Page 87 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

“While I don’t get to have it all, sacrificing one of the most precious things in my world to have my sister was worth it.

Even if I’m a shell of a person in the coming days, months, and years.

Even if I have to remind myself every day that I have my sister, my family, and my kingdom back in order. It was all worth it.”

What a painful lie to live with for the rest of your life, Vi.

I break at the thought, covering my face once more as another explosion of heartbreak takes hold of me.

Jules tugs me to look at her. “You deserve to have everything, Vi. Everything .” Tenderness softens her features, her voice gentle as she says, “And you never know how your father will react if we find out who really killed your mother.”

“That and I have no idea how Papa would react if he knew about Beau and me, let alone if he knew I wanted to marry Beau.” I shrink. “What if he disowns me?”

She levels her gaze. “Your father would never disown you, Vi. He loves you and Marian. Plus, if you mention wanting to marry Beau, you could always do what my cousin did and merge territories.”

I shake my head. “That requires all the kingdoms to accept. And there is no way Papa would ever grant that.”

“Says who?”

“Says him and all the monarchs who already had a hard time accepting when Queen Tove and King Jerrick got married.”

She clicks her tongue. “But you don’t know unless you try.”

“Maybe not, but even if I did try—did consider—that idea, it still brings us back to the lack of evidence proving Beau’s innocence. Proving to Papa that Beau is a good man. And then also fighting his stubbornness to get him to see reason.”

I wipe my cheeks. “And believe me, I’m not the only one who’s tried to get through to him over the last few years.

We’ve all tried and failed. He even threatened us.

Said he’d remove Jean and Pierre from their positions if they brought it up again, take away Marian’s and my freedoms and luxuries to be with him at every meeting, discussion, and correspondence he oversees so we would understand the weight he carries running a kingdom. ”

Jules rests an elbow on the table and plays with a lavender stem.

“It still boggles my mind your father was so quick to put the blame on Beau, simply because he was the one who discovered your mother. He was on the hunt, too. Not to mention there was more than one kingdom visiting and out in the woods with us all. Who is to say a different region did it? Who’s to say he didn’t do it? ”

I glare, but she quickly raises her hands in surrender. “I’m only making a point here. I find it odd your father immediately targeted his kingdom’s closest ally, compared to looking into other possibilities, other people.”

“Do you remember everyone who participated in the hunt?”

She snorts. “Definitely not you.”

I roll my eyes, knowing she left me early that morning in the library to join the hunting party.

She tosses her head in contemplation. “From what I remember, it was Marcel, Leo, Beau, your father, Pierre, Jean, Marian, my father, Marcel’s father, some nobles, my cousin Jonas, and his partner… Maybe Jerrick? I can’t remember if he was there or not.” She taps her lips.

“Oh!” Her eyes spark with a memory. “And Prince Stefan, his sister, and his father were there too.”

“That’s a long list of people, Jules.” I sigh. “I barely remember that day.”

“Well, everyone split into groups. Some going off on their own, too. And Beau, Marcel, Leo, and I were together when we found—when it happened.”

“Really?” I ask, confusion furrowing my brow.

“I remember your father went off with Jean, Pierre, and Veryon. Marian also accompanied them along with King Vinzent and his children.”

“What about your cousins?”

“They went off on their own, completely opposite from… you know.”

I take in the high vaulted ceiling, tapping my fingers on the table.

If only I had gone out with them for once in my stupid life, I could’ve had more information. I could have found more clues. I could have done something .

Questions wander in my mind, trying to determine who was behind it, if not Beau. Beau mentioned he narrowed his list down to a few people, but he still never told me. Refusing to say anything until he was certain.

My thoughts drift, hanging on a recent memory—a recent warning from Princess Sybille. And Prince Stefan.

Be careful of the shadows.

I lift my head. “Were Queen Verena and Princess Sybille there? Did Prince Stefan and his family separate from mine at any point?”

Jules shrugs. “They were, but they didn’t join the hunting party. And no, I don’t think so. They were still together when we went back. How come?”

I press my lips together, the warning prickling my thinking. Should I even gamble that the words could help me find answers?

I can’t help feeling like the words tie into Mama’s death. I’ve pondered that possibility before and dismissed it. But now, it’s back, and I want it to be a clue to an unsolvable solution.

Could Sybille have more insight to share with me? Could Papa, Marian, Pierre, and Jean know anything? King Vinzent and his children were with my family…

“I think Princess Sybille, Prince Stefan, and King Vinzent might know more than they’re letting on,” I wonder aloud.

“What makes you say that?” Jules asks.

I wring my tunic, feeling ludicrous for even voicing my suggestion.

Could the warning even correlate to Mama’s death? Or maybe it was an omen about the severity of the infection riddling through the forests? Our lands?

The words tingle in a vicious taunt, my head pounding from the sting.

I rub my temples.

Maybe I’m overthinking. I’m exhausted, and I should know it has nothing to do with Mama.

But why do those words come to the forefront of my mind every time I think of her death?

My mind dances with possibilities, hopeful the answer will make itself known with more time and dedication to looking into it.

I take a long breath. “I-I’m not sure. It’s just a feeling, I guess.”

“Well, that’s usually a sign you are onto something,” Jules replies.

I half smile, trying to feel better but only feeling a new pile of questions building.

“Do you want to be alone or come with me and get ready for the ball? Beau is probably going to stop by and fill some more vials with his blood and imbue them with magic.”

I bristle. I shouldn’t be anywhere near Beau, and he probably feels the same.

I stand. “I’ll come with you.”

She laughs as she pushes out from the table. “I thought so.”

We stroll toward the door, but her hand stops on the level before she glances at me. “Vi?”

“Yeah?”

“I want you to know none of us will tell anyone about you and Beau.”

Gratitude and love relax my body. “Thank you.”

But she turns serious, features hardening like steel as she presses her lips together, visibly taken by emotion.

“I-I will help your family find out who took your mother from this world too soon. Not because we want Beau to be found innocent, I mean we do want that, but we want you and your family to find peace and closure more than anything in the world.”

Mama was Jules’s godmother and Esme’s closest friend. And Jules, too, loved Mama as much as anyone who ever met her did.

I drag my friend into a quick hug. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve a friend like you, Jules.”

She mumbles near my ear. “We shared the same love for those romance books in the library. That was enough of a sign.”

I snort, and we break into a fit of laughter.

We pull apart, and Jules opens the door. “Now, let’s go get pampered before we have to wear dresses all night.”