The Beast And The Blessed

Forty-Four: Tobias

Tobias's P.O.V.

The last place I wanted to be was walking through the city with Natalie on guard duty. I loved my job and would do anything to protect our queen. But fuck, I wanted to go back to my woman and celebrate.

The mark on my neck hadn't faded overnight, even with my expedited healing. The skin scarred over and glinted in the bathroom light as I got ready for the day before sneaking out of the house and leaving my sleeping mate in our bed.

It was real. She had done it.

I could feel Natalie's eyes on me all morning, and while I respected her, I also wanted to call in another guard to replace me so I could go back and take the honeymoon that Joselin and I hadn't gotten but had earned. As soon as Rona was dealt with, I would be demanding it.

'You smell different.' Natalie said through the pack link to me. I didn't care to explain; it was no one's business.

I kept my chin up as she stared at me, moving closer to sniff me again. A look of horror came over her face as she looked down at my neck. Her hand lifted as if she were planning on pulling down the collar of my button- up shirt to see my neck before changing her mind and letting it fall to her side in a fist.

She was probably as shocked as Joselin and I had been, but by the look on her face, I didn't think she understood it was Joselin's mark.

Chosen mates marked each other all the time. Joselin being a witch made us think she couldn't mark me back, but we were wrong, and I would wear her mark with pride.

'I never would have thought...1 Natalie said again before spinning away from me and going to the next store. She had been trying to find something for Killian's birthday but couldn't decide. Now, her focus appeared to be on me more than her own mate as she kept glancing at me over the shelves in the small store.

It was her tone that was irritating me. She sounded disgusted that I had allowed my mate to mark me. I didn't need to explain myself to her.

'You’re very angry this morning,' Joselin's voice came through my head, and I felt my shoulder relax. 'I know not to talk to you while you're working, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.'

Natalie's eyes narrowed at me again, and I kept my emotions masked as I looked away from her and scanned the store. The owners and employees were behind the front counter, over the moon that the queen had graced them with a visit. I knew even if Natalie didn't find a present there, she would still buy something to show her support for them.

'I am fine, sweetheart.' I couldn't help my cheek twitching when I felt her irritation. I knew what she wanted to hear and couldn't help teasing her since she had been asleep when I left. 'Is there something that you wanted to talk to me about?

Natalie walked by me, slowing as she passed. Her fake interest in the knickknacks on shelves closest to the wall I stood by was obvious, and I watched her nostrils flare as she tried to investigate the change in my smell.

and I couldn't wait to see her face when

was looking for as she moved with purpose. I watched her closely, examining her to see if she was a potential threat until my line of sight was disrupted by Natalie moving to

moved closer, prepared to protect their queen, but I shook my head. This woman

a growl, turning to her side so her shoulder

this was too

tell me?' Natalie asked, holding my stare and forcing me to look away out of respect. She seemed angry and very put out, defensive of Joselin. When I refused to

her as she stormed back

nothing good would come of this, not for me,

lips before

themselves scarce as they waited to see if they were still

you look in a suit.’ Joselin purred, strutting toward me. I knew better than to assume she had good intentions.

Fuck, she felt good.

halfway as she pushed up on her toes to greet

I was in no place to do so when the noise had come from the furious queen only a

stilled, and she pulled back slowly. Natalie was still glaring a

are you up to,

she moved her hands to the

when she saw it, but Joselin was beaming with pride. I watched as her eyelids lowered and the knots and runes on her skin vibrated excitedly. Her smell grew stronger, and my

me?" Joselin snapped, her nails digging

rose along her skin. She didn't respond to me as she moved my shirt further down and ran her finger over

at her. Queen or not, she didn't seem to understand what was happening here, and Joselin

a dangerous game. One that I

you?" Joselin's voice wavered, and I scowled down at her, keeping my hold on her hips as she pretended to fight me off to get

make your ass so fucking red for

wanted more. "I can't believe, after everything we have been through, that you would do this. I'm going to kill any woman who dares to touch you. Do you not understand

going to be able to sit when I'm done with you.' My eyes burned as I felt my beast coming forward, and I moved my hands around to

think this should be a private conversation." Natalie said weakly, the panic in her voice laughable. She had been openly angry at me for the past hour, but

Joselin stated, her finger