Page 128 of Beast and Remedy
The phantom figure places what I imagine to be its hand across its chest.“I am an ancestral soul tethered to nature to guide it and the ruling Protector of Beasts.”
I blink, startled and taken aback. Never in all my years did I think I would see a soul, and now I can’t help but wonder how and why after all this time.
“You can see me now because you sought out your magic,”the soul starts, like it already knew my line of questions.“Do you remember?”
Puzzled, I think back to when I intentionally tried to shift, the memory clicking into place before I nod.
“You showed vulnerability, showed you sought change.”The soul pauses, its flames sparking enough for me to jump.“But still you push back.”It points to Beau, and I arch a brow.
“You will need him for when it gets worse.”
Fear and devastation crawl up my spine, this fucking power grasping to me anyway it can, all to drag me down with another issue. “Wh-Wh-What do you mean?”
“A willing transformation evolves your abilities. Where you’ll gain control to shift at will versus when the moons and seasons demand it. Butunwillingness increases the pain and the injuries with each transformation.”
Is that why every shift feels like it’s progressively getting worse than the first?
Why I can’t curate a tonic to aid me through the transition?
The soul points at me with foreboding.“And if you don’t accept your gift, in time, it will curse you.”
Shock knocks the air from my lungs.
“My… my power willcurseme?”I squeak,clutching my chest. “How?”
“Should you deny the beauty, the purpose, and the magnitude of power you’ve been blessed with, the magic will bind you forever to remain a beast.”
My knees wobble as my fist grips tighter around Beau’s cloak, shaking my head in disbelief.
A beast. Forever?
That… that can’t be…
“Evolving yourself will prepare you and keep the curse from happening,”the soul adds, and now I really want to collapse.
Beau squeezes my hand twice, distracting me and calming the panic wanting to erupt in my mind as he runs his thumb along my knuckles.
“You said a seer earlier. Do you know where we could find one? Do you know how we can get the lavender?” Beau asks in a gentle voice.
“Where the lavender grows, so too lies the seer you seek. Write to them for entry and gain insight for what is to come.”
Unterkirch… we have to enter Unterkirch.
Sweet Makers.
“And wh-wh-what else is to come?”
My voice wobbles, and terror consumes my thoughts, fixated on ruining me before I even have the chance to leave this cave.
This dreaded cave that sunlight slowly inches into.
“Prevented we are from the Makers to reveal the future. However, preparation is the best we can give.”
“There’smoreof you?”
The sizzling aura surrounding the soul pulses, almost as if laughing at my question.“More than even your mother knew when the same power flowed through her as it does you.”
Beau breathes, “Your mother was a shifter, too?”
