Page 135 of Beast and Remedy
“Marian, I was trying—”
“You were trying to kick me off my horse and leave me to die!”
Everyone’s attention darts back, my heart hammering with worry and embarrassment while I seek to soothe her discontent.
I touch my chest, wanting to understand where her mind is trying to take her. Could this be because of this morning? The infection?
“Why would I ever do that to my sister?” I ask softly.
“Because I want you to be left behind and die!”
Coldness pierces through me, and someone shouts my name.
But it’s too late.
Marian pushes me with force. Her rage-filled eyes bore into mine as I lose my seating, yanking the reins down to prevent my fall.
My horse jerks, and I brace for it to run, the anticipation throwing me off as I land.
The air leaves my lungs.
Searing pain ripples through my skull from the impact, and my eyes brim with black around the edges. I blink, unable to find words, my body and Marian’s actions freezing me into shock.
My heart severs from my chest, my breath stilted.
She… wants me todie?
I lie there through raised voices and someone grumbling, not knowing what to do.
Marian screams, “Let me go!”
Attempting to clear my vision or to move, I come up short when figures hover above me. Jules, Christine, and Marcel.
“Vi!” Panic strains Jules’s voice, but all I focus on is my sister’s struggling grunts as she repeats wanting to be left alone.
“Marian, we’re trying to help. Let me check on you. It could be another symptom,” a voice says.
Beau.
The infection did this.
Sweet Makers, I need to make sure she is alright. But my head roars in agony with the faintest of movement, and I wince.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, Marian,” Leo repeats.
Deities, I hope she will listen to him.
Jules runs a hand over my face, her voice directing my attention. “Are you in any pain? Can you speak? Blink once if you can’t.”
I blink rapidly and swallow the dryness in my throat.
“Is… Is Marian alright?” I croak.
Christine answers. “Beau is healing her as we speak.”
Relief explodes through me, guiding my heart back into my chest.
If he wasn’t here, I would’ve lost Marian long ago. And who knows if I would’ve been strong enough to watch her fall apart.
