Page 78 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

Constantly Changing

T he rippling power I was accustomed to thrummed in my veins until I transformed. And with each willful change, that force has ebbed from being a need to one of leisure, allowing me more control of myself in this form.

But while I shifted faster with the least amount of pain I’ve ever experienced, a sharp awareness of magic still clung to me—beckoned me to remain a bear.

Shortly before dawn, the esprit appeared, accompanying us and showing us different elements of the woods I hadn’t paid much attention to. And through it all, Beau never once left my side.

He remained armed at the ready and completely unbothered by my beast form. Occasionally, he would stroke my fur, and I would rumble with pleasure.

His scent is intoxicating and delicious, comforting me as he pets my coat once more. “Are you doing alright?”

The esprit twirls as I lower my head once, communicating yes.

Beau and I established yes-or-no questions would be best if we needed to talk when I was a bear, agreeing one nod meant yes, and nothing or a shake of my head was no.

But if I was feeling good, two nods meant I love you.

We saunter forward in silence, and I dip my head twice, earning a sweet, melodic chuckle from Beau.

A hum of joy emanates from the esprit shimmering beside us. “She must be feeling really good today,” it muses.

I nod once, wishing that flashing my teeth wouldn’t come across as threatening. Smiling would better convey how I feel.

Witnessing Marian’s first hallucination yanked away the control I finally felt I had over the infection, but I’ve gained more time to understand my abilities. I can’t help the semblance of hope returning.

I can barely process, let alone explain, how profound—how eye opening—it is.

Over the span of a few days, altering my mindset and my intentions and feelings about my gifts changed everything . Transitioning is getting easier, and the pain is more manageable.

During my shift last night, I channeled my magic beyond breaking my bones. I used the heat and rush of warmth it drew, funneling it toward each crack, each stretching muscle like a balm.

It felt eerily close to how Beau's powers feel on me, and even he gaped in awe and shock as I rushed to explain before my face altered.

The tugs of protection, irritability, and ruling over a dominion no longer shove my will into the back of my mind. Rather they work with me versus against me.

But above all, for the first time since gaining these abilities, the beast and I don’t feel like two separate forms.

They finally feel like one and the same.

“This is where I must leave you,” the esprit says, forcing us to a stop. It bounces back, weaving through the trees before spinning. “Do you hear it?”

I wiggle my ears, freezing at a soft melody thrumming to life.

The esprit sways to the rhythm, drifting toward a bush.

Beau inhales sharply, and I whip my head, a growl thundering in preparation for any threat. But he points past us.

“Look,” he breathes, and I veer back to more floating embers coming forward.

Beau and I watch with silent reverence, marveling in awe as one by one, more esprits appear.

Each one adds volume to the song of the forest, weaving in tandem to the beat. They break into varying harmonies, the magnificence of them all stealing my breath.

The aura surrounding us sparkles with the esprits, and the faintest traces of dawn illuminate the area in hues of orange, yellow, red, and pink.

The ambience is comforting as the chanting esprits encircle Beau and me. Their melody is euphoric and captivating, reaching to the depths of my magic—my soul .

Our esprit drifts close when the tune ends. “The heart of the forest lies in us,” it says, before sweeping near my snout and touching it. “And lies in you now, too.”

The tales and knowledge bestowed weigh on me, giving me a broader understanding of their will and their purpose. And with more esprits choosing to appear… A lump forms in my throat at the honor I’ve been given.

The esprit has guided me, taught me, and even knew Mama. While I haven’t learned much about her yet through them, I believe one day those answers will come.

The esprit presses its warmth against the bridge of my nose, heat channeling between us. “We will be with you always. As we were with your mother and every shifter before you.”

Invisible hands clamp onto my heart, drawing a small, pained grumble. I bob my head twice, hoping it is enough to convey my love and gratitude as I slump down, summoning my magic forth to return to my normal state.

The esprit flickers twice as it pulls away, steering toward Beau as he offers me aid. His power soothes and calls to my own, spreading to different areas of my body and checking if I need him.

Only when I rumble reassurance does he pull back, letting me complete the rest of the shift on my own.

“Your light brings forth joy in our Protector of the Forests, and we are grateful this is something that always will be,” the esprit says to Beau, drifting close and caressing his cheeks in a parting farewell. “Watch over her in our absence.”

“Always,” Beau replies, and the esprit glimmers twice with the rising sun before vanishing with the others.

Reaching into the tree hollow, I pull out spare clothes and dress as Beau rests his bow against the tree and steps forward.

“Hi,” he breathes, his dimples making an appearance.

“Hi to you, too,” I snicker, but wavy red locks cover my face.

I huff, trying to keep it out of my eyes while brushing off the debris on the green cotton dress.

“Here, let me.” He sweeps away the disarray of my tangled waves and keeps his hands at the base of my neck, craning me back to meet his golden irises. “Those damned emerald eyes,” he whispers, voiced lowered and filled with desire.

I inhale his sweet aroma, losing myself in his stunning beauty and the heat coiling in my core, lifting my mouth to his.

“These damned lips,” I murmur, giving him a quick peck before pulling away.

He brushes his nose along mine. “I’m so proud of you.”

My heart skitters to a stop before leveling my gaze, speechless. I try to reply—

“I know you want to deny it given the circumstances,” he says, eyes darting between mine.

“But your efforts need to be acknowledged. Your intellect and resilience and determination have brought you insight not only to your abilities but to the infection as well.” He cups my cheeks.

“We’ve gotten answers faster, and we’ve all been able to stay together this entire time because of you. ”

Beau kisses me, shattering the doubt clouding my mind. I meet him with fervor, enough to elicit a growl from him.

He stiffens, breaking away with alarm.

I regard him. “What’s wr—”

Another rumble fills the silence.

Looking over Beau’s shoulder, goose bumps prickle up my spine at the yellow eyes peeking past the tree. I clutch his tunic, fear gripping me like a vise as I try to move.

“Don’t,” Beau warns, tightening his hold on me. “How many can you see?”

The hair on the back of my neck rises as the leaves rustle to my left. It takes everything in me not to whirl in that direction. Panic keeps me frozen as two predators creep forward.

Wolves . One with yellow eyes and the other brown.

“Vi, on my mark, I’m going to move, and you’re going to run. Do you understand?”

“Are you crazy?!”

His jaw works, a muscle twitching along his throat before he takes a long swallow. “I need to distract them so you can get away.”

I bristle when the yellow-eyed wolf prowls forward, baring its teeth.

“I need you to go, my love.” Beau releases me. “Now!”

He bends for his bow and grabs a dagger in his belt as I sprint in the opposite direction.

Horror floods through me when a knife meets flesh. An animal whimpers, and I falter a step, stopping when Beau grunts.

My heart twists, and I spin back as Beau launches an arrow into a wolf pouncing for him. A scream lodges in my throat when another stalks forth from the bushes as he tries to fight off the injured one.

No. No. No.

What are you doing, Vi? You can’t leave him!

The yellow-eyed wolf foams at the mouth, licking its lips and waiting for its moment to strike. Terror strikes me, the past blurring through my mind.

Riker. Alec. Marius. Bronn.

I try to blink their faces away, but all I see is red.

So. Much. Blood.

Their blood… Beau’s blood—

No .

A jolt of magic ricochets through me, fury and wrath thrashing in my chest when the creature flashes its canines.

Without thinking, I shoot forward, rage bubbling in my veins and power surging through every shred of doubt, every speck of fear, and every hint of pain.

The beast is unleashed .

A bellowing roar escapes me as I go on all fours, darting and snarling in a heated rampage.

“Vi! Don’t!” Beau yells as he dodges one predator, grabbing his blade and injuring a second creature.

But I don’t listen.

I don’t pay attention to the flicker of pain from the wounded animals.

No, because my path is set.

My path is clear.

My path is to protect what’s mine .

The yellow-eyed predator finally sets its sights on me, and I break into a lethal sneer.

The first one Beau stabbed whines, teetering and snapping in a feeble strike. Beau rolls and grabs another arrow, nocking it. “Get out of here!”

He shoots the animal in the head before it can attack and twists to the second one as I ignore him again, tapping more into my power, my possessiveness, and most of all, my rage.

Beau is mine .

The yellow-eyed wolf raises its head, howling, and I growl for it to stand down and flee. But the creature meets my warning with a challenge and careens straight for me.

I face the predator with a huff.

“ Vivienne !” Beau screams as it attacks.

But I whip to the side, roaring as I dig my claws into its fur and drag .

Magic pulses in my bloodstream as the wolf whimpers when I retract my paw, blood seeping from the mark I left.

The animal twitches with a snarl, and I remind it once more who has more power here and charge.

The creature braces for my onslaught.

Beau yells, “Move to your left!”

I listen and sidestep the wolf as its open mouth seeks to clamp down on me.

An arrow whooshes against my fur.

Thump .

A broken cry breaks from the yellow-eyed predator.

The creature collapses, and I swerve to Beau, assessing him and the two wolves he took down.

He pants, still holding his bow as sweat beads down his face. Exhaustion takes over his body the longer he stands, the rush from fighting stealing his breath.

The first and second wolves lie limp and unmoving, and only after a few assured moments do my shock and anger dissipate, my defenses lowering.

“Rosebud,” Beau breathes, dropping his weapons and striding to me. “Are you alright?” His hands lift my shout, and he runs his thumb along my fur.

I blink a few times before inclining my head.

He sags with relief, but I nudge him, needing confirmation of my own. He inspects himself before he sighs.

“I’m okay,” he says. “I’m exhausted, but I’m okay.”

I move to survey him, but he holds fast.

“What were you thinking?” he demands. “You could have died!”

A low rumble vibrates in my throat, knowing the same could have happened to him.

His gaze flashes with understanding as he curls into me. “I-I don’t know how you did it, but I need some rest before I can help you change back.”

I savor the brief trace of his scent mixed with his sweat and fatigue. My mind wanders, and I try to find a steady calm, remembering the esprit’s words and what Beau’s magic feels like.

The phantom sensation relaxes me more as I reach further into myself, summoning my power and dispersing it through me. Heat erupts along my skin, warming every nerve and bone, a balm to the mere ache. My claws rescind, and my fur vanishes from sight.

The energy from shifting staggers me, and Beau clutches me to his chest, the two of us losing our balance.

He takes the brunt of the fall, a loud oof escaping him.

“Sorry,” I squeak.

He groans. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.” He takes another long inhale before relaxing his grip and rubbing my back. “We can’t stay here.”

I sink into him, hating how right he is. “I know, we should head back—”

“That’s not what I mean.”

I peer up. “What do you mean?”

“We need to go back to Torgem to finish this.”

“But we just got here—”

“I know,” he says, his voice lowered and soothing the panic clawing up my throat. “But we haven’t even been here long, and we’ve already encountered wolves out here. How are you going to keep practicing your magic when it’s not safe out here for either of us?”

“Then, I won’t shift.”

He glances sidelong at me. “You need to shift for yourself to prevent the curse, my love. And we already have to be in Torgem for the party and dispersing the remedy, anyway.”

I bite my lip, knowing he is right but not wanting to leave so soon after barely reuniting with Jean and Pierre. They’ve already done so much while we were gone. Uncertainty and worry flips my stomach.

“And if what Jean and Pierre told us yesterday is true, Torgem is the one least affected right now. It’s the safest option for us to do everything we need for Marian,” he adds.

I exhale. “I know.”

“We’ll work everything out.” He kisses my brow. “Now, are you okay to walk? Or do I need to carry you?”

“I need clothes first.”

Heat sparks in his golden irises as his gaze rakes down my body, a small smirk appearing.

“Damn,” he breathes. “Can I stay here and watch you find some?”

Rolling my eyes, I scoff, wiggling against him as he laughs.

“Fine, fine,” he surrenders. “I’ll help after I kiss you again.” He inches forward, capturing my mouth with his.

I hum with delight, enraptured by his lips—his touch—his everything .

The bliss leaves me electrified and Beau hungry for more.

We cave to our desire, pleasuring each other before eventually finding my clothes. After dressing, we still cling together, strolling hand in hand back to the castle, preparing to tell our friends of another change to our plans.