Page 64 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Never Once

T he sunset reflects off the wide glass windows surrounding the front of Unterkirch’s castle. Layered bricks vary in shades of gray, the darkest hues closest to the roofing and turrets with tall pointed spires. Lavender brushes against the perimeter of the courtyard lined with soldiers.

I brace for another harsh welcome.

“Don’t worry, it’s all for show.” Beau’s lips meet my brow, and I wish the sharpness prodding in my skull would cease.

We come to a full stop when the large doors open, Queen Verena and her daughter, Princess Sybille, leading a group forward to greet us.

I square my shoulders, my surroundings spinning as pain lacerates my head. As I slump forward, a hand catches my forehead.

“Vi,” Leo gasps as Beau tightens his hold.

My vision dims as a light, youthful voice chimes, “Come inside. We have plenty of rooms. We’ll have our healers look over the princess.”

“I’d like to watch over her myself and save your healers the trouble while they’ve done so much already with the infection.”

Beau’s voice is still recognizable through the fog clouding my senses.

“Of course,” a feminine voice replies. “It must be an honor for you to have such a gift from the Makers.”

“Yes, since news of the virus reached me, it felt pertinent to be open about my abilities. I’m glad you received our correspondence about it as well and have graciously welcomed us into your…”

The conversation drifts, continuing without me, and I can’t help but close my eyes.

Warmth envelops me, hugging my entire being, parting briefly when a cooler support cushions the left side of my body.

I lean into the solidity of it, steady and firm, as a sweet essence dances and numbs the pain.

Light twinkles against my closed eyelids, calm and reassuring. It soothes my pinched features, relief washing over me as the searing torment of my skull abates.

My eyes flutter open to Beau’s golden irises, simmering with longing and benevolence. His dimples make an appearance, and my insides turn to mush.

It’s then I take in the large bedchamber. Soft tones of purple, pink, and orange brighten the area surrounded by stone. The sheets, blankets, lounge chairs, and chaise are smothered in pastels, leveling out the darkness drawn in by the wooden table and dressers.

“I knew you’d be alright!” Princess Sybille claps with glee as her mother, Queen Verena, guides her back.

The two women share the same deep olive complexion as well as long, straight raven locks, accentuating their oval facial shape and emphasizing their high cheekbones. Princess Sybille’s brown doe eyes observe me with curiosity, whereas her mother’s silver-gray gaze scans me before addressing me.

“Princess Vivienne, I am not sure if you remember me.”

“I do, Your Majesty.” I dip my chin, recalling the brief introduction we exchanged in Axidoria when Queen Tove was looking for a husband. “Though it was a while ago.”

She remains impassive and stoic but keeps her voice soft. “Be that as it may, I appreciate your correspondence as well as the journey you made to see our healers to exchange information about the virus. However, it pains me to see you suffered an injury on your way.”

“I hope it isn’t too much to ask if we might stay a little longer to ensure her enough time to recover before we resume our trip,” Beau says, guiding the queen’s attention to him.

She regards him before her lips lift. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“That way, we can give you a full tour of the castle!” Princess Sybille chimes, and I peer over, my heart stuttering on my sister and friends grimacing.

A sputtered rasp leaves Marian, and I reach for my twin, hating to see her at war with herself. But she doesn’t move right away, and Leo comes to her side, walking her to me.

I take her hand in mine and squeeze twice as she sinks to her knees.

She shudders and braces against the bed, tremors rocking through her. “Vi,” she chokes out, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

Her feelings, her emotions, and her body are being gnawed apart from the infection, and I know she is losing control of herself.

I squeeze her hand again, wanting to— needing to save her.

“You’re alright, too. And what’s even better is we are together.” I attempt to fill the supportive role she has always done.

Trying to move, I’m attacked by the searing pain returning with force, an eruption of pulses running down my spine. I hiss, letting go of Marian to apply pressure.

Hands other than my own cover me in a flash, a small flicker of light encapsulating me and ebbing the torture away.

My eyes find Beau’s, and concern grips my heart at his lackluster smile.

Exhaustion sags his shoulders, dishevels his hair and keeps his dimples from appearing. Keeps his radiance from filling the room and my soul.

Deities, he pushed himself and his gifts too much today. And he still needs to treat my sister.

“It’s been a long day for everyone,” Beau sighs, leaning back. “I suggest we take the remainder of the night to relax and rest.” He looks to Queen Verena. “Again, we are truly grateful for your hospitality during such a stressful time for Draymenk.”

“Belmur and Torgem would do the same for us,” she responds, guiding herself and her daughter to the door. “We’ll let your travel party tend to themselves. All guards and staff members are aware of your stay, and should you need anything, feel free to let them know.”

Princess Sybille lowers into a curtsy, and her mother hovers at the threshold, her hand on the door latch. “We can reconvene, and you can meet with the healers when you all have recovered.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I say as the Queen and Princess of Unterkirch leaves without another word.

Beau turns to my sister. “I’ll watch over Vi so you can catch up on rest.”

“I don’t want to leave her.”

“You’re only going to be sleeping in another room,” I tell her, and she grunts.

“It’ll be fine,” Jules says as she comes up. “Beau’s the best one here capable of looking over Vi.”

Guilt and remorse flash across Marian’s features. She is losing control, and I know she wants to hold on to something.

But Jules is right. There isn’t much she can do for me.

Marian arches a brow. “You’ll tell me if there is anything wrong?”

“Of course,” Beau answers.

“Fine,” she grumbles and points at him. “But you better believe I’ll be checking in on her.”

I huff a laugh, and Christine adds, “We all will be checking on Vi.”

“Not me,” Leo says, and Marcel nudges him when Marian whirls on him. He scowls at his friend before sighing. “Okay, fine. Maybe I’ll check in too. But right now, I have a bath and large bed calling my name.”

Leo saunters for the door, opening it and gesturing to the rest of us. “Anyone else coming?”

Christine loops her arm around Marcel’s and extends her other toward Jules, who glances back before joining her partners and leaving.

Marian takes my hand, giving it two quick pulses of love before meeting up with Leo.

He offers her his elbow, and she takes it begrudgingly. The two bid us good night, leaving Beau and me alone to their footsteps filling the silence stretching between us.

A moment passes before he scoots close and holds my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “As much as I want to kiss you, I’d hate myself for hurting you even more.”

“I feel fine.” I guide his lips to mine.

“Liar,” he chuckles against my mouth, and when I deepen the kiss, he groans. “So eager.”

“For you, always.”

He sighs, pulling away. “Believe me, I want to keep kissing you.”

“Then, why are you still talking?”

He rocks his head back, bursting into a fit of laughter.

I can’t help my own smirk appearing, nor can I stop the fluttering of my heart and the quickening of my pulse.

His golden irises find mine when his amusement quiets. “As badly as we both want that, I don’t want to do anything to worsen your condition. And I can’t see how bad your injury is until the morning.”

“If that was the case, why did you insist on staying with me?”

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them.” His sinfully handsome expression makes my insides clench with need.

“Besides, this is the first time in a while we’ll have some alone time, and selfishly, I want you all to myself,” he adds before kissing my forehead.

“And we now have an excuse to stay here longer than we intended.”

I gape. “We—we can’t stay here forever. We have to—”

He silences me with his mouth, and I hum with delight.

He murmurs along my lips, “We won’t stay here longer than necessary. But you need to be well before we travel.”

“But you said to stay here longer than—”

“Give me an extra day or two.” He leans back in, kissing me softly— tenderly —and I can’t help but melt into it.

I fist his tunic and pull him closer. My want and desire drive madness in my mind and steal all sense.

I am utterly doomed by this man.

Beau pulls away, his devoted gaze holding me and my soul captive as he whispers, “I want to be in the same room as you. To be in the same bed as you. To sleep beside you and hold you after we fuck each other senseless. An extra day or two to not sneak away—not hide our true feelings from the world. An extra day or two to be here with you while you recover.”

My heart thrums, wanting to crawl out of my body and latch onto him, its true home. “I want all of those things too, Beau, but…”

I think of my sister, the infection, the time still needed to create the right dosage for a remedy, and the promise I made about finding a husband.

A husband who won’t be Beau…

My hold on him relaxes as I glance away, and he remains silent, letting me gather my thoughts.

I fight to keep him in my life and save my sister—my kingdom— everyone , hating that I’ve already sacrificed the battle of being with him. All to win the war against the virus threatening our world.

A lump forms in my throat, tightening when I swallow. “But as much as I want those things, I have a duty to help my people. If I don’t—” My voice cracks, heartbreak seeping in at the thought of losing him and failing my kingdom. “ Everyone could die.”

“Vi.”

Tears threaten to blur my vision, my damned emotions getting the better of me. I clench my jaw and press down my woe, refusing to break.

I knew what I was doing when I signed up for this. For all of this. And yet regret blooms, and I wonder if I made a mistake in reconnecting with him.

But if I never did, I would have lost Marian long ago.

And if I lost Marian, what would I have done then? Who would I have become?

Being with Beau reminds me of the person I was. Who I used to be before everything shattered between our territories. And back then, I was capable of handling anything because I had him, my sister, and my closest friends.

If I didn’t seek Beau out when Marian first got bitten, I don’t know if I could have endured as much as I have without him and all my friends coming to my aid.

Beau interlaces our fingers and sends me two pulses.

My heart stutters, the action itself the silent confirmation I needed to feel. Needed to be reminded of.

The esprit said I needed him, and maybe even the Makers themselves are telling me I need him.

Beau and I were meant to have this time, and I don’t want to waste any of it with regrets. Regardless if I lose him again, I can’t go another day without telling him.

I drift back to the love of my life. “Beau?”

“What is it, my love?”

I turn my hand over in his, a small smile spreading across my cheeks as I admire how perfectly we fit.

I lift my gaze to his. “I love you.”

Tenderness stretches across his features, adoration shining in his eyes as they search mine.

“I love you, B, and I never once stopped loving you,” I repeat.

Our lips collide, and Sweet Makers, Beau does not hold back.

He scoots more on the bed, our mouths tangled in one another as he hovers over me, moving to rest beside me.

Passion burns between us, my heart leaping with joy as he cradles my face.

He grasps my hip, using my body to pull himself in until he is pressed into my side. Slowly, he shifts the kiss from one of intensity to one full of longing, allowing us time to come down from the high of our wants. We break apart without panting heavily.

Beau cups my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin. His smile matches my own.

“I never once stopped loving you either, Rosebud.”