Page 21 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

My chest rises and falls as my knees meet the hard ground. Finally dropping the sword, I slump forward, and a hand catches me.

I shudder, followed by another harrowing wail.

Marian.

I can’t even look at her to assess the damage.

What am I going to do?

The wolf attacked her.

We are stranded in the woods, and I have nothing to help her.

The air in my lungs turns stale. I gasp for more, yet it’s too far to reach.

“Vi,” Marian’s soft whisper startles me.

Another choked sob escapes. I pinch my eyes shut, too scared to face her.

I let her down. I let Riker, Marius, Alec, and Bronn down.

Oh, Sweet Makers.

“Vi, I need you to look at me.” She holds my cheeks, guiding me to her.

“I-I’m so sorry Marian,” I blubber through strained breaths.

I’m in shock, but I can’t ease my thoughts. The pain. It’s too much. Everything is suffocating and draining me from the inside out.

“Vi, you’re having a panic attack. I need you to breathe. Please ,” Marian begs as I tremble. “Vi, please . Please look at me.”

My heart fractures.

Sniffing, I try to calm my rushed breaths as I open my eyes. “M-M-Marian—”

“I’m here, I’m here.” She brings our foreheads together, shivering as tears fall.

I struggle to even my breathing, listening to her exaggerated inhales and exhales, the rhythm of my own heartbeat eventually slowing.

Carefully, I assess the magnitude of her injury through my blurry vision.

“It’s a bite. We don’t know if—”

“We don’t know anything, Marian!” I snap, looking once more at the red liquid seeping from her forearm.

The bite marks don’t appear like simple puncture wounds. The yanking of the wolf’s mouth back and forth created grooves and tears across her flesh.

And the blood .

So. Much. Blood.

The memory of Annie comes to the forefront of my mind as I reach for the hem of my cloak. I hesitate at the red staining and covering my hands and body.

Options. I need options.

I rip the fabric and wrap her injury, my mind reeling. The cloth soaks up the blood faster than I can do a rotation around Marian’s arm, and I falter.

What if Marian—Fuck, I don’t even know how—

“Vi,” Marian warns. “Stop doing that thing with your face.”

“What thing with my face?” I meet her gaze, her skin paler than normal. Too much damn blood lost. “We need to get you help.”

“Help?” She chokes on a laugh. “We are in the middle of the forest. Even on horseback, we are a day’s ride home.”

Horseback… Home .

My hair blows across my vision as I look eastward before turning to the path back to Belmur. Or…

A voice I haven’t heard in years drifts to the forefront of my mind, drawing forth words I read not so long ago.

Should you ever need my assistance or that of my kingdom, my borders will always be open to you.

“What are you thinking?” Marian asks with trepidation.

I bite my lip, hesitating. It’s ludicrous to even suggest aloud. If Papa knew where we went, he would—

“Spit it out!” Marian yells, startling me.

“Torgem!” I shout, and her mouth falls.

“We should ride for Torgem,” I repeat. “It’s closer. We can get there faster on horseback. We’ll be able to treat your injury and keep you from losing more blood. Beauvais can use his magic to help heal—”

“Wait, you know what kind of powers he has?” A flash of betrayal crosses Marian’s features.

I shrink back, wiping the blood off me and hating myself for letting his secret slip out. “Yes.”

“How?” she demands, anger in her voice.

“Queen Tove told me.”

A lie. One I hope my sister will believe.

“And you believe her?” she challenges, and I nod.

Marian huffs in disbelief, and I push more to convince her. “He can help you with this. And now that we know what he can do along with his knowledge, he can also help with the infection.”

“But what about you, Vi? Aren’t you supposed to shift soon?”

I grimace, my magic rousing even more since I tried to command the wolf. But I won’t let it happen. Not when her life is at risk.

I can push through it. I can make it to Torgem. I know I can.

“I’ll be fine. We have to go, Marian. For your sake.”

Uncertainty lingers in her features. This whole mess is uncharted territory.

Even if Marian and I never believed Torgem was behind Mama’s death, we don’t know the full scope of how they feel about us after all these years.

I plead with her, trying to offer reason. “What if you’re infected? Oblivion, what if I’m infected?”

Her gaze darkens as she slaps my hand. “Don’t think like that!”

Rubbing the reddening area, I insist. “Beauvais might be our best chance to fix all of this.”

“What about Jean and Pierre?”

“We can make it to Torgem on horseback and get back before they suspect anything.”

“Then we better hurry before it gets dark.” She scrambles to stand but falters, and I barely catch her.

“Deities, Marian. You can’t ride.”

Her head sways in disagreement. “I’m fine.”

Always the fighter.

“We’ll ride together.” I drape her arm over me, reaching for her weapon and the dagger.

“You better not break my bow.”

I snort. “Glad to know blood loss isn’t affecting your obsession.”

“Hey,” she scolds. “I don’t insult you over your favorite book.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I dismiss with a smirk when we reach the carriage.

Opening the door, I grab the wooden crate. I take off my cloak and make a large sling to place the box inside. Hanging it over my shoulder, I pivot us toward the horses.

We loosen the restraints on one of the steeds, and I guide my sister up first.

I secure her bow across my chest as Marian adjusts in the saddle. With her extended hand, she helps me on the back of the horse before offering me the reins.

I fasten my hold on them, tapping the horse’s side. Hunching forward, I channel my need once more with my gift, unable to suppress it.

“Ride. Take us to safety. Take us to Beau.”