Chapter 8

• I don’t know where the King’s chambers are, but assuming this castle is built similarly to Queen Victoria’s, they’ll likely be on the top floor. That assumption is all I have to guide me as I rush down the long, shadowed hallway, my eyes darting left and right in search of a staircase. The flickering torchlight dances on the stone walls, casting shapes that seem to move with a life of their own.
• As I near a corner, the sound of loud laughter reaches my ears. My breath catches, and I immediately slow my pace, pressing myself closer to the wall. My head drops instinctively, my chin brushing against my collarbone as I adopt the posture of submission I’ve been taught to use around Beasts. It’s second nature now, a reflex born of survival.
• Taking a steadying breath, I round the corner cautiously. Two female Beasts come into view, their figures tall and commanding in the dim light. Both are adorned in gowns that shimmer with jewels, their wealth and status on full display. The elder woman exudes an air of sophistication, her posture straight and regal, while the younger moves with a carefree energy that suggests youth and confidence. They seem close—mother and daughter, perhaps—but the absence of guards tells me they’re not royalty.