Page 168 of Beast and Remedy
“Shhhhh.” He runs his fingers through my waves, barricading me. “You have nothing to apologize for, my love. So much has happened. So much has affected so many. And while we cannot change the past, we can and we are doing everything possible to create a cure.”
I sniff, trying and wanting to believe his words.
“We’re even out here right now, trying to strengthen the control of your abilities,” he murmurs. “And I know your father is the type of person to see truth with tangible evidence. I’ve been trying to find answers ever since it happened. So, you aren’t the only one wanting to fix everything.”
“Wait. You—you have?” I ask, blinking up at him in astonishment.
He nods and dries my tears. “And I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few people.”
My world shifts on its axis as my mouth falls. “Wh-Wh-Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t want to until I knew for certain.” He brushes his nose along mine. “And much like yourself, I didn’t want to mention anything because of the high amount of stress you and Marian were under when you came back.”
“Y-You could have told me.”
“I am now, aren’t I?”
I swallow. “Yes, but—”
“Against my better judgment to wait until knowing for certain, I’m telling you this now because I don’t want you to push me away. I want you to want this as much as I do.” He encompasses my hand in his and squeezes twice. “I want you to fight for this as much as you are fighting for your sister. But I want you to fight for this afterwesolve everything because I am not letting you go again, Vi. Ican’t—”
His voice cracks and his throat bobs. “Ican’tlose you again.”
I hold his wrists, waiting in the quiet with him, being his steady support as he works through his emotions.
He masks his pain from the world, and it’s a pain that matches my own whenever I think of Mama.
A pain that instills fear of losing my sister. A pain that taunts me with the inevitable loss of Papa, Jean, Pierre—of all my loved ones.
A pain that closes around my heart, threatening to consume me whenever I think of living a life without him in it.
I inhale Beau’s sweet citrus scent, tracing small circles across his skin as the world feels too much for the two of us. I don’t want him to feel alone with the burdens and pain we both carry.
“I can’t lose you again, either,” I whisper as our eyes lock.
“I swear we will not lose each other again. I swear we will find out who killed your mother. And I swear we will cure Marian, and we will sort out your magic,” Beau vows, and seals his promise with a kiss.
“I love you, Rosebud,” he breathes when we break apart.
My heart flutters, filling up with more love than I believed fathomable. “I love you too, B.”
The summer’s sunset encircles us, and I glance to my right, a familiar floating ember appearing.
The esprit.
I smile and nudge Beau, his eyes catching on the reminder of why we came out here.
With a grin, he asks, “Are you ready?”
Tenderness and love fill my heart, expanding and thrumming along my nerves before I nod. The esprit flashes from an ember into a sizzling soul, dusk strengthening its tether to communicate with me.
“Powerful, are your gifts. But mightier is your will and intellect,”the soul whispers.
I beam, grateful for its presence here with Beau. “I-I don’t know the first thing about shifting at will.”
“I’d say make yourself as comfortable as you can,” Beau suggests, and I agree, reaching to remove my clothing.
My love multiplies as Beau tenderly holds my gaze, taking my shirt and trousers and placing them by our packs without his eyes drifting over my nakedness.
