Calatini Tales, Book 6

In the Regency-inspired kingdom of Calatini, enemies can become lovers, and beauty can save the beast with her love… and powerful magic.

All of court knows about the fierce enmity between Lady Juliet, the powerful royal witch, and the rakehell Duke of Oakmoor. What they don’t know is that the two were once lovers—a mistake neither can forget. One Juliet vows never to repeat, no matter how her body longs for it, yet one Oakmoor would gladly repeat, if only to silence her sharp tongue.

But even Juliet doesn’t know that in Oakmoor’s youth, a jilted lover cursed him to transform into a hideous beast one day, and now that vindictive curse is finally about to manifest. Perhaps the royal witch could help him, but to ask Juliet would reveal—and risk—far too much. So Oakmoor consults a seer instead and discovers his curse can only be broken by true love.

Desperate, the cursed duke kidnaps an innocent young lady he believes can love him and break the evil spell. But that lady already loves another, so Juliet secretly takes her place. Trapped alone together until his curse is broken, Juliet and Oakmoor soon begin to feel more than enmity and unwanted desire. But getting to happily-ever-after isn’t always as easy as breaking a curse…

In The Beast Curse, Beauty and the Beast are reimagined as the warring Beatrice and Benedick for the perfect low-spice enemies-to-lovers romantasy. Dive into this tale—or the other books in the Calatini Tales series—for cozy, heartwarming HEAs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Overall, this was a delight to read. The story is a low spice romance with unique elements of fantasy emphasizing the importance of connections and love. This book is a continued example of why Katherine is one of my favorite authors.”

Main Tropes – Click to See (Warning: May Contain Spoilers)

• Beauty & the Beast
• Enemies to Lovers
• Second Chance Romance
• Powerful Heroine
• Mature Hero
• Secret Baby

Excerpt:

Juliet flicked her fingers and whispered the incantation to cast an ignore spell about herself before darting through the crowd and out the garden door after Oakmoor. Releasing her spell, she glanced about the garden then frowned when she spotted him in the nearest alcove. Oakmoor was kneeling on the ground in a hunched ball like a gored fur-bull, the massive furry bovine from the Tsarkan grasslands. Dear Goddess, what had happened to him?

She surged into the alcove and used her will to silently fling a healing-sight spell then a probing spell on Oakmoor. Yet although the air was heavy and charged and musky like at Islaye House, she still sensed no unusual magic about him. She was too late again, damn it. She scowled and fisted her hands on her hips. “Oakmoor, would you quit being such an obstinate fool and tell me what’s going on? ‘Tis clearly more than you can handle alone.”

Oakmoor glanced up at her, his eyes black holes amid his white and haggard face. He rasped in a voice containing none of his usual smooth charm, “Go away, Juliet. I’ve told you my private matters aren’t your concern.”

She snorted. Idiot man. “And I’ve told you they are. As Calatini’s royal witch, I can’t allow your magic troubles to cause kingdom-wide problems. Which they doubtless shall soon.”

Oakmoor glared at her. “Nonsense. I don’t need your help.” Gulping air, he lurched upright then paled even further and swayed.

She slid beneath Oakmoor’s arm and helped him stagger across the alcove. Tingling flooded her as their bodies met and his earthy sandalwood scent swamped her. When they collapsed together on the stone bench, she was trembling almost as much as Oakmoor, both from desire and exertion. He was strongly built, so supporting him took all her strength.

Unable to make herself pull away from Oakmoor, Juliet poked his chest. “Don’t need my help, do you?”

Oakmoor’s growl vibrated against her and further fueled her tingling. He rumbled, “I could have managed on my own.”

She tsked. “Right…”

Oakmoor growled once more, and she nearly shivered. She had to pull away before she kissed him or he kissed her. ‘Twould be disastrous to succumb to that explosive desire again. She inhaled. Unless she used it to steal some hair for her scrying spell. The royal agent had yet to succeed at that and likely never would.

Her heart surging, she slid her hands up Oakmoor’s chest and about his neck to thread her fingers through his almond-brown hair. “You’re truly the most vexing man.” Then she drew his head down and pressed her mouth against his.

Oakmoor stilled for a heartbeat before yanking her closer and deepening their kiss. She moaned as their tongues dueled and feverish hunger consumed them both. She pressed against him and gripped his hair even fiercer. Wait… his hair. She needed his hair. Still wildly kissing him, she pinched a lock of his hair and gathered her will to cut it.

But before she could, Oakmoor jerked back and gripped her wrists then tore her hands from his hair. Panting, he snarled, “What are you doing?”

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