The Beast And The Blessed

Forty-One: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

Cyrus was like a puppy. For a spell caster, the first of his kind, he was very immature. I was surprised he lasted this long, but at least he had been smart enough to ask for help.

"But really, what's his deal?” He chimed for the fourth time this morning." Does he ever use the mind link, or is he just quiet all the time? I know he had his tongue. I saw it during dinner. Is he a mute? Doesn't that get tiresome, always having to guess what he wants or thinks?”

My eyes rolled to the back of my head. I had found him babbling away with Blanche in the courtyard this morning. The two of them looked thick as thieves, facing each other under one of the trees with their bent knees pressed together as they laughed and spoke a mile a minute with each other.

She seemed to have rubbed off on him because he hadn't shut up since I ordered him to come with me. It was unfortunate for me, but at least he was in good spirits.

"Did he rub off on you? Are you not talking now either?" Cyrus laughed, his hand going up to his unruly blonde hair before sliding it down over his face. It amused me that he was thinking the same thing about Tobias and me as I was thinking about him and Blanche.

Maybe the two of them would be good together... or perhaps they would drive me insane.

"You're a child," I muttered, making him laugh harder. I had too much on my mind to come up with a better comeback, but he didn't care. He was amusing himself. It was fine by me as long as he didn’t expect me to respond to his millions of questions and sarcastic quips.

"I'm thirty-two. That's hardly a child."

That made me pause, my feet planted firmly as I spun to face him. Cyrus stumbled before turning to me with raised eyebrows. Small wrinkles were in the corners, but his bright, cheerful yellow eyes and boyish grin made me lean toward his early twenties.

"Thirty-two, and you're still this immature?" My eyes raked over him. He looked slightly healthier, but not by much, now that he was eating more and no longer living in the wild. Once he filled back out, he would probably look more his age.

"I was mature enough to come to you for help.” He quipped back with his goofy crooked smile. "I'm the first of my kind, not some all-powerful being.

I know when I am outmatched and when to put my pride aside. I don't want to be the last of my kind, and if that means living in the castle or the city, I will."

to important matters, he's smart about it.

"Fair enough.’

followed behind me as I made my way to Natalie's study. I knew she would be in there this time of the day, and we needed

knowing better than to walk right into another witch's study and possibly disrupt them when they could be casting or focusing. That

front of the fireplace. I watched as the flame in Natalie's hand flew back to the large but controlled blaze before she turned to us with a large smile. The pride on

I hadn't accidentally killed mine, she never would have accepted me. My mother didn't

and nickname. It wasn't the first time she had called me Josie, but now that

animosity toward me for snapping at her mate or accusing her of taking over my job. It hadn't been fair of me to lash out instead of

I cleared my throat as Cyrus walked past me in awe, looking over all the shelves. "Have a

Natalie stood up, moving toward the round table by the window to sit, but kept a sharp eye on Cyrus as he explored her study. She was wise not to trust anyone freely. I was the same way,

aside to ask for help when needed. Usually, I would go to Agatha as one of the only council members I trusted, but she died

has reached a bit of a turn, and things may be getting tense here soon. She either knows I was in her house or she will soon, but when she returns, she will focus

and excitement that came with it, I still needed a break. Once this was over, I would be wrapping myself around Tobias and

she find out?" Natalie asked, the fingertips on her right hand pressing into the table's top while the

admitting it. I knew better. I should have made sure it was tightly tucked away, but after having her house beat the shit out of me for

her bed was insanely hot and so

my shoulder to comfort me,

popped and crackled like it was

almost craved the feeling of ripping her heart out or slicing her throat. But I had control over my magic at that moment, so I

was coming

me killing her, Cyrus?" I snapped, but he shook his head. His pale yellow eyes were narrowed and angry as

in his chair with his knees spread, his forearms resting on the tabletop as he tapped his pointer finger into the wood to emphasize his point. The longer I stared at him, the older he looked. With his goofy smile gone, and the exhaustion evident on his face, he looked closer to his age. I wasn't sure how I had

stared a moment longer before looking back to Natalie, who had relaxed, and Aurora, who was studying Cyrus with open