Nothing about the king's smile was welcoming, and Rosalind knew she was in grave danger. Not that she had not known before, but now the reality of it felt more terrifying.
Behind him, the beast growled from within its cage, thrashing so violently that the metal rattled loudly through the throne hall.
Rosalind's stomach twisted at the sight of it. The creature looked ready to tear through the bars at any moment, and the thought alone sent fear crawling beneath her skin.
Her attention shifted back to Alaric as he stood before her in all his regal elegance, his robe magnificent as always, his dark hair neatly combed back without a strand out of place. He looked so calm and composed, and that made him even more frightening.
Rosalind swallowed hard, her heart pounding so violently in her chest. The last thing she wanted was for him to order her thrown to the beast.
