Page 147 of Beast and Remedy
My breath stutters as he holds my gaze with a small smirk, his chivalry making my heart skip. I beam, and he winks.
He steals the warmth from the entire room when he lets go and walks away, filling up the final opening next to Marcel.
I rub the sides of my dress, trying to relax and be content to be beside Marian.
But desire itches underneath my skin, tingling and creeping down to my core. Wicked ideas trail to the forefront of my mind, and my pussy throbs.
This incessant need—this insatiable hunger—this voracious addiction I have for Beau intensifies with every smile. Every touch. Every kiss.
And I want more.
Stop letting your heart get the better of you, Vi. You can’t have it all.
I inhale a long breath, expelling the temptation and the lust from my mind, preparing for Princess Sybille to join me on my right.
Household staff arrange the table settings and acknowledge us with a bow before filling our cups.
I lift my glass to my lips and sip, admiring the pure love radiating between my loved ones.
Jules smiles at me. “You look better today.”
“I feel better, too.” I grin as I lower my drink. “I should be fit to travel tomorrow as long as I don’t wake tonight with any headaches from what Beau told me before we joined you.”
Christine, the lovely and adorable eavesdropper she is, chimes in. “I was worried you and my brother were conspiring to stay here longer than necessary.”
“What?” I startle.
Beau chokes on his beverage, and we all glance at him as he sets his cup down and coughs aggressively.
“Oh, relax,” Marcel says with nonchalance as he pats Beau’s back.
Beau clears his throat as a worried exchange passes between us.
Do our friends know? And if they do, are they really bringing it up in front of another kingdom?
Fuck, this is the exact opposite of what I need right now.
“We all know if given the opportunity, you two would be holed up all day reading every text possible about healing and medicine,” Marcel states. “But lucky for us, Vi’s injury forced the two of you to neglect books and learning for once.”
Beau glares at his friend as my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
But I thank the Makers, Marcel’s assumption is true enough to convince them to move on with a different conversation.
Nervously, I too seek to discuss something else. “How was target practice today?” I twist to Marian, grateful she looks to be in good spirits tonight versus this morning when she trudged into my rooms for a healing session with Beau.
Marian brightens. “It was good.”
“I still think I hit the targets more than you,” Leo comments.
Marian nudges him. “That’s because you’re a sore loser and are jealous I beat you.”
Leo acts taken aback by her retort, yet he laughs.
I shouldn’t be surprised, though.
He’s been by her side at every waking opportunity throughout this journey and probably even before that.
I can tell her good mood tonight is purely because of him. And I can’t help the expanding gratitude swirling in my chest with appreciation for Leo being here for my sister and for me.
