It was settled, then. Perhaps with the encouragement of three glasses of wine, and with a terrible suspicion that the Prince was mocking him, but no matter. Damen believed Laurent would stick to his word, and they would have their little rendezvous tomorrow. He nodded, rising as well, and bidding Laurent a good night before letting him leave the hall unaccompanied.

That night, a full moon hung in the clear sky, shining through the panes of Laurent's balcony. And in the thick forests of the castle grounds, a man ran until he could run no further, and doubled-back and again until the moon disappeared at last behind pre-dawn clouds.

Well after breakfast, the Beast appeared at the library, dressed in black and looking as if he was the one being lead to his doom. The room was the size of a small ballroom, lined wall to wall and with several free-standing shelves, as well as some cozy nooks by the bay windows where plush chairs were gathered around little tables. Damen looked around for his guest, nerves setting in again.