Page 94 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

He nods once in understanding. His unwavering trust tugs at my soul, but I turn on my sister.

“You’re infected, Marian. And if you’ve lied this entire time, then you are the problem.”

Her eyes flash with fury as her cheeks turn red.

“No. You are! The timid, quiet sister who prefers the company of books to people and ruling a kingdom. The sister who doesn’t see the magnitude of power in her possession.

The sister who can’t even handle it. Why do you think I’ve stayed quiet and watched all these years? ”

I don’t respond, too stunned. Too devastated by the rage and her treachery.

She shakes her head with disappointment.

“I wanted to see what your magic could do, learn what to expect, and then ruin you.” Her condescending voice slaps me harder than a physical blow as she delivers her final words.

“Because I wasn’t going to watch from the side my entire life as a royal advisor and let you disgrace the Makers, disgrace our kingdom, and disgrace our parents.

And what better way to do it than to help everyone see how much of a failure you are? ”

My blood, my bones, and my body ignite, the shift no longer deniable and the pain indiscernible as I charge toward my sister.

The sting of her betrayal boils my fury, my scream erupting into a roar as I drag my feet forward, unable to swallow down the wrath within as I transform.

Beau gapes as I lunge, my temper snuffing out the love for my sister, draining the grief and the despair.

Marian jostles off Beau, eyes still crazed and bloodshot as she grabs her weapons, and scampers into the woods.

Big mistake.

Infected or not, I will not let her escape.

Beau hollers my name, but I ignore it, keeping ahead until I step into a clearing and sniff the air.

I growl, low and lethal, as I dig my front claws into the dirt. Preparing to charge, I carefully take in more of the area, stopping on two wild eyes.

Marian throws her dagger, and it hits me close to the chest.

Pain ripples through me as she throws another, and I snarl, pushing forward to stop her.

If we both are to die here and now, then so be it.

Magic sings acceptance in my veins as the second blade pierces my fur. I roar, Marian’s eyes widening as I still barrel toward her.

I will not let her be the next heir. I don’t even know if it is possible or if it even passes to anyone beyond my own line, but I don’t care.

Even if that leaves Belmur free and fresh for the other kingdoms to take, I will not let a corrupted person abuse this power.

I tackle her to the ground, her screams nothing I’d ever imagine sounding sweet.

Something punctures my upper side, lodging up toward my heart.

I groan, my magic fizzling—flickering.

“Take that, bitch,” she sneers viciously, withdrawing her knife and stabbing me repeatedly. “You don’t deserve to rule.”

She hits different parts of my body, my gifts unable to defend me, protect me. “You don’t deserve this fucking power.”

Anywhere she can strike, she does.

Again.

And again.

And again .

“I do. I always did,” she hisses.

I sag, numbness taking over my claws and my vision clearing to see my fingertips.

No, it can’t be.

My skin prickles against the flowing breeze, the power within me dying. I’m… dying .

The heaviness of my beast form withers away, my eyes fluttering as I collapse on my sister.

I need to keep going, need to fight back.

But my magic doesn’t speak to me. It doesn’t call to me.

I reach for it and come up short. I reach for the forest, failing the creatures, the esprits, nature itself as my limbs weaken.

The world blurs, the tinge of copper stinging my nostrils, and a thick red liquid covers my entire naked body.

Blood .

So. Much. Blood.

Marian grunts, shoving me off her and onto my back.

I wince as she towers over me, raising her bloodied blade with a wicked grin. “And now I get to have it.”

An arrow punctures one of her wrists, and she wails, dropping the dagger inches from me and clutching her chest. Another lands in her shoulder, and she yelps in agony.

“Get the fuck away from her,” Beau demands, voice lethal.

I weakly angle my head, Beau panting heavily beside an armed King Jerrick, Leo, and Marcel.

Beau holds his injured side as Jerrick nocks another arrow and aims his bow at my twin.

“But she’s my sister,” Marian pouts. “She deserves this.”

Marcel and Leo bristle, their eyes lining with pain and shock.

“Marian, stop, this isn’t you,” Leo says, his voice wavering as he reaches for her.

Marian rears back with a grimace. “It is. And you were too stupid, too blind to see it.”

“Step away from your sister or this arrow will be your demise,” Jerrick orders, forcing her to stop.

My own breath hollows, conversations muddling, and I peer up at the night sky. The smell of my own blood dances along my nostrils, mixing with the cedar of the trees, the moss near the dirt, and forces my mind to wander.

If only I could’ve stopped her before she injured me. If only I could’ve seen the signs or better understood the warning from Sybille and Stefan.

I miss the esprits. I miss Mama. I miss Papa. I miss Beau.

I miss the sister I used to know.

Darkness seeks me out, wanting to drag me under.

But what about Marian? What about my home?

I try to speak—try to tell them not to hurt her so that Papa can know the truth.

But I choke on my blood.

“Fight it, Vi,” a voice whispers, familiar. “You need to live. You cannot die without saving your people! Saving all the creatures of the forest! You cannot leave your father! You can’t! You… can’t…”

I sigh, heat spreading across my weakening limbs from the faint presence of the esprit. Maybe my imagination is conjuring it. Keeping me company as my time dwindles.

“ Rosebud ,” an exhausted, broken voice says, one I instantly recognize.

“B,” I wheeze.

His magic caresses my cheeks, light diminishing the darkness.

But the pain, the exhaustion, buckles me down.

“Stay with me. Stay with me. Please ,” Beau begs, his voice trembling as he tries to cover my bleeding naked body with his own.

“There’s so much blood,” Leo breathes.

“You need to cover her up and treat as many wounds as possible.” Jerrick’s voice calls.

“Everyone keep your eyes to your fucking self,” Beau demands through panted breaths before he pulls away, attempting to assess my injuries.

I’d thank him for trying to accommodate me and respect my privacy, but I’m too tired. Too unbothered to care if anyone sees me in this state.

“Marcel, give me your shirt so I can cover her up. Leo, tear off some of your tunic and make me a few bandages. I can wrap her stomach and her arm. Then I’ll need help adding pressure here and here,” Beau commands, his voice frantic and shaky as more heat touches my body, the love of my life trying to save me.

I’m lightly jostled, my exposed flesh covered as something tightens around my limbs and torso. The tightness feels like a compression—a balm—as a glow emanates from Beau and ebbs the smallest amounts of pain away.

Leo’s words are laced with uncertainty. “Are you sure you are alright to do—”

“I’M NOT LOSING HER!” Beau’s declaration echoes through the woods, and I feel lighter with each swirl of healing he directs toward me.

I blink once, twice, the trees above filling my vision. A lush and lavish green surrounds three recognizable figures, and I smile weakly.

But my sister’s laughs fill the void, and Beau commands, “Don’t kill her. Don’t harm her. Bernard is on the way.”

“ What ?” Marian asks, voicing my own internal question.

My fingers tingle, the sensation prickling all over. I move slightly, clarity painfully coming back as I take in Marian.

She still has an arrow in her shoulder, but someone removed the other one.

Jerrick binds her wrists and ties the final knot before peering over with nonchalance. “I won’t kill her. Only make her pass out for a while.”

Marian’s eyes widen when he touches her, and my breath hitches when she faints.

The King of Palaena catches her with ease and hoists her over his shoulder, completely unbothered. He turns, and those ice-cold eyes assess me.

“Whatever you’re doing is working. Just don’t kill yourself in the process.”

“I’m fine,” Beau snaps, all tenderness and kindness gone. Depleted.

“You’re still injured,” Marcel urges.

“Yeah? And Vi’s fucking dying !”

Pain thickens Beau’s booming, rattling voice.

Light blocks their faces, their arguing evident and exhausting. But my gaze holds Jerrick’s.

A small smile softens his stark features before he nods.

I drag my head toward the three men hovering over me.

“She…” Beau chokes. “She can’t die.”

Something wet kisses my cheek, and I reach for strength to comfort him but fall flat.

“She won’t,” Leo’s soft voice whispers with reassurance. He grabs his brother. “We won’t let that happen. But we won’t let you die either.”

Slowly, Beau withdraws his magic, and I feel life itself return.

Blinking, I weakly utter one letter. “B .”

Relief sinks over him, his body slackening. “ Rosebud ,” he rasps, holding my face and resting his forehead along mine.

I focus on the red liquid running down his bicep, wishing his powers worked on himself.

“Vi, we need to get you to the castle. I didn’t— couldn’t heal you more. I closed the most serious injuries, but you’re still gravely wounded. I’m so sorry. Can—can you move?”

Heaviness seeps into my bones as I attempt to move, straining and feeling my muscles stretch painfully.

Leo stops me. “Don’t hurt yourself. Here, let me.” He scoots his hands underneath me, but Beau’s palm shoots out, halting him.

“I should do that.”

Leo scoffs, shaking off his brother’s hold. “Fuck off. You’re injured, and I’m not going to watch you struggle to hold her.”

Beau tries to keep Leo from touching me, and Marcel smacks Beau’s hand away.

“Stop fighting and let’s get back. We don’t have much time until Marian wakes,” Jerrick commands, his haunting voice ceases everyone from fighting.

Beau glares at his friend, wanting to refuse his order, but he relents and helps Marcel ease me more into Leo’s hold.

Marcel takes the torches, leading us back. Jerrick carries an unconscious Marian, with Leo behind and Beau remaining at my side.

I try to hold myself up and get a better look, but it’s no use. Exhaustion pulls my strength away, and rage coils in my chest but dies quickly from my spent energy and blood loss.

I stare at the problem in front of me before peering up at Leo. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, realizing he too is having to cope with my sister’s betrayal.

Leo’s grip tightens, his arms flexing and body stiffening.

I take his silence as anger and rush out in a pained breath. “I-I-I didn’t know. And I’m sorry.”

Tears blur my vision, and I wish I still had the disdain of crying to be my strength and help me wipe them away. But I’m too tired, and I let them dampen my cheeks.

Calloused fingers swipe them away, and I glance at Beau, my heart breaking.

His features are pale, body swaying with each step. He applies pressure to his injury, wearily nodding twice.

I bite my quivering lip and nod twice in return.

“Don’t cry, Vi. Please. Just rest, okay? I don’t want to lose you, too,” Leo says softly.

Confusion drags my eyes up to his glossy ones, and I wish I tried better for a friendship with him. Marian took him for granted, and I never want to do that to him or anyone, ever.

The trees and bushes lessen, the castle appearing when Marcel moves into the clearing, lighting the path.

Guards, Beau’s advisors, Jules, Christine, and Tove wait at the front entrance, a horse coming in and blocking their view.

I take in the large steed and the burly man sitting in the saddle staring with pure, unfiltered rage.

Papa .