Page 241 of Beast and Remedy
Tove graces me with a smirk and reaches for my father’s arm, looping it around her own. “Come, take a walk with me, Bernie. I want your input on ideas for names.” She tugs him with her toward the exit.
“Bernard has a nice ring to it,” Papa says, and Tove snorts.
Jerrick rolls his eyes before glancing at Beau and me. “My congratulations to you both. But if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sureBernardstays off my wife’s list of names.”
Beau and I chuckle as Jerrick strides off after his wife, the gap between us vacant for only a moment, the two of us eagerly seeking closeness every chance we have.
I hold his sides as he cups my cheeks.
I melt into the touch. “I should be screaming at you for inviting my father.”
“You should be,” he murmurs his agreement. “But I… after you told me everything—about your agreement, about what you sacrificed—I took a risk. And while I’m sorry for how it unfolded, I’m not sorry for the final result.”
My anger is nonexistent, but my joy is overwhelming. Tears already return at this miracle—this chance Beau took.
For me. Forus.
“My love?” he breathes, wanting to understand every thought, every feeling of mine as he wipes away my tears. “Is it my swollen cheek?”
I bark a laugh, my stitches stretching and leaving me wincing.
Beau’s brows pinch, a wordless apology for causing me pain despite the smirk gracing his beautiful face. One I get to behold for the rest of my life.
We might be a beast and remedy to the world, but we were always two souls meant to be intertwined. And finally—permanently—we are tethered and complete at last.
“Beau,” I breathe, joy too pure—too indescribable.
His grin expands, his teeth gleaming and eyes wrinkling in the corners despite the swelling in his cheek. He leans in, our foreheads touching.
“Yours,”hewhispers.“I’m yours.”
The words repeat in my mind, swirling and dancing through my veins, encasing my heart and tying my soul to his.
Our lips meet, and I lose myself in the kiss—inhim.
I tug him closer, our proximity never feeling like it’ll be enough as I part my mouth. I rest my hands on his muscled chest, his heart beating frantically alongside my own as the kiss slows. We hardly move an inch when it does end.
Beau’s golden eyes hold mine, his sweet citrus scent forever engrained upon my soul.
“I get to be yours.Forever.” His voice breaks and pure love swirls behind his gaze.
I reach for his cheeks, running my thumbs across his skin. “And I get to be yours,always.” I draw him in for another kiss, the smile on my face never leaving.
Beau whispers along my lips, “Always and forever, Rosebud.”
Epilogue
Forever
Four Months Later
Beau
Aday I always hoped would come has finally arrived, growing more real by the moment. After formulating the correct remedy, my family jumped to work, ensuring Vi and I got the rest we deserved and the time needed to cure the people and the lands of Draymenk.
Esme and Hugo controlled transporting the medicine to each region, while Veryon and Odette stayed behind and negotiatedterms each kingdom would agree upon once Vi ascended her father’s throne.
I hadn’t thought he’d allow me the chance to marry her before then, but he stunned us all. After Vi and I gave every monarch the clear to let citizens return to their homes, every ruler signed the agreement.
