Page 240 of Beast and Remedy
“I-I-I just don’t want t-t-to lose you.”
“You will never lose me, Vivienne. And I’m so sorry for ever making you believe that.” His lips meet my temple.
Papa grabs my chin, steering it up to meet his softened gaze. Tears stream down his own cheeks. “Now tell me, is thistrulywhat you want? To be with Beau?”
“Without question,” I answer with certainty, not even marveling at Papa calling him Beau.
He loosens a long, shaky breath. “Then, I need to let you go.”
I gape and blink away my tears, trying to clear my emotions enough to understand him. “Let me go?”
My lip quivers, realizing he made me choose, and I chose Beau.
Nothim.
Is he disowning me? I can’t lose him. Hejustsaid I’d never lose him.
“Papa, wait,” I plea in a rush. “It doesn’t have to be like this.Please—”
“I guess we need to hold another meeting with every kingdom if Belmur and Torgem are to unite.”
My eyes widen as Beau’s voice rings clear in shock. “Wait, really?”
My father peers over to Beau. “The uniting of the kingdoms will not happen under my rule, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen under Vi’s.”
Beau, Tove, and Jerrick break into broad grins as Papa faces me. “Vivienne, love is strong and loyal when it is within family. But when it is shared between partners, it is something else entirely. It marvels you—captivatesyou. It feeds you, nurtures you, and does so much more. I was blessed to have both types of love in my life, and I would be worse than Letum himself if I were to truly deny you any of that. And while he may have been deserving of those punches earlier—”
I smile at the lighthearted joke as Papa gingerly dries my tears before he finishes. “He is a fair ruler.”
Papa pulls me into another embrace. He squeezes me twice, lowering his voice for only me to hear. “And if I were to choose between him and any other suitor for your hand, I would choose him for you because he loves you. And that’s all I could ever ask for the Makers to let happen for you.” He pulls away, his tender disposition warming my heart. “You will be a great Queen of BelmurandTorgem.”
I startle at my future title, and I nuzzle into his chest. “I love you, Papa. Forever.”
“And I love you, my darling girl,” he responds, holding me a bit longer.
Small flickers of magic and love mold broken fragments of my heart together.
We break away, and my father helps me rise and face the others.
“Beauvais, please accept my deepest, humble apology as well as my sincere gratitude for everything you’ve done for Belmur and for my family.” Papa offers his open palm, and Beau takes it, the two shaking hands. “I hope that joining our territories is enough of a sign that your banishment is lifted.”
Beau chokes on a laugh and swipes back his blond hair. “Thank you, Bernard. Truly. And my friends call me Beau.”
“My friends call me Bernie.”
My father and the love of my life nod, everyone breaking into broad smiles.
Tove squeezes Beau’s shoulder when he releases Papa’s hand.
Beau turns, beaming. “Thank you for your kind words, Queen Tove.”
“My friends call me Tove,Beau,” she answers, and they share a small chuckle before she twists to me. “You deserve all the happiness.”
She and her husband curl into each other, gazing at her abdomen with their first child.
Jerrick holds Tove’s hand, his thumb running across her knuckles as he whispers, “We all do.” He presses his forehead to his wife’s, his scar pinching from his smile.
They meet my stare, and I freeze, words themselves incapable of expressing my gratitude to them.
