Page 99 of Beast and Remedy (The Last of the Heirs #2)

The Declaration

B eau dismisses Leo and Marcel, choosing to keep the discussions between the monarchs and me, even having his advisors await the group’s overall plan of action.

“As you all know, Princess Vivienne and I developed a cure we intended to disperse to each kingdom on my name day. But said medicine was destroyed by Princess Marian, who was infected and had been given the remedy,” Beau states, opening the meeting with emotionless facts.

My father crosses his arms as I fidget with the skin around my fingernails.

I cannot spare a glance at anyone. My cheeks heat in embarrassment over my kingdom causing so much uproar, and the magic unsettles in my chest.

“We learned through other means that what we created was not the permanent solution. However, we now know the missing ingredients and with Princess Vivienne’s assistance…

” A ghost of a smile lifts as Beau meets my gaze before he continues.

“We should be able to replenish the stock of damaged medicine with its corrected ingredients.”

“Will there be enough to administer to anyone infected?” Tove asks me.

Everyone turns, eyes boring into me as the walls close in.

I take a shaky breath and exhale through the fatigue and sorrow. “It will take time to produce and disperse, but that’s not the largest issue. We need to administer the tonic to our people and infected animals in every territory as well.”

The Queen of Palaena tilts her head, and I add, “The infection, as most of you know, mutated. And while we have the cure, we should err with caution. We don’t want it to mutate again before we see true results.

So, we should slowly monitor the progression of the tonic administered to animals and people first before allowing Belmur citizens to travel and ease off on the patrolling of our borders. ”

“How long would you guess that would take?” she asks.

“It could take a few months, but there’s no true way to tell,” I say.

“And how will we know if the creatures of the forests are changing?” Jerrick asks.

The room hangs in silence for my response, and I press my lips together, knowing what he asks would reveal my gifts to another kingdom.

I plead with my eyes to Papa for some guidance. But he shrugs, a dismissal and sign I’m on my own.

Veering back, I take in the others. We all know of Tove’s and Beau’s magic, but Jerrick’s remains a mystery.

Would it be so bad for them to know? If I confess my abilities, what would they make of it? Does Jerrick know since he helped us find Marian? No, I was in my human state when they reached us. But if he discovers my power, he would know it was me who attacked him and his wife all those years ago—

I shake my head, carefully working out a half-truth answer. “My gifts should allow me to determine how well the cure works with animals.”

Tove’s eyes widen as Jerrick arches a brow with curiosity.

I don’t give them a chance to ask more questions. “But I can’t do it alone, though.”

“I can help disperse the tonic in my lands and woods,” Beau volunteers.

“As will I,” Jerrick agrees, sharing a glance with his wife. “I think it is time I took my wife on another hunt.”

“Absolutely not,” she says with defiance, and I choke on my laugh.

Their heads whip to me, and I stifle my outburst, shrinking inward.

Beau fills in the awkward tension. “We can send an emissary and the cure to Northtry and Unterkirch with our plans.”

“It’s settled then,” my father concludes, pushing from the table. “I have a daughter to get home, advisors to reprimand, and a remedy to produce.”

Papa makes to leave, but halts when I don’t immediately follow him. “Vi.” He laces my name with caution. “It’s time to leave. Let’s go.”

“She can’t go back to Belmur,” Beau says.

My father turns to him, scathing and furious. “Why?”

“Because the medicine needs my blood and your daughter’s.”

Papa seethes, his jaw working, before he glares at me. “Is this true?”

I hesitate before nodding, unsure of what my father plans to do.

He’s already grieved the loss of Mama. Now it’s Marian. And me.

“And I’d like to discuss the terms regarding the relationship between Belmur and Torgem,” Beau adds, directing Papa’s temper to him rather than me.

I want to tell Beau that asking my father to lift his banishment and revisit our kingdom’s old alliance is a dream. A wish that will never come true.

Papa’s pride and stubbornness won’t let him acknowledge the mistake he made and profoundly believed for so long. Especially now.

My father’s eyes flare in outrage as he whirls on Beau. “And what else is it you wish to discuss, King Beauvais ? Can’t you just leave us be?”

“I cannot,” Beau replies, the words deepening Papa’s disdain.

My father huffs, trying to mask his rage in front of Jerrick and Tove. “Care to explain yourself, then?”

“Your daughter agreed with your advisors to find a husband,” Beau says, and my breath catches.

Tove watches me carefully, pressing her lips together like she wants to stretch across the room and hug me.

My vision blurs from her empathic gaze, but I blink the emotions away, heat flooding my cheeks as Beau rises and crosses the room.

He lowers to a knee, conviction carrying through his voice.

“King Bernard, our two kingdoms have been allies long before my ruling. Torgem and Belmur thrived when working together. Tragedy befell your family, and please believe me and know that I did try to heal Queen Johanne. I tried to explain myself to you all those years ago. And I understand why you didn’t want to listen and why you banished me and broke our peaceful alliance.

“But I kneel before you now, not only as a king from a neighboring kingdom, but as a friend who has always strived to help your family when it was in need. I kneel before you as a man who has built a friendship with your daughter and as a man who has fallen in love with her. Vivienne is the one I desperately seek to be with for the rest of my life so long as she will have me.”

I can’t blink the tears away fast enough, even as my father remains stoic, and Beau continues.

“Please let us revisit the alliance our kingdoms once shared and unite them as one with the joining of our families.”

“ No .”

Papa’s one-word response is abrupt.

Catastrophic.

Soul shattering.

I’m frozen, incapable of moving, as my father turns to leave.

Beau jolts up and blocks my father’s path.

“Move now before I punch you again,” Papa warns.

“I deserved that earlier and probably deserve a few more. But your heir and I would fortify your legacy.”

“Fuck that,” Papa spits, twisting and lashing out. His skin deepens into a shade of red, his unrest and fury seeking an escape. “My legacy might as well die with me.”

My mouth falls, and my heart breaks as I slink into my chair.

“Bernard!” Tove gasps with mortification. “How dare you!”

She rises and marches toward him. “She’s your daughter!

The last of your family! And you want to cast her aside for what?

For making a mistake and risking her life to fix it?

For turning to others for aid? For doing what someone of her title should do as a future monarch of their kingdom? For falling in love?”

Papa flinches at her words as she plants her hands on her hips as she tilts her chin up. Ice flares across her fingertips as she breathes heavily, scrutinizing my father.

Jerrick sighs, trying to calm down his wife. “Tove—”

“Don’t Tove , me, Jer!”

She waves off his effort, pausing as he catches her hand. Rolling her eyes, she takes a breath, releasing a long sigh and recalling her magic. When her blue irises meet her husband’s, he smiles softly before she focuses on my father.

“You accepted my arranged marriage to Jerrick. And, yes, while the road to our union was not the most standard, you still accepted it.” Tove steps forward and touches his elbow, and I’m surprised Papa doesn’t react after seeing her power mere moments ago.

“You accepted it because I told you I was safe, I was happy, and I saved my kingdom. You don’t want that same happiness for your own daughter? ”

My father’s voice is calm, his demeanor relaxing as he speaks. “We can’t join houses—”

“Jer and I did.” She pauses and glances at her husband, the unwavering love between them stealing my heart.

A tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away before anyone notices and flick my eyes to Beau. Tension freezes him in place, even as he holds my gaze.

I want to be near him, to touch him, and to be with him, but the brink of catastrophe sings and thrums through my veins.

“And if Jer and I did, why can’t Vi and Beau? Can’t you see this is what she wants, Bernie?” she asks gently when she faces Papa once more.

Pain and anticipation stretch my muscles, my bones, my heart as her question remains unanswered. My world upends, my defensive walls fall, and I lose my strength and composure.

I lower my head, resting it against my arms crossed on the table.

Loss, pain, and heartbreak from losing Marian, losing Beau, and losing Papa are unbearable. The stitches holding my injuries together pull as I break. I pinch my eyes shut, letting the tears fall, not caring who sees me unraveling.

Physically and emotionally, I’m broken.

Forever and always, I’m a disappointment to my father.

For showing weakness to other kingdoms. For loving Beau. For choosing Beau.

An everlasting damnation encases my withered heart, stealing the last member of my family.

I’ve lost Papa now, too…

My heart sinks heavily in my chest, and my magic tries to wrap it in a blanket of comfort. But even my power and spirit feel distant, like they, too, disintegrate from my very being. The silence is palpable, and the footsteps of someone are faint, muffled by my choked sobs.

Warmth touches me, trying to draw me from my cocoon. I don’t even know who’s beside me, and I don’t care.

I shake it off but hiss from the abrupt tugging of my stitches.

A chair squeaks, and hands grab me, strong and forceful. They pull me into a solid chest.