Deceit: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (21 page)

Outside, a small, light carriage with a
single horse waited; and the driver offered me a hand to step up. I
sank into the plush leather seat and blankly stared at the man’s
coat as he sat in the driver’s seat and encouraged the horse into a
trot.

I saw little as we left Konrall. The
devastation of my world blinded me. I’d lost the beast, the sisters
I’d wanted, and the home I’d craved. What was left? I could think
of nothing; and in my mind, the baker’s weight pressed down on me
once more.

You survived Depravity’s cliffhanger
ending...how about this one? :)

I hope you enjoyed Deceit, part 2 of the
Beastly Tales. Your support keeps me writing, so please consider
letting others know about this story by leaving a review on
Goodreads or any of the retailer sites where this title is
available.

Keep reading for an excerpt of Devastation,
the conclusion to the Beastly Tales.

Happy reading!

Melissa

Sneak peek of

Devastation

Coming August 2015

The tattered remnants of the world I’d held
so dear drifted from my mind. Anger and hate clouded my
thoughts.

I shook fiercely but refused to give into
the tears that so desperately wanted release. My stomach cramped
from the recent abuse and the restraint to contain myself, and my
face ached from the blows Tennen and the baker had delivered. Yet,
the pain did not distract from the lingering feel of that
grotesque, vile man as the carriage rumbled toward the Water. My
skin crawled, and my lungs refused to work properly.

I remained so lost in the violent experience
that I barely noticed when the carriage pulled before my father’s
house.

The driver hopped down from his perch and
offered a hand to help me down. I needed the help. The shaking in
my legs had only grown worse.

Once I was on my feet, the driver turned to
Father’s home and knocked on the door. Trembling in Mrs. Mendunge’s
cloak and my nightgown, I stood behind the man.

Father opened the door, took one look at me,
and ushered me in.

“Benella, what’s happened?” he said,
wrapping an arm around me to steady me.

I could only shake my head. He tried
quizzing the driver, but the man bowed and said to expect to hear
from his master soon.

That penetrated my clouded mind. My stomach
dropped. The returned Lord of the estate. The image of him standing
so calmly burned my eyes; still, no moisture gathered.

As soon as the door closed, Father led me to
a chair then quickly left to pull water from the well. When he
returned, he dipped a cloth into the pail, wrung it out, and held
it to my cheek. I flinched from the pain and the reminder of what
had happened.

“I’ll fetch the physician,” he said, already
turning away.

“No.” I caught his hand to stop him.

I wasn’t hurt so badly that I could justify
what a physician would cost. I would recover. Yet, as Father faced
me with concern, I knew he would insist unless I explained my
abused appearance.

I averted my gaze as words spilled
forth.

“I interrupted an attempted thievery at the
beast’s estate,” I said, staring at the table. “The beast
was...elsewhere. The thief carried me to the baker. The baker
attempted to rape me. His grotesque belly saved me,” I said in a
broken whisper. “I’m shaken and bruised. Nothing that won’t
heal.”

“Oh, my girl.” Father knelt beside me and
wrapped me in his arms. His compassion almost released the tears I
struggled to withhold.

“I don’t want to go back,” I said in a
tight, pained voice. “They all play cruel games. I thought Aryana a
friend, but she’s the enchantress who has held the beast this whole
time. They were both there at the baker’s.” I lifted my head and
met my father’s agonized gaze. “Their presence stopped the baker,
but they otherwise stood by indifferently.”

“I’m so sorry, Bini,” my father whispered
with tears in his eyes. “I wish I knew how to fix this.”

I knew he meant more than the attack I’d
suffered. He pulled me back into a comforting hug, trying to
protect me as he had from Tennen’s bullying when he’d moved us to
the Water. Yet, instead of Father making the sacrifice he’d
intended, I’d been tricked into staying with the beast who I had
thought would protect me as zealously as he’d protected his estate.
Sadly, I had wrongly assumed his level of affection for me. The
ache in my chest continued to grow but for Father’s sake, I
withheld my tears.

Father pulled away and offered me the use of
his room, along with some of his clothes. After I dressed, I sat on
his bed with my elbows on my knees and stared at my folded
hands.

All the advice Aryana had given or not given
made more sense. She’d used me in her game with the beast. As Rose,
she’d dissuaded me, steeling my determination to help. As Aryana,
she’d given me the knowledge I’d needed to navigate a world I’d not
understood. I recalled all the times she had said she worried about
me. She had been sincere; I didn’t doubt it. Yet, it hadn’t been
enough to stop her game.

Finally, tears fell hard and fast.

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