Page 44 of Beast and Remedy
“Vi, I need you to look at me.” She holds my cheeks, guiding me to her.
“I-I’m so sorry Marian,” I blubber through strained breaths.
I’m in shock, but I can’t ease my thoughts. The pain. It’s too much. Everything is suffocating and draining me from the inside out.
“Vi, you’re having a panic attack. I need you to breathe.Please,” Marian begs as I tremble. “Vi,please.Pleaselook at me.”
My heart fractures.
Sniffing, I try to calm my rushed breaths as I open my eyes. “M-M-Marian—”
“I’m here, I’m here.” She brings our foreheads together, shivering as tears fall.
I struggle to even my breathing, listening to her exaggerated inhales and exhales, the rhythm of my own heartbeat eventually slowing.
Carefully, I assess the magnitude of her injury through my blurry vision.
“It’s a bite. We don’t know if—”
“We don’t know anything, Marian!” I snap, looking once more at the red liquid seeping from her forearm.
The bite marks don’t appear like simple puncture wounds. The yanking of the wolf’s mouth back and forth created grooves and tears across her flesh.
And theblood.
So. Much. Blood.
The memory of Annie comes to the forefront of my mind as I reach for the hem of my cloak. I hesitate at the red staining and covering my hands and body.
Options. I need options.
I rip the fabric and wrap her injury, my mind reeling. The cloth soaks up the blood faster than I can do a rotation around Marian’s arm, and I falter.
What if Marian—Fuck, I don’t even know how—
“Vi,” Marian warns. “Stop doing that thing with your face.”
“What thing with my face?” I meet her gaze, her skin paler than normal. Too much damn blood lost. “We need to get you help.”
“Help?” She chokes on a laugh. “We are in the middle of the forest. Even on horseback, we are a day’s ride home.”
Horseback…Home.
My hair blows across my vision as I look eastward before turning to the path back to Belmur. Or…
A voice I haven’t heard in years drifts to the forefront of my mind, drawing forth words I read not so long ago.
Should you ever need my assistance or that of my kingdom, my borders will always be open to you.
“What are you thinking?” Marian asks with trepidation.
I bite my lip, hesitating. It’s ludicrous to even suggest aloud. If Papa knew where we went, he would—
“Spit it out!” Marian yells, startling me.
“Torgem!” I shout, and her mouth falls.
“We should ride for Torgem,” I repeat. “It’s closer. We can get there faster on horseback. We’ll be able to treat your injury and keep you from losing more blood. Beauvais can use his magic to help heal—”
