Page 51 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Prince Stefan smiles viciously at Beau. “Too bad you have no authority in this kingdom.” He offers me his open hand.

I sidestep Beau, ignoring how he flinches, and find my sister with an indiscernible expression on her face. My palms sweat, and I rub them along my trousers, worrying about what could be wrong with her.

I take Prince Stefan’s hand. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

He turns us toward his home, scooting close to whisper, “Just Stefan. Remember?”

“Thank you, Stefan,” I breathe as we pass the threshold, leaving my friends and family with armed men at the ready.

The entryway of Northtry takes me by surprise, images from my childhood drawing up short compared to now.

Deep brown curved ceilings mold to the beige stone walls, archways opening to varying sections of the castle, and lanterns lining the columns supporting the structure.

Benches rest between each pillar, and the shimmering white tile floor brightens the atmosphere.

Stefan gestures to a seating area, sitting first and patting the spot beside him.

I take care not to sit too close, angling my body and keeping up my posture. I cannot predict if his flirtation is intentional or political, but I keep my guard up all the same and try to not dig myself any deeper with this man.

“So, what news does Belmur bring?” Stefan asks.

I cut to the point. “As you know, there is a virus spreading amongst the animals, and it is capable of infecting humans…”

He works his jaw, and I nervously fidget with my tunic before I continue, hoping he will understand my urgency. “Well, Marian got attacked and is fighting the infection, too.”

When I pause and look up, I half expect a slip of his demeanor at that revelation about my sister. But there’s nothing.

I thought they liked each other.

Maybe I was wrong.

Maybe Marian was wrong.

He remains quiet, a stone-coldness washing over him as I squeak through more of my reasons for arriving with friends. “And we are trying everything to find a cure, and we have a path, but we need supplies from the other kingdoms.”

“I see.”

“I’m looking for roseroot. It’s a succulent that only grows in Northtry. And I would really love it if I could get as much as you can give. We will need a lot to make a remedy and extra to test the right ratios of everything.”

“While I am not well-versed in plants, my sister is. Though I do know we have a lot of roseroot.” Stefan rubs the back of his neck. “I can send you with some for now, but we will need to work out logistics of larger amounts with my father.”

I beam. “That works. That’s perfect, actually. I can work with my advisors on what we can pay in exchange—”

His hand falls on mine, stopping me. “Our money is plentiful, much like the roseroot. But I am sure there is something worth trading between our kingdoms.” His eyes twinkle, and I half think he is implying something beyond materials to share with each other.

He rubs a thumb along my knuckles as if he knows my thoughts. As if he wants me to ask him to expand more on his meaning.

My skin flushes, and I carefully reject his touch, reaching to tuck a loose wave behind my ear. “Thank you. I will remember that when I mention the roseroot with them.”

Stefan remains unbothered as he glances at the marble staircase, deep in thought before his brown eyes meet mine again. “While I would love to have you join me and see more of my home, I’m afraid my sister doesn’t enjoy intruders in her study.”

“Yes,” I reply through a small chuckle. “I can relate. I am not fond of many in my alchemy room, either.”

Stefan graces me with a grin, and it emphasizes his sharp jawline.

His future wife will be in it for the long haul.

“All the same, I’ll escort you back out to wait with your companions while I speak with my sister and get what we can give you,” he says as he rises. “But then you must be on your way.”

I dip my chin, the two of us returning to the courtyard.

The doors inch open, daylight and the summer’s heat enveloping me as my friends look relieved by my return.

Stefan kisses my cheeks, sending a prickle of goose bumps down my spine. But heat radiates from where his soft-lipped kiss lingers, and I cup my face, surprised.

“What was that for?”

“For my own benefit.” He smirks. “Be right back.” Stefan bows before retreating, and my small smile grows.

But I turn to my friends wearing stern expressions and my sister’s brown eyes are blazing. Whether in anger, or hurt, or the infection, I’m not sure.

I quickly lower my hand, choosing to admire the pebbled ground, and stride to my steed.

Beau stalks toward me. “What was that?” he demands, bitterness slicing through his voice and clawing at my chest.

I pet my horse’s mane, my heart thrumming and reeling at having this conversation with prying eyes.

“I don’t know,” I mutter, unsure of Stefan’s motives.

“He kissed you,” Beau seethes, an envious, possessive storm clouding his senses and removing his judgment.

“He kissed my cheeks ,” I hiss. “It means nothing.”

“Then, why did you light up like the sun itself when he did it?”

I slump with annoyance at his jealousy—jealousy I’ve never seen before. And I hate the swirling in my mind telling me to direct the fury at Beau.

But this conversation is not something we should be having in the open.

I am constantly at war with how to protect myself, but now I am fighting to preserve our reputations.

I give him my full attention. “I lit up because he is a kind prince who is going to help me despite being unable to host us. I lit up because he is going to give me what I need to find a cure.”

But Beau’s anger still pierces through his eyes, his jaw clenching and muscles along his neck twitching.

I lean in, my next words driving my point. “I lit up because it was natural for me to do that in the presence of someone who finds me enjoyable.” My vexation slips. “ You , of all people, should know that.”

Surprise crosses his features, and I sigh through my dismay. “You shouldn’t even be doubting me.”

“Doubting you?” he chokes out.

“ Yes , doubting me,” I hiss. “We aren’t supposed to be exposing our feelings for each other around others.”

Beau exhales and scans the courtyard, and I leave him to sit with his emotions, unwilling to deal with him fussing over nothing. He’s never been jealous, let alone so angry in public.

Sweet Makers, the flares of tempers run in my family, not his.

I roll my eyes and approach Marian, needing to check on her and make sure she is okay from earlier and has no new symptoms.

Anxiety crawls forward every night, reminding me how the infection will worsen— she will worsen—despite Beau’s healing sessions treating symptoms as they come, not the sickness as a whole. It’s going to happen faster than I can anticipate, and it kills me to be useless.

Marian beams at Leo as they whisper to each other, her joy fracturing when I approach.

“Hey,” I say tentatively, reaching to pet her horse.

She remains quiet, and I wonder if she is upset. Even Leo doesn’t say anything. And the longer the silence stretches between us, the more I worry something is wrong.

I look up to ask her, but she finally speaks. “Are you and Prince Stefan involved?”

My mouth falls, and I stumble out. “I-I-Involved? No ! Why ever would we be involved?”

“You swear to Yeva?”

Rage simmers behind her voice.

I don’t understand why I can never catch a break. Everyone knows I can’t be with another royal. Marian could, but I can’t.

I touch her knee and squeeze it gently. “I swear to Yeva.”

She regards me suspiciously, her jaw working for a response as the doors to the keep open, the prince striding through with a large sack.

Stefan passes his guards without a care in the world, sauntering toward my sister and me.

Beau strides up, but I don’t give him my attention, trying to remain pleasant toward the prince.

He takes in Marian, and I don’t miss her straightening in her saddle.

“Stefan.” She inclines her head, and he breaks out into a full, gleeful grin.

I wonder if her breath stops like mine did. They could conquer the world if they courted.

“Marian,” he breathes, his voice emphasizing her name as if it were a prayer as he extends the large pouch to me.

“Thank you, Stefan.” I take it quickly, leaving to stuff it with my other packs.

“It is Northtry’s pleasure, Princess,” he says as he kisses my sister’s knuckles.

Deities, he is such a flirt.

“Will you still write me during your travels? I spoke with my staff to ensure no letter goes unreceived should it have your name on it,” he says to my sister.

“If you’d still like me to,” Marian replies.

“I will always want you to.”

Even my own stomach somersaults for my twin. I bite my lip, hiding my amusement.

But the happiness I have for Marian is cut short by Leo’s longing gaze. I’m surprised he doesn’t react, doesn’t say anything.

He simply stares .

Leo catches me, and he runs his hand through his hair, diverting my attention. Marcel, too, looks warily, along with Christine and Jules, like they all know Leo pines after Marian.

Beau tentatively approaches, his voice a hushed whisper. “I should’ve known he was making a spectacle of us all.”

My lip quirks. “I’m surprised you reacted as you did.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrug as I finish tying off the satchel. “I thought you would have known being a monarch comes with creating a spectacle.”

He huffs a vigorous laugh. “I definitely should’ve known better. But I saw him ogling you—”

I snort, crossing my arms and facing him. “And that gave you enough reason to draw your sword and get in his face?”

“Yes.”

My posture slackens, my soul warming at the notion. “ Beau —”

“I know I overreacted. I know we need the roseroot, and I am sorry I nearly screwed it up for Marian and you. And then you had to go smooth things over and then my mind started racing—”

I touch his arm, halting him from spiraling. “Hey.”

He takes a long inhale, shuddering before he rubs his jaw. The light behind his eyes dims, turning regretful as he sighs. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” I rub a small circle across his skin, the faint scent of pine and lemon cocooning me. “Everything is alright.”

“Everything?” he asks, glancing at our friends waiting for us.

Understanding his double meaning, I nod quickly, despite my own thoughts swirling over the upcoming days of travel. Another shift will happen on our way home, and I’m already dreading it, but I am hopeful I can see the esprit again.

Beau relaxes and helps me into my saddle, his hands squeezing my hips twice before he mounts his horse.

As I gather the reins, my eyes lock on Stefan still lingering in the courtyard.

His grin turns devilish. “Be careful in the shadows, Princess.”

I furrow my brows, an odd familiarity from such an ominous message. Trepidation clings to my bones as we exit, the gates closing with a loud thud.

I ask Beau, “What do you think he meant?”

A thin vein in his neck pulses as he swallows thickly, his uncertain expression matching mine.

“I’d rather not find out.”