Storm and Solace: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling

By Robin Woods

"Absolute magic." —Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame and Top 100 Reviewer

 

In this Beauty & The Beast role-swapping mashup, Saxa is stripped of her powers and cursed by her two sisters. She has twelve weeks to change her ways or lose everything--including her life.

 

Brandr, shipwrecked after a terrible storm, is swept into the world of gods and goddesses. When he trades his life for his brother's, he sentences himself to a world he knows nothing about.

 

When their paths collide, nothing is as it seems. Who will survive this game of immortals?

 

What Readers are Saying

• "What a ride! I don't stay up all night for just any book." —Abbey, Silent Book Club Online
• "An inventive retelling of Beauty and the Beast, …sure to please fans of light fantasy, romance, and fairytales alike." —Self-Publishing Review
• "An epic adventure with gods, dragons, and of course magic…a whirlwind adventure." —Antoinette, Reader's Favorite
• "The characters were unique, complex, and well developed. The chemistry between them made the story and plot believable." —Danielle, Goodreads Librarian Review
• "I finished the book in one sitting." —Rabia, Reader's Favorite
• "Woods incorporates both land- and sea-based mythologies into a story that will keep you enthralled and on your toes from start to finish!"—Judi, Goodread Review
• "A book every paranormal fan will love." —Miche, Reader's Favorite
• "Hooked me from the start! Action, adventure, love, intrigue, and more…I loved the witty dialogue and magical setting." —Bikeramy, Amazon Review
• "A fantastic retelling of the classic story of Beauty and the Beast while completely flipping the story on its head and throwing in some Norse gods for good measure… Fans of fantasies and myths will definitely enjoy this story, as well as those who enjoy romance and the classic tale itself." —Phil, Amazon Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Epic Books Publishing
• Release date: Jun 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9781941077801

Robin Woods

Robin Woods is a former high school and university instructor with two and a half decades of experience teaching English, literature, and writing. She earned a BA in English and an MA in Education. In addition to teaching, she has published six highly-rated novels, an award winning creative writing workbook series, and has multiple projects in the works. When Ms. Woods isn’t chasing her two school kids around, she’s spending time with her ever-patient husband.

Book preview

World Map & Named Characters

Chapter 1

Wild Beast

E ven in the midst of the storm the sun is still shining. — Dayna Lovely

Atla realized the stories were true the moment her head breached the water and she observed the ships littering the rocky shore as far as could be seen. In just under a year, her sister had killed their legacy. Sickness curled in her gut, but was quickly replaced by blind rage.

What has she done? Imth whispered.

Narrowing her eyes, Atla honed her anger into something useful and raised a hand. Imth swam to her side in a breath. Atla then nodded to the small stone, stick, and pelt hovel perched on a rise three-hundred paces from the breaking waves. Runes were painted on the animal skin walls, drawing power from the ocean and all its creatures.

They slipped back beneath the white-capped waters and emerged on the shore, draped in seaweed. Within three steps, the briny sea plants shimmered and became flowing gowns the color of the rocky shore. Their bare feet made not a sound as they glided over the cobble path.

Atla stared through an open flap in the dwelling. Her sister’s almost-naked form was straddling a man in her bed of furs. Imth yanked Atla away from the opening as a groan came from within the hut. But before they could retreat to the waves, the telling metallic tang of blood filtered through the air. All was not as it had appeared. Atla felt sick once more and bolted into the room.

Saxa tilted her head backward, enjoying the heat of the sailor; she didn’t need it, but it was pleasurable. He’d been so surprised when she had slid the blade between his ribs, stopping his heart. He’d tried to buck her off, but found her far stronger than he. A smile lingered as she relished those last moments before his eyes had turned glassy and blank. She had held him down by the throat, watching his face redden and the blood vessels burst in the edges of his blue eyes.

He was lucky. If she had judged him guilty of more crimes, she would have made him suffer, but she reserved that death for the worst of the Raiders.

She absently ran her fingers over the tattoos on the left side of his head. Before removing the knife from his side, she deftly used the hilt to crack the rib cage, allowing her to remove the heart with ease—she would absorb his power, and his sacrifice would be complete. As she continued to work on her kill, something wrenched her hair, tossing her to the ground.

You fool! Atla growled, dragging Saxa towards the entrance.

Saxa hadn’t sensed Atla and slashed at her, but Atla was taller. Saxa twisted away from her sister.

Let me go! she snarled.

The moment Saxa freed herself from Atla, she found herself flat on her back. Wondering how she’d been bested so quickly, Saxa pushed her hair from her face. Atla wasn’t alone; Imth, the youngest of the sisters, was standing directly over Saxa. She was used to her older sister reprimanding her, but the disapproval on Imth’s face burned.

Saxa remained in her prone position, but reclined on her elbows and crossed her legs in defiance. Angry or not, she had to respect the stealth of both her sisters. They would have made Odin proud.

Ticking her head to the side, she eyed the two standing over her. It has not been yet a year. Why have you come?

Atla drew in a long breath before answering, observing the line of crusted blood across Saxa’s forehead, two streaks on her cheeks, and smears around her mouth.

Your mourning time is nearly at an end. We had merely come to see you, Sister.

Saxa sensed it was more than that, or they wouldn’t have visited early. Rumors of what she’d been doing must have reached them in the Northern Seas. She slid her elbows out and flopped back onto the ground, throwing her arm over her face to keep from looking at them. Shame flickered, and emotion constricted her throat, but it was snuffed out as fast as it had come. Only one thing mattered now.

At that moment, the wind outside picked up, infusing the scent of the slain man throughout the chamber.

Somehow, Atla knew. "So, it’s true? You eat them? You have become a flesh-eater like the Sirens in the south!"

Saxa peeked out from under her arm. I was hungry and am tired of fish. A lie. She expected her sisters to storm out and leave her alone but was jarred when, once again, she was dragged to her feet by her hair and shoved against a wooden support beam.

Sticking a bony hand on Saxa’s chest, Atla held her sister in place. With Imth at her side, she was stronger, but Saxa leaving their circle to mourn had weakened all of them. "We were created to protect those on the seas, not eat them," Atla scolded.

Smirking, Saxa licked at the drying blood on her lips. But they are delicious. Join me? Another lie. She started laughing, but there was an unrelenting sadness warping the laughter, the sound close to madness as she tried to drive her sisters away.

The growl emanating from Atla silenced Saxa’s crazed laughter. Your mourning time will be over in a fortnight. Get yourself together, woman. We will return for you. Do not continue down this path, for if you do, you will suffer.

Is that a threat?

Take it as you will.

Imth placed her hand over Atla’s, easing her grip, and then slipped between her sisters as a buffer. She offered Saxa her hand like an olive branch. We miss you. Please come back to us. Tears brimmed her golden lashes.

Saxa softened for a moment, responding to her younger sister’s plea, and took her hand. She knew Imth was being genuine. But then Saxa glanced at Atla, scowling at her—judging her—so Saxa snatched her hand back.

Without another word, Atla took Imth’s arm, pulling her towards the doorway. They exited like specters heading back to the sea.

Saxa ran out behind them, throwing her arms wide and her head back to scream at the skies. I call on Thor to tear at both land and sea! I call on him to show my grief! Let the winds rage!

Thunderheads appeared in the sky, rolling over the entire area. The winds were set loose, causing both Atla and Imth to hunch down as they made the short trek to the water. They needed the water more than Saxa to harness their abilities. Within seconds, her sisters had reached the water and dove into its safety. Then she unleashed all of her power, striking the water with lightning where her siblings had dipped below the surface.

On the first occasion she had lost a lover, she’d had a child to fill the emptiness, but this time, she had nothing. And he hadn’t died of age or sickness. He’d been taken from her by those who’d robbed, pillaged, and destroyed for their own pleasure. So, those who dared to be a Raider would pay. Even if it meant losing her sisters—and herself.

Chapter 2

Wrenched

Jolted from sleep, Brandr Tryggve was on his feet before his brother, Hemming, had finished calling. He spun in a circle, expecting to see a ship of Raiders drawing near. Relief washed over him when there was only the grey chop of the ocean in every direction.

It will hit us. Hemming pointed in the distance. Angry weather was moving in from the south.

The livestock were acting skittish. Brandr stepped inside the pen and leaned down, cooing to Inga, his favorite sheep, with the hiccup bleat. She settled down, but pressed against Brandr’s knee.

I’m sure our family will stay ahead of the weather. If that blasted merchant hadn’t tried to swindle us, we would have too, Hemming grumbled.

Aye, Brandr agreed, keeping his anger in check. It was wasted energy, and the corruption of their towne was part of the reason they’d left. Despite his patience, it had been difficult to keep from getting anxious. Brandr wanted to be settled and begin his new life. He sighed and stared at the roiling clouds in the distance. Lightning strikes stood in stark contrast to the charcoal clouds. The weather would likely delay them, and it made him feel powerless.

He must have looked overly concerned. Hemming added, Mother is strong, and so are our siblings.

It worries me that neither of us are with them.

Mother threatened to throw me in the nearest volcano if I didn’t stay and guard your back, not after Geir sent men to take your livestock.

I would have taken care of them.

"Yes, they would be dead, and Geir would have sent more men until you were dead. My way was much better."

Brandr’s expression darkened. Hemming was right, but he still wished his brother were with the others. The gods had blessed him; crops grew under his care, even in poor soil.

They both stood and watched the storm that seemed to be moving faster than it should. They were a lone ship, and at this moment, the isolation of the ocean felt particularly great. Brandr had marked their ship with the designs of a neighboring clan known in these waters to be fierce, but it would not protect them from the weather.

Hemming chortled when he noticed Brandr was now surrounded by the penned animals. Those beasts like you more than your family,

Brandr’s grin was wide. The family loves me. Everyone loves me.

Careful, your ego may sink us.

I sense jealousy.

Only if you had married Awine. I would have someone better to look at besides you and the beasts.

She was never a consideration.

You ran away from her—the most beautiful woman in our village.

"You need to learn to see that a berserkir isn’t just a warrior. Some maidens lie in wait to shed their wolf’s skin until they are wed, even if attractive."

I wouldn’t care if I could enjoy that in my bed each night, Hemming replied.

Looks fade, Brother. And when you are old enough to grow a full beard you may think otherwise.

Hemming shook his head and chuckled. You may be ten years my senior, but you only say that because you have your pick of the maidens.

Brandr smiled, climbed out of the pen, and went to work. His watch was to begin soon. He was awake, and so he might as well get started.

Saxa had stood screaming on that shore, dragging the winds down and whipping them up into something ferocious, until she could scream no longer.

Who was Atla, giving her an ultimatum? How dare she interfere with the way she had decided to grieve. Raiders are scum and a menace.

With all her might, she shoved the winds and rain outwards, wanting to ravage the seas her sisters were hiding beneath. Even then, knowing it would do no good, she did it anyway.

Chapter 3

Cursed

Just when Saxa reached exhaustion, a sound caused her to shiver with delight. She broke into a sprint, headed to the southern shore, leaving the shelter of her cove. The speed of her gait was almost flying, though she could not take to the air like her youngest sister, Imth.

She crested the rocky dune, the shallows coming into view. A ship floundered on the crags jutting from the ocean. It bore the markings of the Raiders. She sank to her knees and relished their distress. She watched as the crew buzzed around the longboat like hornets. Some jabbed oars against the rock, trying to slide the keel from ground. Others were tossing supplies overboard to lighten the load.

Saxa stood once more and moved to the water’s edge, wading ankle-deep. Once the connection was established with her power, she twirled her finger in the air, calling up the seaweed. First, she stole their oars from their hands. Then, the two largest men from the back of the ship, pulling them into the depths. She groaned in pleasure when their life-forces were snuffed out, her strength growing. Atla had reprimanded her for behaving like the Sirens of the southern seas, but Atla didn’t understand how good it felt—how strong a human soul made you.

With another twirl of the finger, she took two more. Then, thrusting her arm into the air and splaying her fingers, she unleashed lightning. The mast split in two, and the sails caught fire. Screams of both man and beast made her heart quicken as the light from the flames glittered on the rough water—the fever of the kill glowing in her eyes.

After a few more struggling moments, the boat succumbed and slipped beneath the raging water, but no sense of relief came. The landscape darkened without the firelight, and sadness set in again. This sorrow was like acid running through her veins, threatening to consume what was left of her. She had always felt better after taking so many before.

Debris lapped onto the shore, and the body of a sheep rolled with the surf. She cursed for not saving a Raider’s heart to sacrifice, so a sheep would have to satisfy.

In knee-deep water, she grabbed the sodden carcass and started dragging it to shore. Saxa whirled around at the sound of a small splash behind her and found one man had survived. After hurling the sheep onto the shore above where high tide would claim it, she fixed her face with sympathy and sloshed her way to the man.

She pulled one of his arms around her shoulder, suppressing her delight. He coughed up the brine with each heavy step towards the shore.

He half-collapsed when they reached the hard-packed sand, gasping. Th-thank you.

Saxa cupped his face, schooling her features. You are icy cold. Come with me. Tugging him onto his feet, she led him up the hillside, being careful to reign in her powers—chanting "be human" in her head. She paused at the peak and looked out at the dark waters, trying to sense her sisters. There didn’t seem to be any eyes on her, but then again, to this man she seemed to be helping him.

Is your home near?

She decided there was too much risk taking him to either of her dwellings. They would be the first places her sisters would look. ‘Tis too far. There is shelter a short distance away. I will make a fire to warm you.

The gratitude on his face made her feel almost guilty—almost. But then she thought of the emblem on his ship and promised to keep her vow—death to all Raiders. Glancing upwards for a split-second, she willed the heavens to open up once again, and frigid water began to downpour on them.

After twenty minutes of labored walking, they arrived at the cave. His limbs were stiff from the cold, his lips purple, and his shivering near-convulsive.

Sit. I’ll light a torch, she said.

He eased to the ground just inside the cave, wrapping in on himself, trying to keep warm.

With a few strikes of her flint, Saxa had the torch lit and beckoned for him to come deeper into the cave.

The cave opened up to a room a little larger than the longboat the Raider had been on. Saxa used this cave when storms came through that were not of her own making and during the coldest months of the winter when she was not with her people. It was the perfect shelter with a natural chimney to let out the smoke from a fire.

She propped the torch between stones and stacked the makings of a fire in the stone ring at the center of the space. Within a few minutes, she had coaxed the fire to life.

He was so cold that he could hardly reach out towards the heat; his fingers clenched.

You need to remove your wet clothing to warm up—the moisture will keep you cool.

He looked at her warily, but obeyed, shucking off his dripping clothes and dropping them in a heap on the rock next to him.

Saxa smirked and untangled his clothes, lying them flat to dry. He was a well-formed male and would make a good sacrifice. She admired the tattoos across his shoulders and back, two warring eagles entwined in an eternal battle. It was almost a shame to ruin them.

He didn’t remind her of Eirik, but it made her long for him. She hovered behind him, debating—forcing out the threats of her sisters. She loosed the ties on the front of her dress and sidled up behind him, pressing her bare skin against his and wrapping her arms around him.

He jumped, but didn’t pull away, a startled tremor running through him. Then he relaxed. His muscles unclenched and his breathing changed from shallow breaths to even ones as her warmth sank in.

They rested, perched near the crackling flames, until his skin was pinked from the heat and all signs of being in the icy water had faded. She’d expected him to try to take her, but he remained next to her like a statue.

Were you stranded here too? he asked, breaking the long silence.

No. I live here. Saxa stood and refastened her dress before walking around and taking a place on the sandy ground in front of the fire where she could see his face.

Born here? Or by choice?

My choice.

How do you live in such a place?

She hunched her shoulders, allowing herself to look small and fragile, a tame kitten instead of the lioness. I hunt and fish. There’s a freshwater stream for drinking and bathing not far.

But, you are alone?

There were many ways to answer the question, and she pushed them around. She wasn’t sure what she wanted from him, so it took her a moment to craft the answer. Her being alone was self-imposed. There were people she was supposed to be protecting not far away.

Finally, she answered. I don’t mind being alone. Her chin was held high, but she knew the words were false the moment she’d uttered them. She hated being alone. She always had. When she hadn’t been with a mate, she had been with her sisters and thrived because of it. There was power in the connection with others. She’d felt it the moment she’d allowed herself to breathe in this stranger and to miss Eirik with renewed pain.

Just one kiss and she would rid herself of this notion. She let out a stuttering breath and crawled towards him as only a seductress could do.

There was confusion on his face for a split-second, but then his eyes became hungry,