Page 145 of Beast and Remedy
“Queen Verena is gracious, but she’s also protective and proud of her lands and her power. If we ask for the wrong thing, the wrong information, anything that could put her kingdom at risk, she won’t offer it and will turn us away. But I have a feeling the queen isn’t who we need to befriend.”
My mouth parts. “You think the princess—”
“Is a seer? I do.”
I slump, thinking over the brief conversations I’ve had with her along with her interactions with my friends and family when they’ve all checked in during my recovery.
“But she’s so young. How can we know if she’ll have the answers we need?”
“She might be in her youth, but so was I when my father passed.” He perches against the bed. “Maybe she’s further along in her magic than we know.”
I work my jaw, contemplating how to even approach this situation.
Beau’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Every kingdom has kept its monarch’s abilities a secret for as long as our histories tell us. I’m also positive every territory approaches keeping archives of a rulers’ gifts differently as well.
“But before the virus, ever since Queen Tove’s power erupted into a long winter, I grew more open about my own magic within my territory, started drafting my own records of what I learned so it might help my future heirs should they inherit Yeva’s abilities. However, I don’t know if the others share the same sentiment. Deities, I am close to Jerrick, and I don’t even know what his are or if Palaena has any documentation of their past ancestors’ gifts.”
“Belmur doesn’t keep track of anything, either. Even Mama was reluctant to share how her magic worked with us because she believed we wouldn’t receive the same power as her.” I rub my temples, the pang of her absence drawing forth a dull ache. “How wrong she was on both counts.”
“I still can’t believe your mother and you inherited abilities from the same Maker.” Beau smooths out the wrinkles in the sheets, his fingers grazing along my leg and making my stomach flutter. “Plus, it’s strange twins wouldn’t share magic.”
The giddiness from his touch immediately sours from his words.
I wish I could detach myself from the questions I’ve wondered about for years and know will never be answered in my lifetime.“They probably got their rules mixed up with my mother and me because I have a twin.”
The corner of his lip lifts. “Well, Queen Verena is a private person. So, I can assume she’ll be guarding any information.” Beau scratches the back of his head, his expression shifting. “Unless we can get it out from another source.”
“You wantmetobefriendPrincess Sybille?” I choke out, gesturing to myself. “You do know I am the most impersonal person ever.”
Beau laughs, his dimples on full display. And, damn, do I want to poke each one and pepper him with kisses.
“You are plenty personable,” he replies. “You convinced a boy to play with you and write to you foryears.”
His golden eyes sparkle with sincerity, nostalgia stretching between us despite the tease in his tone.
“I was a kid then!” I throw my hands up. “It’s not like I can fall back on that over dinner!”
Beau fails to suppress his amusement, and I growl my irritation.
Why can’thebefriend the princess? Surely, it’s every girl’s dream to fawn over a handsome king like how I did at that age.
I grimace, envy prickling up my spine at the images my mind conjures.
No. Nope. Not going to linger on that thought.
A hand sneaks its way to mine, tugging me toward the man I can’t look at without my stomach flipping. His features soften with understanding, eyes blazing and enticing.
“I know who you are at your core, Rosebud, and if you let her see you like how you’ve let our friends and family see you, I know you two will be fast friends. I can even keep her mother distracted with other conversation to give you two a chance to chat.” He squeezes my hand twice, love and encouragementradiating from him. “We need to succeed before leaving tomorrow.”
I press my lips together, dreading traveling in the summer heat. But the date jogs my memory.
“Your name day is coming up.”
He arches back, skeptical. “Yes. And?”
I tilt my head, a plan forming in my mind. “Maybe we could invite them to the celebrations in case we don’t get an answer tonight? Better yet, if we do get answers, we then have an opportunity to have the kingdoms gather and get a cure created to then disperse.”
“We?”
