Page 100 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Arms encompass me, and a soft “shh” echoes in my mind.

My breath stutters as my father’s distinguishable voice offers soothing comfort, rocking me and cradling me close.

I shiver, unable to end my tears through my jumbled and broken words. “P-P-P-P-Please forgive me, P-P-Papa. I’m sorry I-I-I kept this fr-fr-from you. I-I-I was trying to tell y-y-you earlier.”

He combs my messy waves, keeping me close. “Shhhhh.”

“I-I-I know I’ve let you down s-s-s-o much,” I cry. “I-I-I—” I sniff, my face pinching. “I’ve failed you.”

First Mama’s death, the infection, Marian’s treason, and my deceit.

“You didn’t, sweetheart. I—I—” He heaves a sigh. “There’s so much that’s happened. So much I’ve needed to process these last few days. I’m sorry for shutting you out and not listening for all those years. For being so wrapped up in my pain. My grief.

“I’m sorry for losing my temper and lashing out and directing so much of that toward him.

Toward you. And I’m sorry I didn’t see this—didn’t see how he made you feel.

I’m sorry I reverted to how I’ve managed my own grief these last seven years and caused you this much pain.

” His prickly beard brushes my forehead.

“I-I-I just don’t want t-t-to lose you.”

“You will never lose me, Vivienne. And I’m so sorry for ever making you believe that.” His lips meet my temple.

Papa grabs my chin, steering it up to meet his softened gaze. Tears stream down his own cheeks. “Now tell me, is this truly what you want? To be with Beau?”

“Without question,” I answer with certainty, not even marveling at Papa calling him Beau.

He loosens a long, shaky breath. “Then, I need to let you go.”

I gape and blink away my tears, trying to clear my emotions enough to understand him. “Let me go?”

My lip quivers, realizing he made me choose, and I chose Beau.

Not him .

Is he disowning me? I can’t lose him. He just said I’d never lose him.

“Papa, wait,” I plea in a rush. “It doesn’t have to be like this. Please —”

“I guess we need to hold another meeting with every kingdom if Belmur and Torgem are to unite.”

My eyes widen as Beau’s voice rings clear in shock. “Wait, really?”

My father peers over to Beau. “The uniting of the kingdoms will not happen under my rule, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen under Vi’s.”

Beau, Tove, and Jerrick break into broad grins as Papa faces me.

“Vivienne, love is strong and loyal when it is within family. But when it is shared between partners, it is something else entirely. It marvels you— captivates you. It feeds you, nurtures you, and does so much more. I was blessed to have both types of love in my life, and I would be worse than Letum himself if I were to truly deny you any of that. And while he may have been deserving of those punches earlier—”

I smile at the lighthearted joke as Papa gingerly dries my tears before he finishes. “He is a fair ruler.”

Papa pulls me into another embrace. He squeezes me twice, lowering his voice for only me to hear.

“And if I were to choose between him and any other suitor for your hand, I would choose him for you because he loves you. And that’s all I could ever ask for the Makers to let happen for you.

” He pulls away, his tender disposition warming my heart.

“You will be a great Queen of Belmur and Torgem.”

I startle at my future title, and I nuzzle into his chest. “I love you, Papa. Forever.”

“And I love you, my darling girl,” he responds, holding me a bit longer.

Small flickers of magic and love mold broken fragments of my heart together.

We break away, and my father helps me rise and face the others.

“Beauvais, please accept my deepest, humble apology as well as my sincere gratitude for everything you’ve done for Belmur and for my family.

” Papa offers his open palm, and Beau takes it, the two shaking hands.

“I hope that joining our territories is enough of a sign that your banishment is lifted.”

Beau chokes on a laugh and swipes back his blond hair. “Thank you, Bernard. Truly. And my friends call me Beau.”

“My friends call me Bernie.”

My father and the love of my life nod, everyone breaking into broad smiles.

Tove squeezes Beau’s shoulder when he releases Papa’s hand.

Beau turns, beaming. “Thank you for your kind words, Queen Tove.”

“My friends call me Tove, Beau ,” she answers, and they share a small chuckle before she twists to me. “You deserve all the happiness.”

She and her husband curl into each other, gazing at her abdomen with their first child.

Jerrick holds Tove’s hand, his thumb running across her knuckles as he whispers, “We all do.” He presses his forehead to his wife’s, his scar pinching from his smile.

They meet my stare, and I freeze, words themselves incapable of expressing my gratitude to them.

Tove graces me with a smirk and reaches for my father’s arm, looping it around her own. “Come, take a walk with me, Bernie. I want your input on ideas for names.” She tugs him with her toward the exit.

“Bernard has a nice ring to it,” Papa says, and Tove snorts.

Jerrick rolls his eyes before glancing at Beau and me. “My congratulations to you both. But if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure Bernard stays off my wife’s list of names.”

Beau and I chuckle as Jerrick strides off after his wife, the gap between us vacant for only a moment, the two of us eagerly seeking closeness every chance we have.

I hold his sides as he cups my cheeks.

I melt into the touch. “I should be screaming at you for inviting my father.”

“You should be,” he murmurs his agreement. “But I… after you told me everything—about your agreement, about what you sacrificed—I took a risk. And while I’m sorry for how it unfolded, I’m not sorry for the final result.”

My anger is nonexistent, but my joy is overwhelming. Tears already return at this miracle—this chance Beau took.

For me. For us .

“My love?” he breathes, wanting to understand every thought, every feeling of mine as he wipes away my tears. “Is it my swollen cheek?”

I bark a laugh, my stitches stretching and leaving me wincing.

Beau’s brows pinch, a wordless apology for causing me pain despite the smirk gracing his beautiful face. One I get to behold for the rest of my life.

We might be a beast and remedy to the world, but we were always two souls meant to be intertwined. And finally —permanently— we are tethered and complete at last.

“ Beau ,” I breathe, joy too pure—too indescribable.

His grin expands, his teeth gleaming and eyes wrinkling in the corners despite the swelling in his cheek. He leans in, our foreheads touching.

“Yours,” he whispers . “I’m yours.”

The words repeat in my mind, swirling and dancing through my veins, encasing my heart and tying my soul to his.

Our lips meet, and I lose myself in the kiss—in him .

I tug him closer, our proximity never feeling like it’ll be enough as I part my mouth. I rest my hands on his muscled chest, his heart beating frantically alongside my own as the kiss slows. We hardly move an inch when it does end.

Beau’s golden eyes hold mine, his sweet citrus scent forever engrained upon my soul.

“I get to be yours. Forever .” His voice breaks and pure love swirls behind his gaze.

I reach for his cheeks, running my thumbs across his skin. “And I get to be yours, always .” I draw him in for another kiss, the smile on my face never leaving.

Beau whispers along my lips, “Always and forever, Rosebud.”