Page 56 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Training While Traveling

T hump.

Marian beams with satisfaction at the arrow wedged deep in the tree stump.

I rest against a fallen tree log as Leo steps forward, holding a dagger. Crossing my arms, I study their interaction, amused by their evident flirtation with one another.

But Leo catches me staring, and his cheeks redden. I stifle my laugh as Marian conceals her own amusement.

Leo rolls his eyes, sweeping back his golden-blond locks before taking his throwing stance.

The two have been at this for a short while, seeing who can hit the center most.

Leo launches his blade, and it meets the tree, close to Marian’s. He squares his shoulders as I applaud.

He offers me a subtle bow, and Marian scowls. “Why don’t you try it, Vi?”

“Yes! Let’s see what you can do!” Leo chimes in.

“You both know I’m not as skilled as either of you.”

“Oh, come on!” Marian steps up to the tree, pulling her arrow and Leo’s dagger out. “Practicing never hurt anyone. Besides, what else are you supposed to do with your time?” She gives Leo his weapon and offers me hers.

Her smile is one I am grateful for, especially as she’s directed so much anger toward me as of late.

I know it’s a symptom of the infection, but it hurts for her to despise me one moment and love me the next. It makes me second-guess her treatment, and I glance at our campsite where Jules and Christine set up our blankets as we wait for Beau and Marcel to return from hunting for a meal.

The closest village, Corotos, did not have lodgings available, which was disappointing given Beau and I had not had another private moment since leaving Goldenbeck a few days ago.

But at least I was able to gather ingredients for the contraceptive brew the morning we left and restock my supply when we stopped in Corotos.

I smile at having stock with me for future occasions with Beau.

And yet my amusement is short-lived. Marcel received more grave news from his father, Veryon, and the rumors about Unterkirch grow the closer we draw toward the border.

“Maybe you need someone else to teach you,” Leo says, pulling me from my thoughts.

Marian angles her head. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I rear back at her snarky challenge, Leo even shocked and lifting his hands in surrender.

“Nothing! I swear. It has nothing to do with your teaching abilities. Only Vi’s learning abilities.”

But my sister’s eyes flick to mine with mischief, and I smirk before whirling on Leo. “Are you implying I’m not smart enough to know how to throw a dagger or aim an arrow?”

Marian rests her hands on her hips, and I stand, mimicking her actions.

Leo chokes out a laugh.

“Oh no, what did you do?” Marcel asks, carrying a handful of firewood.

I look beyond him, not seeing Beau.

Did he go off on his own?

Worry prickles up my spine, a swirl of magic pulsing to the pain tugging at my heart. Slowly, I breathe, hating the warning my power gives of its impending timeline. I send a prayer to the Makers to give me enough time tonight to sneak away from the others to cater to the whims of my gifts.

“I did nothing. I swear.” Leo gestures his blade wildly in defense.

“Liar,” Jules and Christine say in unison, laughing when Christine’s blonde curls blow in front of Jules’s face.

They help each other as Marcel lowers the dry branches.

“He implied I am a bad teacher and Vi is not capable of learning,” Marian explains.

Christine spins to her brother. “Clearly, you’ve forgotten how you failed to teach me to ride a horse and took forever to learn how to read.”

Leo tenses, and his cheeks deepen into a red darker than my wavy tresses as we struggle to suppress our laughs. “You were too short at the time to ride a horse. And who even told you it took me forever to read? You weren’t born yet!”

“I was there, though,” Beau’s smooth voice sings into the conversation, and my heart somersaults with relief.

His golden irises, always matching the sun, steal my breath as he comes into view, carrying a few rabbits.

My stomach churns as Leo waves off his brother.

“I’m going to get some more firewood,” he grumbles, storming off into the forest.

“I’ve already got plenty!” Marcel gestures to the small fire, Jules and Christine bursting into a fit of giggles.

Beau grins, his eyes scanning everyone’s and lingering on me as Marcel stands to help him with our dinner.

I’m queasy at the sight and look away, needing to think of something else.

Marian nudges me. “Are you hungry?”

I lick my lips, trying to not dry heave all over the ground, and take a long breath before nodding.

“Vi?” Marian whispers, her tone lowering and shifting into seriousness. “Do you think… Do you think this is all worth doing? Trying to find a cure?”

I turn. “Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I-I…” she sighs, somberness taking over her expression.

My heart plummets, hiding in a cave so dark from the fracturing of her spirit. The unease and the fear of where she is going with this makes my power thrum once more. I ignore it, taking her hand and squeezing twice.

But she doesn’t react to my touch, rather she sags, her eyes downcast.

My friends observe us, awareness and concern flashing across their features. Jules angles her chin toward Beau, but I shake my head, telling her no.

My two friends exchange a look before returning to their conversation.

I scout where my sister and I can have a private discussion. But as I guide her from the others, her demeanor darkens. Her energy shifts so much it’s as if torment clings to her every step, creeping up her body and leeching her dry of any happiness.

I refuse to let this infection ruin her.

I send double pulses her way, aware of her sniffles growing and becoming more frequent.

Only when the scent of burning wood dwindles do I ease her onto a fallen log. She barely sits before tremors take control and she covers her face, finally breaking apart.

Anguish stabs me in the gut, twisting and angling up to my heart, ripping my insides to shreds as my sister’s brave fight is unmasked.

She hardly ever cries, but anytime she does, it undoes me.

I hate watching something affect her in such a way to keep her from shining so brightly. And sitting beside her, I hate my helplessness, wishing there was more I could do besides comfort her.

“Vi,” Marian chokes through her sobs. “I-I-I don’t have anything to live for. Why go through all of this for me?”

Her voice cracks as her sorrow-filled eyes meet mine, drawing forth tears of my own.

I blink them away, fighting to be strong. “Hey, hey, now.” I take her hands in mine as she hyperventilates. “Don’t say things like that.”

“But I should! I have to! I don’t have anyone like they do,” she says, gesturing toward our friends.

I frown. “Yes, you do. You have me. You’ll always have me.”

She sniffs, her lips wobbling.

Dammit, her defeated gaze crushes me. How long has she been keeping this in? How long has she tried to be in good spirits while fighting the virus?

Deities, why must you cast so much suffering on us?

I push down my dark thoughts, refusing to believe I cannot fix this. I will fix this.

Dragging her into my arms, I lean into hope, praying to the Makers to help me and my sister get through this. “You have so much to live for. You have our friends, our family, our people.”

“You mean your people,” she snaps, wiggling from my embrace. “ Your people .”

“Marian,” I sigh, seeking to comfort her. “You are a Princess of Belmur. They are your people as much as they are mine. The people love you, and we love our people, too. That is why we are doing this. We are doing this for you and for the people. We are finding a remedy and helping everyone.”

She sniffs again, rubbing her nose.

I brace her by the shoulders, steering into more lighthearted conversation. “Don’t be getting all sad on me. You know I’m not good at this positivity thing.”

She snorts. “Vi, you are good at many things.”

“As are you.” I squeeze her twice, wanting and needing her to hear the words as well. “Love you.”

“Love you,” she whispers, and I pull her into a hug.

“Good. Now, we better hurry back before the men eat all the food.”

“True, they can eat like animals,” she replies as we break apart and stand.

“I know, right? I don’t care that they do—I just wish I didn’t have to hear every single moan and grunt.”

Marian cackles, her laughter echoing. Then my sister sighs, looping my arm around hers. “Sweet Makers, I love you.”

Trees guide the breeze, cooling the rising temperature as Marian and I stroll back to our friends. The smoke fills my nostrils before the light chatter leads us in the right direction, and when Beau’s eyes find mine, his dimples appear.

Christine and Jules immediately beam, Marcel dipping his chin in greeting. Leo pats his blanket, a soft tenderness smoothing away his annoyance from our earlier taunts.

Marian shrinks into herself before joining him. She sits beside him, and a slow smile stretches across Leo’s face, making my heart constrict.

Gratitude for his steady support of my sister funnels in, enveloping me.

We are so unbelievably lucky for this time together.

“Are you not hungry?” Beau asks, and I startle, my cheeks flushing.

“Oh, I am.”

As I approach, I let my hair conceal my blush, aware of the only vacant spot beside Beau. I try my best to mask my delight at being near him as I make myself comfortable.

Beau shifts, moving closer so our knees brush as Marcel hands each of us a portion of food. Beau glances sidelong at me as we eat, my stomach flipping from the smallest of touches linking us together.

We dive into lengthy discussions of portion amounts we will need to test and finalize once we get all the plants from each kingdom.

Christine pulls a pen and parchment from Marcel’s bags, jotting down notes as Jules, Beau, and I bounce ideas off one another.

“I think Palaena’s plant would be chanterelles,” Jules comments.

We all arch a brow, and she wiggles, adjusting her position. “Some texts I read said chanterelles were in Axidoria, but I remember seeing them in Palaena whenever I’d visit my grandmother’s dress store.”

Leo says, “But that means it’s not local to—”

“Axidoria and Palaena are merged, which makes them one territory now,” Jules interjects, scowling at Leo’s interruption. “Which means something in both old borders now would count. Right?”

I bite my lip, contemplating whether we should have plants from the six original kingdoms or from the new five.

Magic flutters in my chest, and I press a hand over my sternum, rubbing the pain buckling down, demanding its release.

“I think you might be onto something,” Beau says.

I want to convey my agreement, but tension coils in my muscles, pulsing. And the horror and fear of everyone seeing me in such a state rises, fueling my power forth.

I can’t let them see. The pain. The shift. I-I can’t .

Words filter through my mind as my sister’s gaze finds mine.

I angle my head toward the woods, dusk approaching soon.

Help me , I try to express.

Another strike of magic hits my center, and I flinch.

Marian’s eyes widen. “Hey, Vi, can I talk to you in private?”

I fail to hide my souring expression as I rise. “Of course,” I wheeze when a spasm breaks out in my calf.

She rushes to me, and I dismiss Beau stiffening.

Marian forces a tight smile and addresses our friends. “We’ll be right back.”

Beau eases upright, disregarding my sister’s comment and staying focused on me. “What’s wrong?”

My soul wants to tether—to seek comfort, but my magic grows more violent the longer I delay.

I try to soften my features to remove the worry wrinkling his face, but all I can do is shake my head, praying he will listen—will understand.

I don’t wait for a reaction or response from Beau as I tug Marian with me, the foliage barely covering us before I break into a run. Tree branches hover near my line of vision, and I dodge each one. The anticipating rush of power surges through my veins, pushing me farther from my friends.

Come on, Vi. You need to get far enough away.

“Vi,” she cautions. “We can’t get too far from the campsite.”

I try to tell her I don’t care, but an eruption of pain gushes to my wrist.

Yelping in agony, I clutch my broken arm to my chest, losing my footing when a spurt of power surges down my legs.

“Vi!” Marian shouts, trying to catch me.

She misses, and I meet the damp ground, a sting radiating up my thigh, making it twitch uncontrollably.

“ Marian ,” I gasp.

But it’s too late.

The torture is beginning.

The control I fight to keep is already slipping away.

She hurries to my side, her hands cold against my blazing skin. “I’m here, Vi. I’m here,” she soothes as my toes break at once.

I bite my tongue to muffle my pain, and I taste my own blood. The copper mixes with my saliva, and my senses amplify.

SNAP .

My body contorts.

POP .

Bit by bit.

CRACK.

Fissure by fissure.

Excruciating power takes over, and I scream.

My vision blurs as I beg through strained gasps, “You have to leave me now. Before it gets worse.”

“I’m not leaving you—”

“LEAVE ME!” I growl, flashing my teeth.

She lurches, clutching her tunic and scrambling upright.

Searing pain ripples up my spine, burning up my scalp as my cries shift into bellows. I hate how I call after her as she stumbles away and am met with my magic shredding me apart.

No matter how hard I fight, I fucking fail.

Bones break.

Nerves flare.

My muscles stretch past what’s safe—past the point of tearing.

Excruciation courses through my ruined body, power weighing me down, vibrating and raging.

I weakly glance up, a light flickering— struggling . My magic, too, sucks the brightness away from the world and from myself.

Yet as another burst of roars leaves my torn, bloody lips, I can’t help but wonder if it was the sun setting or Beau coming to find me.

A lethal fury thrashes in my soul, a territorial beast surging forth.

So commanding. So possessive .

The overwhelming authority of power takes over my mind—the last piece of myself I fight to hold on to. But my control is yanked out from under me, my skull cracking and the light going out.