Chapter4
1012 Words
Beneath the Beast’s Skin
Lucy’s pulse was still racing as the echo of boots faded into the night. The guards had scattered like wolves on the hunt, but the assassin had already melted into the shadows. Another attempt. Another reminder that death lurked around every corner.
Leo’s hand was still on her wrist—firm, protective—but his grip had eased. Not rough like before. This was different.
She should have pulled away. She didn’t.
“We need to get you back inside,” Leo said, his voice low, but there was an edge beneath it—anger barely leashed. “They’re getting bolder.”
Lucy met his gaze. His golden eyes burned like embers, but there was something else beneath the fire—something human. Worry?
For her?
She swallowed, her heart twisting in confusion. This was the man who had stolen her from her home, forced her into this cursed castle. He was her captor. Her enemy.
And yet…
The warmth of his hand on her skin told a different story.
“No,” Lucy said, surprising even herself. “Running back to my chambers won’t stop them. I need to understand why they want me dead.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “And I need you alive.”
His words struck deeper than they should have.
Lucy forced herself to step back, breaking the contact. “Then help me. Let me be more than a prisoner.”
Leo studied her, his expression unreadable.
Finally, he gave a short nod. “Tomorrow. We start tomorrow.”
Before she could ask what he meant, he turned and walked away, his cloak trailing behind him like shadows.
Lucy stood there for a moment, breathing in the cold night air. Her thoughts tangled in knots.
Tomorrow. What did that mean?
The Next Morning
Lucy was awoken by a knock—loud and impatient.
A guard entered. “The king awaits you in the training yard.”
Training yard?
Lucy dressed quickly, choosing a tunic and trousers from the wardrobe—a far cry from the elegant gowns she was used to. But something about the rough fabric felt… right. Like armor.
When she arrived at the yard, Leo was already there, stripped to his waist, his muscular frame glistening with sweat. He moved with the fluid grace of a predator, sparring with another warrior—a towering werewolf named Darius, one of his most trusted commanders.
Their blades clashed, sharp and brutal. No hesitation. No mercy.
Lucy’s breath caught. Leo was lethal, his strength matched only by his precision. This was not just a king—he was a weapon.
He noticed her and signaled for Darius to stand down.
“You’re late,” Leo said.
“I wasn’t aware I was on your schedule,” Lucy shot back.
A flicker of amusement danced across his face.
“This is your first lesson,” he said. “If you want to survive in Shadowfang, you need to know how to fight.”
Lucy stiffened. “I wasn’t raised to wield swords.”
“Then you’ll learn,” Leo said, tossing her a wooden practice blade. “Or you’ll die.”
The bluntness of his words stung, but she understood the truth behind them. This was not Avanira. Here, weakness was a death sentence.
Lucy gripped the sword, its weight unfamiliar in her hands.
“Show me,” she said.
Leo smiled—a rare, dangerous smile.
And then he attacked.
The Training Grounds—Hours Later
Lucy was on the ground, breathless, her limbs aching. The sword had been knocked from her grip more times than she could count. Her hair clung to her damp forehead, her heart thudding against her ribs.
But she was still standing.
Leo stood over her, offering his hand.
“You’re stubborn,” he said. “Good. You’ll need that.”
Lucy took his hand, allowing him to pull her up. His touch lingered for a moment longer than necessary. Or maybe she imagined it.
“Again tomorrow?” she asked, trying to mask her exhaustion.
Leo chuckled. “You might regret asking that.”
She found herself smiling despite the pain.
But the moment shattered when Seraphina appeared, her eyes narrowing at the sight of them.
“Your Majesty,” she purred, “urgent news from the scouts. We need to speak. Alone.”
Leo’s expression hardened.
Lucy watched as he followed Seraphina, their whispered conversation sending unease curling through her gut.
She didn’t trust that woman. And now, she trusted her even less.
That Evening
Lucy wandered the corridors alone, her muscles sore but her mind sharper than ever. Every interaction, every glance—it was all part of the puzzle.
She needed allies. Someone who could help her understand the secrets buried within Shadowfang.
She thought of Darius—the warrior who had sparred with Leo. He seemed loyal, but perhaps loyalty could be bent.
Or maybe one of the servants—the ones who moved unseen through the castle, hearing everything.
But the person who held the most answers—the one who held the key to both her survival and her heart—was Leo.
And that terrified her.
Later That Night
Lucy sat by her window, staring into the endless forest beyond the walls. Somewhere out there, more assassins were plotting her death. Somewhere out there, her father was deciding whether she was a pawn worth sacrificing.
And here, within these walls, Leo was becoming something more than just her captor.
The beast might be the only one who could protect her.
But what if he was also the one who could destroy her?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a slip of parchment slid beneath her door.
She unfolded it, heart racing.
Four words, scrawled in hurried ink:
“The tunnels are open.”
Lucy froze.
The tunnels—the same ones the assassin had used. The same ones that led beyond Shadowfang’s walls.
An escape route. A trap. Or something far worse.
But one thing was certain:
Tomorrow, everything would change.
- Writer
