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.

to see her face

the aisles approached us, seeming to know precisely what she was looking for as she moved with purpose. I watched her closely, examining

protect their queen, but I

shoulder was

this was too

holding my stare and forcing me to look away out of respect. She seemed angry and very put

as she stormed

knowing nothing good would come of this, not for me, at least. But I could

to Killian, pressing a harsh kiss to his lips before turning back to glare at

scarce as they waited to see if they were

I knew better than to assume she had good intentions. Still, I couldn't help but enjoy her touch

Fuck, she felt good.

met her halfway as she pushed up on her toes to greet me with

to growl, but I was in no place to do so when the noise had come

Natalie was still glaring a hole into the side of my head, and I ignored her as I held Joselin's hips to mine, looking down at

are you up to,

bit back her smile, and she moved her hands to the front of my chest before pulling down my collar, exposing her

pride. I watched as her eyelids lowered and the knots and runes on her skin vibrated excitedly. Her smell grew stronger, and my hold on her hips tightened as I restrained myself from throwing her

Tobias? Are you kidding me?"

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

inside to be more private.” Natalie offered, but neither Josie nor I looked up at her. Queen or not, she didn't seem to understand what was happening here, and Joselin was getting

dangerous game. One

Joselin's voice wavered, and I scowled down at her, keeping my hold on her hips as she pretended

make your ass

her lips at my promise, but she wanted more. "I can't believe, after everything we have been through, that you would do this. I'm going

burned as I felt my beast coming forward, and I moved my hands around to her

a private conversation." Natalie said weakly, the panic in her voice laughable. She had been openly angry at me for

her finger pressing harder into her mark as she continued to