The Beast And The Blessed

Twenty-Seven: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

He jumped down. His dirty-blonde hair appeared brown in the shadows of the trees until he stepped into the sunlight and illuminated the gold strands. He was of average height but still a head shorter than Tobias. He was lanky and thin, almost like he had been starving for months in the woods.

But what fascinated me the most was the subtle pale yellow eyes. Even the powerful aura coming from him didn't bother me. His eyes, though, they did.

They bothered me greatly as they bore into me like he could read my mind and see my soul.

I didn't need confirmation for me to know that it was him. He was the toy the nymphs wanted. He was what everyone on the mountain was hunting.

He was who Aurora and Killian sent me to convince to come back with me.

"Why have you brought me here?" A crooked smile met my question, and he began to circle me with curiosity.

I kept my blade up, turning with him as he examined me how a predator would its prey. "You brought yourself here."

His low snort as he laughed made me pause, and my eyebrows pressed together in confusion. The geekiness of this man made me think there was no way he could be a threat, but then again, most villains got their start the same way.

They were dismissed or looked down upon and became angry or power- hungry.

I wouldn't underestimate a man who had blown up half of a mountain and convinced a descendant of the moon goddess and the king to send me out without backup or magic.

I'm not in the mood for jokes right now. I was sent here to convince you to come back with me. So what will it take?" The tension in my shoulders lowered when I realized I was possibly only a

He asked, nudging a crushed granola bar with his toe

again through gritted teeth. This man had taken me away from my

up at me and away from the scattered food and supplies on the ground. He should have spoken with Killian or even Natalie if he wanted

to the side as another explosion erupted, shaking the trees and making the Earth

moving.* He said before walking back toward the tree he had been standing in

shifter. Please be a dragon

coming or not? We can't wait around here all day." He shouted over his shoulder but didn't

back in my backpack quickly and follow him without arguing. He walked briskly before reaching a stone wall, uneven

through it. His body morphed as he never broke his stride until he

to side, moving my body until I found the perfect angle to see the almost unnoticeable glimmer of magic. This would be a good

sanctuary, and it made my mind go back to the mountain. The real question was which side she

sheath on my thigh easily as I straightened my back and

almost damp. I wrinkled my nose at the smell, and the man gave me a sheepish

asked, wondering if it was safe to use magic now that I was with him. It didn't make sense that he would have a protection spell around the mountain without

that I wanted to talk to the person in charge, she warned me about you. A few people did, actually." He walked over, picked up a large stick, and poked at the fire pit in the

burst into flames, the smoke going up two feet before being sucked into

so speak." My demand made him smile, and I looked away to examine the rest of his cave. There

to meet you. I'm Cyrus." He said, stepping forward with his hand out, and I spun to face him, lifting my dagger between us, making him

not ask your name. I asked what you