The Beast's Castle

Aria’s eyes fluttered open, breaking through the heavy, suffocating fog of exhaustion that clouded her mind. The lingering sensation of strong arms and a furiously beating chest faded, replaced by the hushed silence of a grand, unfamiliar bedroom. She blinked against the dimness, her vision slowly adjusting. Soft, silvery moonlight streamed through the large, arched windows, casting long shadows a