Page 93 of Beast and Remedy
Another soft breeze shoots my locks upward, and I tuck the strands behind my ears. “I don’t see how that is possible while we are riding.”
“When we set up camp for the night, then,” Jules suggests.
Absentmindedly, I wince and rub the nape of my neck, phantom pain lingering from countless times my sister and others have tried to tame my waves.
“Come on, Vi. I’ll make sure I don’t leave you with sore spots.”
A flicker of a smirk graces my lips. “Fine.”
She shifts in her saddle with giddiness, clasping her hands. “Yes! I’m so excited!”
“I don’t understand why.”
“You and Christine have the most wavy and curly hair. I am envious of the various ways the two of you can style it. And this”—Jules lifts her raven-colored plait before flicking it back—“This is just boring. Straight. Dull.”
Marcel hollers back, “None of those describe you, though.”
Instant red blossoms on Jules’s cheeks, and she fiddles with the horse’s reins.
But Marcel and Christine beam at one another, glee radiating from their relaxed postures and softened eyes, filled with pure adoration and love for each other and Jules.
I elbow my friend. “He isn’t wrong, you know.”
Jules turns bashful as she whispers, “Thank you.”
Beau calls back, “I’m sorry, what did you say, Jules?”
She grumbles before raising her voice. “I said thank you!”
Marcel and Beau peer back, both handsome and lightening our travel with their broad grins. Beside them, Leo smacks his forehead.
Jules tries to hide her appreciation, but it’s visible even as I run a side-glance over her. Good.
It’s heartwarming to see Marcel and Jules’s dynamic, their silent affection, little taunts, and small gestures. It’s all a glue they apply to each other, filling each other’s hearts.
And with Christine, the three of them bring out the best in one another, harmoniously symmetrical and always happy.
Marcel faces the path, and Beau’s stare remains on me, his smile lingering and reminding me of everything he said when we were at the tavern.
I swallow the lump forming in my throat, averting my gaze and focusing on Jules.
“You alright?” she asks in a hushed voice, nudging her head to Beau riding ahead with the others. “You two seem like you haven’t bounced back to what you were before.”
I sigh, her words weighing heavy on my heart.
What we were…
Everyone knew my friendship with Beau was unique. The kindred understanding we had with one another deeper thanour love for reading and learning, appearing to others as if we had our own language.
But with us butting heads every time we’ve been seen together lately…
“We are working on it,” I offer, reaching forward and running my fingers through my horse’s mane.
“Is it because of your father?”
I want to say yes, but it’s not only about Papa. It’s about my kingdom, my sister, and my heart possibly being broken again.
Since Beau put his feelings on the line, I haven’t been able to move past it. The war inside my very soul thrashes with the possibility, how I cave one moment and then push him away the next.
