Page 40 of Beast and Remedy
From,
Beau
9
So. Much. Blood.
Irun my hands over the velvet fabric of my cloak, trying not to let my stomach heave out the contents I ate prior to leaving Palaena.
Marian peers out the window, and I follow her line of sight as clouds stretch over Biala Forest. The light scent of wood and moss creep in through the door, a slight taunt to the beast within, fighting and seeking an escape.
At least another day, please.
My seat creaks as I squirm uncomfortably, unable to focus on reading any of the tomes I was gifted. Irritation brims alongside my powers, my time wasted on quelling the nausea.
I could be discovering something new, jotting down ideas for treatments. But my head pulses with dizziness, my mood souring every instance the carriage jostles me.
Marian pinches her brows with concern. “Are you alright?”
I hate how observant and aware she is.
I nod quickly, clenching my core muscles as my powers swell.
“Then, why do you look like you are about to be sick?”
“My magic,” I huff. “The forest is taunting me.”
“Sweet Makers, Vi,” Marian sighs. “You should have said something before we left. We could have taken a different path.”
“What other path could we have taken? The way homeliterallyrequires us to go through the forest.”
“We could have gone the long way.”
I ease up, suppressing bile with a grimace. “It doesn’t matter now. We are already in the woods.” I gather my cloak close, caging in the power making me ill from repressing it. “If I need to stop, I will let you know.”
Marian crosses her arms. “Fine, but don’t expect me to follow you.”
“Too cold outside for you?” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “It’s barely spring. Not to mention it would beveryinconvenient if I had to ask the guards to take down one of the trunks so I can grab my bow to watch over you.”
“Oh, please.” I wave her off. “You’ve asked for things during other travels plenty of times. I am sure it will—”
The carriage screeches to a halt, sending me falling forward to the floorboards, and Marian almost tumbles on top of me.
My hair plasters over my face, keeping me from seeing if I landed on the crate. I blow it away, relieved I did not damage the box.
Marian moves, but Bronn’s sharp voice hisses with warning. “Stay quiet, Princesses.”
Fear crawls up my spine at his tone. I tilt my head to Marian’s puzzled look. I mouth,Do you see anything?
She lifts her hand as boots scuffle on the gravel, metal ringing as swords unsheathe and something growls. Marian’s widened eyes meet mine, and my blood runs cold.
Dread replaces the bile in my throat for Bronn, Alec, Marius, and Riker.
A loud snarl draws a scream from one of the men as feet scramble and horses neigh. The carriage rocks, and Marian moves above me, opening the door.
I reach to stop her. “M-Marian, what are you—”
