Catherine and the Beast Prince

Chapter One

Catherine pulled her soft hat lower, hiding her face from anyone who bothered to look in her direction. Not that she truly worried about being noticed. She had become a master of blending into crowds.

The freedom given to her by wearing men’s clothing helped with that. No proper unmarried woman could appear in public alone, but as a man, she was just another face passing by.

The quality of her clothing helped. Just fine enough to keep her from looking disreputable, but also not so fine that she would appear wealthy, in order to avoid drawing the attention of bandits as she passed through the different villages.

She finished folding the last letter she received from her stepsister, Ella, and tucked it into the leather satchel she wore over one shoulder. As soon as it arrived at her last location, she departed that village forever. She wanted to stay one step ahead of anyone that Ella might send after her.

Catherine wasn’t supposed to be here. This wasn’t originally her quest. Her mission. But she’d made it her own.

She could never repay Ella and Luke for everything they had done for her but finding Luke’s missing brother would be a good start. Edward disappeared nearly a year ago, shortly after he and his brothers were struck with a curse that turned them into wolves every full moon.

The three of them originally set out together, but then Ella became pregnant and it forced the couple to return home so their child would not be born away from Glaecor. Luke was the crown prince, and it was the tradition for the next heir to the throne to be born in the family’s main palace.

That was when Catherine had slipped away. To continue the search for the missing prince.

In a way, she was glad to be alone. It had been growing more and more difficult to be with Ella and Luke. Not because either of them was cruel in any way—just the opposite, in fact. They had shown her more kindness in these last few months than Catherine ever received from anyone.

Especially from her mother.

No, the real problem came from watching the two of them together. To see how much they loved each other.

It was perfect and beautiful now, though it had not always been so. But it was still the sort of love that would be worth any struggle.

Catherine envied them, but not because she wanted the prince for herself. Ella deserved every happiness after the way Catherine’s mother treated her for most of her life. As a servant in her own home.

She only wished she might find a little of that same happiness for herself. At the same time, she doubted she would ever find a man who looked at her how Luke looked at her stepsister. She had spent most of her life in scholarly pursuits, and no man would be interested in a woman who rarely bothered to take her nose out of a book.

Her mother had always reminded her of that fact. Repeatedly.

She shied away from thoughts of her mother. They would lead to nothing good, and Catherine needed to keep her focus on the task before her.

This small village had only one bookstore, but that was where Prince Edward’s trail led. Perhaps in his isolation he needed amusement of some sort, without contacting people if he could help it.

It was a very long shot that the bookseller would know anything or would reveal anything. But right now, it was the only lead that Catherine possessed.

She stepped into the shop and paused, inhaling deeply.

Oh, how she loved the smell of books, both old and new. There was nothing else like it in the world. It transported her back to happier days, when she spent most of her time in her stepfather’s library. Ella’s father had been a gentleman scholar, renowned enough that he often advised the king. His library had been a hall of wonders to Catherine when she first discovered it, and the late Lord Anthony always encouraged her in her education even though her mother had strongly disapproved of it all.

Catherine suppressed a shudder. That wasn’t the worst that Mother had done, either. To both Lord Anthony and Catherine.

Looking for something in particular?

I am not certain. She tried to deepen in her voice, but of course it cracked. In part because she was speaking a mostly unfamiliar language. But thank you.

She knew from experience that it was best not to ask the shopkeeper questions right away. They would be much more receptive to conversation if they thought she was a genuine customer.

The selection was small, but had been put together by someone with exceptional taste. She recognized the foreign language versions of several scholarly works her stepfather had owned and could not resist running her fingers down each leather-bound spine.

She was tempted to purchase the volumes, but would have no place to store them during her travels. Maybe if she was lucky, she could come back again later, once she finished her quest.

As she continued browsing along the shelves, the shop door opened.

A man entered. He looked out of place. His clothes were shabby, even torn in places, and his hands were calloused with dirt under his fingernails.

He didn’t look at all like the sort who would frequent a bookstore. It appeared unlikely that he could even read. It was not common for manual laborers to be educated, especially in smaller villages like this one.

Yet the shopkeeper greeted him with a warm smile. Back again?

I have another list.

The bookstore owner looked it over, then gathered together several volumes, including a few of the ones that Catherine admired earlier. The scruffy man handed him a bag. A small leather pouch tied with a ribbon. There was nothing particularly fine about the ribbon, but it was a distinctive shade of cobalt blue and trimmed with something that looked like almost gold.

The family colors of the royal house of Glaecor.

Interesting.

She returned the volume that she had been thumbing through to the shelf and watched as they completed the transaction. Then she headed out, following the man at a discreet distance.

He never once looked back, nor seemed to care whether someone followed him. He was heading toward the mountains outside of the village. Which was strange. Everyone Catherine had spoken to swore that no one lived up there.

That no one would even consider living there.

According to local legend, the rocky terrain was cursed, as was the dark forest that surrounded it.

Which made it a perfect place for someone to hide. Halfway up the side of one of the tallest of the peaks, stood what might have once been a grand estate. Gated off with a solid wood fence that appeared recently installed, although the place was supposed to be abandoned and most likely forgotten.

The only visible building was an old tower. Run down and decrepit, it almost appeared to be falling off the edge of a cliff.

She followed the strange man all the way to the building, then hid and watched as he headed inside. He soon emerged with another leather pouch, similar to the one he had given the book seller.

This had to be where Prince Edward was hiding. She was sure of it.

Catherine crept forward, circling around the structure to get a better idea of what she was dealing with. There was only one entrance on each side and there appeared to be no servants on the grounds.

The front door was ajar. Perhaps the messenger had not closed it properly.

She heard no movement, nor detected any other signs of life.

Not surprising. If this was truly the hiding place of Prince Edward, he would not linger near the door. He would most likely be holed up somewhere deeper within the tower.

For a moment, she considered calling out to him, then decided against it. Though her suspicions were strong, she couldn’t be certain that she was right.

Not yet.

The smell inside the structure was not completely foul, but the place had definitely not been aired out in some time. There were no lamps or candles lit, making it difficult to see anything beyond a few feet within the entrance.

Catherine heard a sound. Saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to face it, and something slammed into her. Shoved her up against the wall. Not roughly but not exactly gently, either.

What are you doing in my house? The low voice was so close to a growl, it was difficult to understand the words.

I’m looking for—

Nothing you want would be here. You should leave. The pressure lifted slightly, but not for long. The stranger grabbed her hands and pinned them over her head. Then he leaned in close, inhaling deeply, as if taking in her scent before reaching behind her to pull her long braid out from its hiding place under her shirt. You’re a woman.

She found his behavior a little unnerving yet sensed that she had found her quarry. The curse inflicted upon Prince Edward and his brothers meant they were now both animal and man, even when the full moon was not in control of them. When they looked the most ‘normal’ and unchanged.

He certainly behaved very much like a wild beast, though at least he had not tried to hurt her.

She swallowed hard, struggling to hide any trace of fear, though she could not stop it from being detected through her fragrance. Your Highness?

He stiffened and released his hold on her hands. There was a soft scratching sound, followed by the flare of light from a match. He shoved a lantern in her face, blinding her. How did you know who I am?

She was right about his identity. She had to be right. My stepsister recently wed your brother, Luke. I’ve been helping them search for you.

Yet you’re alone now.

They needed to return to Glaecor to prepare for the birth of their first child. She blinked several times. He set the lantern on the floor nearby and now that it no longer blinded her, and there was just enough light for her to get her first good look at him.

And stared. She couldn’t help it.

She had seen the prince only once before and from a distance, when her mother insisted on dragging her and her sister Daphne to watch a royal procession. There was some resemblance to Luke in this man’s dark hair and bright blue eyes.

But he was far from the polished and cultured prince she remembered. His hair was much longer, reaching down to his shoulders. Tangled and unkempt. A heavy beard obscured much of