Bruno stirred awake as sunlight filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft glow.

He blinked groggily, feeling disoriented for a moment. Then it hit him-it was morning already. He sat up abruptly, rubbing his face as the memories of last night flooded back into his mind. He glanced to the side of the bed and noticed, with a heart-wrenching feeling, that Beauty still wasn't there.

His chest tightened with guilt.

He recalled how he had dozed off right after she ...