The Beast And The Blessed

Thirteen: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

I was amused when Holden had to get another look at the naked siren. He was amazed that she looked so normal until I told him that was how they lured in their victims. Their song and their bodies were a beacon to any species.

When they fed is when they would shed their skin and reveal their slimy, boney, true forms. Vile creatures.

I had seen them snatch a poor Sprite out of the air and bite them in half like a candy bar. It was not pleasant.

The ground beneath us had been lifted to a comfortable lounge bed with soft, short grass. I had offered to take Holden back to the packhouse, but he refused.

’If I don't think about the siren wanting to lure me to my death, this is the most relaxing place I've ever been," Holden said with his hands behind his head as he stretched out beside me. He was attractive. I would give him that. But it felt wrong to think about him any other way when he was only eighteen while I was twenty-six.

Granted, he looked older. Much older. Being a wolf did wonders for his build, but I didn't feel physically attracted to him.

"She'll give up soon. If not, we can always kill and take some of her blood. Once you drink even a drop of it, their pull will no longer work on you." I smirked as the siren below us went silent. She knew she stood no chance against me. She barely made it out alive last time.

"Is that why she doesn't bother you?" He turned to look at me, and I smirked at him.

"I can be scrappy when I need to be." I felt my heart slow as he smiled at me. It was a feeling I had never experienced before. He knew none of my past or the horrors I had to face. There was no pity or disgust. Most importantly, there was no fear. "It really doesn't bother you, does it? The way I look."

"It does." He reached over, letting his hand rest on mine, but I pulled away.' I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. That bothers me because I haven't smelled anything from you that would indicate you have any interest in me. I will win you over, though. I can be very stubborn when I want something."

His green eyes bore into me, placing his hand back behind his head and flexing his muscles as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"And what is it that you want from me?" There was a voice in my head, shouting that he just wanted to fuck a witch, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.

"I want to spend time with you. You are breathtaking and strong. You deserve to be treated like a Goddess. If you'd let me, I could be the one to do that for you, or I can be your friend, but I require our midnight snack to be cheesecake next time."

His words warmed my heart, and I turned away from him to look at the ocean before us as pain stabbed through my chest. "You have a mate out there who will be your entire world soon. Don't let anyone get in the way of you finding that happiness."

He let out a sigh, and from the corner of my eye, I watched as he followed my gaze to the horizon and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Besides, it wouldn't be fair to you for me to lead you on." I could picture Tobias as clearly as if he were standing before me. It wasn't as if it were the first time I had thought about him today, but it was the most painful for some reason.

'Who is he? Can I take him?" Holden lifted his head, his eyes narrowed, but his lips twitched as he tried not to smile.

kick your ass in his sleep, but I don't think he would care enough to actually do it if he saw

'Why not?"

pain audible as I closed my eyes to prevent them from watering. "Because

him jealous." Holden's suggestion hadn't

I thought being loved by him, even for a short while until he found his mate, would still be better than not having him at all. He wasn't interested." There was a heavy silence between us as I admitted my pathetic story of

myself for ever becoming

for wolves. That means I have a chance."

started again, followed by the powerful

the glazed look in Holden's eyes from her song. The oversized lounge chair I had created dropped back to

His eyes moved from me back to the cliff's edge. I grabbed his

and he looked down at our hands before

we going

"Fishing."

***

for dinner. I had never felt so

they hadn't. I knew

as his eyes darted around the room as he saw everything with a different view. When I had my first and only taste of

for me. With your metabolism, it might be a day, maybe two." I said, wishing I could relax fully and let my arm wrap around his waist as my mind told me to. It amazed me how his touching me bothered me less than when other

a physical person, but I needed

in a respectful greeting. I had probably pissed them off enough today. I didn't need to give

"Your Majesties."

dropped from my shoulders as he sobered and bowed as well, our voices overlapping as we greeted our

would be siren venom," Killian said, his eyes landing on my bicep where the bitch had managed to get a hold of me. I wore it proudly, knowing every Lycan and wolf here would know I had fought and bested a siren. "Josie,

I wanted that

doing very well at keeping himself in check, and I didn't want to be the person he lost it with. I nodded once, following him to an empty sitting room down

aside, so I assumed he wanted privacy for this conversation. Still, I knew he would be uncomfortable being alone

he thought I was a siren too, waiting for the perfect moment to cast

and

and now I would be let go. I doubted anyone in the city would let me purchase or buy a house from them without hiding who I really was. I would have to find

friendship with Holden would be short­lived. Once Holden found his mate, she wouldn't be too keen on him spending time with me. So, I couldn't count him as a

closer. I stared at his chest, not bothering to offend him further by looking into

you get