The Beast And The Blessed

Six: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

"I don't really think we have any time to waste." Rona insisted as I glared at her. I wasn't ashamed to be the first one to admit that I had woken up in a terrible mood. I replayed the situation with Tobias a thousand times before finally falling asleep. "I'm sure the others would like to go home soon."

I knew the situation's urgency, but this did not qualify as an emergency. If anything, Rona's reaction to having to wait only made me more suspicious of her. "From your careful choice of words, I take it that you would prefer to stay in the castle, so I don't see what your hurry is. Other things need to be done before we can fill the two empty council seats."

Talia's betrayal and Agatha's death had hit me harder than expected, and I was angry that two of the women who had trained and raised me were now gone. They were both dead and now I had to pick two witches to replace them.

'We will start bringing in pledges for consideration over the next few weeks, but I want any personal drama to be put aside right now." My glare moved from Rona to Cora, and she adjusted in her seat as she pursed her lips. Ever since Rona had caused Cora to lose her leg in battle a few years ago, the women were at each other's throats.

I couldn't forget Margot and Aisha. Those two women couldn't be trusted to be left alone either, not after an incident where Aisha trapped Margot in a room with a rock troll as a practical joke. Margot got out with a concussion, a few broken bones, and the desire to dangle Aisha over the cliffside of one of the most inhabited siren coves along the coast.

She hung there for two days before someone found her and pulled her in.

I hated all of them except Agatha, but she was gone. Now I was left with four other women, and I didn't trust a single one of them. Nor would I trust any of the pledges they would bring in.

"For now, the meeting is adjourned." I stood and made my way to the door, hearing their grumbling behind me as I went. Today was not the day for them to test me, and it seemed everyone except Rona got that memo as she trailed after me on my heels.

Rona had always pushed my buttons, the evil bitch. Her mother used to bring her here to 'play' with me when we were kids while the council met. Her idea of fun was trying to bury me alive or burning the hallway outside of my room to see how long it would take me to escape. Not too long ago, she killed her mother, stealing her power and taking her seat on the council. Rona had never been tried for it, and it had never been proven.

Still, we all knew what had happened.

After betraying the crown, Talia's

is with the delay?” Rona sneered. "Too scared to do your

as I stepped inside, Rona's voice echoing across the high ceilings. "Not at all, but I am not going deal with filling three council seats

eating, looking as unbothered as ever, caused my temper to flare up into a rage. He seemed so calm and collected when I had been up all night reliving the most humiliating and

be another seat open because I will rip your throat out." I spun around to face her, cocking an eyebrow as she stopped a hair's breadth away

front of all these people? That's not very professional

matter the cost." The rest of my threat was cut short by the feeling of the hairs rising on the back of my neck and the familiar heat of a body stopping inches away

him even though I couldn't hear him, and

filled, the better." Rona's gaze was locked over my shoulder on Tobias, and I began seeing red. I didn't like her looking at him like

Royal Advisor, I lead the council, and it is my decision to make. The meeting has been concluded, and right now, you are doing nothing but wasting our time. Select your pledge and be prepared to present them at the next meeting. Beyond that, our conversation is over." I held her glare as the silent room watched on in

my way to the table. My shoulder bounced off his chest, and I stumbled a step back, my eyes locked on his hand on my arm when he tried to

think about was what his touch felt like last night, how incredible it was to have his naked body up against mine. But he

and I knew he wanted to say something, but he wouldn't. I was happy we had people around, so he wouldn't talk to me. I wasn't capable of having a rational conversation with him right

on it. Attraction and infatuation were two different things. He didn't want me, just my body.

it made

that I had tried to be with wanted a quick fuck. They wanted to return to their friends and say they had bagged the witch. They wouldn't even acknowledge me or look at me after. They just got up and left after they got

could get to know them and build an emotional connection. After years of this, I decided to just grab what

They never did.

watching everyone around me find their soulmates, that unconditional love, made me want it too. I would never stop looking for it, but I was growing

day again after. I was tired of people rushing to get away from me when I came near. I was tired of getting my heart broken by a man who didn't