The Beast And The Blessed

Fifty-One: Tobias

Tobias's P.O.V.

Joselin had never slept in this long. It was terrifying to know that she was feeling so under the weather.

Every morning up until today, I had woken her up with an orgasm. I had stayed true to my word. Either my hand, my face, or my cock would be between her legs as she moaned and wiggled beneath me. She would cum for me before giving me that heart-stopping smile and either thanking me for staying true to my promise or begging for more.

But seeing the dark circles under her eyes and hearing how slow her breathing was, I couldn't find it in me to wake her this morning. I wanted her to sleep as long as possible to recover.

Everyone I had ever loved had died. My mother died during my birth, so I never got the chance to get to know her. My father killed my soulmate, and I then killed my father.

Joselin was the last person I had. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't watch Joselin die too.

I couldn’t count on Killian because our friendship had all but ended when I found Ana and pulled away from them, and Natalie was more of a job and a leader than a friend. She tried to break that barrier, but we hadn't yet reached that point.

My knuckles rasped against the thick wood of King Killian's office, and the door swung open by a beaming Natalie in front of me. I knew she had been in there since George was in the hallway, and I bowed in greeting.

"Good Morning, Tobias. What can we do for you?" The rise of her right eyebrow and the smirk on her lips made me uneasy. "I can't wait to hear all about what brought you in so early."

Ah. So, the taunting to get me to talk would start again. I hadn't dealt with that in years, not since I became an adult and worked my way up through the warrior ranks. Now that I let a few words out, I needed to prepare myself for the childish teasing and constant attempts from my peers to get me to talk again.

I stared down at her, unamused.

Natalie's pale green eyes were bright with mischief, and she leaned her shoulder against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest.

After a moment of silence, she crossed one ankle over the other. I had talked to her before, so I knew she was just fucking with me.

"Love, don't be cruel." Killian's tired voice called out from deeper in the office, and her smile dropped as she turned to glare over her shoulder.

"Fine," She let out an exhausted sigh. "I’m going to go see how Joselin is doing.’

When she turned back to me, I shook my head before changing my mind and stepping to the side to let her pass. Joselin had been sleeping when I left, but that was almost an hour ago. By the time Natalie got there, Joselin should be awake.

that Killian and I hadn't visited her when she had been stabbed, and I wouldn't stop someone from showing Joselin how much she meant to them. Joselin and I had worked through

her get stabbed felt like getting my heart ripped out, and I couldn't fathom the thought of losing her. So I had made the mistake of trying to get over her, to

getting together, not because of my distance. Still, I hated that it was time

into the city that he would have called for Thomas to join him on her detail and at least one other

to keep my voice and thoughts to myself was

behind me, Killian spoke.

he gestured with his hand for me to take a seat. It was so tense. So awkward. How did this man go from being one

lifetime

months, I had seen a side of him that he had tucked away when he had become the king. But that was it. I was watching from

if we could ever fix our friendship. If anything, we would need to build a new one. His answer to my request would

doing okay?" The concern was thick in his voice, and I

better," I answered honestly, unsure what to say. The curse seemed to be at the beginning stages, but her exhaustion and lack of appetite

has.’ He responded with a nod, waiting for

hadn't been my intention, and he seemed to understand that as he raised his eyebrows

do as she pleases. For me to send someone to retrieve her without too much resistance, we would need proof, not

on following the rules even though the delay in action could cost him his best friend's and his

enough for you?" I wanted to rise to my feet, display dominance, to get my way. But even I knew that

our kind, and I would get further with a discussion than with a threat. If it were anyone else on

"Joselin is strong.’

’And growing weaker by the minute. Rona needs

to silence me when my mate's life was at stake? A fucking hand? ’That is enough. I hear your concern, but Rona is a council member, and while I do not trust her, I cannot send out my guard to collect her without proof of foul play

the word guard that

He was on board.

check on her to ensure her wellbeing," I said, making it very clear that if she were not back to

choice." He said, leaning back in his chair with his hands

me. It wasn't the answer I wanted, one where I would lead a team down

was better than

strongest, and most

on it being an order from

disagree and not back my request to hunt down Rona. It made it more difficult,