Prologue

“I don’t understand, aren’t you happy with me?”

He gave her a bored stare as he pulled up his pants.

“I did everything you asked me to.” Her voice, growing higher in pitch was starting to give him a headache.

“Yes,” he said as he finally turned to face her. “You did everything I asked, and I gave you everything you wanted. For the last century, we’ve been playing this game.” He walked towards her, unaffected by her teary eyes.

Reaching out, he twisted one of her black locks between his fingers. As he stared into her dark gaze, he wondered what he had found so enticing about her all those years ago. Was it her eyes and the intense way she had stared at him when they had first met? Was it a combination of yearning and challenge that had sparked his interest? Or was it the flawless and supple skin that covered her curved body from head to toe that lured him in? Maybe it was the way she felt under him. Whatever it was that had drawn him to her in the first place was gone. In its wake, he was left bored and empty.

It was finally time he ended their little love affair once and for all. He just hoped things didn’t turn ugly. Although, given her temper at times, he was sure things would not go as smoothly as he wanted.

“Let’s end this now, before we do something we both regret,” he whispered to her. Wrapping one hand around her waist, he pulled her to him. As expected, he felt nothing with her pressed against him.

“I love you,” he heard her whisper, and he fought the urge to roll his eyes.

She loved him?

Really, just who did she think she was fooling? The only thing she loved more than herself was the power he gave her. Had she forgotten he had watched her play this game one too many times with other men?

Tilting her head up so that she was looking at him, he told her, “Love is nothing but a four-letter word that holds too much power over those who use it.” He paused. “You don’t love me. You have never loved me.”

Releasing her, he took several steps back before he continued. “You used me the same way I used you. There were many things between us, but never the love you claim.” He turned from her then. Walking back over to the bed where he had laid his ironed shirt, he continued to ignore her quiet sobs.

“Now, leave before you embarrass yourself even more,” he told her as he put his shirt on. Fastening his buttons, he continued to pay no attention to the enraged woman behind him… or the subtle shift of air in the room.

“You know, for a prince, you aren’t very princely.” The clear and strong female voice had him looking at her over his shoulder. Raising a brow, he finished buttoning his shirt and turned to face her. Gone was the sobbing woman he was just talking to. In her place stood the woman he had met all those years ago.

“I wondered when you were going to stop your little crying bit and show your true self.” Fixing the sleeve of his shirt, he walked up to her. “Really, a weak and crying woman does not suit you.” He gave her a quick once over and huffed. “Now get the fuck out of my castle before I throw you out. You and I are done.” With that he turned from her, walking over to his armoire to get his jacket.

“I really did love you, you know.”

He didn’t bother to look at her. “Of course, you did.” From his armoire, he walked over to his mirror, adjusting his collar.

“Silly little prince.” The sudden mocking in her tone had him once again struggling to control his temper. When he locked gazes with her, his world shifted. Within the walls of his mind, he could hear her laughter. “Abandoned and alone.” She walked up to him. He tried to move, only to find he couldn’t. “Remember…” She caressed his face. Again, he tried to move.

“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.” She walked around him, circling him like a hungry vulture. “Tell me, how many women have you hurt? Used and tossed to the side? Told them you loved them but had no intention of staying?” She came to stand in front of him again, a wicked smile playing at the edge of her lips. “You have broken one too many hearts over the years. And now you will reap what you sow.”

Stepping back, she eyed him up and down, and for a brief moment, he swore he saw a hint of sadness. Had he been able to he would have acted on that moment of weakness. He would have grabbed her in his arms before she could do any harm to him. Because there was no doubt, by the way the air prickled with hidden power and the hairs on the back of his neck rose, that nothing good would come from this.

In that moment, he wished he had kept his mouth shut and played along with her little game.

“Foul and heartless, you are a disgusting and deformed beauty. I gave you my heart, my soul, and still I mean nothing to you. After all this time, I am nothing but a toy to be used and discarded,” she paused and a dark sensation crept along his spine. “Your looks have aided in your selfishness and they will be your undoing.”

Closing the gap between them, she took him by the chin and jerked his face to hers. “I curse you, for now and evermore. May your appearance on the outside reflect what lurks beneath the surface of that beautiful mask you so proudly wear. Let the blackness of your soul seep out from your pores and cover the body you have so fervently used to pursue the things you wanted. Twisted and ugly, your face will reflect the beast you are on the inside.” Again, she paused, a single tear falling from the corner of her eye. When she spoke again, her voice cracked, but the power that flowed from her and into him was absolute.

“Never again will a woman look at you with lust and desire. All you will know from this moment forward are mocking sneers and repulsive glances. I hope the years ahead of you are cold and harsh. I pray you learn what true heartbreak is.”

The more she spoke, the more he could feel her magic wrapping around him, suffocating him until he swore he would die from affixation.

“Beastly Prince, your fate has been sealed.” With that she kissed him long and hard. Just as quick as the kiss started it was over, and she released him.

With emotionless eyes, she watched him fall to the floor, his legs giving out from under him as her curse took hold of him. Her eyes seemed to emit a dark satisfaction as he withered on the floor, pain assaulting him as his body transformed right before her eyes.

“However, unlike you, I am not without mercy.” Using her powers, she summoned a beautiful crimson rose in her hand. “Should you find someone who can truly love you and who you can truly love, you will be free from me and my curse.” Kneeling, she held the rose out before him. “Yet there is one condition: this rose is your time clock. So long as your heart remains cold and unfeeling, this rose will stay in bloom. But, the moment your heart beats for another, the rose will begin to wither away. Petal by petal, it will die. You will have until the last petal falls to win the heart of the one you love and reverse what was done to you.” Rising to her feet, she walked over to his nightstand and summoned a glass case.

Placing the rose in the case, she sealed it and turned back to him. “When that last petal falls and you have been rejected, not only will you know true heartache, but you will be forever the twisted monster you are right now.” Towering over his squirming form, she whispered, “You should lose hope now, because really, who could ever learn to love a beast like you?”