Page 61 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Longing For Normalcy

T he roads brighten the closer we trek to Unterkirch’s castle. Scenic greenery is a welcome sight as we pass through Dutril, a light salt in the wind from the nearby harbor.

Even though we all savor a cool breeze in the summer heat, Marian’s exhaustion radiates beside me. And something else.

When I awoke this morning, her eyes flared at how close Beau and I were. And we were… close .

My movements jostled Beau, bewilderment in his features until he, too, saw Marian watching us. During the night, our bodies practically molded to each other, and her catching us so intertwined must have struck her with unease.

Or horror.

Or betrayal.

She then stormed around camp, packing her belongings without so much as acknowledging us further.

Beau and I didn’t even spare a chance to converse, both of us immediately putting distance between the other. It physically hurt to leave his warmth, but given my distress of how she’d take our relationship, I pushed that longing down.

I needed to be careful. We needed to be careful.

I hoped traveling beside her for the day rather than our friends would return her to her usual self, even with her reluctant agreement to healing and tea this morning.

Yet, she hasn’t said a word to me.

She even eviscerates Leo’s cheerful demeanor, ignoring him as he approaches.

“Do you think we will receive more of a welcome from them?” Leo flicks his eyes toward Marian, her shoulder-length tresses masking her features.

I ignore his piercing worry. “Queen Verena can be intimidating, but I’d like to believe her letter meant we’d get a better welcome than in Northtry.”

“Don’t blame Stefan for sticking to his kingdom’s customs when visitors are involved,” Marian snaps.

I rear back. “I-I-I-I’m not trying to blame anyone.”

Leo chuckles, distracting my sister. “Vi, that was a poor joke. I thought you’d be wittier than that?”

I play along, appreciating his attempt at diffusing her brimming irritability. “You know me, trying to save my best material for making jabs at you.”

“Sure.” He scoffs and winks at my sister before clicking his tongue and trotting toward Marcel and his brother.

I slow my steed, trying to nudge Marian to do the same. But Marian whirls on me, scorn and fury blazing through her stiffened posture.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” she seethes with venom.

“Marian, I was trying—”

“You were trying to kick me off my horse and leave me to die!”

Everyone’s attention darts back, my heart hammering with worry and embarrassment while I seek to soothe her discontent.

I touch my chest, wanting to understand where her mind is trying to take her. Could this be because of this morning? The infection?

“Why would I ever do that to my sister?” I ask softly.

“Because I want you to be left behind and die!”

Coldness pierces through me, and someone shouts my name.

But it’s too late.

Marian pushes me with force. Her rage-filled eyes bore into mine as I lose my seating, yanking the reins down to prevent my fall.

My horse jerks, and I brace for it to run, the anticipation throwing me off as I land.

The air leaves my lungs.

Searing pain ripples through my skull from the impact, and my eyes brim with black around the edges. I blink, unable to find words, my body and Marian’s actions freezing me into shock.

My heart severs from my chest, my breath stilted.

She… wants me to die ?

I lie there through raised voices and someone grumbling, not knowing what to do.

Marian screams, “Let me go!”

Attempting to clear my vision or to move, I come up short when figures hover above me. Jules, Christine, and Marcel.

“Vi!” Panic strains Jules’s voice, but all I focus on is my sister’s struggling grunts as she repeats wanting to be left alone.

“Marian, we’re trying to help. Let me check on you. It could be another symptom,” a voice says.

Beau .

The infection did this.

Sweet Makers, I need to make sure she is alright. But my head roars in agony with the faintest of movement, and I wince.

“It’s okay. It’s okay, Marian,” Leo repeats.

Deities, I hope she will listen to him.

Jules runs a hand over my face, her voice directing my attention. “Are you in any pain? Can you speak? Blink once if you can’t.”

I blink rapidly and swallow the dryness in my throat.

“Is… Is Marian alright?” I croak.

Christine answers. “Beau is healing her as we speak.”

Relief explodes through me, guiding my heart back into my chest.

If he wasn’t here, I would’ve lost Marian long ago. And who knows if I would’ve been strong enough to watch her fall apart.

She’s still here, Vi. You still have time.

I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing down the ever-growing visceral fear and clasping on to our plans.

Get to Unterkirch.

Find the seer and get answers.

Shift at will and create a cure. Save Marian.

Save Marian .

Save Marian.

Save Marian —

“Where does it hurt?” Marcel asks.

I jolt my eyes open, the brutal rush of my thoughts quieting as my friend’s deep umber irises survey me. A muscle in Marcel’s jaw flexes, his expression blanching the longer I don’t reply.

“My… my head and my back,” I rasp, and he relaxes a fraction. “I’ll be fine. I just need a moment.” I try jostling to a better position—

Christine halts me. “Please don’t move. Let Beau have a look at you.”

“No,” I grit out, refusing to let him waste his power on me. “He needs to help Marian more than me right now.”

Jules pushes against my shoulder, while she and her partners keep me from moving. “You fell off your horse. Your injuries could be just as bad, if not worse.”

“I fell?”

Shit, the effort of moving my gaze stings.

“No,” Marcel says, and my vision spins. “Marian pushed you off. You two were arguing.”

The growing torture makes their faces blur and blob together, and I squint, trying to focus. “She… she hadn’t said a word to me at all today, and when I tried to talk to her, she just… reacted .”

“Oh, Vi.” Christine brushes my red waves back, her touch gentle and cool.

“The virus must be getting worse for her to react with her anger. It’s—awful,” Jules says, lowering her eyes.

“What matters is she seems alright.” Marcel glances toward my sister, Beau, and Leo before turning back. “Beau’s going to check you over now.”

Christine squeezes me before the three of them pull away, and my vision fills with my own personal space—my sunshine .

My lips lift at the fuzzy Beau, and I blink a few times, clarity returning and granting me a blessing to soak up his features.

Yet Beau’s stricken expression darkens my elation.

I can’t have him using all his magic on me. Not if Marian’s infection is worsening. What will this mean for trying to get him to help me with shifting?

Deities, am I going to have to experience that alone now, too? All for the sake of his energy fully engaged in buying Marian more time?

“Rosebud,” he says, voice strained.

I gulp and fight against showing how much pain I’m truly in. “I’m okay.”

He shakes his head. “You are far from alright, my love.”

His hands illuminate, and I move in protest, but the soothing caress of his power eases the pain in my skull. Beau’s magic feels like his fingertips, caressing and trailing down every nerve, every muscle, while treating me.

“You have a broken rib and a serious head injury,” Beau says, his honeyed voice a balm, even as he lectures me. “I’m surprised you’re not bleeding.”

“Mmmhmm,” I hum as my coherence returns. “But don’t waste all your energy on me. You need to save it for—”

“Marian’s fine. A little shaken over what she did, but she is stable now.”

Leo hovers above his brother, skeptical. “You alright, Vi?”

I swallow thickly, wishing I could move, but my body is so heavy. “I think so.”

Leo nods, leaving as Beau recalls his power.

“You’ll be sore for a bit, but your rib’s no longer broken, and you can breathe without sharpness. Your head, however, is another story.” Beau cradles my head as he eases me up, allowing me room and time to unwind. “How’s your vision?”

The motions leave me reeling, and I curl into Beau, too afraid to budge. If I move too fast, I might miss something.

“It’s… there.”

A half-truth.

“Do you feel dizzy at all? I am not sure if I did enough. I can do—”

I grip his tunic. “No.”

I can’t jeopardize Marian getting worse because he chose to treat my injury. “I’m fine.”

A tinge of frustration sparks behind his irises, his body tensing like he wants to argue.

“Vi?” Marian’s voice calls.

I whirl, immediately regretting it as the world shifts, sweeping out from under me. I grimace, pausing and gathering my bearings.

Beau doesn’t release me as Marian lowers.

“I am so sorry!” Her features pinch with remorse. The warmth in her complexion is dull, covered in splotches of pink. “I-I didn’t mean—”

“It’s alright. It wasn’t you.”

She sniffs in a daze. “B-But—”

I take her hand and squeeze twice, my voice tight. “The infection is getting worse.”

Her lip quivers, the brave face she fights to keep in place slipping. She struggles, trying to contain her emotions and actions.

But I can see how much she is crumbling—how much her internal battle against the virus withers and breaks down her very soul. Despite the desolation ravaging my heart, I will remain vigilant for both of us.

I send a double pulse her way, reminding her how much I love her and hoping it will also translate to I don’t blame you , and You aren’t alone .

Beau looks up, taking in the time of day. “Let’s hurry and get to Unterkirch. Alright everyone?”

“Works for me. I’m fucking sweating over here,” Leo says, and our friends agree.

Everyone returns to their horses, snickering, save for Beau, Marian, and me.

Marian’s eyes hold mine. “Are you—”

“I’m okay.” I rise with all my strength, but the solid ground beneath me flips.

Hands catch me, bracing me upright.

“No, she’s not,” Beau says, and I grumble. He clenches his jaw. “You still have head trauma. It’s too serious for my ability to fix right now. I don’t want you riding alone.”

“But what about my horse?” I ask.