Being a Beast (On Hold)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

I cradled the beautiful, and exuberant flower in my claws, careful not to damage it. I’d waited all this time, and yet no one came. No one would come for me. I’d had this life here for far too long. It was raining outside, giving me no sign that this woman would come back. She’d done this to my family. I could never forgive her, I’d have to get away from here, knowing that my son would surely become the same. I’d have to try to protect him from himself, but on his birthday, his eighteenth birthday, that same woman is foretold to make a horrible visit. I had ruined his life without realizing it. I’d fallen in love with a girl when I was younger. And she’d loved me, until she gave birth, giving me all the responsibility when she died from childbirth. Then, and only then did I realize my mistake. Beasts could never have a happy ever after. I’d given my son a terrible fate, and I could do nothing to stop it.

All I could think of was this protection spell. I carefully placed a cup hot water on the birch made table, where I took the beautiful red rose full of life and cautiously tore off a petal, placing it in the boiling water. It simmered and steamed, putting all magic and blood of a single life of a rose into the water. Then, when the water was still hot enough after cooling, I put the cup to my infant’s mouth and let him drink. It would protect him all I could.