CHAPTER SEVENThe pounding ceased.
The Prince straightened and moved as if in a trance to the door.
He opened it and stood there listening. Ariana sat up on the bed, a hand to her stinging breast.
She could not believe what had just happened to her, until words of Lorenc came into her mind – “you will discover his nature before long.”
What she had discovered was that, of the two men, Prince Stefan was the true beast and not Lorenc!
Steps were now heard hurrying along the corridor towards the Prince’s bedroom.
Prince Stefan stepped to the fireplace and laid his hand on the handle of the scimitar on the wall, as if ready to snatch it down.
Bujar arrived breathless at the open door. Before the Prince could question her, she spoke.
“Something terrible has happened, Sire.”
The Prince st
