Free Beast Lord: (Beauty and the Beast) (Tangled Tales Book 3) by Elizabeth Rose Page B

and fair, and her eyes the color of the sea on a summer’s day. And her lips – those lush lips like ripe berries – were full and plump and begging to be kissed – by a man like his brother, not by an ugly beast like himself.
    “Trumble,” he called out, and his squire ran up from the stables, stopping in a puff of dust as he slid up to him.
    “Aye, my lord. What can I do for you?”
    “Take the girl back to her chamber and make sure this time she stays inside, even if you have to barricade the door.”
    “You’re sending her back to her chamber, my lord? Why?”
    “Just do it! I don’t need a brash wench telling me what is or isn’t mine.” He grabbed for the key at his waist belt, and when he removed it, the strength of his hand had bent it in half.
    “My lord! Did you really just bend that iron key?”
    “Aye, how did you do that?” asked MacKay.
    “It doesn’t matter. Now do as I say.” He pushed the key into Trumble’s hand.
    “But my lord, this key won’t work in the lock if it’s bent.” Trumble turned it over and over in his palm, fascinated by what just happened. Stefan was rather fascinated too.
    “Then fix it!” he snapped.
    “I’ll take it to the blacksmith’s shop and see what I can do, but I’m not skilled in pounding out iron.”
    “Give it to me,” he growled, ripping the key from his squire’s hand. Placing his fingers on both sides, he bent it back into shape as if he were bending a blade of grass.
    The men mumbled amongst themselves, and Trumble’s mouth fell open.
    “Did you just . . . ”
    “Squire, if you don’t stop asking questions, I’ll lock you in your chamber next. Now take the girl and go.”
    “Aye, my lord.”
    “I’ll not go with him!” Bonnibel struggled against Trumble’s hold. “This is my father’s castle and you can’t tell me what to do.”
    “You are my prisoner, and you’ll hold your tongue,” he spat.
    “I’ll do no such thing. Kin, protect me from this beast!”
    That’s all Stefan needed to hear before his restraint gave way. A beautiful girl – a girl who had sewed up his wounds and showed him a little kindness was now referring to him as a beast and he didn’t like it.
    His hands balled into fists and every muscle in his body shook. Then he opened his mouth and let out a loud roar that sent the soldiers scattering through the courtyard. Stray animals ran for cover. His voice rattled the stones, and several of them fell from the castle wall and hit the ground with a clinking sound.
    The girl glared at him and her eyes narrowed. Then she picked up her skirts and ran back to the castle with Trumble on her heels.
    “You never did have a way with women,” said Kin, looking at him as if he’d gone mad.
    “And you never did know when to shut your mouth . . . Rumpelstiltskin,” he said loud enough for all the men to hear.
    “Shhhh, what are you doing?” asked Kin in disgust. “My men only know me as Kin.”
    “And now they’ll know that I’m not the only beast in the courtyard,” said Stefan, turning on his heel and heading for the keep. “You, my brother, will not always be the golden child. Mark my words, your day of reckoning will come as well.”

 
    Chapter 7
     
    As soon as Trumble locked Bonnibel back in her chamber, she was at the hearth, sneaking back into the secret tunnel. She paused for a minute, remembering the scary creature inside the walls, then turned around and made her way back into the chamber. She wanted to leave here more than anything, but the monster in the passageway scared her more than Sir Stefan did.
    She went back to the bed and laid down, longing to see her father and wondering if he was all right. After the dream she had, she sincerely doubted that this was true. She figured if she slept again, maybe she could have a vision of her father and know where to find him. She laid down and closed her eyes, and willed herself to drift off to sleep.
     
    * * *
    When Stefan and his brothers walked