The Beast And The Blessed

Twelve: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

I was a woman on a mission. Nothing would stop me, and if anyone tried, there would be hell to pay.

The cold metal tray in my hands was dirty but empty as I carried it down the hallway. I wouldn't let anyone, not Killian or Tobias, bring me down again. Yet, my eyes seemed to move on their own across each face I passed, looking for Tobias and failing to find him.

The guards dipped their heads to me as I strode past them, my heels clicking against the floor as I approached the king’s office door. There was no knocking, no warning of my entrance as I shoved the door open.

Killian growled at the rude and unwelcome interruption but didn't bother getting up. Natalie was sitting on his lap and greeted me with a smile. I couldn't return it.

’Joselin,'' Killian greeted, and I stopped before his desk, ignoring the man sitting in the visitor's chair to my left. There was a moment of silence as I stared down at my best friend and his mate before tossing the dirty tray onto the wooden surface between us. A few crumbs bounced out, and I felt satisfied when his anger melted away and was replaced with realization. "Shit, Josie. We were..."

"This better be good." I snapped, and Natalie looked between us, confused. ’After all the shit I have done for the two of you and have put up with because of you, I would love to hear this."

"Hm," The man hummed, and I looked down at the blonde as he eyed me with appreciation. "You look even more beautiful this morning. How is that possible?"

I blinked down at him, feeling my anger melting away a small fraction before I forced my eyes away from Holden. His green eyes were a shade lighter than Natalie's, and I had to scold myself when I immediately found myself comparing them to the brown of Tobias's.

"You two have met?" Natalie asked, but a suspicious undertone refueled my anger toward them.

'Yes, we met last night when you and your mate stood me up." Natalie flinched but looked surprised as I turned my glare from her to Killian. "So, let's have it. What was your excuse this time?"

"There were a few personal matters to attend to," Killian said, his voice short and clipped. It was Natalie's cheeks growing pink that gave him away.

"One hour. That was all I asked of you." My voice dropped, but my anger was still there, bubbling beneath the surface. "We have been best friends for fifteen years. I pushed it aside when your mate accused me of sleeping with you. I've accepted that you no longer wish to be alone with me for more than a few minutes at a time, and even then, you keep the door open to stop Natalie from getting upset or worried about our friendship."

"Hold on now. I didn't know about any of this." Natalie argued, and while she looked angry, I was pleasantly surprised that she kept her magic under control. She was improving. No matter how angry I was and how certain I was sure she would make my job obsolete soon, I was still proud of her.

even worse because once again, he didn't want to be alone with me, said he would bring you, and then didn't even tell you about it. That tells me that he never intended to show up at all." I wished I

have the right to be. I got distracted and didn't mean

had the feeling he was waiting for me to accept that as his apology while I was waiting for an actual one and maybe hoping he had the desire

me time and time again. He

even with our friendship crumbling, he wouldn't do it. "You really

his mouth to speak, but

much for you. You are a good

for you to be there for her..." I watched his shoulders hunch down slightly,

her mate and wasn’t intentionally

same thing he always bitched to me about when it came to his sister Charlie. He was always so frustrated that she constantly demanded more from him and for him to 'be better' when he felt he was already trying his hardest. He told me how frustrating it was when he had nothing

to admit that he had been getting better since finding Natalie, but he still had a lot of growing to do, just as I

say something, but he seemed to be at a genuine loss for words

the weight on his shoulders from crushing him. I have put up with a lot of shit, and I get our relationship won't ever be the same now that he has you as his person instead of me." I turned to look

his time into, even if it meant both of you hanging out for one hour and eating a fucking brownie with me. It really didn't seem

a potential threat in the castle? It would have been easier if it was just a

I said, realizing I wouldn't get anywhere with Killian, not today or in front of a stranger. Holden may have been

had begun to

entered the darkness. It wasn't the first time someone grabbed me while I was traveling

wouldn't be the last.

glanced into the emptiness, his

connection between us started to break. "Don't let

him to me until our bodies touched. His free hand immediately found my

new," He murmured, but I couldn't let go. It didn't matter who he was

me. The closest I had gotten to physical comfort in years had been Killian, throwing his arm over my shoulders a couple of weeks ago like he used to do when we were teenagers. Every other touch had been sparring or meaningless sex that did nothing to make

to understand, and his arms wrapped