Page 40 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)
When he recalls his power, he opens his eyes, and Marian’s expression brightens considerably.
“Thank you.” She beams.
“You had a significant fever.” Beau reaches for her glass and offers it to her. “Did you not feel it at all?”
Marian takes the cup and sips before replying, “I felt fine. At least I think I did.”
“You had a little bit of a temper filtering through, too,” Jean comments, aware of Marian not being one to anger easily.
The ones in my family to do so were me and Papa. And that was before I gained my abilities. Now that I have them, it fuels my anger, causing me to fight for control of my emotions more often.
Marian’s symptoms are going to get worse. Mood swings are one thing, but now a fever?
My eyes find Beau’s. “You need to keep healing her.” I twist to Jules, Christine, Marcel, and Leo. “And you need to find out what plants are local to each region.”
Lastly, I turn to Jean and Pierre. “And I need you to keep writing to the kingdoms on my behalf. Work with Beau on recording any new symptoms or attacks.”
I stand quickly, the urgency to leave now rather than tomorrow pressing me forward. I hate leaving my sister, but she can’t come with me. The esprit’s guidance is what I have to trust.
“Where do you think you are going?”
Pierre’s voice halts me in my tracks.
I peer over my shoulder. “I just told you all. I’m leaving. I’ll write a letter to Prince Stefan to let him know of my arrival and then I—”
“You aren’t going alone.” Beau leaves Marian’s side, marching straight for me.
“I have to. You all need to remain here,” I argue as he inches closer.
“You are not going alone when there is danger in the forests,” Beau says.
I stiffen at the harshness in his voice. His command.
“I have my magic.” I look at my friends and family, giving them a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine.” I move to leave again.
Beau’s hand latches onto mine, stopping me. His strength surprises me as he turns me, and I crash into his hard chest. He holds me close, his golden eyes stern and fierce.
“I’m coming with you.”
I scowl at his stubbornness, meeting it with my own. “You have to stay with Marian. You have to heal her.”
“And why can’t he do that while I join you?” My sister’s question pulls my gaze from Beau’s to my friends all rising.
“And me,” Leo chimes in.
“Don’t forget us, too!” Christine adds, gesturing to Jules and Marcel.
I close my eyes, dropping my head. “It’s not safe for you all. Besides, we need you here researching potential plants and cures.”
“We can do that as we travel. Plus, we can brainstorm the outcomes with each other. And send anything we discover through a raven,” Jules comments, crossing her arms.
“You will need protection,” Marcel adds. “Magic or not, you shouldn’t be traveling alone.”
My friends’ safety weighs me down along with their suggestions, and Beau is the only thing keeping me upright.
I struggle against him, frustrated and realizing how this might look to everyone.
But he holds me tighter, refusing to budge. “Rosebud,” Beau whispers, and I halt my fight, meeting his gaze.
Swirls of gold shimmer back, tenderness and affection seeping through. Being close stirs my love to the surface, my anger dissolving and drawing forth comfort, tranquility, peace.
And I want to melt into him, let him comfort me, console me, and reassure me.
As if he knows everything warring within me, he sends me two pulses, and I inhale a sharp breath.
My knees almost buckle, and I hate the emotion thickening in my throat from the gesture. I bite down on my lip, clenching my fists with restraint to keep from sending two squeezes back.
I miss him . So fucking much.
“You aren’t alone,” he says, loud enough to hear and to emphasize his point as he nudges me toward everyone.
Meeting Jean and Pierre, I worry they see beyond me, beyond Beau, and see what we had years ago.
But Pierre surprises me as he says, “Your friend is right, Vi. You should go, but you shouldn’t go alone.”
Jean clasps his husband’s shoulder. “As long as we keep in touch, it will all work out.”
“You know we will,” my sister replies.
“You two could never be separated for too long,” Jean adds.
Everyone snickers as Marian rolls her eyes. “We have spent plenty of time alone.”
“Yes, but you both are at your best when together,” Pierre says with rare amusement in his blue irises. “And your father would want it that way.”
My heart tightens at the mention of Papa. He had never been gone from our family for too long, and this time, being the longest, stirs a homesickness I can’t ease with the presence of only Marian, Jean, and Pierre.
Another gentle squeeze from Beau pulls me from my thoughts. I tilt my head to the King of Torgem, my friend, my love, my everything, and the ache smooths over a bit.
His soft smile consumes me, and his reassuring comfort nearly undoes me.
“Alright,” I concede. “But we need to leave immediately.”
Everyone agrees, walking toward Beau and me in a rush.
Beau moves us to the side, still holding me as they each pass by, Jules and Christine chuckling as Jean and Pierre nod to Beau. It’s as if they are thanking him.
But thanks for what? For dealing with me?
With everyone gone, I tell Beau, “You can let go of me now.”
His eyes flick to mine, his dimples coming on full display. “But what if I said I never wanted to?”
His words unravel me. How badly do I want that, too?
Desperately.
But no matter how much every fiber of my being wants that, I have to let him go.
I brush off his notion as meaningless, hating the acidic words leaving my mouth in retort. “Well, I want you to.”
The double meaning strikes him hard, shock sparking across his features, his hold loosening.
It leaves me feeling sick. The removal of his touch feels like ripping away the only bandage keeping me from bleeding out. The rush of stress, anxiety, and anger filter in, the smallest warmth of comfort snatched away.
Beau sweeps back with a bow, his voice honeyed and charming as his gaze still captures me. “Seems like I need to fix that.”
With a wink, he turns, giving me his gloriously sculpted backside and leaving me speechless. Sweet Makers, please give me strength.