The Beast And The Blessed

Ten: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

Tobias had sat in the corner of the room, watching me for hours. Only this time, it didn't bother me. I forced myself not to think about him even though I could feel him.

I was so focused for a while that I forgot he was even there until he stood up, making me jump. I glanced over my shoulder, watching as he moved with purpose to the door before pausing and turning back to me.

'Josie,'' He started, and his voice made me swallow hard. His sudden shift in treatment toward me, the touching and flirting, made my name sound all the sweeter on his lips.

I resented it.

'I'm going down for dinner. Would you like to come?"

I knew he wasn't inviting me on a date. He would just walk me down to the dining hall, and we would go our separate ways to eat among the pack. Still, my heart beat faster at the invitation.

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry." I stared down into the bowl with the small amount of blood I was able to pull from the ring. It should have been enough, but something was blocking me from taping into it.

While the challenge was intriguing, I was tired of struggling to find the answers I needed over the past few months without digging through book after book. Then again, if it was easy, the people we were up against wouldn't be considered threats.

I wasn't mad at him about Rona. I knew he was telling me the truth when he said he didn't touch her or encourage her. She was a crazy bitch, and how she spoke to me after I walked into the room was obviously an attempt to antagonize me.

"About this morning in the gym," he started, and I tensed as I waited, peeking up at him from beneath my eyelashes. "I'm sorry that I made you uncomfortable. After what happened last night, it has been so fucking hard not to touch you today, not to drag you back here and finish what we started. I thought you were enjoying us sparring together."

I scoffed, lifting my head as I pursed my lips. "It wasn't about us training, Tobias. You only want to touch me now because I said I was done throwing myself at you. I don't appreciate that. Find some other toy to play with. You had your chance."

He let out a low growl, and I lifted my hand in his direction as he took a step forward. "You are not a toy."

"Don't, Tobias. You've been playing with my emotions for months now because you enjoyed me giving you my attention. Now that you don't have it, you are suddenly interested in me? Like I said, find someone else to play with. Don't be cruel." As I finished speaking, my voice started to crack, and I gritted my teeth together.

to speak, but I wasn't in the mood for his back and forth. He didn't want me until he couldn't have me. That wasn't going to

my tower. Go eat your dinner. I'm going to be working for a while." I looked back down at the ring. My long white hair fell over my shoulder, shielding me from being able to see him, but I released the breath I was holding when I

when he wasn't here, he was still a distraction. I was second- guessing sending him away even though I knew it was the right move

focus on figuring out what

to tap into her through her blood. I had done it before with others. The fact that I couldn't do it

I could, even if it took hours, and

the night and the next day. No one was allowed in, and I refused to leave until I had

It would be easy to return to it again later, but the sooner I found out who was involved in the darkness afoot, the better. Whatever shield

the bowl before locking the sample away in my vault with my other valuable collections. It had already been preserved, so I knew it would stay warm

I changed quickly before racing down to the kitchen. I didn't debate teleporting for a second. It was too mentally draining.

with foil over them, and I smiled widely. This was precisely what

time once more. Killian was only a few minutes late. I was sure they would be down soon. Based on what I had seen of their

no need to grab plates. I doubted the

sending a shiver down my spine as I slid onto the hard surface. My eyes kept dropping down to the tray of brownies as

Joselin." The unfamiliar voice made me turn, but I didn't bother getting off the counter. If needed, I could easily deal with him with a

crossed over his chest as he eyed me curiously. His short blonde hair was wild as if he had run his hands through it several times, and the light layer of scruff along his chiseled jaw seemed almost out of

was going to a meeting. My eye

he was still pretty toned for a

large bay window behind the sink.

His shoes barely made a noise as he walked quietly toward me. "What brought you down here

as he leaned back against the counter to my right. His gaze locked on the window to see what had captured my interest. All of it did, and from the faint smile on his face, it also seemed to catch

as torch bugs danced in the cool night air. The sky was illuminated with more stars than any one person could count, and the moon was only a faint crescent teased by thin lines of

me sitting with my legs crossed up on the counter, I could tell

I realized it had been over an hour and a half that I

realization made my shoulders drop, and my hands tightened on my knees before I gave in and went for the dessert that I knew was waiting for me. The foil was loud as I pulled it off the pan, and the smell of freshly