Page 226 of Beast and Remedy
“What are you doing to her?” my father demands.
Clarity and pain come in waves as Leo and Beau hover over me.
“She’s okay, Beau. You can stop now,” Leo says, holding me close as a dim light fizzles off his brother’s trembling hands.
I nod twice to Beau, hoping it is enough.
Slowly, he relaxes, exhaustion dragging him down, and his knees buckle.
“Beau!” Christine gasps as Marcel catches his friend and helps support him.
Pain and grief dry out my mouth as I remember Mama’s warning.
I turn, rasping, “Papa.”
His green eyes find me, wrinkles defined and beard and hair grayer than I remember. The rise and fall of his chest is rapid, panicked. Fury and wrath burn and itch for an escape, a reprimand—a vengeance he’s wanted ever since losing Mama.
“Don’t believe Marian. She—she is infected,” I tell him, too weak, too tired.
“She’swhat? Why can’t I believe her?” Papa demands.
I look between him and Marian. The falsehood, betrayal, and true nature of her rip through her façade.
My heart breaks for what I’m about to do.
Veering to my father, I swallow the lump in my throat. “She… She killed Mama.”
“LIES!” Marian spits. “Papa, please! Vi is the one who did this. She did it all. The infection, Mama, everything.”
Confusion crosses over my father’s features, the fight he had ready for Beau retreating from his demeanor as he takes in my sister and me.
Beau eases from Marcel and steps toward my father, his strength waning as he tries to defuse the situation once more. “Bernard, please lower your weapons. We have a cure, and yourdaughters are both injured. Come, be a guest, and let us treat everyone. Then we can sort everything out.”
Papa scowls, like he’d rather watch Beau suffer than believe him.
But he scans Tove, then me, Beau, and Marian. Uncertainty flashes behind his irises, and I pray to the Makers that Tove’s caution and my word might be enough for him to stand down at least. Then maybe later, he could finally—finally—listen. Heal. Get closure.
I breathe, “Papa.Please.”
“You’re hurting your daughters the more you keep them from getting treated. Just stand down, Bernie,” Veryon says, voice stern and serious.
Everyone waits with bated breath as my father’s jaw works, the grave darkness calming his fury as he sighs and finally sheathes his sword.
The group sags with relief as Marcel comes up to support Beau’s weight as he speaks to Papa. “As a guest in my home, you agree to not raise arms against anyone during your stay, and your jurisdiction is void while in my territory. Should you violate any of these rules, you will face punishment.”
Tove calls back her magic, gently patting my father’s leg with a soft smile as he dismounts with a scoff.
Esme goes to her side, checking on Tove as she relaxes and cradles her stomach.
Hugo and Veryon go to Belmur’s guards as Odette gathers help from the household staff.
Jules and Christine approach Papa, smiling.
Christine takes his elbow. “We can show you to your rooms.”
He stiffens, and Jules adds, “We’ve missed you, Bernie.”
A hint of cheerfulness lifts Papa’s lips, thanking my friends before glaring at Beau and pointing in warning. “If anything happens to my daughters—”
