A Beast So Broken: An Enemies to Lovers Shifter Romance (Devoured By Dusk Book 1) Read online

  A Beast So Broken

  A MEDIEVAL SHIFTER ROMANCE

  LARK ANDERSON

  Copyright © 2022 by Lark Anderson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Also By Lark Anderson

  A Note to Sensitive Readers

  Chapter 1

  Anya

  Chapter 2

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 3

  Anya

  Chapter 4

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 5

  Anya

  Chapter 6

  Anya

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 7

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 8

  Anya

  Chapter 9

  Anya

  Chapter 10

  Anya

  Chapter 11

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 12

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 13

  Anya

  Chapter 14

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 15

  Anya

  Chapter 16

  Anya

  Chapter 17

  Anya

  Chapter 18

  Elric

  Chapter 19

  Anya

  Chapter 20

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 21

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 22

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 23

  Anya

  Chapter 24

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 25

  Anya

  Chapter 26

  Anya

  Chapter 27

  Elric

  Chapter 28

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 29

  Anya

  Chapter 30

  Anya

  Chapter 31

  Anya

  Chapter 32

  Anya

  Chapter 33

  Anya

  Anya

  Chapter 34

  Anya

  Chapter 35

  Anya

  Elric

  Chapter 36

  Anya

  Chapter 37

  Anya

  Epilogue

  Anya

  Also by Lark Anderson

  About the Author - Lark

  A Curse So Vile

  Chapter One

  Brenna

  Also By Lark Anderson

  SCI-FI/FANTASY ROMANCE

  Devoured by Dusk

  A Beast So Broken

  A Curse So Vile

  Venus Quarantine Initiative

  Her Chosen Mate

  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  The Beguiling a Billionaire Series

  The Billionaire’s Board

  The Billionaire’s Fixer Upper

  The Billionaire’s Funding

  The Bad Girl

  The Dis-Graced

  The Trainwreck

  Hacking His Code

  Reckless in Love

  Love you…not!

  Trust you…not!

  Tempt you…not!

  Savage in Love

  Savage in the Sheets

  Savage in the Sweets

  Savage in the Streets

  Savage Redemption

  Savage Temptation - coming soon

  Cutler Family Christmas

  Not So Jolly

  Not So Merry

  Standalones

  Professional Consult

  The Glow Girlz Series

  Stacey's Seduction

  Tempting Teysa

  Desiree's Delight

  If you’d like a FREE ebook, click HERE!

  If you'd like to become an ARC reviewer for Lark Anderson, please email her at: [email protected]. If you would like to subscribe to Lark's newsletter, please sign up here.

  Definitions

  Some of the words used throughout the series: Devoured by Dusk, are dated. Here are some definitions to help you along.

  Maiden - an unwed virgin woman

  Handmaidens - a female attendant

  Mayhap - perhaps

  Mislike/Misliking - dislike

  Keep - strongest portion within a castle

  Garderobe - a medieval bathroom

  Castle Steward - in charge of the daily runnings of a castle

  Betrothal - engagement to be married

  Intended - the person one is intended to marry

  Union - wedding

  Soothsayer - a person that can see the future

  Intoxicant - alcoholic or hallucinogenic beverage

  A Note to Sensitive Readers

  A Beast So Broken features the following themes that some might find troubling:

  - A woman wrongly accused of a crime.

  - Medieval hierarchies that are dated.

  - Survival situations.

  - Talk of women being mauled(a brief scene of violence at the end).

  That being said, I hope you enjoy!

  Lark

  Chapter

  One

  ANYA

  “Hurry!” Eileen called back. “Or we’ll miss it!”

  Anya walked with the grace of a woman above her station. Although she would never be noble-blooded, no one would ever mistake her for a peasant.

  Eileen did not share in her worry.

  “If you don’t hurry, we’ll miss the knights as they come down the Wayfarer’s Road,” Eileen pleaded, her black hair falling wildly over her large brown eyes.

  Anya didn’t care to see the knights as they passed. They’d kick up dirt and soil her dress, and it wasn’t often her father allowed her the luxury of a new gown. As it was, he had only been so generous due to the harvest festival and her age of eligibility being reached.

  She scanned the crowd, hoping to spot her intended, Domeric. As the eldest son of the village miller, he had been expected to take over his father’s granary, but when he achieved knighthood at just twenty-two years old, his life took a turn, and he left for three years to serve the realm.

  Upon returning, his mother had seen to his betrothal, approaching Anya’s father with the intent of securing her hand. That was two years ago, when she was just seventeen.

  Although she’d expected her father to secure her a match, one so exceptional was indeed a pleasant surprise. Domeric wasn’t just comely, he was strong, brave, and came from means. She was elated with her betrothal, and had been counting down the seasons until their union since their engagement was announced. Now, there were only two left.

  Lundwood Peak buzzed with excitement. Peddlers scrambled to set up their wares as people trickled in to celebrate The Dusk of Evening Sun. Anya could only remember three harvest festivals in her nineteen years as it was an occasion celebrating twice the average crop yield, the last celebration having taken place five years prior.

  Thousands of villagers and townsfolk from throughout western Heartlands were expected to attend the fair, promising optimal trade. As a blacksmith, Anya’s father did well enough, but during times of peace, his sales lulled and were now growing stagnant. The harvest festival would
see his inventory diminish greatly, and they would live in excess for several months thereafter. Perhaps it would make her father even more generous with her union.

  The wind blew gently, causing her red tresses to dance despite the constraint of her decorative ribbon. The last thing she wanted was to look like a disheveled child, but the wind was something she had no control over.

  The thunder of hooves sounded in the distance. There was no stopping Eileen as she hiked up her dress and dashed to catch a better glimpse of the knights.

  Long ago, she would have done the same.

  Anya chuckled as she watched the wayward girl, hoping that time wouldn’t change her as it had so many others. The two became best friends at six, when they were forbidden from speaking to one another. Eileen’s father, the village baker, had never shown her ill-will, but Eileen’s mother’s smile grew tight whenever Anya was around, and her own father discouraged them from playing.

  They were never given a reason for the feud, and at six, they didn’t care about repercussions. The forbidden element of their friendship only served to strengthen their bond.

  Which was stronger than that of blood.

  They were an odd pairing, Anya, the hopeless dreamer, and Eileen, ever clever and good with a bow, but as their friendship grew, their parents soon realized there was little they could do to keep them apart.

  “And she’s off.”

  Anya turned to see the pretty face of Lady Esther Weist.

  Not a year ago, Esther would have spent the evening with them in merriment, but life has a way of twisting unexpectedly. Now she was married to a lesser nobleman and was often busy with the affairs of running her husband’s estate.

  Anya bobbed a curtsy. “Well met, Lady Weist.”

  “Oh, shove off!” Esther grabbed Anya by the elbow, dragging her towards the merchant stalls.

  “Why, Lady Weist—”

  Glaring at her, the noblewoman said, “Enough of that. It’s Essie to you, and don’t you forget it. I haven’t.”

  No, she hadn’t. And she never would. Essie didn’t have it in her to act haughty, especially given how her betrothal came about.

  Her father had served as castle steward to Lord Aldus Highland, as had his father and grandfather before him. A little over a year ago, he discovered the lord’s own brother had hired bandits to kidnap Aldus’s son and heir, Cregor. He saved Cregor from his ill-begotten fate, but died while doing so.

  It was a terrible ordeal, but in the end, Esther gained a lord husband for her loss, and now she was the Lady of Charlemay Keep, married to Lord Bonnifer Weist.

  “Have you seen Gwen or Maryil?” Anya asked.

  Essie sighed, rolling her eyes. “No, and I’d rather not. They’ve been chattering as of late.”

  Anya gave her friend a weak smile. Ever since Essie had been dubbed ‘Lady,’ Gwen couldn’t control her jealousy. Instead of serving smiles and well-wishes, as the situation called for, she served hot chatter and snide glances.

  Essie dug into her purse, pulled out a coin, and handed it to her attendant. “Be a dear and see if you can find a proper intoxicant.”

  As soon as the servant was out of sight, Essie pulled Anya close, just as she had countless times when they were girls. Though this time felt far different.

  Being huddled next to her newly refined friend was odd, and she wondered what had Lady Esther forgetting her manners.

  “You must be careful, Ani,” Essie whispered in her ear.

  Startled, Anya looked at her friend, whose smiling face exuded joy. Her eyes were a troubled storm, though. Dark and full of worry.

  “And what should I be careful of, sullying your reputation?” Anya said, very aware of how they would appear to onlookers. They were no longer children, and it would be wise for them not to appear as such.

  Essie’s grip tightened around her arm, her warm breath washing over her neck. Something was wrong. Essie had always been Anya’s most level-headed friend, so to see her acting like this, so afraid, sent a chill up her spine.

  And the words that poured from her friend’s lips told her she had good reason to be afraid.

  “Maidens are being murdered.”

  Unable to contain her shock, she blurted, “What are you talking about?”

  It was rare that Anya ever knew fear. Her life was idyllic, straight out of a storybook. Lundwood Peak was a safe place to grow up, and she knew nothing of hunger. She was doted on by her father, and her intended was as handsome and kind as they come.

  What Essie was suggesting was ridiculous. Murder was rare and punished with a fate worse than death: exile. To even mention the word was an ill-omen.

  Essie’s eyes darted away, her grip releasing Anya. She was a picture of poise again. A lady of the land.

  “Oh, look, it’s Lady Esther!” Gwen approached with Maryil, a dubious smile playing on her full lips. “What brings you to this peasant affair?”

  Anya sighed. Gwen’s inability to accept Essie’s good fortune with grace made every interaction with her uncomfortable.

  But Gwen had always been one to envy, which seemed ridiculous considering the amount of attention she got. She was a beautiful woman, with honey-blonde hair, striking blue eyes, and a voluptuous figure that provoked stares from all the boys in town. Sure, Essie had a title, but it didn’t bring her happiness.

  “Well met, Gwen,” Essie greeted, taking on the solemn tone of Lady Esther. “It’s good to see you as well, Maryil.”

  Maryil bowed, a demure smile gracing her lips. She wasn’t nearly as offensive as Gwen, but she followed her spiteful friend around like a puppy.

  Maryil’s father hailed from Gryndar, a blessed land across the sea. He came to Dreyléon to trade and stayed when he fell in love with Maryil’s mother.

  Although tall like her father, Maryil’s skin was a shade lighter due to her mother’s fairness, and her eyes were hazel, which was unnatural for the Gryndari, though quite striking.

  Gwen sniffed the air, scrunching her upturned nose. “Does anyone smell periwinguin?”

  Why can’t she just put her claws away?

  Periwinguin was a nasty smelling flower that grew around Charlemay Keep. There was no getting rid of it, and its scent often lingered on Essie, to her great consternation.

  Anya didn’t hear how Essie responded. She was too busy dwelling on what the lady had said. Maidens are being murdered, were her words, and her tone was not one of jest.

  There had been a few mishaps as of late, a young woman set upon by beasts in Hader’s Pass, a similar incident in Melgrin, but they weren’t murdered. The bountiful harvest had animals coming to graze upon the excess crops, and because the land had produced so much, farmers were less inclined towards scaring them off. Bigger beasts were making these animals their prey, attracting them closer to farms and the outer edges of the villages, where they were more likely to happen upon people.

  But you could hardly call that murder.

  “Oh, look!” Maryil pointed toward a cluster of stalls, her eyes lit with excitement. “A soothsayer’s tent!”

  Gwen cast an annoyed glance at Maryil, but Essie’s interest was piqued.

  “Let’s go!” Maryil grabbed Gwen’s arm as a child would, a gesture that made Anya smile and Gwen grimaced.

  As much as Anya was ready for the next stage of her life, which meant the constant constraint of her emotions, it was strangely comforting to see Maryil so excited and full of childish joy.

  Gwen rolled her eyes, pulling away from her friend. “It’s rubbish.”

  Lady Esther smirked. “But we must.”

  Anya would have loved to have her palm read, but she had very little coin as her father had not been so open-handed as to allow for reckless spending. “Speak for yourself. I have but two coppers.”

  “But I have more, and as the Lady of House Weist, I command you to accompany me to see what our futures hold.”

  Anya smiled, wondering what exactly the soothsayer would say about her future. Of course,
there would be mention of Domeric and their children together. Perhaps the sayer would tell her how many they would have. It wasn’t unheard of for a knight to aspire to father seven children, a lucky number to those sworn to protect the realm. It sounded exhausting, but she would do anything for her intended.