Page 131 of Beast and Remedy
“Are you—” I clear my throat. “Are you sure you even want to help me with this?”
“I will always want to help you, Rosebud,” Beau says, his voice filled with tenderness. “You are a part of me as much as I am of you. Nothing will ever change that.”
My stomach flips, my heart and soul soaring from his unwavering support and steadfast love. A blush creeps under the surface of my cheeks, and I smile crookedly when he brushes his nose along mine.
“So…”
His dimples appear and undo me.
“So what?”
“When do you want to start?” Beau asks. “Before or after Unterkirch?”
Right. Shifting again at will.Andgoing to Unterkirch.
“I-I-I don’t know.” The phantom pain taunts me, and I shudder. I close my eyes, wanting to nullify the sensation.
“Hey,” Beau says, pulling my attention back, “I’ll be there. You won’t be alone.”
“But you still need to use your gifts to help Marian—”
“I know my limits, and I can promise you I’ll be able to help you and your sister.” He stands and extends a hand. “Now, are you ready to tell the others the new plan?”
I glance at his outstretched palm, worry creeping up my spine. Worry they won’t want to go to Unterkirch, worry they’ll see me in my bear form. Yet they haven’t balked at the knowledge of that.
I mean, they could always run away when they see what a hideous beast you are, Vi.
I dismiss the thought, still uneasy about how our extended trip would delay finding a cure. But we still need the lavender. And the soul said we needed to seek out a seer.
Maybe there is more we need beyond the plants—beyond what the esprit knows.
With my mind made up, I take Beau’s hand and rise. “We’ll definitely need to explain our way around my lack of clothing.”
“We could always tell them the truth about us,” Beau suggests, and I shake my head.
“I don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information.”
We both exit the small cave, Beau guiding me toward camp as I add, “That, and I don’t know how they’d all react.”
“You’re worried what Marian will think?”
I shrug. “She knows you and I have always been close, but I’ve never told her anything aboutus. And if I were to tell her everything, she’d be heartbroken I kept it from her for so long. What about you? Have you told anyone about us?”
“I haven’t because we agreed not to. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to tell them.”
I understand his hope of sharing something so special between us with our loved ones. But with my future hanging over me, I don’t want to spoil it before they’ve even had a chance to see us.
I don’t want to spoil the connection Beau and I have found again.
But I’ll have to when this all comes to an end.
Beau’s cloak is barely enough to keep me covered, and I nervously look down, trying to tug it into place.
“Here, take this,” Beau says without hesitation, stopping and removing his pack and weapons.
“What are you—” My mouth falls when he removes his tunic, his sculpted muscles on full display as he gives me his shirt.
“I should have offered it sooner. It should be long enough to cover you until we reach camp.”
