Page 154 of Beast and Remedy
“I can, and I do, Vi.” Her voice rises. “And it is stupid and annoying, and it ruins those touched by it.”
I flinch. “What do you mean?”
She gestures to the group. “It ruins us with the death of our loved ones. It happened to our friends. To Queen Tove andeveryroyal family.” She points between herself and me. “It will ruin you and me, too.”
Magic and death truly did fracture our friendships. An awkward silence surrounds us all.
Leo hangs a few paces behind, and he comes up to be a steady force for my twin. He’s about to touch her shoulder, but I shake my head.
I hold Marian’s stare as the strong and bubbly sister I know and love ebbs away.
She sniffs and blinks quickly, trying to keep the tears at bay, and I’m unsure of how to be there for her. I can feel her pain and fear like I can my own.
The virus is festering underneath and getting worse. I take a deep breath and soften my features, moving faster than she expects to drag her into my arms.
Marian shudders and burrows into my neck as we both squeeze the other twice. She sobs hard, and everyone closes in and joins our embrace.
I whisper in her ear, “Magicisstupid and annoying. And we did lose Mama. We lost ourselves, and we lost our friends.” Her tears soak my skin, and I clutch her tighter, not wanting her to feel alone through any of this. “But even though we are lost and don’t know what happened to Mama, we still have each other.”
We all break apart, and I grip Marian’s shoulders. “Magic or not, we are going to go from ruination into salvation.”
“Easy for you to say,” she mutters.
“Marian.” I level my gaze, and her brown eyes meet mine, bitterness trying to seep through. “We will find a remedy. I will find a way to heal you. I’m not leaving you.”
“You should.” She sniffs and wipes away the tears on her reddened cheeks.
“Don’t say that!” Leo interjects.
Marian channels her frustration with a glare. “You all should. Who’s to say I won’t turn on you all?”
“You won’t,” Jules says. “Beau is healing and helping you every day.”
“But what if I snap one day, despite all the healing? Despite finding a cure? What if I somehow infect you all? What then? Then everyone will be infected!” Marian yells as horror takes over her features, and she glances down at her hands, gaping.
Without warning, Beau illuminates the entire area with his magic. He hovers his power over my sister, and a trickle of his magic seeps down and dissolves into her pores.
Marian’s eyelashes flutter, and she inhales a long, deep breath. When Beau pulls back his magic and she opens her eyes, they’re brighter and less bitter. She peers up and inclines her thanks.
“Let’s all get some sleep tonight,” Beau says. “We will set out for Belmur after breakfast. How does that sound?”
Everyone agrees before Beau addresses Marian. “I want you to rest as much as you can. I am going to do everything in my ability to make sure you are of sound mind as we get everything worked out. We know what to look for, and we will have everything needed to make the cure soon. And if anything about you changes, you know we will all adapt and work together to keep you with us.”
Marian’s throat bobs.
Beau holds her side. “Even if I must work with Vi and heal you every hour of every day, we will find a way to be rid of the infection.Permanently.”
She launches into his arms, her broken spirit tugging at my heart.
Beau holds her before lowering her, and the two smile.
“Everyone enjoy their own beds tonight. Especially me since I’ve slept on a chaise these last few nights watching over Vi,” Beau says, and I muffle the burst of laughter wanting to escape at his lie.
He slept in bed with me every night, and it’s been one of the few things holding me together.
I play along. “I’m sorry, but I do appreciate your help.” I spin to my friends and sister, taking in their loving faces. “I appreciate everyone’s help with everything. From not banishing us when we arrived in Torgem, to traveling with us—helpingus… I… I truly would be lost without you all.”
Leo nudges me. “That’s what friends are for.”
