Page 177 of Beast and Remedy
“I need you to go, my love.” Beau releases me. “Now!”
He bends for his bow and grabs a dagger in his belt as I sprint in the opposite direction.
Horror floods through me when a knife meets flesh. An animal whimpers, and I falter a step, stopping when Beau grunts.
My heart twists, and I spin back as Beau launches an arrow into a wolf pouncing for him. A scream lodges in my throat whenanotherstalks forth from the bushes as he tries to fight off the injured one.
No. No. No.
What are you doing, Vi? You can’t leave him!
The yellow-eyed wolf foams at the mouth, licking its lips and waiting for its moment to strike. Terror strikes me, the past blurring through my mind.
Riker. Alec. Marius. Bronn.
I try to blink their faces away, but all I see is red.
So. Much. Blood.
Their blood…Beau’sblood—
No.
A jolt of magic ricochets through me, fury and wrath thrashing in my chest when the creature flashes its canines.
Without thinking, I shoot forward, rage bubbling in my veins and power surging through every shred of doubt, every speck of fear, and every hint of pain.
The beast isunleashed.
A bellowing roar escapes me as I go on all fours, darting and snarling in a heated rampage.
“Vi! Don’t!” Beau yells as he dodges one predator, grabbing his blade and injuring a second creature.
But I don’t listen.
I don’t pay attention to the flicker of pain from the wounded animals.
No, because my path is set.
My path is clear.
My path is to protect what’smine.
The yellow-eyed predator finally sets its sights on me, and I break into a lethal sneer.
The first one Beau stabbed whines, teetering and snapping in a feeble strike. Beau rolls and grabs another arrow, nocking it. “Get out of here!”
He shoots the animal in the head before it can attack and twists to the second one as I ignore him again, tapping more into my power, my possessiveness, and most of all, my rage.
Beau ismine.
The yellow-eyed wolf raises its head, howling, and I growl for it to stand down and flee. But the creature meets my warning with a challenge and careens straight for me.
I face the predator with a huff.
“Vivienne!” Beau screams as it attacks.
But I whip to the side, roaring as I dig my claws into its fur anddrag.
