The Beast And The Blessed

Thirty-Three: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

My arms were crossed over my chest, my fingers tapping against my bicep as I debated my next move.

Cyrus had been good for the past few days, and after I spent another frustrating week trying to tap into Rona's blood, I couldn't help myself. The vial of his blood had been calling out to me, tempting me.

He wouldn't notice a single drop gone, and it's not like he would feel me messing with it. Rona had only known I stole her blood because of our fight. She had figured me out.

She wasn't as stupid as I had hoped, and I had to give her credit. It was just too bad for her that she thought I was stupid too and only had that small sample of her blood in the bowl she stole from me.

Cyrus already knew I had his blood.

It dropped to the bowl with a small splash. When the light hit it, I immediately held the entire vial up to my face, wanting a closer look. The unique pattern of black lines in the liquid differed from any other magical creature that had ever bled for me.

It was unique and intriguing, yet familiar. I had only seen it once before... in my blood. I knew we weren't related, at least not closely. But it gave me some insight into his power level. He was strong.

I thanked my mother's inability to hold me in for my powers. She told me the story and showed me her pregnancy pictures. The images stopped the day she had me. Why would she want to document the proof that she had built and pushed a witch from her human uterus?

No, she wouldn't. There were no pictures of me as a baby or a kid.

But the story of my birth answered all my questions, and I had to wonder if Cyrus had a similar one.

My parents had been speeding down the highway, trying to get to the hospital in the middle of the night. The streets were empty, and they knew they wouldn't make it. How could they when I gave them no choice? My mother said I had army-crawled right out of her.

They had to pull over to the side of the road. My father ran around to my mother's side of the car, opened the door, and helped my mother hold her legs up as she sat sideways.

He was the first to hold me, but I didn't know how long that lasted.

Because there, under the Supermoon, the point where the full moon was at its closest to Earth, I opened my eyes for the first time, and they saw their failure. It surprised me that they hadn't left me on the side of the road.

I had researched births under different cycles in the moon and Earth's orbit, but I had never found anything concrete to connect my birth to my powers. That didn't mean the suspicion wasn't in the back of my mind.

He stayed locked in his room whenever Rona was around, doing his best to avoid her like the socially awkward man he was. Since she refused to leave and had made it a point to corner him every chance she got, that also meant that he had resorted to hiding away most of the

I let out a frustrated breath

it open to find Killian sitting on the black leather

saying you could enter." Killian groaned, his body still as he turned his head toward the wall and

years, I never waited for him to invite me in. I made myself at home. Only now, I at least confirm I wouldn't be walking into anything

behind his desk, and closed the door behind me as I moved to sit in it. My hands grabbed the armrests as I leaned back, feeling even more powerful as

sank down as I relaxed into

groaned again, but I rolled my

pulling the bottom drawer of his desk open. The stash of junk food he kept in the back of the drawer was almost gone, and I let out

and pushed a few bags of chips to the side to

a loud noise as I slammed it shut with frustration.

Someone would come to interrupt us soon, or Natalie would show up. It didn't feel intentional, but

mood today? Did you not get laid last night?" I laughed as I laced my fingers together

the face. He kept it there specifically for when he needed a break, and

that," Killian mumbled without looking, knowing exactly what I was doing to it from the sound

me." I eyed him, never having seen him so exhausted before. Even on the brink of war or when actively under attack, he had never let the lack of sleep get to him. But now he looked like

just laughed as I watched the ashes in his

was met with his body

needed a break. Tell me what you need and leave." He dropped his arm, blinking twice before twisting to sit up. His hands rubbed his face as

today," I admit, not feeling the least bit guilty about it. "I didn't find anything yet. I have

hands together, turning his head with his chin on them as he watches

both knew Rona needed to be removed

duel to the death. She wouldn't let someone take her down that easily. The day she allowed someone close enough to her

her to add him or his magic to whatever she has planned. He's strong." I spun the chair, kicking my feet up on his desk, ankles crossed. Killian let out a growl but didn't care enough as

exhausted than

I want to know what it is so we don't get blindsided." I hated asking for help, but I wasn't prideful enough to let a threat get

keep Rona busy, and Aurora can watch Cyrus." His dismissive tone was low, almost like he was fighting not to

mid-day exhaustion, especially for a Lycan who could go days without sleep.

standing up and going to the wet bar against the wall and pouring