C79 The Thief in Captivity

"Because, my dear friend," the Beast began, his voice laced with a mix of regret and realization, "just like you, I assumed she was dead. After everything that happened, I buried myself in the library, searching for a way to defeat Asmodeus. I didn’t want to believe it, but grief has a way of clouding even the sharpest mind."

He paused, his gaze distant as if reliving those moments