Page 185 of Beast and Remedy
I heave and heave andheave.
Beau rubs my back as I calm down, and I pinch my nostrils, needing to stop smelling the tinge of copper.
Keeping my senses blocked off, I whirl on Beau, readying to demand an explanation. But he hands me his bow without a word.
Marian halts me. “He needed to injure it so we could be close enough to give it the medicine.”
Her words are not laced with anger or malice, rather plain logic. My lungs play catch-up, and I nod as Beau approaches the wounded beast.
He squats—
The wolf snaps its jaw, and Marian and I gasp.
Beau deflects with ease, waiting a moment before grabbing the creature’s snout.
“Beau!” I panic, launching forward to keep him from getting bitten.
“We need to give it the first dose,” he says, struggling against the wolf bucking. “Come on, help me and then we can heal its injuries.”
The beast growls in retaliation, and I move, helping Beau.
“Marian, reach into my pack and give it one of the vials,” I order.
She steps forward, reaching into my satchel and pulling out the tonic. Popping off the caps of both, she asks, “One or both?”
“One now to stop the symptoms and the other shortly after will ensure the symptoms stay away,” Beau answers as we both dig ourselves into the ground, my ass slipping into a damp section of mud as we wrangle to keep the wolf at bay.
“Okay, open its mouth,” Marian says.
We pry apart the animal’s jaw, tilting it to the sky.
Marian dumps the tonic down its throat, Beau and I clamping its snout shut right after.
I reach for my power again, ignoring its extended silence and pray my words will be enough to soothe it.
“We’re trying to help.Pleaseunderstand me.Pleasedo not fight us. We are here to help,” I whisper into its coarse fur.
Recognition halts the wolf’s movements, and the fight immediately drains, giving us a reprieve.
“Thank you,” I breathe to the creature and the Makers, grateful I can evoke something.
The predator huffs in acknowledgment and shifts, further relaxing as the dose takes effect.
Beau sags. “You should’ve done that earlier,” he jokes, and I choke on a laugh.
“I didn’t think about it, nor did I think I could do it,” I admit weakly.
“Ready for the next one?” Beau asks, and I smile, glancing over to my twin.
She holds the other vial.Completelyempty.
My mouth falls, gaping in horror. “Marian! What did you do!?”
“I took the other dose.” She shrugs.
I gasp.
“What?” she counters. “You said so yourself, one dose will stop the symptoms, so now I only need a second dose.”
