re going to have questions about me, right? And I know I’m not—not like most girls. I’m not beautiful, and I know it; and I’m…my biggest sister, Stasi, always says I’m kind of a tomboy, which she was always hoping I would outgrow at some point, but it doesn’t seem to have happened yet. So—so if you aren’t sure what I’ll think about something, or you’re wondering how I’m going to react, ask me, okay?”
“I suppose,” he said cautiously, “that extends to asking for myself whether or not something has made you uncomfortable or fearful, rather than simply making my own inferences?”
“I would prefer that you asked,” she agreed.
Now it was Griffin’s turn to think through a question. “Did it make you uncomfortable when I lifted you up on Goliath?” he wanted to know.
“No.” She darted a look at him, grateful that she didn’t have to stare into his face in order to make that possible.
“You stiffened,” he pointed out.
“I was surprised. And…” She blushed; but they were agreeing to be honest with each other, right? “You made me feel as delicate as Millie or Erin.”
“Who on earth has said that you aren’t?” Griffin demanded.
She didn’t protest, but she knew that she was blushing even hotter than before. Sunshine nuzzled her cheek as she turned in toward her horse. “Have you looked at me?” she demanded. “I’m sturdy.” That was the word her mother had used for her when she was just a little girl. At the time, everyone had rather assumed that she would grow out of it.
She never had.
“From where I’m standing, that’s not a bad thing,” Griffin informed her. “And it’s not as though I’m not strong enough to handle it even if you gained another, oh, fifty pounds or so.” He jokingly flexed his muscles through his coat.
Callista glowed. “In that case, I have another question,” she teased.
“Ask away.” He gestured grandly.
“Assume that the curse is broken and you go back to being, well, more human-shaped.”
“I’ve been working on that assumption for a number of years,” he pointed out cautiously.
“Well…is your human self strong enough to do the same?”
Griffin laughed. “I’d say ‘you’ll have to wait and find out,’” he informed her; “But I just told you that I want you to ask questions, didn’t I?” He considered it for a moment. “When I first became the beast,” he told her, “I was little more than human strong. I’ve built my strength the hard way. I’m not sure it will translate exactly as a human—I did gain some strength with the transformation—but I consider myself more than strong enough to put a lady in her saddle no matter how ‘sturdy’ she thinks herself.” His head tilted sideways for a moment. “Though,” he admitted, “it might be more of a reach to get you on top of Goliath and his brothers.” He patted his horse fondly.
“How tall are you?” Callista asked curiously.
“Which me?” His face darkened a bit as he asked the question.
“Both,” she said decisively.
“Seven feet, eight inches in this form.” He made a face. “At some point over the course of more than four years, a gentleman does get curious, you know?”
“And your human self?” She wasn’t sure why the interest. She might, after all, never get to know him in human form. Still, Callista found that she wanted to know.
�
��Six feet, two inches,” he answered immediately.
“And you were—I mean, you didn’t still have growing to do, right?”
“I was old enough to have stopped growing when the curse hit,” he assured her.
It gave her plenty to consider. She had plenty of questions—questions that, she was sure, Griffin would answer over time, if she was only willing to ask them.
One at a time. For today, she’d asked what she most wanted to know—and she’d had the chance to spend the day with him, rather than seeing him only at dinner time.
They got back on their horses and rode back towards the castle, both of them silent now. They’d been given plenty of things to consider—and she wondered if he was thinking as hard as she was on that long ride back.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Remember Me
After that day, Griffin felt freer to spend more time in Callista’s company. He stopped skulking around the castle, half hiding from her, and started actually spending time with her. They ate breakfast together. They went for rides a couple of times a week, especially if the weather was nice. He showed her around the castle—the things that her explorations thus far hadn’t been able to show her, because it took someone who truly knew the castle to showcase what it really had to offer.
The more time he spent in her company, the more comfortable he became with her. The mask spent most of its time in a drawer, all but forgotten: he pulled it out only for the first parts of their rides, when they were close enough to the town that someone might see him. So far, they had been lucky. No one had even taken note of him, not even long enough to realize that he was wearing a mask, much less what was beneath it. He’d give up the gloves, as well. Callista didn’t seem to mind the fact that there was fur instead of flesh; and he found that it was much more comfortable to be able to go about uncovered, however unnatural he might appear. He wasn’t nearly as hot, and his face didn’t constantly feel as though it was being crammed into something resembling human confines; not only that, he could actually get his hands wrapped around things.
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