The Price of a Rose

Chapter 12

They rode hard into the night, as Storm Runner haphazardly navigated through the darkened forest. Branches and leaves smacked over Anton and Amelia\'s bodies, nearly knocking them off the dark horse. They both clung on tightly, not easily dissuaded from their mission. They arrived at the castle gates, which opened before them. Storm Runner galloped into the grounds, then reared, knocking both riders off onto the ground. Anton managed to land on his feet, but Amelia wasn\'t so lucky. He helped her up off the ground, as she cursed a blue streak.
\"Where is that damned horse?\" she snarled, looking around in hopes of exacting revenge. But he had disappeared into the night leaving them both alone in the courtyard.
\"What now?\"
Amelia rolled her eyes, \"What do you think? You have to go into the castle and kill the Beast, and then Eve will be yours.\"
\"What are you going to do in the meanwhile?\" he asked.
Amelia just grinned, as she played with the silver key that hung around her neck, \"Oh I can think of several ways to keep myself busy…\"

* * * * * * * *

The Beast laid upon Eve\'s bed, the blankets tangled over his body. He had stayed in her room since the day she was supposed to return, blanketed in a cloud of deep depression. She wasn\'t coming back. She was back with her family, she was happier there than she could ever be with him. Tears leaked down his cheeks as he finally got up out of the bed and walked haltingly to the balcony. He looked down at the garden below him. The sea of roses was wilted, dying as his grief intensified. All except the red rose that stood in the center of the garden. It seemed to grow more vibrant as all the others died around it. A burning rage built up inside of him, as he stared down at the red rose that was mocking him. It was the cause of all his pain, the reason he was forever to remain a beast. He wanted to shred it into a million pieces and burn the remains until there was nothing left. The anger washed over him. He felt the need to tear, rend, maim, and kill…. He heard a sudden movement behind him, and spun around quickly, fangs bared. Before him stood a barrel chested young man, holding a silver dagger, poised to attack.
\"You\'re not going to take Eve away from me again, monster,\" snarled Anton. His eyes narrowed, \"I\'ll make sure of it.\"

* * * * * * *

Eve awoke in a cold sweat, her heart pounding madly in her chest. Amelia’s jibes had never affected her this way before. Maybe what her sister had said in jest was truer than she had expected. She had feelings for the Beast that were far beyond just friendship. The dream from her last night there, returned to her in full force. Maybe what she was feeling for him was… Her hand flew up to her throat and she gave a small shriek. The necklace with the key was gone! She searched frantically around the bed, hoping that the chain had broken and it had slipped into the bedding. It was nowhere to be found.
“Oh no,” she moaned, “Where is it?!” Suddenly she was aware of a drumming sound coming from below. She rushed downstairs and could hear muffled cursing punctuating the drumming noise. The sound came from the pantry. Eve unlocked the door and Felicity stumbled out onto the floor.
“Felicity!” Eve helper sir sister up, “What happened?”
“Amelia and Anton..” Felicity gasped, struggling for a breath, “They took your necklace, then locked me in there. They went to kill the Beast!”
“No!” Eve cried, “This is all my fault!” She ran up the steps to her room. Felicity followed at her heels. Eve opened a trunk at the foot of her bed and started rummaging through it.
“What are you doing?” Felicity asked, puzzled.
“I have to find it,” Eve mumbled to herself, “Where is it?” She finally made a sound of triumph, “There it is!”
Eve pulled forth the glove the Beast had given her. To her alarm it looked old and it had faded from a deep black to a dull gray color. Felicity looked even more puzzled but said nothing.
“I hope this still works…” Eve pulled the glove over her hand.
“You hope what works, Eve? What are you talking about….” Felicity stopped mid sentence. Her sister’s form shimmered and then disappeared from sight. This was all too much for Felicity, who fell in a dead faint.

Chapter 13

The Beast snarled as Anton’s sword ripped across his chest. He was already bleeding from dozens of sword cuts along his arms and sides, but Anton had not remained untouched by the battle. The young man was bleeding from his share of claw gouges. They both backed up, clutching their respective wounds, looking at each other with pure loathing.
“You already have Eve,” the Beast growled, “Why are you here?”
A look of bitterness crossed Anton’s face.
“She’s too kindhearted for her own good. If I kill you, she will no longer have an obligation to come back,” Anton snarled. “Enough talk, monster, its time you met your death!”
With that the young man lunged at the Beast. He feigned to the left, catching the Beast off guard and brought the pommel of his dagger up, cracking it against his opponent’s skull. The blow nearly knocked Beast out cold. He roared in anger and opened the cage of the Hunger welling inside him. If it’s a monster that this young upstart wanted, it was a monster he was going to get. He lashed out his claws gouging across Anton’s pretty face. The young man yelped in pain and the Beast could see the fear in his eyes. This prodded the Beast on as he relentlessly attacked, driving his prey towards the balcony. Finally with one mighty blow he knocked him over the edge. Either by skill or blind luck, Anton managed to catch on to the railing before he plummeted below. The Beast stood over him, seething with rage. The monster inside of him screamed, kill him now and eve will be ours, but what that was little left of his humanity told him that if Eve had even the slightest feelings for this man, killing him would make her hate him. He couldn’t bear the thought of that. Beast reached out his hand.
“Grab my hand. I’ll pull you up.”
Anton looked at the Beast with hatred, and did not move.
“Give me your hand, Dammit!” the Beast snarled impatiently, “It will do Eve no good if either of us dies.”
Still the young man made no move to take the Beast’s hand. Finally the Beast reached down and tried to grab Anton’s shoulder to haul him up. Anton moved to quickly for the Beast to react. He was still holding his dagger with his free hand. As the Beast leaned forward, the young man brought up his dagger and slipped it deep between his mortal enemy’s ribs. The Beast roared in pain, and as he tried to pull the dagger out, he knocked Anton off the railing. Anton fell several stories to his death onto the rose bushes below. There was a sickening crack as his bones shattered to pieces in his body. After a moment the rose vines slowly came to life as they methodically began to wrap around Anton’s body, pulling him into the bush. Eventually there was no evidence that a body had even been there. Back in Eve’s room, the Beast staggered away from the window. The dagger was buried deep into his side and he was losing too much blood. If he could get the dagger out, maybe he could stanch the blood flow long enough for him to heal, but he was already weak from the many wounds Anton had inflicted upon him. Besides what reason left was there to live for? Eve wasn’t coming back, and life without her…
The Beast stumbled to the bed and wearily lay down. He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.

* * * * * * *

Eve arrived in the garden. It was in a sorry state. All of the roses, save for the bush in the center, were either dead or dying. She ran towards the castle, frantically calling out for the Beast, but there was no answer. She pulled open the glass doors and searched the room. Still there was no sign of him. The castle itself was dead and cold, which made her chest tighten with dread. Eve search the castle, room by room finding nothing, until finally she came to her own room. The room itself was a shambles as if there had been a struggle. Upon her bed, lying bruised and bloodied was the Beast.
“Oh Gods! I’m to late!’ she cried as she went to him. She saw the blade that was stuck into his side and recognized it to be Anton’s. Anger well up in her. “Damn you Anton! How could you do this?”
The Beast’s eyes fluttered open. “Eve?”
“Oh thank the Gods you’re not dead!” she cried as sat next to him on the bed and pulled his head into her lap. She gently touched his battered face as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I thought.. I thought you weren’t coming back,” he whispered softly.
“Oh no! I didn’t mean to be gone so long.. Father got sick again and I was afraid to leave him, but I know that I should have kept my promise to you.” She brushed her tears off from where they had fallen on his face. “Oh Beast I never meant for this to happen..”
“Hush,” he said as he brought a finger to her lips stopping any further words, “Eve, please, don’t call me Beast anymore. I want to hear my given name from you, if for one last time. Please call me Gabriel..”
“Gabriel…” she looked stricken, “You’re going to be alright. You can’t die. Please… I love you.”
He smiled sweetly at her, his own eyes sparking with unshed tears. “I love you too my precious Eve.”
She leaned down and brushed her lips against his. It was a tender, loving kiss. She could fell his had brush against her cheek then suddenly it fell. His eyes rolled back and his breath came is uneven gasps as he slipped into unconsciousness.
“No!” she cried, “You can’t leave me! It’s not supposed to happen this way!”
She cried as she held him tight, not knowing what to do. There was no fairy godmother to appear and make everything better, no happing ending. It was just her, in this cold dead room with Gabriel’s life slowly slipping away.
“Hello?”
Eve looked up to see a blond giant standing he dhe doorway.
“Who.. Who are you?” she stammered, “Can you help me? Please, he’s dying and I don’t know what to do!”
The man rushed over to her side and began to tear up blankets off the bed and wrap them around the knife to stop the blood flow. After a moment Eve began to help and the both of them worked desperately to save Gabriel’s life.
“I’m Renner,” he told her as he began binding the many wounds that covered Gabriel’s body, “I’m a friend, I was sent to help.” He looked up at her and flashed a grin, “Don’t worry everything is going to be alright.”

Chapter 14

Amelia had made her way to the pavilion, filled with malicious glee. She would clean out the Beast’s treasures and take off before anyone was the wiser. She made it to the vine covered doors. After a few moments of ripping away vegetation, she was able to find the handle and key. She had also found a plaque right above the handle. She squinted her eyes and read it “Are you willing to pay the price..?” Amelia snorted and pushed the key into the lock. It opened easily on smooth hinges. Amelia stepped into the room and her jaw dropped. The room was filled to the ceiling with gold and silver. Coins, cups, pearls and priceless artifacts were strewn across the stone floor. “Good Gods, Amelia whispered to herself, overwhelmed by the sight of the immense riches. This was equal to 100 no 1000 king’s ransoms. She began scooping up gold into the apron of her dress. She’d leave this area and find a city by the ocean. She’d live in a large mansion with tons of servants. As she reached for another handful of gold, her fingers passed through the coins. She realized with a horrified start that the room and the gold was fading away. She found herself in a dark chamber. She stood up suddenly spilling the coins in her lap.
“What do we have here?” came a silky voice from behind her. She turned to see a lithe, handsome man with orange-amber eyes and long brown hair dressed in black leather, slouching in a throne made of skulls. The glint in his eyes as he looked her up and down was frightening.
“Where… am I?” She asked as she backed away from him.
“You are in my humble abode,” he chuckled. “Now, I wonder how you came to be here? If recall correctly I had placed ell ell on that bratling Breast’s pavilion to have that little slut of his transported here after she came to collect his treasure. But instead I find you.” He shrugged and stood up in a fluid motion. “Ah well, beggars can’t be choosers. You will do just as nicely.\" Amelia opened he mouth to protest but nothing came from her lips.
Ian leered at her, “I’ve made sure to take you voice. I despise the sound of human whining.” He stepped closer and grabbed her arm and drew her close to him, “Human screams on the other hand…” he took a handful of her hair, pulled it back and licked her neck. “Those I don’t mind at all.”
Amelia tried to struggle but it seemed to make him even more excited. He grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head against a wall that hadn’t been there a moment ago. Amelia bit her lip, trying not to give him the satisfaction of her screaming. Ian chuckled darkly.
“Ah, trying to be brave, are you?” he laughed again in that dark silky voice of his, “That just going to make it all the better when I break you.”
As he held her arms with one hand and with the other he ripped open her dress and tossed it carelessly to the floor. He let go of her arms but when she tried to claw at him, she found her hands were held in place by iron manacles. She looked down at her tormenter and was horrified to find him completely nude. His body was well built and lean, and he would have been handsome if it wasn’t for the madness in his eyes and the leering grin on his face. He roughly grabbed her breast and bit into the nipple drawing blood. Amelia screeched, her body struggling to get away. She tried to kick at him, but her legs were manacled as well. Ian drove sharp nails over her pale skin leaving bloody trails all over her flesh. He kissed her roughly but pulled away when she bit his lip. Ian chucked as he licked the blood off his lips and smacked her across the face. Amelia cried out, tears streaming down her face.
Ian spread her legs and forced his fingers inside of her. He brushed against her maidenhead.
“O-ho, we have a virgin here. I’d of never thought..” he cackled, “Oh that makes it all the more delicious.”
He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “I’ll bet you’ll be nice and tight. I’ll teach you to love pain, my pretty, to crave it, to call out for it. This will be a grand night indeed.” He forced her legs open once again and, with no warning, thrust deep inside her. Her blood spilled down both their legs, as he went deeper and faster, being driven by her screams and whimpers of pain.
He violated and degraded her well into the dawn. All she could do was scream, but no one could hear her.

* * * * * * *

Gabriel was aware of his surroundings before he actually woke up. He could feel himself enveloped in clean sheets and felt sunshine on his face. Why am I still alive? he thought to himself, I wanted to die! He slowly opened his eyes and saw something that made him doubt his sanity. He blinked several times but the image hadn’t changed. He sat up and looked at the ghost from his past.
“Renner?”
His old tutor gave him one of his rakish grins. He didn’t look a day older than the last time Gabriel had seen him, “I was wondering when you’d finally wakeup.” Renner chuckled as he sat at the edge of Gabriel’s bed.
“But how? Where have you been, whyyou you still look so young? Is my father with you..?” Gabriel had a thousand other questions but Renner held up a hand to stop him.
“I’ll answer all you questions, Gabe.” Renner sighed and paused a moment as if to figure out how to say what he wanted to say. “Do you remember the last night we were all together? You, me, and your father at that formal dinner?”
Gabriel nodded, but remained silent.
“Well one moment that idiot Mage was spouting about how someone stole something from him, then the next thing I know your father and I were in a forest out in the middle of nowhere. I figured that it had been you who had taken something from the mage..”
“I’m so sorry Renner,” Gabriel whispered, his voice filled with despair. “I couldn’t help myself. I was so stupid..”
“No Gabe, Don’t blame yourself.” Renner said as he placed his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “That bastard has ways to make people do what he wants. Anyways it took us about a month to get back to the castle. When we got there, Oberon greeted us. He said that a spell had been cast upon you. He showed you to us.” Renner shook his head at the memory. “You were half mad with what had happened to you. You didn’t even recognize us. Oberon said that he could place a spell on us, so that we would sleep until the spell on you is broken. I came out of it a bit early because I guess I sensed you were in danger.”
“But what about my father?” Gabriel asked quietly.
“Your father… I guess seeing what had happened to you was too much for his heart. He died shortly after seeing you.”
Gabriel sat in stunned silence. All this pain and suffering, all of this was the price he paid for taking a rose.
“I should be dead right now,” Gabriel whispered quietly, “All of this wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for me.”
Renner shook his friend, “No, your wrong. You shouldn’t wish for your death when you have a lovely young lady who’s madly in love with you.”
“You mean Eve?” Beast asked, as small spark of hope lit up in his eyes. Renner grinned and laughed.
“I had to bully that poor girl, just so she would get something to eat. She’s been at your side ever since we found you.”
“Renner…. Sometimes I scare myself about the way I feel towards her. I..” Gabriel paused for a moment, embarrassed.
Renner nodded, “Well it’s natural. I mean you love her, don’t you? I can imagine that the feelings you have are frightening. You have a more um..” Renner paused searching for the right word, “Purer nature. You’re closer to the beast that lies inside all of us, so of course when this beast asserts itself you get flooded with emotions you don’t know what to do with..”
“But I want to do things to her.. I ‘m afraid I’ll hurt her.”
Renner chuckled, “Well you might, the first time.” Gabriel looked at Renner with alarm. “Hear me out Gabe. There’s always a little blood on every girl’s first time. You just have to take it slow.” Renner grinned wolfishly. “In fact I’ll let you in on a few tips before she gets back…”

* * * * * * *

Eve returned to the room with a pitcher of water, to find Gabriel sitting up and talking with Renner. She almost dropped the pitcher in her joy to see him up and talking. She smiled shyly at Gabriel and placed the pitcher down on the nightstand next to his bed.
“Well I had better go, I’m a tad bit famished,” Renner said a he stood up. He patted Gabriel’s shoulder one last time and waved at Eve before he scurried out the door.
Now that they were alone, Eve wasn’t sure what to do with herself.. She looked up at the Gabriel, who smiled shyly at her. Gods he was beautiful. She had almost lost him because she was to stupid to acknowledge her feelings for him.
“Hi.” She said.
“Hi,” he replied softly.
“I.. um.. Are you thirsty?” she asked. Coward, scolded herself, tell him how you feel. Tell him how happy you are he’s awake. Tell him you LOVE him!
He smiled at her again and nodded. “Yes, please.”

She poured some of the cold water into a wooden bowl and brought it to the bed. She sat on the edge, next to him and placed the bowl in her lap. She noticed that the smell of roses was starting to fill the room. Eve placed her hands into the water and cupped them together. She brought her hands to mouth him but stopped when she saw the smoldering look in his eyes. He grasped her hands, holding them in place and lowered his head to her hands. His slowly licked the palm of her hand, dragging his textured tongue over the sensitive flesh of her palms. She gasped as the water fell through her fingers onto the blanket. Gabriel didn’t seem to care. He continued licking her hands and then slowly made his way up her wrists, to inside of her forearms. She whimpered softly. He stopped and pulled her close to him, and nuzzled against her ear.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked in a husky voice.

“No..” She whispered breathlessly. He chuckled softly, and lifted her up into his lap. She dug her fingers through his thick mane as he unlaced her bodice. Once it was opened, he pulled the front of her chemise down, exposing her creamy breasts. Her nipples were already hard. Gabriel let out a rumbling purr as he took one of them into his mouth. Eve moaned, and pulled his head towards her. He flicked his rough tongue over the sensitive crown, eliciting a yelp and a squirm from her. He chuckled softly and continued to suckle alternatly on each nipple, relishing the sounds and squirms she made. Finally, after he thought she had enough torture, he pulled away and yanked her chemise up over her head, tossing it across the room. He then lowered her onto her back, straddling her body wearing nothing but his breeches, and began to kiss a trail down her neck. He nipped, licked and sucked down the valley between her breast, pausing to flick his rough tongue over each nipple, then continued down towards her stomach. He grabbed the edge of her bloomers and inched them off slowly as he continued his trail across her stomach, coming ever nearer to the goal that laid between her thighs. Eve squirmed more and began whimpering softly.


“oh gods, oh gods, oh gods,” she gasped over and over, like a mantra. His fingers delved into her reddish gold curls, finding her wet and ready. He breathed deeply of hernt ant and looked up at her, his eyes smoldering with lust.
“Brace yourself,” he said with a throaty purr, right before he lowered his head and pushed his tongue deep inside her. Eve screeched as her hips buckled beneath him. Gabriel held her still and pushed his tongue deeper and deeper. With his body rumbling with purrs, it caused his tongue to vibrate inside of her. She fisted her hands in his hair, as she squirmed and gasped.

Gabriel replaced his tongue with his fingers and moved to catch her sensitive bundle of nerves between his lips. Pumping his fingers in and out of her, he suckled on her clit, caressing it with his tongue. It wasn’t long before she was crying out in release, her inner walls convulsing around his fingers, coating them with her juices. After she had calmed down a bit, he removed his fingers and nuzzled her stomach to get her attention. As her eyes met his, Gabriel smiled slyly and began to slowly lick the juices that coated each of his digits. Eve shuddered and moaned once more.


“Gods… Gabriel...”

He pulled himself up, on hands and knees, and placed his mouth over hers, let her her taste her essence on his lips and tongue. Eve’s hands went to the ties in the front of his breeches and pulled them loose. As he kissed her, he waited to see what she would do. Eve managed to pull his throbbing length forth, her nimble fingers brushing against him. Gabriel hissed softly, and turned onto his back, taking Eve with him. He laid passively on the bed, allowing her to explore him as he had her.

She trailed her fingers along the short, downy fur of Gabriel’s chest, and leaned over to shyly nuzzle his neck. She mimiced his trail of kisses and bites, stopping at his flat nipples and suckling on each one, eliciting soft throaty growls from him. Her fingers stroked across his taunt stomach, raking her nails lightly down to the sensitive skin of his inner thighs. Eve studied his jutting member intently, as her long tresses brushed against his stomach and thighs. Her fingers traced up the velvety shaft, causing a drop of milky white fluid to bead up. Eve lowered herself down further, and Gabriel could feel her warm breath caress his heated flesh. With a look of pure mischief her tongue flicked out, lapping across his slitted head.

Gabriel let out a feral growl and in an instant Eve found herself underneath him, as he grabbed her buttocks, position her legs to wrap around his waist. His shaft teased her nether lips, as he lowered his head to the hollow of her throat. He pushed himself slowly inside before reaching the barrier of her virginity. After a brief moment of hesitation he thrust past her maidenhead. Eve let out a sharp cry, which make his body tense in fear.
“Are you alright?’ he asked, his voice strained at the effort of keeping himself still.
“Yes..” she whispered shakily, “I’ll.. I’ll be fine in a moment.”
Gabriel trembled above her, his control nearing its end. The fear that he had hurt Eve too badly was the only thing that kept him from ravaging her. The scent of the blood he had spilled was slowly stirring up his animal instincts. Finally, after few moments, Eve squirmed against him.
“Please start again.” she asked shyly.
He garnered what was left of his tattered control, and began to slowly thrust into her. As she began to writhe underneath him, makinttlettle whimpers of pleasure, he began to take up the tempo going faster and harder. Eve moaned louder as her hips thrust against his, her nails raking furrows across his back. Gabriel felt her body stiffen, then suddenly convulsed, as her muscles contracted around him nearly pushing him over the brink. Before he could lose himself to the feel of her quivering flesh, Gabriel pulled himself out of her, despite her protests and flipped her onto her stomach.

He panted against her back, in an attempt to calm himself, before licking atrial up from the cleft of her buttocks towards the nape of her neck. Gabriel positioned himself at Eve’s entrance, and bit into the back of her neck as he thrust hard into her from behind. He allowed himself to let himself go, thrusting harder and harder, faster and faster. Eve squealed in pleasure as her hips bucked back against him.

Gabriel roughly fondled one of her breasts, then moved his hand down to rub against her clit. Eve came once again, crying out his name. This time Gabriel could not ignore the feel of her convulsing walls as they spasmed around him in a vice-like grip. He was sent spiraling with her as he let out a roar that shook the room, spilling his seed inside her. They collapsed onto the bed, and finally rearranged themselves until she was lying comfortably on his chest. She looked up at his face to seewas was wet with tears. She kissed the wetness on his cheeks.


“I love you,” she whispered softly.
“Love you too,” he replied pulling her closer.

.

Chapter 15

Eve awoke with sunshine on her face and Gabriel’s arms wrapped possessively around her. He was sleeping like the dead, snoring softly. Eve absentmindedly ran her fingers across his cheek. Something was different, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. It burrowed at the back of her conscience, like a worm burrowing through dirt. She gently pulled out of his arms, but he made a small sound of protest, his brow furrowing. Eve kissed him softly, brushing his bangs away from his face. He calmed down and slipped back into a dreamless sleep. Eve pulled on her chemise and a robe that happened to be in a nearby wardrobe and quietly left the room. Something was definitely odd about the castle.
“Eve!”
She looked down the hall and saw Renner coming towards her, grinning from ear to ear.
“Renner, um hi,” she said as a blush flashed over her cheeks, “How are you doing?”
“Fine.” He replied. He looked a little self conscious himself, “Er, Have you noticed um anything different, er lately?”
“Well, actually, yeah. Everything about the castle seems different,” she said thoughtfully.
Renner grinned like a child, “Wonderful! That means the spell is broken!”
“Spell? What spell?” Eve asked, confused.
“Well… Gabe was under a spell of sorts, but you..” Renner smiled at her, “You broke it.”
Eve’s brow furrowed, “But.. Does that mean Gabriel will change?” she asked horrified. She had fallen in love with the Beast, Gabriel. She didn’t think she could handle him changing into something.. different.
“No, no dear child,” Renner chuckled. “You have looked at Gabe with the eyes of true love and acceptance. Now anyone else who sees him will see him as you do. He will never be taken as monster again.” He peered out a nearby window. “By the way your family should be here in about a couple hours, as well as the castle staff.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “I suggest you make the most of the free time you and Gabe have left.”

Eve blushed again and stammered goodbye to Renner as she retreated back to her room. Gabriel opened his eyes as she entered the room, and smiled at her, lifting the blankets in an invitation. She slipped out of her clothes and crawled into bed, snuggling against him. He drew her close and she could feel that he was ready for a repeat performance of last night. Eve was definitely going follow Renner’s advice and make good use of their last moments alone…

* * * * * * *

Renner stood out on the castle’s parapet staring out at the road, waiting for the new arrivals. He felt a presence behind him, but he did not turn.
“You’ve done well,” came a soft musical voice.
“I take my job seriously, my Tit Titania,” he replied. He looked down at his feet, not wanting to meet her in the eye. “I just wish I had done better and never have let Ian touch him.”
“Nonsense, it was boun hap happen,” she stood beside him and looked at him critically for a moment. “Please drop that disguise in my presence. I prefer you as you really are, Puck.”
His form rippled for an instant, solidifying finally to his true shape. He was just as tall as before, but his gold hair had turned silver, his eyes were as black as the midnight sky on a moonless night. His features had become more elven, his ears coming to points, his eyes more almond shaped. He had sprouted a white cat’s tail that now swayed and curled upon itself. He smiled his wolfish grin at Titania, revealing sharp canines.
“The spell has been broken, at least part ways,” he told her, “It’s unfortunate that we cannot return him to his original shape.”
“It’s for the best,” she replied. “This experience has taught my son humility and the meaning of true love.”
“Well, my queen,” he said with an exaggerated bow and his trademark wolfish grin, “I, for one, will make sure that your son and his bride to be will live as close to happily ever after as possible.”

Fin….?