Chapter 59: CHAPTER 59

Tessa's POV

The hours passed like water slipping through my fingers.

I wasn't sure when I had drifted off, but I woke to the soft crackle of distant fires and the whisper of wind through leaves. The world had transformed around me while I slept. The rain had stopped completely, leaving the air fresh and clean, carrying the scent of wet earth and damp foliage. The clouds had parted, revealing a sky painted in shades of deep violet and indigo, scattered with the first twinkling stars of evening.

And beneath me, the beast still lay, its massive chest rising and falling with slow, steady breaths.

I hadn't moved. Hadn't wanted to. The warmth of its body had seeped into me, chasing away the chill that had settled deep in my bones. My hand still rested against its side, feeling the steady rhythm of its heartbeat beneath my palm.

I lifted my head slowly, careful not to disturb it, and looked around.

The guards had set up camp at a respectful distance—far enough to give the beast space, close enough to protect us if anything else emerged from the darkness. Several tents had been erected, their canvas walls glowing orange in the firelight. A perimeter had been established, torches flickering at regular intervals, casting dancing shadows across the mud.

But I noticed something else. The guards were keeping their distance from me. From us. They moved carefully, quietly, their eyes constantly flicking toward the massive beast that lay at my side. There was fear in their gazes—understandable, given what they had witnessed—but there was something else too. Something that looked almost like awe.

They had seen me calm the beast. Had seen me reach out and touch the creature that had been tearing men apart just hours before. And now they didn't know what to make of me.

I couldn't blame them. I didn't know what to make of myself either.

I looked down at the beast, at the massive, blood\-soaked creature that had been ready to tear me apart, and I still couldn't quite believe what had happened. I had reached out to a monster and it had let me touch it. Had leaned into my hand like a domesticated animal seeking affection. Had let me stay by its side while it slept.

I had tamed the Mad King. The legendary beast that the entire kingdom feared. The creature that mothers whispered about to frighten their children.

It was surreal. Impossible. And yet, here I was, sitting beneath a massive oak tree with the beast's head resting near my lap, my fingers absently stroking through its thick white fur.

The fur was softer than I had expected. Coarse in some places, matted with dried blood, but soft where it lay closest to the skin. I found myself running my fingers through it, marveling at the texture, at the warmth of the beast's body beneath my touch.

This is insane, I thought, not for the first time. This is absolutely insane. I should be terrified. I should be running. I should be—

But I wasn't. I was calm. Peaceful, even. The beast's presence was soothing in a way I couldn't explain. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the adrenaline fading. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the knowledge that I had done something no one else had ever been able to do.

I had reached the man beneath the monster.

But where was he? The man, I mean. The Dmitri I had come to know. Was he still in there? Would he ever come back?

The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and unanswerable. I didn't know how this worked. Didn't know if the beast would ever shift back, or if Dmitri's human self was lost forever. Kastiel had said he needed rest, that his human consciousness was too exhausted to take control. But what if rest wasn't enough? What if he was stuck like this? What if—

I pushed the thought aside. I couldn't afford to think like that. I had to believe he would come back. Had to believe that the man who had held me in the carriage, who had promised to protect me, who had made me feel like I was worth something—that he was still in there, fighting to return.

A sound from the darkness made me look up.

A massive shape emerged from the treeline, moving with the fluid grace of a predator. I tensed instinctively, my hand freezing on the beast's fur, but then I recognized the form.

Kastiel. In his wolf form.

He was carrying something in his jaws—a large deer, its body limp and lifeless. He moved toward us slowly, carefully, his eyes fixed on the beast at my side. When he reached the edge of our clearing, he dropped the deer and began to shift.

Bones cracked and reformed. Fur receded. Within moments, Kastiel stood before me in his human form. He was covered in sweat and mud, but his expression was one of grim satisfaction.

"Your Majesty," he said, addressing the beast rather than me. "I assumed you would be hungry. The hunt was successful."

The beast stirred.

I felt the movement beneath my hand—the tension that suddenly flooded its massive body. Its eyes snapped open, blazing red in the darkness, and it lunged to its feet with a speed that made my heart lurch.

A snarl tore through the air, savage and warning, and the beast positioned itself between me and Kastiel. Its massive body coiled, ready to strike, its jaws gaping wide.

"Stop!" I shouted, scrambling to my feet. "Dmitri, stop! It's Kastiel! He's not going to hurt me!"

The beast paused, its head turning to look at me. The snarl died in its throat, replaced by a low, uncertain rumble.

"Please," I said, reaching out to touch its muzzle. "Please, Dmitri. He's trying to help. He brought you food. He's on our side."

The beast stared at me for a long moment. And then, slowly, it relaxed. The tension eased from its body. The snarl faded completely. It turned back to face Kastiel, but it didn't attack.

Kastiel let out a breath I hadn't realized he'd been holding. "That was close," he admitted, his voice slightly shaky. "I wasn't sure he would recognize me."

"He's calming down," I said, stroking the beast's muzzle. "He's just protective. He doesn't want anyone near me."

"Understandable," Kastiel said dryly. "Given the circumstances." He gestured to the deer lying in the mud. "I brought this for him. I assumed he would be hungry after everything that happened. And I also brought food for you—there's a meal waiting at the camp."

I blinked, suddenly realizing how hungry I was. The adrenaline had been masking it, but now that Kastiel mentioned it, I felt the gnawing emptiness in my stomach.

"Thank you," I said softly. "I'll—I'll come get it. Just give me a moment."

Kastiel nodded and stepped back, giving us space.

I turned to the beast, my hand still resting on its muzzle. "I need to go get some food," I said, keeping my voice calm and steady. "I'll be right back. I promise. I'm not leaving you. I'm just going to the camp to eat. And then I'll come right back. Okay?"

The beast watched me with those dulled red eyes, and for a moment, I thought it might resist. But then it let out a low, rumbling sound and turned away, moving toward the deer Kastiel had brought.

I took that as agreement.

I walked toward the camp on unsteady legs, my body still trembling from the ordeal. The guards watched me as I approached—I could feel their eyes on me, tracking my every movement. Some of them stepped back as I passed, as if I might suddenly transform into something dangerous. Others nodded respectfully, their expressions filled with something that looked almost like reverence.

I tried to ignore them and focus on the simple task of walking to the fire where food was waiting.

A guard approached me, carrying a wooden plate piled high with roasted meat—thick cuts of venison that had been cooked over the open fire, still steaming and glistening with juices. Beside it lay a generous portion of bread, still warm, and a small wedge of hard cheese. Another guard offered me a cup of water, cool and clear.

I stared at the food, my mouth watering despite everything.

"Thank you," I said quietly, accepting the plate and cup with trembling hands. "This is—thank you."

The guard nodded, still not meeting my eyes, and stepped back quickly.

I turned to leave but before I could walk away, a voice stopped me.

"Tessa."

I turned to find one of the envoys standing nearby—an older man with gray-streaked hair and kind eyes. He was looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"Yes?" I said cautiously.

"I just wanted to say—" He paused, seeming to struggle with his words. "What you did today. It was remarkable. None of us could have done it. None of us would have even tried. But you—" He shook his head slowly. "You walked up to a monster and tamed it. You saved all of us."

I blinked, unsure how to respond. "I didn't—I just—he listened to me. That's all."

"That's not all," the envoy said firmly. "That's everything. Without you, we would all be dead. Every single one of us. You saved us, Tessa. Don't ever forget that."

I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came. I didn't know what to say. I didn't feel like a hero. I felt like a frightened girl who had been lucky enough to reach the man beneath the monster.

But maybe that was enough. Maybe that was all it took.

"Thank you," I said finally. "I appreciate that."

The envoy nodded and stepped back, allowing me to pass.

I walked back toward the beast, my bowl of stew warm in my hands, my heart lighter than it had been all day.