The Beast And The Blessed

Chapter 163

Fifty-Six: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

My tower was my safe place, my comfort zone when I wasn't with Tobias. Yet right now, I stood in the middle of it, feeling like there were bugs crawling on my skin.

The ward surrounding it hadn’t just been broken.

It had been shattered. I had seen the damage to it before entering. The shimmering surface looked like it had been attacked violently, like a glass window that had taken hail damage. Craters and spider webbing from the cracks covered the surface.

No one would have seen it if they didn't have magic in their blood, but they should have at least heard her attack. Based on the damage I could see, she had been wailing on my shield for a while. There was even a charred spot on the floor where she appeared to have resorted to throwing fireballs.

How had we been oblivious to this, and when did she do it?

She hadn't been here during the attack on Cyrus, so it must have been before dinner. That would have left her time to get to Rona's, attack her, and perform the ritual while we ate.

Meanwhile, I had been sitting at the hot springs with Natalie, distracted by the idea that I might be...

No. Don't think about that. There are more important matters to deal with, and knowing won't do anything other than distract me.

Still, the guards and servants, even Killian, should have heard it. Aisha and Margot, at the very least, should have recognized the sound of the magic slamming into my ward.

My skin prickled when I walked through it and opened the door to my tower. It felt like I was walking through a low-level electric fence. It was angry, yet so weak. I was almost expecting to find a trap in my tower, something to off me so Cora could be free of me and escape.

But my study was clear. There were no tricks or traps, just a safe door that, by the way the metal was bent, had been forced open, exposing that there were many missing valuables. The only thing that remained was the small vial of Rona's blood. It was crusted to the glass, having dried up when she died.

Cora clearly had no use for it. Either that or she left it as a clue, wanting to lure me to Rona's cottage so she could kill me too.

If the bears hadn't attacked her, I had to imagine she had plans to deal with me. The real question was whether they got to her in time to prevent her from absorbing Rona's powers. I could assume so since she hadn't completed enough of the ritual to take Cyrus's magic and seemed to be using Rona's magic as a conduit to get to Cyrus.

But I had already made too many mistakes. I wouldn’t underestimate Cora, not after everything she had done and planned.

look

have gotten his blood one way or another; I just made it easy for her

my anger as I tried to push back the blame that rested squarely on

closet, and shadow. He would have smelt or felt it if someone was still in there, but I knew my safety was

I quickly cut out the bottom chunk of my bloodied

didn't want everyone in my tower. Not

had stolen all of the important

Tobias said as he looked into the

still managed her most recent attack because of the blood I had been hiding. "We need to get the world map from Killian's office to search for Cora. She could be anywhere, and I don't want to waste time looking at smaller

minutes. I held his stare, determined not to let him see how affected I was by my indirect involvement in

back of my head, and kissed my forehead,

the harder this will be. I can't let myself feel anything

"We have a world map in the command center. I'm having a few warriors bring it into the

A glance to my left and out my tower window showed a group of men running with a long piece of rolled

least ten feet tall, and I knew it was even wider. I

want the tables and chairs out." I gripped his hand, squeezing it appreciatively

but she

grabbing a few candles from my shelves. I sucked in a gasp of air, and it faded

about it, Joselin. Do your job. Now

Tobias asked, moving to take the candles from me so I

carry." I moved past him, dropping my supplies onto my bed before grabbing my favorite dagger and adding it to the pile.

gathered the corners of the blanket and lifted it

against my lips. My lips curled up as I admired the muscles in his back while he walked away, then I

a

to the largest conference room, we could see the table pieces against the wall. It seemed

chairs lined the pathway as well, and I lifted my chin, satisfied that they had done what I needed and did it so quickly. Perhaps the pack did respect or appreciate me

face off with Cora and risk my

thought

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