Page 237 of Beast and Remedy
A small lift of Beau’s lip is the only acknowledgment I receive as my father grunts and drags me along, leaving Beau to walk to the meeting alone.
52
The Declaration
Beau dismisses Leo and Marcel, choosing to keep the discussions between the monarchs and me, even having his advisors await the group’s overall plan of action.
“As you all know, Princess Vivienne and I developed a cure we intended to disperse to each kingdom on my name day. But said medicine was destroyed by Princess Marian, who was infected and had been given the remedy,” Beau states, opening the meeting with emotionless facts.
My father crosses his arms as I fidget with the skin around my fingernails.
I cannot spare a glance at anyone. My cheeks heat in embarrassment over my kingdom causing so much uproar, and the magic unsettles in my chest.
“We learned through other means that what we created was not the permanent solution. However, we now know the missing ingredients and with Princess Vivienne’s assistance…” A ghost of a smile lifts as Beau meets my gaze before he continues. “We should be able to replenish the stock of damaged medicine with its corrected ingredients.”
“Will there be enough to administer to anyone infected?” Tove asks me.
Everyone turns, eyes boring into me as the walls close in.
I take a shaky breath and exhale through the fatigue and sorrow. “It will take time to produce and disperse, but that’s not the largest issue. We need to administer the tonic to our people and infected animals in every territory as well.”
The Queen of Palaena tilts her head, and I add, “The infection, as most of you know, mutated. And while we have the cure, we should err with caution. We don’t want it to mutate again before we see true results. So, we should slowly monitor the progression of the tonic administered to animals and people first before allowing Belmur citizens to travel and ease off on the patrolling of our borders.”
“How long would you guess that would take?” she asks.
“It could take a few months, but there’s no true way to tell,” I say.
“And how will we know if the creatures of the forests are changing?” Jerrick asks.
The room hangs in silence for my response, and I press my lips together, knowing what he asks would reveal my gifts to another kingdom.
I plead with my eyes to Papa for some guidance. But he shrugs, a dismissal and sign I’m on my own.
Veering back, I take in the others. We all know of Tove’s and Beau’s magic, but Jerrick’s remains a mystery.
Would it be so bad for them to know? If I confess my abilities, what would they make of it? Does Jerrick know since he helped us find Marian? No, I was in my human state when they reached us. But if he discovers my power, he would know it was me who attacked him and his wife all those years ago—
I shake my head, carefully working out a half-truth answer. “My gifts should allow me to determine how well the cure works with animals.”
Tove’s eyes widen as Jerrick arches a brow with curiosity.
I don’t give them a chance to ask more questions. “But I can’t do it alone, though.”
“I can help disperse the tonic in my lands and woods,” Beau volunteers.
“As will I,” Jerrick agrees, sharing a glance with his wife. “I think it is time I took my wife on another hunt.”
“Absolutely not,” she says with defiance, and I choke on my laugh.
Their heads whip to me, and I stifle my outburst, shrinking inward.
Beau fills in the awkward tension. “We can send an emissary and the cure to Northtry and Unterkirch with our plans.”
“It’s settled then,” my father concludes, pushing from the table. “I have a daughter to get home, advisors to reprimand, and a remedy to produce.”
Papa makes to leave, but halts when I don’t immediately follow him. “Vi.” He laces my name with caution. “It’s time to leave. Let’s go.”
“She can’t go back to Belmur,” Beau says.
