"It is that time of the year again!" Aurora exclaimed, her face aglow with excitement as the women of the palace gathered in the garden, enjoying tea amidst the fragrant blooms.
"What time of year?" Mia inquired, her curiosity piqued. The past year under Aurora and the King's care had been nothing short of blissful. Mia had never once regretted being adopted by them, and not a day passed where she wasn't grateful for her newfound happiness. What delighted her most, however, was seeing Belle thrive once more, free to pursue her desires.
Grinning broadly, Aurora replied, "The bullfighting competition! A champion bull is crowned and granted its freedom." Her enthusiasm was contagious as joy radiated from her every word.
"Bullfighting happens all the time, doesn't it? What makes this one so extraordinary?" Belle asked, her brow slightly furrowed in puzzlement.
"Oh, sister-in-law, this is no ordinary bullfighting contest," Aurora explained, her hands gesturing animatedly to emphasize her excitement. "This event draws spectators from every kingdom, even vampires and elves attend! It is the grandest, most renowned occasion in all the werewolf territories."
Belle's expression shifted to one of slight concern. The mention of vampires unsettled her, as they were well-known enemies of the werewolves. Vampires were proud, often refusing to compromise for the greater good.
"The vampires?" Mia echoed, raising a skeptical brow at Aurora.
"Do not worry," Aurora reassured them, reading their unease. "There is an agreement in place to maintain peace during the event. You might wonder why the vampires would agree to such terms, but you must remember: we werewolves remain the strongest among all supernatural beings. We breed the mightiest of carnivorous beasts, and the vampires have little choice but to comply if they wish to attend."
Both Belle and Mia exhaled in relief, their earlier apprehension subsiding.
Chuckling softly, Maddie turned to Belle and said, "You do not have to attend if it unsettles you."
Belle shook her head. "No, I want to go. It has been ages since I have ventured to town. Besides, someone must keep an eye on my dear sister-in-law, don't you think?" She said, winking at Maddie, which sent the group into a fit of laughter.
"Enjoying yourselves without the men, are you?" A voice came from behind them. It was Hezekiah, standing a few steps away with Quinn, whose arrogant demeanor was all too familiar.
"Brother! You are here!" Aurora cried, rushing to embrace him tightly.
Belle's gaze inadvertently met Quinn's. His expression was as stern and angry as ever, but she quickly averted her eyes, rising gracefully to greet the King.
"We were just discussing the bullfighting competition. Will you join us this year?" She asked Hezekiah politely.
"Do you think you are capable of handling such a spectacle?" Quinn interjected, his voice laced with mockery as he smirked at her.
Aurora, visibly annoyed by his taunt, left her brother's side and marched up to Quinn, challenging him with a fiery glare. "If you think yourself so capable, why not replace the werewolf set to fight the bull this year?" She retorted, placing her hands on her hips in defiance.
"Is that truly what our lady wishes?" Quinn asked, stepping closer to Aurora, his towering presence forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. His tone was low and laden with a peculiar challenge, his smirk only deepening as he spoke.
Aurora faltered slightly but held her ground, while the others exchanged curious glances. Was Quinn genuinely considering taking on the bull? Everyone knew Aurora had spoken out of frustration, intending only to defend herself from his insult. But now, it seemed as though Quinn might actually be contemplating the outrageous challenge.
"Yes, since you are clearly the best handler of them all," Aurora replied with biting sarcasm, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Maddie merely smiled at their exchange, pleased to see that Aurora's disdain for Quinn had grown on Belle's behalf. While it had been a bitter revelation for Aurora to recognize Quinn's true character, she had made it clear she would never forgive him for his treatment of Belle.
"Then it is settled, a challenge," Quinn declared, though Aurora dismissed him with a roll of her eyes before returning to her seat among the other women.
"I cannot wait to hear of his absence on the appointed day," she said with a sly grin, settling into her chair. Her laughter rang out, and the others joined in.
"You'd best win that challenge," Hezekiah teased, his voice laced with mockery. "Who knows? Perhaps it might help you reclaim her trust." He laughed heartily at his own joke and strolled off, leaving Quinn to simmer in silence.
Quinn paid them no mind, his attention instead fixed on Belle, as it always seemed to be whenever she was near. He couldn't help but wonder how she had managed to deceive Hezekiah and his family into believing she was virtuous. It didn't matter as she would soon be cast out of the castle once he was through with her. With two months to sway her, he could enjoy the hunt. It had been far too long since he found such intriguing prey.
Belle, sensing an intense gaze upon her, turned instinctively toward Quinn. She immediately regretted it as her eyes met his. Judging by his causal wear, it was clear he just moved into the castle. Well, let him try. She silently vowed that no matter what schemes he concocted, he would never sway her, not in this life nor the next.
Quinn smirked and winked at her before turning his back, leaving Belle fuming. That bastard! Did he just *flirt* with her? The sheer audacity! But what else could she expect from him? She knew he would stoop to any immoral tactic to achieve his ends. Fortunately, she was ready for him.
Later that night, everyone retired to their respective chambers, everyone except Belle. She remained behind to assist in cleaning the King's expansive library, which the servants had struggled to finish over the past two days. Quinn, now responsible for most castle duties, had issued the absurd order for the library's cleaning, and Belle knew confronting him would only make matters worse. Thus, she decided to help.
It was late into the night when the work concluded, and Belle finally set out for her room, unaccompanied by her maid. Taking a shortcut through a passageway commonly used by servants to expedite their tasks, she made her way toward her chamber corridor.
As she approached a turning that would lead her to her destination, a sudden force pulled her back. A firm grip seized her waist, yanking her into the shadows.
"Who is it?! Release me at once!" Belle demanded, struggling against the stranger's hold. She thrashed and fought, her voice echoing with urgency, until a familiar scent reached her senses and gave her pause.
"Still remember your favorite scent, do you?" Came a husky voice, low and mocking. Belle swallowed hard, her body tensing as recognition dawned.