The Beast And The Blessed

Forty-Nine: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

"Technically, it's my council.” I joked, not bothering to get up. We were alone, and there was no need to be formal with him. He knew I was trying to lighten the mood. I led the council, but we all worked for him.

"Joselin," Killian snapped, his sense of humor gone as he stepped forward. He grabbed a chair and pulled it over until he was sitting only a few feet away, his glare on me and his elbows on his knees. I had seen this face many-a-times. It was his disapproving older brother face, which he

normally only used to pressure me or Charlie to spill a secret.

His hands were clasped in front of him, and he leaned forward. He had to have known that I didn't feel good right now. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so calm.

"Full name, that's not good," I muttered, regretting my workout. The longer I sat on the overstuffed couch, the more tired I became. My body wanted to shut down for the next few days to recover.

His black hair had one bright silver strand amongst the mass, and I made a note to hold that over him in the future.

Killian let out an exhausted sigh of "Josie" just as Natalie squeezed my forearm. He wanted me to go to him with this issue when he was already inundated with work and was now trying to balance a baby-crazy mate with an insane sexual appetite.

Even then, I was still frustrated with him because I had tried to talk to him. He was the first person I had gone to besides Tobias.

"Don't, Josie, me," I said softly, mimicking his sigh of my name. "I am fine. As soon as she comes back, I will be dealing with her. If I can't put her through a trial, I can challenge her to a duel."

I had been putting off the option for so long because it almost always ended with collateral damage. Magic of the proportion was dangerous. One slip and it could do flying. Innocents miles away would get hit by the blasts. Hell, there were giant craters on the Earth that humans would travel to see, caused by two witches fighting it out.

In addition, if I lost, it would put the kingdom in a terrible position. The council would be down by half, and Killian would have to choose a new Royal Advisor.

"I don't think it needs to come to that," Killian said, his eyebrows raised. How he looked at me screamed that he didn't think I was up for it.

He might have been right, but I would rather go down fighting than wither away.

His body tensed as he sat up, his hands clenching into fists on the armrests. Killian always had a bit of a temper. He had kept his emotions locked away for a long time until Natalie showed up, but he was still finding the balance between

my anger overpowering the shitty way I was feeling. "Why

seat. She had nothing to worry about. I wouldn't physically hurt Killian, and he wouldn’t hurt me, but that didn't mean he could get

a duty as my advisor and head of the council to keep me apprised of any misconduct within my walls." His finger jabbed into the wood beneath his hand, and I knew he

the chair sliding back

My stubborn side won.

been sitting to become taller than Killian so I could look down at him. My chest was heaving, and my hands were in fists at my side. He was doing the same,

He ordered, tilting his head to the side slightly to gesture for me to get down, but I planted my feet like a petulant child and held his

to go skinny dipping in the lake when you were twelve and a sprite stole

the couch glaring down at the fuming Lycan king. His body was shaking, and I knew his beast wanted to demand respect. He had to hate that I was looking down

was not working as efficiently as

through the room, causing Killian to relax. His shoulder's dropped, and he turned to look at

satisfaction washed through me that he had been the first to break our eye contact. It wasn't a

With my luck, as soon as I let my guard down, he would push my shoulder and knock me over the arm of the

wiping under her eyes as she collected herself. ’You

the same time. The bite in my voice made me cringe, and my hands relaxed at

of you need to sit down, and let’s talk about this.” The power resonating through her voice was that of a queen but would scare any child. She

me and gestured for me to sit down. He did the

to win. "I

regretted being initiated into the pack. If I hadn't been, their orders wouldn’t have affected me, but that was the whole point. They couldn't have a witch

to his mate but still having the upper hand since

speak to each other like adults!" She ordered, but the amusement and

serious conversation. I didn't want to keep fighting with him. I wanted him to sling his arm over my shoulder and pull me

shifted yet. You won't be able to lay a hand on me now." He

finger, his chair slid forward, and I lifted my arm threateningly. His hands

to

like children." Natalie pressed her lips together as Killian's cheeks turned pink, but I looked down at my