Welcome to my blog! This month, I'm showcasing lots of retellings of Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite fairy tales. Today I'm featuring another fantasy version, Under His Beast by Victoria Vallo.
Matthew arrives in the land of the prosperous Faeles—a feline-like race—as an indentured servant, thinking he'll be doing nothing but working for the next two years. But the handsome males all react to him in a way no one ever did back home. He once thought he'd never have a chance to explore the desires he's always had, but it soon becomes clear that he's going to be more than spoiled for choice among the exotic Faeles...
Excerpt:
Matthew helped
Petyr load the bags of grain into his cart. A male Faeles with golden fur came
up to Petyr, clapping him on the back.
“I see you finally
got some help,” the male said.
“Yes.” Petyr
beckoned Matthew over. “This is Matthew. Matthew, this is Garren.”
Matthew smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Garren’s gaze
raked over him. “A pleasure. How long will you be with us?”
“Two years.”
Garren smiled. “So
I’ll be seeing you often. I live in the house across the pond behind Petyr’s.
We share some fields, alternating crops each year.”
“I volunteered to
send him to Geraint, so he’ll be there for a month or two.”
“Ah, you should
find that exciting. Our sorcerer is … interesting.”
Petyr shook his
head and laughed. “You’re trying to scare him because you think he’s cute and
want to keep him around.”
Garren shrugged.
“Can’t blame me for trying.” He smiled at Matthew. “If either of them work you
too hard, I’ll give you sanctuary.”
“I’m sure I’ll be
fine,” Matthew said, knowing his face was red.
Garren moved off
when someone called his name, and he and Petyr went back to loading bags. Once
they were headed back to Petyr’s, Matthew finally found the courage to ask, “Do
you really think he found me attractive?”
“Garren?” Petyr
glanced at him oddly and gave him a slow smile. “Your clerics weren’t very
thorough, were they?”
“What do you
mean?”
“Humans are as
exotic to us as we are to you. But I’m sure you probably never gave that any
thought. Faeles males tend to like that humans are smaller and more fragile.
Brings out the machismo, you could say.”
“So, lots of males
might find me appealing?”
“Yes, but you can
turn them down despite your status here. If anyone tries to tell you otherwise,
come to me.” He looked at Matthew seriously. “Especially since it would be your
first time, I take it?”
Matthew nodded.
“Yeah. I’m just surprised. Girls back home were far more impressed by my
brothers.”
“Because you’re
short and not muscular?”
“Yes.”
“You’d be smaller
than most of us even if you were a foot taller and solidly built. Don’t dwell
on it.”
Matthew wondered
how it would be if he did meet someone special. His family would be
disappointed, but they just might understand, in time, if he wanted to stay
here as a mate. He could find work and send money home if he did that. One of
his brothers had already suggested he take work after the two years were over
if the Faeles offered him anything.
“Ask me anything
you like. Geraint is wiser than any of us, but he’s hard to pin down
sometimes.”
Matthew wanted to
ask if Petyr found him attractive, but he didn’t want to seem forward or appear
to be fishing for a compliment. “I don’t mean to sound so down on myself. It’s
just that you’re all so beautiful.”
Petyr smiled. “All
of us?”
Matthew swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Then you may have
many options if you wish to gain more experience.”
Matthew blushed
again. “I think the pheromones are starting to get to me.”
“Probably. I’m
seeing my lover tonight, so I’m a bit … on edge. He’s been away for a month.”
“You have a lover
but don’t live with him?”
Petyr shook his
head. “We typically don’t live together until we select a true mate.” He parked
the cart and jumped to the ground, coming around to help Matthew down. “Not to
reinforce our reputation as wicked decadents, but if you wish, you could spend
the evening with us. My lover’s name is Erik, and he’s a very gentle male. We
could do anything you wished.”
Matthew thought he
might faint, though he wasn’t sure if it was fright or excitement making his
heart race. He swallowed. “I think that would be leaping without looking, as
they say. I just got here, and I am a bit overwhelmed.”
“That’s fine,”
Petyr said as he threw a bag of grain over his shoulder. “But I wished to make
the offer. I think you were afraid to ask, but yes, I find you attractive as
well.”
Matthew took up
one of the bags as well and followed Petyr through a door that led to the
pantry off the kitchen. “Everyone speaks of such things openly here. At home,
it’s so different. So many topics are forbidden.”
They went back
outside, and Matthew took up a crate of apples. “I make a pretty good apple
pie, if you like them.”
Petyr smiled “I
do. Thank you.” He grabbed another bag of grain and fell into step with
Matthew. “We see no reason not to speak of such things. We try to be
understanding of human ways.” He set the bag in the corner and straightened.
“But to be honest, you seem curious. I saw you on the ship watching everyone.”
Matthew put the
apples on the table where Petyr pointed. “I am. As you said, I’m certainly old
enough to have lovers.”
“I was very curious
when I was young. Wild, even. I look forward to having a mate one day, just not
quite yet.”
“How do you know
when you’ve found a good mate?”
They brought in
the rest of the bags of grain as Petyr explained. “It’s part instinct and part
physical chemistry. Sometimes, a lover’s scent strikes you differently. Or it
could be something unconscious. My mother knew she wanted my father as her mate
when another female’s scent made her jealous.”
Matthew followed
him back outside. “So you can tell if someone you’re standing close to has been
with another?”
“Yes. By the time
I take you to Geraint, you’ll smell like me a bit. He’ll likely make you bathe
first thing. As I said, he’s traditional. Old-fashioned. While you’re attending
him, he won’t want to smell another, male or female.” He unhitched the horses
while Matthew swept the cart out.
“So I’d need to
bathe after coming for supplies and things? Or interacting with others?”
“Yes, but he’ll
explain everything when you get there. He’s thorough. And efficient. That can
make he seem kind of gruff and curt, but don’t let it get to you. He’s a softy
deep down, just rough around the edges.”
“Sounds like
you’re setting me up with your cousin or something.”
Petyr laughed.
“You won’t have to worry about that much. Geraint is more interested in study
than in sex. He gave up on romance after a relationship went bad years ago.
It’ll give you some time to get used to things here.”
Matthew helped him
lead the horses into the barn. “He’s not interested in finding a mate?”
“Doesn’t seem to
be,” Petyr said. Then with a grin, he added, “So my offer still stands. Erik
has his own home, but he’ll likely be staying here most nights.”
“I’ll think on it,
though it may be best for me to take the time to get used to things here.” He
took up a brush and stroked it over the horse, soothing her and picking leaves
from her mane. “Do many humans take lovers right away?”
“Yes, though I
hear they often deny it when they go back home.”
“They must. I’ve
certainly never heard anyone talk about it openly. When I got here, I was
intimidated.” He lowered his eyes, knowing he still was. “I was shocked to hear
you say the males here would find me appealing.”
“The females will
as well. They like the gentleness of humans. Get tired of the strutting and
posturing.” He chuckled. “We’re a testosterone-ridden race.”
“You’re open and
warm, too, though. I like it. Everyone in the market was friendly.”
“Yes, and many a
male eyed you. I had to give them a glare that said you were with me.”
Matthew paused in
his brushing. “Sounds like I’ll not be going home with my virtue intact.” He
smiled to let Petyr know he wouldn’t mind.
“You won’t miss
it,” Petyr said with another chuckle.
