The Beast And The Blessed

Fifty-Two: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

I placed my hands in my back pockets, admiring the view as Natalie and I approached the small pool of water. The normal crystal blue water was murky and dark, showing that someone or something had just been active and disrupted the stillness and peace of the natural hot spring.

It was only a few miles away from the city, but the time it took us to go there was twice as long as normal as we enjoyed a leisurely walk.

My morning had started at lunchtime when Natalie rang the doorbell, something I was tempted to have Tobias uninstall. Even though I would never admit it, her visit to ensure I was okay meant a lot to me. I was right in choosing her as a friend.

It also meant that I had slept the day away, missing my morning meeting with Killian to go over the day's agenda and the million other things I had to do each day. I was behind on my work already, but now it has impacted others, which bothered me.

Yet, Natalie insisted I take the day off and walk with her. There wasn't much of the day left, so I agreed. By the time I had gotten out of the shower and dressed, it was into the early afternoon.

Still, she ushered me out of the house with a bagel in my hand, insisting fresh air would do me good.

I sat on the large rocks, slipping my shoes off and dangling my feet into the water below. I knew there were creatures in there, some that would love to drag me into the water to watch me drown, but it didn't bother me. We had a mutual appreciation for each other, and they kept me alone as long as I threw them some food now and then. Delicasies, like a fresh liver or a heart, if I wanted to spoil them. A whole body if they were starving.

'Tm surprised you could pull yourself away from your mate for this long." I smiled at Natalie, wanting her to see I was only joking. She crossed her legs, observing the three-foot-long waterfall across the spring that led from the larger hot spring above. This one was smaller but deeper.

I watched as the water began to settle until I could make out two glowing pale-blue eyes below, watching and waiting.

I looked over my shoulder at the guard filling in for Tobias, making it clear that I was speaking to her before returning to the creature.

I didn't know or trust the new guard as much as the others and wanted privacy. ’You, fetch a rabbit." The creature blinked. Its double eyelids closed one at a time, overlapping before showing the glowing blue again. I corrected myself. "Make it a deer, and be fast about it. I want it to still be hot when you return with it."

her fear as she took off to retrieve the animal for me.

up by now, it wont happen until next month. Plus, I was really worried about you." Natalie said, leaning back on her palms but noticing the creature as well and sliding

angry that Rona was not back yet for me

it's a curse? What if you're pregnant? You've been tired. Your appetite has changed, and the lightheadedness... it makes sense." Natalie said, trailing off as the creature disappeared. His blue eyes were made to blend into the

stepped forward, looking down for the threat to his queen, but he couldn't see it. It could only ever be

was in my mind, my muscles coiled. I wasn't ready for

George made a noise that sounded like a mix of a choke and a snort. I didn't know exactly what it was, but when we all paused to look over at him, he had schooled his expression and looked out into the

Natalie insisted as

done to it." The healers had gotten their hands on me countless times,

run their tests to see what's happening." She shrugged, smiling softly as she leaned back. "Can you imagine if we got

gone from my voice, and I felt a shift in the air as something rubbed against the bottom of

pulled my legs out slowly, crossing them beneath me as I kept a close eye on the water until I found the glowing blue eyes staring

just pee on a stick then." Natalie laughed but sounded uneasy as she slid back another few inches until her knees aligned with

I justify killing Rona when she returns if all this time I was just

magic? The female guard returned, a deer over her shoulders in a fireman carry. She tossed it onto the ground beside me, and I glanced at

Natalie as I pulled a

rose to her feet, stepping back as the water became more

the liver and rose to my feet. The giant creature broke through the surface as I tossed it into the air and over the water. His head was the shape of a dragon with a long snake-like body. The curious part was that none of it was solid. It was the same color as the water it lived in, and without

liver in his large mouth,

I didn't have to pee, I do now," George grumbled, his eyes wide in shock before Thomas hit him, and

leave now, we can get there in time for dinner.’ Natalie said, dusting her butt off as I bent down and pulled out the heart. As I tossed it into the air, the creature shot out again, and George let out a sound of freight

His eyes blinked at me once,