Page 59 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

The Curse

I n the blink of an eye, the soul is gone, leaving me and my mind discombobulated.

I press my hand on the alcove, waves of hysteria clamping down, and surging up my tightening throat. My thoughts run wild.

A seer.

My mother .

Beau.

My powers.

A curse .

Grief, naivety, and years of torturous pain thrash within, and my knees give out.

I crumble, unbothered by the stones scraping my skin.

Rage —pure rage—I’ve fought to control and not spew to others directs its full attention on me. It erupts in my veins, warmer than any summer day, any fire capable of burning someone for getting too close.

Shrinking inward, I let it consume me, a defeated scream bouncing off the enclosed space as my nails pierce into my palms, wishing there was somewhere I could expel this anger .

Anger at myself. For not seeing—not even considering all the options.

“Stupid!” I hiss and grit my teeth as fury boils in my blood. “I’m so fucking stupid!” I roar, not even batting an eye as hot tears run down my cheeks.

This entire time, I’ve been cursing myself without even realizing it. Believed this crippling pain to be the natural consequence of shifting. But this recent shift was the most brutal of them all, and to think if Beau wasn’t with me to use his gifts…

Would I have been okay?

What if this was the final time I could be human?

What would have happened to Marian? To the virus? To our people?

Bile churns in my stomach. The destruction I could have brought to my kingdom all because I never once considered embracing my gifts. My chest caves in, hollowing into a chasm of my own Oblivion.

I bury my face in my hands, unable to process the unfathomable events and repercussions of my actions. My heartbeat reverberates in my ears, my breath too far to reach.

I try to force my panic to leave my system just so I can gain some semblance of control.

Control, Vi. You need to get a hold of yourself.

I push every emotional thought down, needing to focus and stop shaking.

But the weight—the failure —bashes back, pounding and striking me with haunting images drenched with red. With blood .

So. Much. Blood.

I grasp for air, struggling as memories and lifeless eyes flash in my mind.

I hate falling into this place of uncertainty. Uncertainty with myself, my thoughts, my feelings.

I can’t fucking breathe.

Heat presses into my back, startling me. “Come here, Rosebud.”

A grumble vibrates in my throat, and I ignore Beau, needing to gather myself.

But Beau has none of it. He snakes his arms around my trembling body, his legs stretching across my sides. “Let me hold you, my love.”

His words strip me bare, removing all my fight, as he guides my back against his chest.

I’m barricaded, vulnerable and utterly enveloped by him and his love.

He murmurs, “Let it out. Let it all out.”

I surrender my control, clinging to him as my screams unravel.

Shudders and sorrows draw out each harrowing shriek, and Beau does not move.

He does not budge. Or wince. Or react.

He just… holds me. A balm keeping me together as inconsolable fear, stress, grief, and trauma seep out from the cage I’ve kept a lock on for so long.

Angling toward him, I grip his tunic and nuzzle into his chest, inhaling the sweet citrus scent.

He cradles me, his love encircling me as my emotions bottom out and my tears stop.

Time drifts before the wrath and the despondence in my bones ebb, my shaking limbs slowly relaxing.

Beau’s steady presence remains immovable, an unwavering resilience cocooning me. He plays with my waves, his lips occasionally pressing into my scalp.

When my screams quiet and my breathing evens, he finally speaks.

“I’ve always known you prefer to keep things bottled up for long periods of time. And I’ve always known you are stubborn and determined to carry the weight of your burdens all on your own. But Vi”—he finds my chin, tilting it up to meet his gaze—“you are the farthest thing from stupid.”

“Beau—”

His grip tightens. “You are one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.

And you want to know why? It’s because you’re stubborn and determined.

Stubborn to learn everything. Determined to grow.

” His thumb caresses my jaw. “But learning and growing don’t only come from knowledge you can pull from a book.

They come from watching, from observing, and from making mistakes.

And they come from sharing your burdens, relying on others and trusting them to help you, too.

Those are all elements that help us learn. Help us grow.”

The corner of his lip lifts. “And I know you already know everything I am telling you, but your stubbornness needs the reminder.”

I roll my eyes, unable to hide my small snort from his quip.

Beau kisses me before whispering. “Look, we know a mistake has been made, so we will learn. We will grow. And we will help each other.”

But his comforting words don’t relinquish the hesitation clinging to me. He’s asking me to share another burden with him when he’s already helping me buy time to save my sister and help me create a remedy for the infection.

“Are you—” I clear my throat. “Are you sure you even want to help me with this?”

“I will always want to help you, Rosebud,” Beau says, his voice filled with tenderness. “You are a part of me as much as I am of you. Nothing will ever change that.”

My stomach flips, my heart and soul soaring from his unwavering support and steadfast love. A blush creeps under the surface of my cheeks, and I smile crookedly when he brushes his nose along mine.

“So…”

His dimples appear and undo me.

“So what?”

“When do you want to start?” Beau asks. “Before or after Unterkirch?”

Right. Shifting again at will. And going to Unterkirch.

“I-I-I don’t know.” The phantom pain taunts me, and I shudder. I close my eyes, wanting to nullify the sensation.

“Hey,” Beau says, pulling my attention back, “I’ll be there. You won’t be alone.”

“But you still need to use your gifts to help Marian—”

“I know my limits, and I can promise you I’ll be able to help you and your sister.” He stands and extends a hand. “Now, are you ready to tell the others the new plan?”

I glance at his outstretched palm, worry creeping up my spine. Worry they won’t want to go to Unterkirch, worry they’ll see me in my bear form. Yet they haven’t balked at the knowledge of that.

I mean, they could always run away when they see what a hideous beast you are, Vi.

I dismiss the thought, still uneasy about how our extended trip would delay finding a cure. But we still need the lavender. And the soul said we needed to seek out a seer.

Maybe there is more we need beyond the plants—beyond what the esprit knows.

With my mind made up, I take Beau’s hand and rise. “We’ll definitely need to explain our way around my lack of clothing.”

“We could always tell them the truth about us,” Beau suggests, and I shake my head.

“I don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information.”

We both exit the small cave, Beau guiding me toward camp as I add, “That, and I don’t know how they’d all react.”

“You’re worried what Marian will think?”

I shrug. “She knows you and I have always been close, but I’ve never told her anything about us . And if I were to tell her everything, she’d be heartbroken I kept it from her for so long. What about you? Have you told anyone about us?”

“I haven’t because we agreed not to. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to tell them.”

I understand his hope of sharing something so special between us with our loved ones. But with my future hanging over me, I don’t want to spoil it before they’ve even had a chance to see us.

I don’t want to spoil the connection Beau and I have found again.

But I’ll have to when this all comes to an end.

Beau’s cloak is barely enough to keep me covered, and I nervously look down, trying to tug it into place.

“Here, take this,” Beau says without hesitation, stopping and removing his pack and weapons.

“What are you—” My mouth falls when he removes his tunic, his sculpted muscles on full display as he gives me his shirt.

“I should have offered it sooner. It should be long enough to cover you until we reach camp.”

My eyes rake over his body, craving and itching to kiss my way down his torso.

I want to trace every ridge of his ribs. To nibble along the waistband of his trousers and sink to my knees. I want to grip his ass as he thrusts his cock against the back of my throat, and revel in the small sting of pain of him threading his fingers through my tresses and pulling.

Desire simmers beneath my skin at my dark thoughts, and I lick my lips. I need him to act out the words he teased me with on our first watch together. And I need to act out my carnal urges.

Restrain yourself, Vi. You have other shit you should be prioritizing.

I wish we could have more time.

I inhale a slow breath, clearing my mind before taking his tunic and rubbing the fabric. “Turn around.”

His lip quirks up. “You know I can and have already seen—”

“I know what you’ve already seen.” I tuck the shirt to my chest, needing to remove all temptation for both of us. “Doesn’t mean I want you gawking while I dress.”

“But what if I like gawking?” He winks.

“That’s beside the point.”

“Why?” He wiggles his brows with mischief. “Afraid I’ll immediately undress you and fulfill what you mentioned before a little flame decided to appear?”

It takes everything in me not to react to the vivid image painted in my mind.

“N-No,” I say in a clipped tone.

Beau smirks. “You are such a tease.” He turns, catering to my demands.

Quickly, I pull off the cloak and put on Beau’s tunic, taking a moment to sniff and enjoy his scent clinging to the fabric. His shirt ghosts up the middle of my upper thigh and only when I put the frock on do I traipse toward him.

“Thank you,” I say as we resume our steps, the quiet chatter of our friends growing louder the closer we get.

“It’s my pleasure,” he whispers before he reaches and separates the bushes for me to walk through. “Always.”