Page 69 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Hugs and Love

M arian and Leo curve into one another as we all walk to our sleeping quarters, talking about who has the better shot and swearing that, the next time they go practice, the other will prove them wrong.

Beau and I linger a few steps behind Jules, Christine, and Marcel. I want to do the same as my sister, but instead, I’m squeezing my thighs and clutching onto his tunic sleeve.

My arousal grows with each step, and Beau eases closer to me like he also struggles to restrain himself.

Everyone stops near the first set of doors, taking turns hugging as Leo suggests, “We should leave at first light.”

“We should leave when we all wake,” Christine argues as she smooths out the wrinkles in her shirt.

“If that is the case, we won’t leave until nightfall,” Marcel teases.

Jules suppresses a laugh, and Christine rolls her eyes before facing her oldest brother and me.

“What do you think?”

Beau runs a hand through his hair, glancing at me. “Did you get any information from the princess?”

All my friends turn, and I press my lips together, not wanting to give them any false hope.

I clear my throat. “I didn’t get my chance to ask her much, let alone ask her if she could look into anything for me.”

Christine sighs. “The secrecy behind magic is ridiculous.”

I reason with her. “It’s a secret because kingdoms could take over each other if they knew what abilities the other territories had. And that’s not what the Makers ever want for Draymenk.”

“And how do we know that’s not what they want?” Marian challenges. “Maybe they do want us to fight and merge regions. I mean, Palaena did it, and there was no war.”

“I think you are forgetting the part where Queen Tove almost died because of the fight that broke out.” Beau’s voice turns stern and serious. “Plus, her mother arranged for her to marry Jerrick.”

My sister crosses her arms. “But why? Was the late Queen Asta or her husband a seer?”

Beau shrugs. “I don’t know.”

Marian waves. “Exactly, so if you don’t know, then why all the secrecy? Everyone is starting to know of your abilities like Queen Tove’s. Soon enough they’ll learn of Vi’s, and King Jerrick’s, and Unterkirch’s, and Northtry’s.”

A shiver skates down my spine. The small fear of divulging my abilities might lead to someone overpowering me and taking over my kingdom like how the Makers tried to warn us about. And here I went and told Sybille of my gifts before she even confirmed her own.

Could the princess be playing me? Could she have manipulated everything to work for a future she saw?

The pit in my stomach deepens.

“I’m open about mine because I use mine to help others and feed my magic the knowledge it needs to remain useful. But I cannot speak for Vi’s or anyone else’s magic,” Beau says, pulling me from the worry clouding my mind.

“ Magic ,” Marian scoffs. “The entire thing is ridiculous like Christine said. I hate it.”

My heart sinks. She never once believed that. Not when we were kids.

“Marian, you can’t mean—”

“I can, and I do, Vi.” Her voice rises. “And it is stupid and annoying, and it ruins those touched by it.”

I flinch. “What do you mean?”

She gestures to the group. “It ruins us with the death of our loved ones. It happened to our friends. To Queen Tove and every royal family.” She points between herself and me. “It will ruin you and me, too.”

Magic and death truly did fracture our friendships. An awkward silence surrounds us all.

Leo hangs a few paces behind, and he comes up to be a steady force for my twin. He’s about to touch her shoulder, but I shake my head.

I hold Marian’s stare as the strong and bubbly sister I know and love ebbs away.

She sniffs and blinks quickly, trying to keep the tears at bay, and I’m unsure of how to be there for her. I can feel her pain and fear like I can my own.

The virus is festering underneath and getting worse. I take a deep breath and soften my features, moving faster than she expects to drag her into my arms.

Marian shudders and burrows into my neck as we both squeeze the other twice. She sobs hard, and everyone closes in and joins our embrace.

I whisper in her ear, “Magic is stupid and annoying. And we did lose Mama. We lost ourselves, and we lost our friends.” Her tears soak my skin, and I clutch her tighter, not wanting her to feel alone through any of this.

“But even though we are lost and don’t know what happened to Mama, we still have each other. ”

We all break apart, and I grip Marian’s shoulders. “Magic or not, we are going to go from ruination into salvation.”

“Easy for you to say,” she mutters.

“ Marian .” I level my gaze, and her brown eyes meet mine, bitterness trying to seep through. “We will find a remedy. I will find a way to heal you. I’m not leaving you.”

“You should.” She sniffs and wipes away the tears on her reddened cheeks.

“Don’t say that!” Leo interjects.

Marian channels her frustration with a glare. “You all should. Who’s to say I won’t turn on you all?”

“You won’t,” Jules says. “Beau is healing and helping you every day.”

“But what if I snap one day, despite all the healing? Despite finding a cure? What if I somehow infect you all? What then? Then everyone will be infected!” Marian yells as horror takes over her features, and she glances down at her hands, gaping.

Without warning, Beau illuminates the entire area with his magic. He hovers his power over my sister, and a trickle of his magic seeps down and dissolves into her pores.

Marian’s eyelashes flutter, and she inhales a long, deep breath. When Beau pulls back his magic and she opens her eyes, they’re brighter and less bitter. She peers up and inclines her thanks.

“Let’s all get some sleep tonight,” Beau says. “We will set out for Belmur after breakfast. How does that sound?”

Everyone agrees before Beau addresses Marian.

“I want you to rest as much as you can. I am going to do everything in my ability to make sure you are of sound mind as we get everything worked out. We know what to look for, and we will have everything needed to make the cure soon. And if anything about you changes, you know we will all adapt and work together to keep you with us.”

Marian’s throat bobs.

Beau holds her side. “Even if I must work with Vi and heal you every hour of every day, we will find a way to be rid of the infection. Permanently .”

She launches into his arms, her broken spirit tugging at my heart.

Beau holds her before lowering her, and the two smile.

“Everyone enjoy their own beds tonight. Especially me since I’ve slept on a chaise these last few nights watching over Vi,” Beau says, and I muffle the burst of laughter wanting to escape at his lie.

He slept in bed with me every night, and it’s been one of the few things holding me together.

I play along. “I’m sorry, but I do appreciate your help.” I spin to my friends and sister, taking in their loving faces. “I appreciate everyone’s help with everything. From not banishing us when we arrived in Torgem, to traveling with us— helping us… I… I truly would be lost without you all.”

Leo nudges me. “That’s what friends are for.”

Marian yawns. “Well, if a king is commanding me to get my rest, I guess I better do what he says.”

Christine and Jules snicker. “Yes, we all need our beauty sleep.”

They stroll toward their room as Marcel grins and bows to Beau before sprinting off to his partners.

Leo extends his hand to Marian, and she takes it, beaming back at me. “Good night, sis.”

I hug myself as my loved ones each go to their rooms, my heart heavy with gratitude for the family and friends the Makers blessed me with.

Beau waves to his brother as he closes his door. And when we are finally alone in the quiet hall, Beau offers me his elbow.

Clinging to him is natural and comfortable, and I sigh blissfully at connecting more of myself to him. “Thank you for everything , B.”

His lips meet my brow. “Anything for you, Rosebud.”

We walk to my bedchamber, and I worry he might sleep in his own bed tonight. As he reaches for the door latch, I stop and ask, “Can… can we talk?”