Knowledge was power and Kat had no idea what to do with hers.

Cage was not a wolf-man, not a beast. And because of that, she was grateful she now had a name to associate with him, no matter how peculiar it was.

She could remember him mentioning that he was a cage. Maybe it was from that which his name stemmed. But coming to terms with what she had seen gave birth to a new complication she had not anticipated.

If being half-man, half-wolf wasn't his curse... Then what was? Why was he alone in a dusty castle, wearing a dead wolf head?

Why would fearing or hating him keep her safe? And why couldn't she get his words out of her head?

Her beauty is the least impressive thing about her, and that's saying something.

Encouraged by his rudeness, she had damned social graces as well and spoke her mind most of the time. It was not ladylike, unpleasant, wrong. Morally corrupt.

And yet, he seemed to like her precisely for her temper, for her mind. Even for her naiveté. Why?

The thought plagued her as she twisted and turned all night, curiosity and shame for breaking his trust battling inside her. Once the morning came, she had no conclusion, just a head filled with wildest dreams about what his face could look like.

Determined to keep her head clear and come up with an appropriate way to use this new information, she focused on cleaning for the first part of the day.

He said she was safest away from him, so it was obvious that she had to leave. But he wouldn't let her because he was an infuriating paradox, so she had to make him. If Joey's word were to be trusted, this loophole Cage had mentioned was dangerous. And the danger most definitely didn't explain why she felt a fluttering in her stomach every time she thought his name.

It was so hard not to come forward and ask Joey about it, but she was convinced that, as friendly and as open as he was, Joey would not appreciate eavesdropping.

But there were so many questions and no answers and it was driving her insane. Having dinner with him felt impossible. She couldn't even look at him, afraid he would see the truth in her eyes, get her to somehow blurt out what she'd done and punish her for it.

"You're awfully quiet," he noted halfway through the evening's meal.

"I'm a little indisposed," she supplied, twirling tonight's selection of wine around her glass.

"Hey." His voice was softer than she'd ever heard it, at least directed at her. "If something is wrong, you can tell me." He even leaned inside the circle of light and she could get a good look at him. "Don't lock yourself up again. I don't enjoy breaking down doors. Or fixing them, for that matter."

From the white, empty eyes and immobile jaw, how could she not realize this sooner? She'd thought it was the curse. That, and him insisting that she not look had hindered her enough to make her blind to the obvious. That head was dead.

"Kat?"

"I'm sorry," she said, her words tumbling out. She caught herself before she said more.

"What for?" Suspicion sank into his voice. "What did you do?"

Betrayed your trust and found your secret. But she just shrugged, aware that saying the words out loud would not be considered a refreshing break from the norms. As he continued watching her, an idea presented itself, so brilliant in its simplicity.

There was more to his mystery than just the mask. He'd said he liked her, a declaration he didn't know she'd overheard. So, just as she had considered to use this information to determine him to let her go, maybe she could make him take off the mask. Then she could ask all the questions she wanted without fear of repercussions. It shouldn't be too hard. Men usually turned exceptionally stupid when she decided to show them any form of affection.

So she fluttered her lashes and gave him a shy look. "You are right. I shouldn't be indisposed. I should be enjoying our time together."

For a second, he stiffened, then he pulled back into the darkness. "What the hell was that?"

A sliver of fear ran down her spine, but she wouldn't give up so easily. "What?" Another flutter of lashes, a discreet push out of her chest.

"Stop being cutesy. It looks ridiculous on you."

She immediately deflated. "Excuse me?"

"I have no idea what you're after, but you won't get it by acting fake. It's precisely your unlikeness to other girls that makes you special." He leaned into the light again and she pulled back. Chills bounced off him, and even if she couldn't see his face, she could tell he was annoyed. "So tell me. What is it that you want badly enough to push your chest out?"

He'd noticed. Of course he'd noticed because he wasn't one of her no-brained suitors. Her cheeks caught fire and she couldn't remember feeling more embarrassed in her life. She slumped her shoulders and pulled back into her chair.

"No answer?"

"No. You're right. I was just being silly." She couldn't fake it. She had to create a real, special moment. Which with her mess-up was impossible.

He let out a low growl, obviously unsatisfied with her answer. But it wasn't the danger signaling one. He sounded... Disappointed.

She'd have to try harder, so she decided to go with something somewhat true. "I feel guilty about enjoying my time here."

He leaned back in, the chill disappearing. He'd bought it. Of course he had, because it was the truth.

"You're enjoying your time here?"

"Yes. I still have a lot of the castle to discover, I'm learning new things every day, and I finally have a conversation partner who is interested in the same things I am. If we would start talking literature, I wouldn't even need--" She stopped before she mentioned K and instantly felt like a traitor.

It wasn't K's fault that he wasn't an intriguing man with a dead wolf mask who was within her reach. It was true that he didn't seem very interested in conversation lately, but she was being a little annoying with her constant questions. He, on the other hand, was being extremely annoying with refusing to answer her question.

All in all, K was losing his power over her in favor of this more intriguing new target. The thought startled her and she fidgeted in her seat. Yes, there was a mystery, but she should know better than to get caught up in it. Her goal was to escape.

"Wouldn't need who?" Cage asked, suspicion sinking back into his voice.

"Anyone else. Why don't you tell me your name?"

"Ah, a dramatic change of subject." He dropped his line of questioning too fast, but she didn't comment on it either. She was skating on thin ice anyway.

So, instead of making an even bigger fool of herself, she chose to end the evening in silence and try again the next morning.

Since she was almost done cleaning the rooms she was allowed in, she decided to just ask if she could clean the west wing as well. Take the conversation from there and see where it went.

As usual when she needed him around, Cage was gone. Joey was once again unable to provide any information, so Kat knocked on the door of his work room.

"He's not in there," Joey said in a sing-song voice.

"Where does he keep going?" she mumbled.

"Aww, do you miss him?"

She whipped around, her fists clenched and the man in the portrait actually pulled back. "Why would I miss him? For his lovely company?"

Joey just shrugged. "You're the one who keeps seeking him out when he told you not to."

"Yes, I'm insane, I know. I should be avoiding him or trying to escape, but--" Kat narrowed her eyes. When she'd mentioned escape, Joey's eyes had darted to the door and back with the speed of light. "Joey, did he by any chance leave the door open?"

Joey shook his head, but she could read the lie on his painted face. She whipped around and stalked down the hallway, towards freedom. Even if she didn't have a cloak, she'd manage. She was planning to steal a horse anyway. Maybe there were old cloaks in the stables.

"Kat, don't! He's outside and if he catches you trying to leave, he'll kill you!"

"Yeah, if," she muttered to herself.

For the very first time since she'd entered the place, the door opened as she pulled. A crisp winter breeze had her shivering, but the freedom it brought was intoxicating.

Slivers of sunlight drifted through the clouds and made the thin sheet of snow sparkle and the rose blooms shine like rubies. Or blood. With a shudder, she hurried to the right, down the gravel path and towards where she supposed the stables where. Thank the gods she had caved and taken to wearing a pair of new leather boots which laced to her knees. Not having shoes with holes in them would aid her escape.

She froze the moment she turned the corner. The vast gardens of the castle stretched before her, and she wasn't alone anymore. Cage's black form crouched a few feet away, inspecting one of the rose bushes.

The breath hitched in Kat's throat. There was no way she could go unnoticed now. He'd surely hear her footsteps if he hadn't already, and she didn't wish to destroy all her progress. He didn't need to know she sought escape. He could think she'd been yearning for him.

"What are you doing?" she asked. The wind blew around her and she hugged herself.

"Weren't you supposed to stay in the castle?" he retorted, not looking up from what he was doing.

She took it as a good sing that he didn't scream at her to get inside. "I don't see you killing me. Or even yelling much."

"Yet," he answered, amusement in his voice.

He was joking with her instead of enforcing his rules. Which wasn't new, but rare. Yet, she couldn't get into the game. She was too nervous about her thwarted escape as well as what followed. She now had to return to her original plan. "I wanted to ask something."

He stopped examining the flowers and turned to her. How she wished she could read his expression. But even with the mask, she could tell a forward approach regarding her request wouldn't get her anywhere this time.

"I want to know your name," she said instead.

"Why?" came his very natural reply. He now sounded curious rather than amused.

"Because I can't think of you as Beast anymore." That was true. He was already Cage inside her head.

"Why not? I haven't changed."

She rubbed her arms more fiercely. Goose flesh erupted up her arms and on her exposed chest and her teeth clattered. "Yes, you have. You're not... that." She nodded towards the wolf head. "Please, if you could just..." The rest of her words were drown in more clattering of teeth.

With a sigh, he stood and took off his cloak. He work a black tunic with dark brown leather clasps underneath. It stretched across his broad shoulders and looked good on him. He strode to her, the cloak draped over his forearm. Kat took a step back, but the shaking of her knees wasn't helping. He reached her and wrapped the cloak around her.

She tried to push him away, but was unsuccessful. "No, it's okay. You must be cold, too."

"I'm fine," he said. "Stubborn little minx."

The moment it covered her, she never wanted to take it off. Not only was it warmed by his body heat, but it had a musky scent, like a forest after the rain. She felt like she was in his arms.

Why are you even thinking that? But she should. It would help her be honest and reach her goal. It would help her make him take the mask off.

"Thank you," she murmured instead.

He titled his head slightly and said nothing, which was not helpful. Searching for something to say, she wandered to the fountain with the rose on top and sat on the edge of the pool. What would happen if she just asked him to take the mask off? She'd have to admit to breaking the rules.

He sat next to her and leaned a little to get a look at her face. "What's troubling you? You've been acting odd for a few days now." He hesitated for a moment. "Is it your father? Do you need me to check on him again?"

How was this helping her despise or fear him? It just sent unwanted heat to her body.

"That would be lovely," she said, her voice so low, she could barely hear it.

"But not what's troubling you. Come on. Just say it. You should know by now beating around the bush doesn't work with me."

Yes, she did, and it made her like him. Good to see a man who had no need for pretense or her acting like a silly goose. Gods, how she wished she could see his face.

Instead, she analyzed his body. The broadness of the shoulders, his slim waist, his thick thighs. She already knew what his back looked like. His bare back, filled with scars and muscles and tanned skin. Her cheeks caught fire again and she looked away.

Never in her life had she analyzed a man so thoroughly, but since she couldn't know his face, she felt the need to compensate by seeing everything else. And this was, after all, the first time she could look at him properly without the cloak on.

"What are you doing?" he asked, a note of wariness in his voice.

"Nothing."

"Oh, don't bullshit me, Kat."

The way her name sounded coming off his lips made her shudder again. Why? Why, why, why?

"I'm not trying to... um..."

"Bullshit me?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that." Dumb heart thumping way too loudly. But since she was half-mortified, she might as well use the hole in her stomach for something worthy.

She raised her hand slowly. He didn't pull away, as if daring her to come closer. He was right to call her bluff. She didn't dare touch the mask.

"I just feel like you're keeping me away when you could..." Her fingers caressed the air next to him. She lowered her hand and hugged the cloak around her, fighting the shiver overcoming her.

Except this time it wasn't the cold, but the guilt, the tug on her heart that she was deceitful in her actions. A mad part of her thought he didn't deserve this.

"When I could what?" he whispered.

She raised her eyes in shock. He was buying this? Or was he waiting to catch her wrong footed, embarrass her again?

"I don't like to see you like this," he murmured.

She didn't like it either. Didn't like to lie, to use trickery. But she needed to get away. So with a heavy heart, she placed a shaking hand on his chest. She could feel the heat of him through his tunic, the beating of his heart.

"When you could let me in."

He took her hand, but kept it there, on top of his heart. For a moment, she was sure he would break her fingers. But his grip was so gentle, so warm. For some unfathomable reason, he was opening up to her the tiniest bit and it only made her crave for more.

"I can't. I would only hurt you."

"You wouldn't hurt me."

He lowered his face and shook his head. "I would. It's so hard not to, to fight it. I want to-- It won't let me. I tried."

She wondered if he meant the curse, but decided not to go down that path, not yet. His hold on her hand tightened, so it was more important to convince him not to hurt her at the moment.

"You can beat it, whatever it is. When's the last time you broke any furniture? Because I swear I've only heard you doing that once and I've been here for a month now."

He raised his face to her. "A whole month. And you're still alive..." The last phrase was spoken so softly, she was sure it wasn't meant for her ears.

Swallowing her fear, she moved closer to him, so close her nose almost touched the mask's. "Yes, I am. You've taught me so much. You enjoy my quirks. You encourage my curiosity, my need to question and debate. You don't chastise me for breaking social norms. You don't even chastise me for breaking your rules anymore."

Her fear only grew with each word, but it was fear that he would push her back, not that he would hurt her. Because she'd been honest. In spite of being held captive, she appreciated everything he did for her. He could've starved her and kept her in the dungeons. Instead, he gave her so much. Taught her so much. Gave her a different sort of freedom, one she'd never had before.

She'd never cared about his opinion of her, had never hidden her real thoughts, her behavior, had always spoken her mind.

And he'd rewarded her with no judgment, no scoffing, no eye rolling. Not that she could tell since she couldn't see his eyes, but she assumed he accepted her. He'd given her no reason to believe otherwise.

She worked and studied hard, but knew that at the end of the day she had food on the table and a warm, comfortable place to sleep. She was free from responsibilities, from gossip, from frowning people.

"You can't do this," he whispered. "Don't do this."

"Do what? Be grateful? Appreciate what you gave me? Look beyond your mask and... Like you?" Gods, what had she almost said? What stupid word had been on the tip of her tongue!

"The mask," he muttered. His hands moved to the base of his neck, slow and a little stiff, as if a powerful battle raged inside him.

Yes, do it. Take it off. I want to see you. The real you.

And not even to quench her curiosity, but because she really wanted to see his face, the look in his eyes. Touch his skin. Her heart thumped so loudly, she was sure he could hear it.

He stiffened. Another second later, he pulled away so fast she lost her balance and fell in the empty fountain.

"Run," he said through clenched teeth. "The dungeon."

She scrambled to her feet, eyes wide, fear ringing in her ears, spreading through her like the poison of a very potent viper.

"Run! Hide!" He clenched the wolf's head, but it was obviously not to take it off. The abnormal chill surrounded him and she knew... She knew he'd lost himself to the madness.

His back arched unnaturally, joined by the sound of cracking bones, and he looked more like a wolf than ever. He seemed to grow taller with every second and an unearthly growl filled the air.

Kat scrambled to her feet and ran. Up the path, inside the castle, shutting the door in her wake, then down the stairs, towards the dungeon, like he'd instructed. He was right, the door had iron bars that would prevent anything from breaking it down.

She grabbed the key off the nail next to the entrance, slammed the door behind her and locked herself inside her cell.

Smashing noises covered the thundering pulse in her ears. She could hear the portraits yelling, growling and roaring.

The beast had been unleashed. It took it moments to scurry down the stairs to the dungeon, the growls louder, joined by the heavy breathing of a large body.

Her heart hiccupping with dread, Kat pulled away and stuck her back to the wall.

Unlike last time, the thing, whatever it was, didn't brush against the door, just raged outside it, every sound more savage than the last.

Then came the thump. The door strained, but held. The beast yelped like a kicked dog. And yet, it tried again. Kat whimpered. Then there was silence.

The food flap opened and a dark claws made their way in, scratching the stone floor. They were long and curved, black as night. She put her hands over her mouth to keep in any sounds.

The claw retreated and then there was silence.

Kat waited another few seconds, then took in a sharp breath and dropped into a sitting position, leaning her back against the wall.

She hadn't taken him seriously, his nature. She'd thought all the rage came from irrelevant details that upset him, that he blew off steam by breaking furniture. But it wasn't the case.

The episode had come when he was calm, tender. He'd flipped around completely. And what scared her most was that what she'd taken to be an animal, maybe a monstrous pet, seemed to be him.

She must despise me, or fear me.

Because if she liked him and showed it, he lost control. He turned into a literal beast.

Knowledge was power, and Kat realized she had none.

Wasn't that intense? Was it? Was it???? Please tell me what you think. Are you starting to figure out some of the curse? (Seriously, you've already read it. It's at the beginning of the story).

What do you think about their relationship? Does it make sense for Kat to care about him at this point? Because he obviously does but he knows her better 😅

Please let me know if this makes sense because I've lost all objectivity and I'm dying here.

Hit the star!