Page 27 of Malevolent Hearts
A smile creeps across my face as I bite my bottom lip between my teeth. “Well, if you must know, I was curious as to why Sleeping Beauty was napping on my lawn?” The lie dances off my tongue with a hint of amusement.
Her hands lift to the book as she slides it from her face before settling it on her chest. Her light-blue eyes sparkle as they meet mine. “Wrong fairy tale, Cadden. Besides, I wasn’t sleeping. If you must know, I was savouring the scent of the pages.”
After our first kiss, something shifted between us, and thankfully she’s a hell of a lot less likely to bite my head off before setting it on fire—which is why I am unable to resist the pull that draws me towards her. I drop down next to her, my body pointing in the opposite direction while our heads lie side by side. Keeping my eyes trained on the sky, I clear my throat before saying, “I knew I’d turn you into a reader.”
Next to me, I feel her turn her face towards mine. “Don’t get your hopes up, I still prefer the Disney movies.” The lightness in her tone highlights her sarcasm, making my neck snap in her direction.
“I’ve never seen any.” My gaze traces over her features as her bright eyes widen to saucers, forcing a chuckle to rip past my lips. “Don’t look so surprised, snowflake. Why would I waste time watching a movie when books are always superior?”
“I can’t believe you’ve never seen any Disney films. Not even Beauty and the Beast? Have you been living under a rock?” Her forehead crinkles as she furrows her brows. “How do you know what the characters are supposed to look like if you haven’t seen the film?”
“That’s the beauty of books. Unlike a movie, no two people share the same experience. It doesn’t matter how well the author describes the details, the emotions, or even the characters. Every single person who reads the story will form an image in their head that’s different from anyone else. Movies, on the other hand, are designed to be as is. Millions of people have watched Beauty and the Beast, and although whether they liked it or not is subjective, there’s no denying that the content they consumed was identical to everyone else. The setting, the actors, the costumes, even the soundtrack you hear playing in the background—they are all pulled from someone else’s vision.”
“Hmmm… I never saw it that way before.”
Reaching for the book splayed across her chest, I grasp the edge and pull it towards me, careful not to lose the page she was on. Her eyes stay locked on mine, and I can tell by the tightness narrowing her gaze that she’s curious.
“Close your eyes and forget everything you saw in the movie. Let me read it to you and then you can tell me what picture my words paint.”
For once, she does as I ask without putting up a fight. Her lashes kiss her cheeks as she slowly allows her eyelids to block out the world around her.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Paint me a picture, Cadden.”
Gently, I clear my throat before bringing my gaze to the open page. A smile tugs the corner of my mouth when I see a passage I’d previously highlighted. Doing as Beibhinn asked, I recite the marked section where Beauty states how she can feel the Beast everywhere and how when he’s far away from her, she can easily ignore him, but when the Beast is nearby, she’s acutely aware of his presence. He’s in the air around her like a breeze rustling the leaves of the tree. Sure, she could choose to ignore him, but it doesn’t matter, she’ll always be able to feel him. Much like the wind, he’s impossible to ignore. Further down the passage, Beauty approaches the Beast, asking him why he’s always lurking. When he responds, he says “I like to watch you,” before asking in his own words if it bothers her. She’s caught off guard when she realises she’s not at all fazed by his watchful gaze, but rather enjoys it.
Choosing to stop there, I tilt my head towards hers and find her attention trained on me. “What did you see?”
“Honestly?”
I tip my chin, silently asking her to continue. She shuffles slightly, bringing our faces closer together until our noses are touching. My breath lodges in my throat when I feel her warm breath dance across my forehead. “I saw us.”
We lie next to each other, sharing a moment of quiet as the tension wraps around us with every breath. Finally, Beibhinn breaks the silence by whispering my name in question. “Cadden?”
Tilting my gaze slightly, our eyes lock, but I wait for her to continue.
“I’m sorry for burning your poetry book. I was mad at my dad for dragging me here against my will. He hadn’t said anything yet, but I knew the real reason for our visit as soon as we pulled through the gates and he hinted that all this would be mine one day.”
Reaching for her, my fingers tease the wild tresses of her hair, tucking them behind her ear. Unbidden, my hand cups her cheek as she continues to explain why she did what she did.
“Then I found the lighthouse, and instantly, I thought I’d found a place I could hide. When I saw the poem about Annabel trapped in a kingdom by the sea, something in me snapped. I hate that I don’t get a say in how my future plays out, and that poem reminded me of my impending reality.”
“Poems are designed to make you experience emotions, that’s the lure of them.”
“I took my rage out on something important to you, and I’m sorry. I’ll replace it, I swear.”
A small chuckle escapes me. “Some things can’t be replaced, Pretty Poison. But it means a lot that you want to.” Maybe I should give more of a fuck about what she did. Maybe I should still hold resentment over the charred pages. Maybe I should hate her. But I don’t.
Shadows darken her eyes, but before I can dissect them, she pulls herself into a seated position, breaking our connection.
Not ready to let her disappear into her room like she has most of the summer, I search for a way to keep her for another few hours. I rise to my feet, then hold out my hand, willing her to take it. “Come somewhere with me?” Her gaze flicks between my face and my extended offering. Finally, she places her hand in mine, and I pull her to her feet before guiding her to the opposite side of the property.
“Where are we going?”
“The best things in life are a surprise, snowflake.”
“I can’t feel my toes. It’s so cold.” Beibhinn squeals as she dances through the ankle-deep water that kisses the edge of the rocks. “How did I not know this was here?” Her arms spread wide as she spins around, and the skirt of her summer dress kicks up. I’ve always loved the breathtaking scenery of the Kerry coastline, but somehow, it pales in comparison to watching Beibhinn.