For the second time in recent memory, Abigail found herself in a new bed. Silk sheets entombed her body as she sank delicately into the feathery mattress. The bite of the chill air was held at bay among the generous thick covers. She felt groggy, disconnected from reality. Desperately, she struggled to rouse. Sleep threatened to drag her back into its warm comforting grasp.
Almost reluctantly, she won her personal battle. Slowly sitting up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The feathery comforter collapsed onto her hips. Abigail leaned forward, covers strained around her nude body.
"I hope I have not disturbed you." A deep, low, voice emerged from the big windowsill that occupied a generous portion of the austere bedroom.
Abigail immediately spun toward the sound, twisting her upper body to face the large bedroom window. Despite his impossibly large frame, sitting comfortably on the banister of the bedroom windowsill sat the beast that had rescued her earlier.
Abigail recognized him immediately as the castle's formerly human prince, Reynauld.
In his monstrous form (was it a dire-wolf, or some other creature of fantasy, Abigail wondered), the creature was easily over seven feet tall. His face had the brutal features of a feral wolf, complete with a large snout and jagged teeth. His body was covered in thick brown fur, save for an exposed chest where powerful muscles bulged with power and strength.
Abigail couldn't help but stare at the creature's impressive build. His eyes sparkled a ruby red, lids heavy with worry and concern. Despite the initial shock of seeing the creature in her bedroom, Abigail felt herself relax at the beasts presence.
She remembered how it felt being held in those mighty arms last night. Within the creature's iron-clad grasp was an overwhelming feeling of safety and comfort. She remembered being protected, wrapped in the safe arms of the creature in front of her. The ferocity of his might and the size of his frame didn't scare her at all. She felt destined for him. It was as if he was her mate.
Abigail relaxed into the bed, slouching comfortably into the sheets. She made no effort to cover herself, her virgin breasts erect and proud on her slim frame, nipples stiff beacons of sensuality awake from the morning chill. She moved a stray hair from her face, enjoying the beast's eyes as they wandered slowly over her virile young body. They drank in her pale skin, drove along her red hair, and lingered over the subtle pink of her areolas.
The large beast's golden brown fur glowed yellow, outlined by the morning sun's rays. His muscular chest swelled as he breathed, a low growl escaped his massive jaws. Scars from the recent altercation covered his body. Angry red slashes adorned a bruised and battered physique.
"I am sorry to have dragged you into this." With considerable effort, the beast broke his gaze from the young woman on the bed, casting his eyes instead to the gardens outside the window. He slouched against the window pane, her once stalwart protector now a shell of his former confident self. Abigail could see he bore a heavy burden. One that weighed significantly on his broad shoulders.
She could see the intense pain on his face. The massive creature stared out the enormous window onto the palace gardens below. But he didn't see the carefully manicured plants, trees, and bushes. Abigail could tell his mind was elsewhere, lost to a haunting memory. A secret he carefully guarded.
Abigail was suddenly aware of an aching desire below the sheets. Gently she reached her hand under the covers. Her fingers began a cautious exploration of her lower mound. She found it was still sore and aching from the previous night. Abigail grimaced as she risked a finger. Her tender folds quivered at the touch, puffy and fragile from the violent mating of last night.
"They weren't always like that." The beast's words interrupted her thoughts. The pain in her lower area was suddenly forgotten as the creature began once more to speak.
There was a time when all of the subjects of this castle were civilized creatures, not like the beasts you met the night before. It didn't start out that way, of course. The madness, I mean. It is a slow, vile thing. We didn't lose sight of who we were even after the change. At least, that was how it was at first.
Abandoning any pretense of modesty, Abigail rose quickly from the bed. The covers crumpled, abandoned on the bed, her sex boldly visible. She didn't mind the nakedness; she often wore nothing at night, especially in her own bed. Besides, the creature had not taken his eyes off the window, allowing Abigail her modesty despite her actions.
Abigail took several bold steps toward the beast, closing the gap from the bed in seconds. Her hand traveled gently along the creature's chest. Fingers explored his muscular frame, gently moving along the scars that bettered his body, still wet from fresh blood. The wounds were a painful reminder of her previous carelessness.
She pressed her body against the prince, her breasts spread around the creature's thick arm. Abigail rested her head gently against his shoulder. Her eyes closed, she took in his body heat, his fur, and his scent. She enjoyed the closeness and warmth that radiated from his feral body. Her nipples felt stiff and full against the creature's skin. Abigail felt a small familiar thrill, as her bare skin pressed so intimately against the creature's body. A tingling, electric buzz that begged for further exploration bloomed between her legs. The beast's massive hand, adorned with long claws, rested just below her pubic mound. Each gentle rub of her nipples against the creature's arm shot a sudden rush of pleasure through her breast, further drawing the heat from between her lower lips. She felt the brush of his hand against her inner thigh, her entrance became drenched with hot desire.
"Tell me, please." Abigail breathed into the creature's ear.
Though desperate to lose herself to the creature, she restrained her desire. She could see the pain of his movements, and the haunting sorrow in his voice. She wanted to unburden him, no matter what terrible truths his story might reveal.
The beast was silent for a time. She was unsure if he would continue his story or not. Was it to protect her, Abigail wondered. Or to protect him and his kingdom? Abigail rested her head against the prince's shoulder. Now assured that her request would go unanswered.
To her surprise, Reynauld suddenly broke his silence.
"It is not a memory I like to recount. However, I suppose I owe you that much." The beast turned to Abigail. A massive hand moved to her face, gently tilting her head to meet his penetrating gaze.
"And if by the time I am done, you wish to leave, I will do everything in my power to ensure your safe travel back to your home. I certainly owe you that much. Though I do wish you would stay. Stay with me."
Abigail was captivated by the beast's questioning eyes. She anxiously waited, the two of them bathed in the morning sun. She was lost in his powerful gaze, imprisoned by his passionate stare. Bewitched by the secrets that lay behind his lids.
Reynold began:
"It seems so long ago, but it couldn't have been more than a year or so prior. It was a crisp Autumn night, not un-similar to the one on which you both arrived at this castle. The change, that is our more animalistic forms, had fully taken place by this time. We were all adjusting to our radical new way of life.
"The transformation affected everyone differently. All the citizens of the castle had changed overnight into their bestial forms. However, I was the lone outlier. I wore my human form initially, only changing when my mood was elevated, whether by anger or lust.
"It was in this current state of affairs that my vassals convinced me that a splendid ball would be the cure for our current woes. I was no fool to assume it would fix our current predicament. But I had hoped it would at least elevate the citizen's moods. I wanted to provide hope, revelry, and fun, if only for a brief respite.
"One of the rather unexpected results of our change was a wild, uninhibited sex drive. Many of the females were in the throws of heat at this time. I observed once loyal spouses, that could barely restrain from throwing themselves against the young, virile males of the castle.
"And so I decided on a masquerade ball. An event unlike any before it. Celebrating and promoting the baser instincts of the creatures attending. It was to be a ball unlike any previous, celebrating the new beasts we had all become.
"That night was not one I would soon forget. The ballroom, the very one you visited earlier on your first night here, was packed with all manner of guests. All of them wore elaborate masks. Some were made of simple black silk. Others were elaborate constructs of gold or silver, embellished with fancy jewels or pearls.
"As the night continued and the drinks flowed, I witnessed all manner of sex and debauchery. Of course, it was not discouraged. In fact, it was the opposite. We all reveled in our sexuality. The dance floor became a twisting mass of bodies engaged in every sexual act you can imagine. The area was awash in intimate energy, and the sight and scent was addictive.
"Unlike the citizens of this castle, I am not always in the form you see me now. In fact, for the longest time, I wondered if I was truly under the same curse as my kingdom. But that question was answered soon enough, as that night was my first transformation. As I drank in the drinks of the evening and witnessed the erotic scenes that were unfolding before me, I felt the change for the first time.
"It is not something I feel I can accurately put into words, but yet I will try. I was in the middle of my drink, observing the copulation of the human-beast hybrids on the dance floor. I remember witnessing a half woman/half calf in the throws of passion, taking the entire sex of a man-bull that she rode. She wore no dress, her breasts swinging with the efforts of her mating. Her hoves dug into the floor, throwing herself aginst the creature's member, pleasure consuming her senses. Her sexual fluids covered the beast's member, and a nearby creature took notice of the copulation.